The Storm Ahead

twenty three

Leo's POV

"You're sure she's here?" Aiden asked, looking at the hotel in front of us. I tried to focus in on the red blinking 'No-Vacancy' sign to push past the agitation.

"Yes, I am sure she is here." I said through my teeth.

"You've said that about everywhere else we've went in the last four weeks,"

"Shut up,"

"I thought you said you could track her."

"I did! I tracked her here, tracking is hard if you aren't a professional so you're lucky I could even narrow it down to a town."

"Yeah a town she wasn't in."

"Thats because they were driving when you called! I still found her."

"Where is she then?"

"Room 208, Smart Ass."

"Great, lets go."

"Not yet,"

His head snapped to me.

"Why?"

"Your car is here. Which means he is. We'll wait until one of them leaves, and we'll grab her then."

"You're kidnapping your best friend."

"No, I'm kidnapping the girl using my best friend's body."

"And you you don't think this will impact how she sees you?"

"God no," I said with a laugh. "Please, I once drove her to six flags while she was asleep for her birthday. She had no idea until she woke up in the parking lot."

He gave me a look.

"What?" I asked.

"You two are weird,"

"Its what best friends are like,"

"Seems unpleasant,"

"It's the opposite actually."

We sat in the parking lot for a while, and after Aiden asked for burgers for the fourteenth time I gave in out of pure annoyance. I drove at least ten miles over the speed limit, but every time Aiden opened his mouth I sent him a glare. Eventually he just let out an annoyed breath and looked out the window. After we got the food and got back to the hotel, I quickly noticed Aiden's car was gone.

"Cars gone," I said quietly.

"Lets go then," He said, reaching for his seat belt.

"We don't know which one of them took it."

"Does it matter?"

"Yes," I said back, the annoyance in our voices matching, "For the love of god Aiden, you don't even know if you can beat him,"

"I can," He growled.

"Don't go acting all macho." I said angrily, "I'm trying to keep you from getting yourself killed."

"How are we supposed to know?"

"Isn't there some kind of you know, spell?"

"I'm not Caroline, I can't just create a spell."

"So how do you cast them?"

"I use a book of shadows like every other warlock or witch."

"Great, where is it?"

"Billie's." He deadpanned.

"Fuck."

"So whats the next plan, genius?"

"Call your sister."

"What?"

"Don't be a dumbass, call her and have her tell you a spell that will help."

"It's not that easy."

It turns out it was that easy. After Aiden's sister sent him some chant in Chinese, he assured me the only person in room 208 was Caroline. After a "swift" twenty minute debate we hopped out of the truck and made our way to the rickety staircase that led to the second floor of the hotel. Aiden complained about the wooden banister, mumbling about how it could give someone splinters. I smacked the back of his head and counted the doors until we came to the eighth. I took a deep breath and pushed it through my lips quickly before knocking loudly on the door. I nervously pushed my hand through my hair and Aiden rolled his eyes.

"Cut it out, you Zach Morris want-to-be." He said.

"Now is not the time for Saved by the Bell references," I whisper-yelled.

The door opened.

"Listen I said no room-service ok-" Her mouth closed when she saw us, then opened, then closed again.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, she shot us a wide, bright smile.

"Hello Boys," She said, her voice to forced, her eyes too squinted.

I squirmed a bit under her harsh glare and Aiden pushed past me. He grabbed her wrist.

"We need to go," He told her, "Now."

"No," She said with a shrug, unmoved by Aiden's urgency. The girl in front of me was honestly a tad disturbing to look at. When you play with someone through childhood, know every secret, every quirk, you should know them. But I dont know the girl Aiden is pulling at.

"Caroline, nows not the time to play." He said, his eyes dark.

"Everytime is the time to play," She said, her voice a godawful deep scratchy sound. She moved quickly, her fist making contact with Aiden's jaw, and his neck snapped to the side. I saw his eyes widen in suprise before narrowing in anger.

He cracked his neck, his voice menacing as he said, "You're coming with us whether you like it or not."

He stepped towards her and as she moved to dodge him, he was gone, only for an instant though as he appeared behind her. He pulled her arm behind her and kept it at her shoulder. For a moment I thought it was done and over, before she pulled her leg forward and shoved it back as hard as she could. Aiden fell to the ground with a thud and a groan and she quickly straddled his waist. Her hands found his throat and he sputtered as she choked him. Distraught, I looked around the room, hoping I could spot some kind of solution. My eyes landed on a heavy porcelian vase filled with flowers. I scurried to it, and before I could question what I was doing, I slammed it down on Caroline's head.

Her body fell limp onto Aiden as the vase came into contact.

His eyes were wide as he looked from her to me, then to the shattered glass.

"Did you just hit her over the head with a jar?" He asked.

"No," I said, my voice shaky, "It was a vase."

"Right," He said, his tone as nervous as mine, "My mistake."

"Help me carry her to the car?" I asked and he nodded.

In the care he gestured to Home Depot.

"What for?" I asked.

"Rope," He said, pointing at Caroline. "I dont want to be strangled again."

"Thats valid,"