Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

The Town Of West Hollow

Chapter twenty-eight: The Town Of West Hollow

The room still buzzed with tension after the smoke dissolved, leaving behind the acrid tang of sulfur. Agatha, Rio, and Nessa stood in the living room, their breaths heavy with unspoken fear. The air felt sharp, electrified by their realization: this wasn't over.

Agatha's gaze lingered on the faint scorch marks on the street outside, the last remnants of the creature's assault. Her hands trembled slightly as she turned to Rio. "This spell will only hold for so long. It was a patch, not a solution."

Rio nodded, her jaw tightening. "We need to figure out why it's after her, not just fend it off."

Nessa hugged herself, shrinking into the corner of the room as though trying to disappear into the wallpaper. Agatha noticed the way her hands clutched at her sleeves, the subtle tremor in her shoulders. For all her fire, Nessa was still just a young woman thrust into something far bigger than she understood.

"We have to move fast," Rio said. Her tone was calm, but her eyes burned with quiet determination. "Let's start with what we already have."

Agatha pulled her bag from the corner, the leather creaking as she rifled through its contents. "I have an old journal I found in the attic when we moved in. It belonged to the previous tenant—a witch. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now..."

Nessa glanced up, curiosity softening the edges of her fear. "You think it could help us?"

"It's a start."

Agatha flipped open the journal, its brittle pages crinkling under her fingertips. As she skimmed through the handwritten notes, a single word jumped out, scrawled in dark ink: Aegis. Next to it was a crude sketch of a circular sigil surrounded by ancient symbols.

Rio leaned over her shoulder, her dark eyes narrowing. "That's a protection symbol. But look—" she pointed to the text beneath the drawing, her finger tracing the faded script "this isn't for keeping things out. It's for keeping things in."

Agatha's stomach twisted. "What was the witch trying to contain?"

"Maybe something like what's coming after Nessa?" Rio said grimly.

Nessa bit her lip, her voice small. "Why me?"

Agatha turned to her, her expression softening. "We don't know yet, but we'll figure it out. Together."

As they continued combing through the journal, Rio began to speak, her voice low and reflective. "When I first became death, I used to think it was a punishment. Something forced on me because I wasn't good enough for anything else."

Nessa glanced up, her expression a mix of curiosity and empathy.

"But it wasn't" Rio continued, her tone firm. "It was just... part of who I am. I made peace with it eventually, but it took a long time. And a lot of mistakes." She looked directly at Nessa. "You're not a mistake. Whatever you are, whoever you are it's not about being right or wrong. It's about what you do with it."

Nessa's throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. "Do you think... she would've forgiven me? Margaret, I mean."

Agatha's heart ached at the vulnerability in Nessa's voice. She reached out, placing a hand on her knee. "She loved you. And love doesn't just disappear because of one moment."

Nessa nodded, tears brimming in her eyes but not falling.

Hours passed, and the three of them worked tirelessly, poring over the journal and layering new spells over the house. But just as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of amber and violet, a sharp crack reverberated through the air.

The protection spell had shattered.

The living room lights flickered, and an oppressive chill seeped into the air. Agatha shot to her feet, her heart pounding as the eerie shadowy figure began clawing at the house's wards. Its grotesque form pressed against the invisible barrier, cracks splintering outward with every strike.

"It's going to break through!" Nessa cried, her voice trembling.

Agatha grabbed her bag, her mind racing. "We don't have time. Grab only what you need—essentials, nothing else!"

Rio was already moving, her movements sharp and efficient. She stuffed a few items into a satchel and slung it over her shoulder before turning to Nessa. "Go. Now."

The house groaned under the weight of the creature's assault. Agatha's fingers shook as she began weaving a teleportation spell, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.

"Hold hands!" she commanded, her voice cutting through the noise.

Nessa clung to Rio's arm, her knuckles white. Agatha's voice rose, chanting an incantation that shimmered in the air like golden threads. The room spun, the creature's screeches echoing around them as the spell took hold.

A rush of energy surged through them, and for a brief, terrifying moment, it felt as though they were being pulled apart at the seams.

When the spinning stopped, they were standing on cracked asphalt beneath a flickering neon sign that read: West Hollow Motel.

The town was quiet, almost unnervingly so. The streets were empty, the air heavy with the scent of rain on pavement. A single streetlamp buzzed overhead, casting long shadows.

Agatha's legs wobbled, and Rio steadied her, her grip firm but gentle. "You okay?"

Agatha nodded, though her head still swam. She looked over at Nessa, who was clutching her satchel like a lifeline.

"Where are we?" Nessa asked, her voice small.

Rio glanced around, her eyes scanning the darkened storefronts and shuttered windows. "Doesn't matter. We're safe for now."

Agatha exhaled slowly, the weight of their escape settling over her. She gestured toward the motel. "Let's get a room. We'll figure out the rest tomorrow."

Inside, the motel smelled faintly of mildew and cheap cleaning products. The receptionist barely looked up as they checked in, handing over a single key with a bored expression.

The room was small and unremarkable: two double beds with faded floral comforters, a tiny TV mounted to the wall, and a single window with heavy curtains.

As they set their bags down, Agatha turned to the others, her voice soft but firm. "We'll get through this. Together."

Rio's lips curved into a faint smile, and Nessa nodded, her shoulders relaxing slightly for the first time all night.

As the room settled into an uneasy silence, Rio stepped toward Agatha, her expression softening. She wrapped her arms around her, pulling her close. At first, Agatha was tense, her shoulders stiff and her hands hovering awkwardly at her sides. But as Rio's warmth enveloped her, she slowly melted into the embrace, her head resting against Rio's chest. Rio pressed a gentle kiss to Agatha's forehead, the smallest gesture of reassurance and love.

Nessa, standing by the window, let out a playful groan. "You two are so adorably gross, it's painful," she said with a grin, her voice light despite the tension of the night.

Agatha and Rio both chuckled softly, the sound easing the weight in the room. For the first time in what felt like hours, it was possible to breathe again even if only for a moment.

For now, they had bought themselves time.