Maximoff Anomalies

Billy VIII

The group wandered down the twisted path, looking over the glowing, eerie woods. "It's exactly how I pictured it," Charlie whispered.

"Yes," Agatha said. "It suits you."

"You didn't think it was real, did you?" Lilia mused.

"And you did?" Alice raised an eyebrow.

"You know what this is?" Mrs. Hart called from the back of the group. "This is a kidnapping! And I think it's high time we involve the local authorities."

"Are we going to ignore the fact that something just chased us down here?" Jen asked.

"Chased Agatha," Alice corrected.

"Okay, no cell service," Mrs. Hart told them.

"Well, whatever chased Agatha down here, it's our problem now," Lilia sighed.

"Is that because covens share blessings and burdens alike?" Charlie asked, spinning around to face them as he walked backwards. He had to admit, this was exciting. He was with a real coven, on The real Witches' Road. Not to mention he was with three massive celebrities plus the woman who his mother tortured and psychologically scarred.

"Okay, someone really needs to call this kid's parents," Jen said.

"Oh, I'm 100% positive they're asleep. Unless this is like, perpetual night? As a vibe?" Charlie frowned. It would be around midnight right now in England, so they were definitely not awake. If it was past midnight in New Jersey though, England being five hours ahead means he wouldn't have long. Not long until Nick showed up with his disappointed glare.

"Okay, I am a member of the Westview Historical Society," Mrs. Hart told Agatha, hurrying forward to catch up to her. "All I would've expected to see down here were remnants of our failed public transit system." Why would they even need a public transit system? The town isn't even that big, with less than four thousand people. Is nobody in the States capable of walking further than from the house to the street?

"Helpful interjection, random woman with no obvious magical qualities," Jen said, giving Agatha a stink eye. Was this how the entire trip was going to be? Just the two of them sneaking little barbs at each other at any given opportunity?

"Hey, she has a name! It's Mrs. Hart," Agatha corrected.

"Sharon," the gardener interrupted.

"Well, whoever she is, she has no business on The Road," Jen stated.

"That's what I'm saying," Mrs. Hart nodded.

"Anyone can be a witch with training," Charlie defended.

"Which puts the rest of us in even more danger and we don't even know what we're up against," Jen exclaimed.

"Tame your fears," Lilia whispered. "That's what we're up against. Our worst nightmares."

Yay. Charlie's nightmares consisted of the excruciating pain he felt when the hex got brought down, the mental screaming he heard from all of the Westview citizens during the hex, and the sight of his brother and father pixelating as the town went back to reality.

"Looks like I'm going to see my parents after all," Charlie murmured.

"But in what form?" Jen frowned.

"Trials. At least, that's what the song says," Alice turned to look at Agatha. "What are they like?"

Everyone turned to look at Agatha, who paused, as if debating how cruel she should be. Charlie eyeballed her, trying to psychically tell her to not be a bully. "The Road will test us in our knowledge of the craft. One trial for each skill." There. Was that so hard?