Oakshore had never been more dark. It was not exactly a town, nor it was a village. It was hard to tell, really, when the Circle happened. One could not separate where Oakshore ended, and where the next town began, as the meadows spread and trees overgrew and there flowed a river that seperated the forest from the centre of the town, which was the only well - lit up attraction. It was the only site out of the Circle, therefore, the mayor had cramped every possible building there; banks were built, three schools, a hospital, bars and markets and a gas station. The forest, meadows, and the cabins suited away from the centre were within the Circle and there - there was no energy. No electric power to turn on lamposts nor televisions, nor lanters. There was, however, a sort of energy that three women had felt, a sort of vibration coursing beneath the soil. Rebecca Cross, Evelyn Hall and Astrid Stanford had been working in the church - Blackheath Church, when the Circle took place. They had stopped, then. Moved into a cabin within it, and not outside like the rest of the population had done, which did draw many questions. The three women were known for their readings now, even if predicting the future or casting any sort of spells, let alone encountering magick was considered against the rules of Blackheath and their religion.
Then, there was the sudden entity of Aaden and Sam. That had been against not the laws of their religion, but rather the laws of logic. The women were not married, nor involved in any relationship - if anything, they went for the welfare, the benefits that could help support their finance since none of them were employeed and telling someone they were about to receive a great sum of money! Who knows, it could be the lottery., seemed to earn them a fine sum.
Rebecca had said it was nature, gifting her the boys.
No one asked the women, but there were always questions. Most of them were left unanswered and so, people began drawing their own conclusions and theories : abusive parents, adoption, homeless boys, etc..
It wasn't the truth.
Aaden lowered his bag to the ground, and took out his weapons. Sam slung his over his shoulder, and they both examined Blackheath.
"Do we knock?" Sam whispered over the slow rustling of the leaves.
"No. We sneak in through the tunnel." Aaden replied.
Sam tapped his fingers against his thigh. "Rebecca said she was inside - "
Aaden turned to him, sharply. "And I said we're going through the tunnel. Objections?" He snapped.
"Does it matter?" Sam said, giving him a bland look. Aaden's jaw worked, and Sam did not have time to look at his face, before he turned and walked, crunching the vines beneath his boots. Sam followed, ruffling his brown, wild mess of a hair. Aaden removed the overgrown plants away from the opening of the tunnel in the shadows at the back of Blackheath - ironically, they used to let witches through, to avoid causing chaos and rumours, while they planned on imprisoning them, or executing them - and then he bent slowly, and entered. Sam felt his breathing go rapid, so he held it in, and followed.
They took careful steps towards the ending, where a staircase appeared. Aaden pushed against the wooden door, but it didn't give.
"It's either locked or a cow is taking a nap against it." He said.
"A cow." Sam repeated.
Aaden grunted, and then pushed his bow against Sam's chest. "Hold it for a second." He said, and then turned to the door. He focused on it, and Sam caught the shadow of Aaden's lips move silently, and then the hatch turned, slower than ever, and unlocked.
Aaden snatched the bow from Sam's grip, and then both of them stepped in, breaking the silence - and stopping midway as the figure before them stood up.
The so - called witch's eyes widenened in surprise, and she backed from where she was leaning over in a crouch, with a dozen lit candles at her sides.
Aaden smiled, and then, he blew the lights out.
