The Witch's Ichor

Esmarelda's Emporium [1]

Chilling winds sap the warmth from Ryker's clothes as he follows his friends to the far side of town. The full moon reflects an unseen sun, illuminating the gravel road and surrounding forest. Ryker zips up the top half of his jacket while glancing over his shoulder.

"This place is fucking creepy..." Ryker grumbles.

"What, you too chicken to walk through a forest now?" Derek taunts him.

The snort of amusement from everyone but Ryker is quickly drowned out by the distant howl of a wolf. The quartet stays quiet in the wake of the interruption. Derek breaks the silence a couple minutes later by clearing his throat.

"...Yeah alright, this is pretty creepy." Derek admits.

Ryker's lips curve up into a slight grin as the group resumes their trek. The sounds of gravel crunching underfoot is interspersed with the calls of animals in the forest. The lights of the town they call home fade from sight.

"Shouldn't we have found it by now?" Theo asks uncertainly.

Jamison's dark eyes flit from his friends to the road ahead. The tall boy towers over his friends, standing at nearly six and a half feet tall. He lets out a low chuckle, pointing toward a purple light between the trees ahead.

"You mean that shop?" Jamison says confidently.

Theo goes quiet as the eerie cart comes into view. Violet lanterns illuminate the surrounding trees. The purple lanterns sway in the autumn breeze like corpses from gallows. There's a distinct lack of horses to draw the carriage.

"Holy shit, that's freaky!" Derek laughs.

Derek's expression is a mixture of surprise and excitement. The solidly built boy stands at roughly six feet, and is the most athletic of the quartet by far. Derek suddenly takes off into a sprint, hollering over his shoulder without stopping. The wind makes both his shorts and tank top flutter wildly.

"Last one there's a pussy!"

Like a gunshot at a horserace, this propels both Jamison and Ryker into a sprint. Theo is quick to follow their lead. The forest is filled with the sounds of their footfalls and whooping calls. The chilly breeze is forgotten as their blood pumps hotly from the exertion.

Derek manages to win the impromptu race with ease whilst Jamison comes up as a close second. Derek raises a hand to meet Jamison for a high five. Jamison wears a thin smile on his face; Derek is jogging in place with a smirk of his own.

"Guess who's the pussy!" Derek announces.

Ryker shakes his head in exasperation as he arrives shortly before Theo. Derek is busy doing a mock drumroll with his hands while Theo struggles to catch his breath.

"It's Theodore!" Derek finishes.

"Ha... fuck you too, Derek." Theo replies breathlessly.

Theo pushes his square glasses up the bridge of his nose before dusting his jeans off. The bespectacled boy is the weakest and thinnest, coming in at just five and a half feet tall. Jamison turns his head in the direction of the nearby carriage. The warm atmosphere quickly fades in the face of the violet lantern light.

"Come on guys... let's check it out." Derek says in a tone that betrays his nervousness.

Derek's usual gusto is dampened as he approaches the ominous cart. His flip flops slap the gravel, staving off the uncomfortable quiet of the night. He gives the door handle a gentle pull. It swings open with an eerie creak, casting purple light onto the gravel road.

"H-Here we go..." Derek mumbles.

Ryker is at the back of the pack. He soaks in the sight of the mysterious carriage. Carved words adorn the side of the cart: Esmarelda's Emporium. Ryker nearly jumps out of his skin when an owl hoots softly from the trees.