The Witches

As Chase laid there worried, the sun began to rise. The loud howls of the beasts could be heard growing farther away. Running from the sun, something about it kept them away. Lurking in the shadows, as they waited for someone to be stupid enough to go just close enough for them to attack. A few hours later, there was a knock at the door. Leo glanced towards it as Weather entered the room.

"There's breakfast on the table if you kids are hungry." She said softly.

The kids all nodded and thanked her as they walked to the table. The room was silent as they all ate, no one wanting to say a word and start another fight. They all soon finished leaving Weather in the kitchen doing the dishes. Despite Leo's numerous offers, she remained adamant about doing them herself. Christine lingered, eager to have a conversation with Weather.

"Weather...?" She asked softly.

"Yes dear?" Weather replied sweetly.

"Are we ever going to go home...?" Christine asked, a hint of fear in her voice.

Weather looked up from the dishes and looked outside, "Yes. I'll make sure of that." She spoke.

Christine nodded and dried the dishes as they talked.

"Thank you for the help, dear." Weather said as she finished the dishes.

Christine offered a sweet smile and dried her hands before she walked over to join the others. Upon opening the door, she noticed Leo attempting to free his arm from Adaline's grasp. The younger blonde-haired girl had a spine-chilling smile on her face as she gripped a knife in her hand.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Leo!" Adaline yelled.

"You're literally trying to CARVE your name into my arm!" he yelled, attempting to wrench his arm free.

Christine looked on in terror as Adaline pressed the blade's tip against Leo's arm.

"Stop struggling. It's not going to hurt you. See!" Adaline yelled as she showed Leo her arm.

She had etched Leo's name into her arm. Christine rushed to Leo, shoving Adaline aside, causing her to slice Leo's arm. Leo grimaced in pain and quickly hurried away to tend to his new injury.

"What the hell?!" Adaline yelled.

"What is wrong with you?!" Christine screamed at her.

Adaline rolled her eyes, "Oh shut up. Don't act like you never wanted to carve your name into his arm." She spoke.

"No, I haven't! He went ahead and got my name tattooed on his arm even though I told him not to! That's already too much for me!" Christine exclaimed.

Adaline rose to her feet with a scoff, "Stay away from Leo!" she demanded, brandishing the knife at Christine.

"He's not yours!" Christine yelled.

Adaline growled, attempting to stab Christine, but before she could advance further, a loud bang resounded throughout the room. Christine screamed as Adaline dropped to the floor dead. Her blood pooling around her head as she laid there limply.

"Damn witch..." Oswin muttered.

The group stared at Oswin in horror as he put his pistol back in his holster.

"You fucking killed her!" Jake yelled.

"She was trying to kill ya friend!" June yelled out.

Oswin scoffed and looked at the group, "Did you kids, not listen when I told you that those souls had been cursed?!" He yelled.

"We did. But you never told us what they were cursed by!" Megan yelled.

Weather rushed into the room and saw the mess.

"Go sit at the table and I'll explain." Oswin said.

The group wearily left the room to sit at the table as Oswin had told them. Oswin walked out and sat down with them while Weather cleaned the room.

"What's going on?" Leo asked as he walked out of the bathroom.

"Come sit boy." Oswin said.

Leo looked at his group and sat down next to Christine.

"Why did you call her a witch when you shot her…?" Marrissa asked, her soft voice barely above a whisper.

"Wait someone was shot? Who?!" Leo asked.

"Ada…" June said softly.

"She was a witch." Oswin stated bluntly.

"We get that! But what do you mean by witch?" Jake asked rudely.

Leo kicked Jake and looked at Oswin, "Sorry for him sir." He spoke.

Oswin scoffed and leaned back in his chair. "When I said those souls were cursed. I mean cursed." He spoke.

"I'm sorry sir but could you please explain?" Leo asked.

"Witches much like that girl in there, placed a curse on them." Oswin said.

"Why were they cursed?" Megan asked.

"Some were cursed for stealing crops from the farmers. While other were cursed for murdering the other witches." Weather said as she walked into the room.

"Wait farmers? You mean from before the city was built?" Chase asked.

"Yes." Oswin said.

"But then," Andrea started "How was Adaline a witch?"

"After the city was built the witches died off. So did the beasts. But some never stopped practicing witchcraft and dark magic." Weather explained. "Don't get me wrong not all the witches were bad. Some helped the crops grow. While others, witch doctors, practiced healing spells. And finally, there was a small group that used their magic to help the cursed souls."

"So that means Adaline comes from a family of witches?" Andrea asked.

Weather nodded, "Maybe, or she could have found a book on witchcraft. Most people believe it to be a fantasy or a joke."

"Dumb teens." Oswin muttered.

Jake glared at the old man and opened his mouth to speak before Leo cut him off.

"Is that why she tried to carve her name into my arm?" Leo asked.

"Did she cut you?!" Weather asked, a look of worry on her face.

Leo looked at Christine before nodding and showing Weather his arm. "Yea is that bad...?"

"Where is they knife, she cut you with?" Oswin said coldly.

"It was in her hand when she died." Christine said softly.

Oswin muttered and stood up walking to the room. He came back a few moments later and handed the knife to Weather. Weather looked at it and sighed.

"Is Leo going to be, ok?" Jake asked.

"He'll be fine son. Looks like the witch didn't manage to do anything." Oswin said.

Leo nodded and looked at Weather as she spoke, "Just keep an eye on the cut. If it starts to turn black you come find me alright?" She spoke.

Leo nodded and stood up; the group of teens walked back to the back bedroom. Adaline's body was nowhere to be seen. The blood was cleaned up, there was no trace of there ever being a "murder" there.

"So, are we not going to talk about the fact that there was a murder here?!" Jake asked.

"She tried to kill your friend!" June yelled. "Does it really matter if she's dead or not?"

Jake looked at her and opened his mouth to speak, but he quickly closed it as there was a knock on the front door.