Make Quiet Things Heard

Chapter 20 : Of Course I Did. Who Wouldn't? (Ep. 12|Part 2)

Josie's POV

"Okay, fine. You know what? Maybe I was jealous. Maybe I wanted what you had. A simple day with my family." Hope says.
"I lost half of my stuff in that fire, including the only painting I made with my dad. Why would I do that to myself?" she asks. Oh my god, what have I done?! I know how much her dad means to her and I destroyed the only thing she had left of him. She's going to hate me forever. I won't even have a chance with her anymore. I'm a terrible person. Lizzie's demeanor changed when Hope admitted the truth, she looked ashamed. And before she could speak Hope left to go outside with my dad and the weird guy. Me and Lizzie are left alone. We both stay quiet. I'm left to think about what I did.

How I am supposed to keep being Hope's friend when I'm guilty. I destroyed the only painting she made with her dad.
How can I keep being her friend, knowing that I did something horrible to her? I can't keep lying to her. I can't look her in the eyes because of this. She deserves the truth. That's the least I can do. If she hates me afterward I'll just have to live with it. I'll move on. I have to tell her. Not now, we have to focus, but when we get home. After a few minutes, Hope comes back and tells us to get ready to head out. We are going to Main Street to fight the mummy. After we get ready we leave and walk to Main Street waiting for the mummy.
"Some people find it helps to clear their
conscience before heading into battle." Lizzie states. "Not stopping you." Hope replies "Now is not the time." I say feeling guilty whenever they talk about it. But we have to focus.

"It's always time for truth. Last chance, Hope. If you didn't start that fire to keep us from going, then why were you
so mean to me after?" Lizzie asks. Before Hope can speak Lizzie continues.
"I'll tell you why, because you were guilty." Lizzie offered.
"Girls! Quiet back there, please." Dad pleads. But they continue to bicker.
"Seriously. I wasn't mean to you. You were mean to me." Hope counters.
"Because you were telling people about my episode." Lizzie says. "Your what?"
"My episode. The one I had when our trip got canceled. You told everyone that I was witch bipolar." Lizzie states.
"I would never do that." Hope defends. They both stopped walking and stared at each other.

"Guys, seriously, what is the point of even talking..." I start but Lizzie interrupts me.
"Just drop the act. I had my first...
occurrence, my mom took me away to
get help, and you decided to use it against me." Lizzie finished. "Guys..." I try to get their attention when I see the mummy.
"I didn't even know. I swear, I would never do that." Hope explains. "Guys." I yell.
"What?" they ask at the same time.
"There's a mummy on Main Street." I point out. They both stop arguing and Hope walks next to me in the middle of me and Lizzie knowing we need to siphon from her. While dad is in front of us with his crossbow ready.

"So, what, do we, like, rush it?"
"It's seven feet tall. We hold our ground until it's close enough to attack." Dad explains. "Okay, Dad, get behind us." I say. "I can't do that." he denies. "Dad."
"I have to protect you, all of you."
"No offense, Dr. Saltzman, but you
and your crossbow are kind of manspread in front of three powerful witches." Hope interjects.
"Okay, good point." Dad says and goes behind the three of us.
"Okay, what can a mummy do to hurt us?" I ask.
"I think we're about to find out." Hope replies. The mummy is getting closer and he opens his mouth and bugs fly out of it.

But me and Lizzie still don't have magic. "Hope." I say, and she extends her hand for me and Lizzie. "Bulla." we chant and all the bugs die. "Nice teamwork." dad compliments. "Should we rush it now?" Lizzie asks "Not yet." Hope replies. The mummy keeps walking towards us.
"Now?" "No."
"I really, really think that we should rush it." Lizzie says. "Wait! On three." Hope says. And I wait for her count. "One..."
"Two..." Then she starts coughing and bugs come out of her mouth.
"What's happening? What's happening?" I ask. "Oh, my God. Oh, my God." Lizzie says but then she starts coughing out bugs too. I turn back to the mummy knowing that he's behind this.