Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had been three days since Nick had seen Charlie at school.

Three days during which no one - not even their closest friends - seemed to know where he had been.

Every time Nick asked around, he received the same response: a shrug, a quick shake of the head, or a vague, “I thought he was sick?” No one had any real answers, and the more Nick pondered it, the more uneasy he felt.

It wasn’t like Charlie to just disappear like that. Normally he would at least have texted or called Nick by now. But there was nothing.

Not a single call or text.

He just vanished.

Quickly Rumors spread around the school.

Some said he ran away. Others said he got into a fight with his parents and got kicked out, but Nick couldn’t imagine.

Three days later, when Charlie finally returned, he slipped back into the routine quietly, as if he hadn’t vanished at all.

Nick tried not to push him about it, wanting to respect Charlie's privacy, but he just couldn’t continue like normal.

Charlie obliviously didn’t want to talk about it, but Nick couldn’t help but notice that there was something different about him.

Charlie seemed more distracted and distant as if something really big had happened.

There were moments - between classes or when they walked to the cafeteria - when Nick would catch him staring off into the distance, looking at something unseen by everyone but him.

The silence between them was unusual too. Charlie had always been easy to talk to, quick to laugh at Nick’s jokes or launch into stories about his day.

Charlie was still Charlie, but he seemed focused on something else. His answers to Nick’s questions were short and clipped, often accompanied by a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes. 

Finally, as they sat together at lunch, Nick decided to break the silence, not being able to bear it any longer.

Charlie was still his boyfriend, and if something was wrong he would surely tell him! …right?…

“You know, I was a little worried when you were gone,” he said softly, trying to keep his tone casual. “No one knew where you were.”

Charlie looked up from his Sandwich, a faint flush coloring his cheeks. “I… just needed some space,” he murmured. “Nothing serious. Just… stuff.”

Nick felt a tug of worry twist in his chest, but he forced himself to nod, trying to appear supportive. “If you need to talk, you know I’m here, right?”

Charlie nodded, a shy smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, I know.”

Just as Nick was about to reach for Charlie's hand, a familiar voice interrupted them, laced with a smug, taunting edge that made Nick’s jaw clench.

“Well, well,” Harry sneered as he strolled up to their table, hands shoved casually into his pockets. “Look who finally decided to show up.”

His gaze flicked over to Charlie with a smirk. “Thought maybe you’d run away for good. Or maybe got yourself into some trouble?”

Charlie’s face paled, and Nick felt a surge of anger. He began to stand, ready to tell Harry to piss off, but before he could, Charlie grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

“Just ignore him,” Charlie muttered, his eyes focused on the table, „he’s not worth it.“.

Harry leaned in closer, his voice dripping with mockery. “What’s wrong, Spring? Was it your parents?”

He sneered, his tone getting sharper. “Did they finally get sick of you, or what? Thought you’d get yourself kicked out for being… well, you know. Gay.”

Nick felt Charlie tense beside him, gritting his teeth, he was barely holding back his anger.

He wanted to shout at Harry, to make him leave them alone. Charlie was probably dealing with enough already, and now Harry had to pick on him too.

Just as he made up his mind, as to what he was going to say, he felt Charlie’s grip on his wrist tightening, like a silent plea to let it go.

“Back off, Harry,” Nick said, his voice low. “Seriously.”

Harry gave them both a lazy grin, shrugging.

“Sure, whatever you say. Just curious what our resident drama king’s been up to. Nice little disappearing act, though. Almost thought we’d lost you.” He walked off with a laugh, leaving an uncomfortable silence in his wake.

Nick glanced at Charlie, but Charlie wouldn’t meet his eyes. Instead, he kept his gaze fixed on his Sandwich.

“Charlie…” Nick began softly. “If there’s something wrong-”

“It’s fine,” Charlie said quickly, brushing it off with a forced smile. “Really. Just ignore him.”

But the look in his eyes lingered in Nick’s mind. It wasn’t just that Harry’s words had hurt him; there was something more, something Charlie was keeping from him.

Charlie always was quite mysterious.

Nick had always felt that there was something different about Charlie, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

He’d seen him around before they were close, back in sixth form.

He knew about the car accident that had left Charlie injured and, from what he’d heard, it caused some Memory gasps.

Rumors were whispered that Charlie had come back from it… different somehow.

But amnesia often had that effect on people.

Charlie had once told him that he still hadn’t fully recovered from it. Nick felt sorry for him.

Charlie had a way of drawing people in, with his fascination for spiritual things, old symbols, and strange customs that no one else cared about.

He was open, always quick to smile and laugh, and Nick found himself captivated by those qualities. He admired how Charlie could find wonder in the little things that others overlooked, his passion making even the most mundane topics seem enchanting.

Nick wanted to help him, to reach out and ease whatever was troubling him.

Yet, it felt as if there was a barrier that even he, as Charlie’s boyfriend, couldn’t cross.

Why wouldn’t Charlie let anyone in?

Why wouldn’t he talk to anyone - especially to him?

After a long day, Nick and Charlie were walking home together. It had been one of those days when they barely saw each other. Now Charlie was cheerfully recounting his day, and Nick listened happily, feeling like maybe things were almost back to normal.

As his gaze fell on Charlie’s bag, Nick saw it again, the black leather-bound book that Charlie always carried around with him, peeking out from the corner.

Its cover seemed even more worn and battered now as if it had been through something since he’d last seen it.

There was, as usual, no title, no writing - nothing that gave away any clue as to what it might be.

Without thinking, Nick reached out, his fingers brushing the edge of the book.

“Hey, what’s this?” he asked.

Charlie’s hand shot out, pulling the book away so quickly that Nick barely registered what was happening. He stuffed it back into his bag, his eyes darting to Nick with an alarmed look.

“It’s… it’s nothing,” Charlie said, his voice tighter than usual. “Just some stuff for art class.”

Charlie looked away, his expression tightening. “It’s just… something I’ve been working on. Don’t worry about it.”

Nick nodded, though an uneasy feeling remained.

Don’t worry about it.

He wanted to believe Charlie, wanted to trust that he would open up when he was ready. But the way Charlie had pulled the book away, along with how pale he had gone at Harry’s taunting, left Nick with a nagging sense of dread he couldn’t shake.

As they continued to walk in silence, Nick couldn’t help but glance over at Charlie. He watched as Charlie stared ahead, his expression clouded and distant.

Maybe I should leave him some space.

Who knows what’s going on with him?

I don’t want to accidentally make it even worse.

The path home felt almost surreal, blurring past them as if time was slipping away. Nick’s thoughts spiraled as he worried about Charlie, wondering what he could do to help.

Later that night, Nick layed in bed, his phone resting beside him.

All he could think about was Charlie. He missed the days when they would text each other constantly, sharing every little detail of their lives.

The silence hung heavy and suffocating, leaving him feeling empty and helpless.

Something was definitely wrong.

And for the first time since they’d started dating, Nick wasn’t sure he could fix it.

Chapter Text

Nick walked down the street with Nellie, the cold autumn wind brushing through his golden blond hair. The chill in the air felt refreshing, though it only seemed to amplify the weight on his mind.

Nellie, oblivious to Nick’s quiet thoughts, was happily running around, chasing after the red leaves that the wind carried through the air. They danced in a whirlwind around her, as she spun around the pavement.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Nick’s lips as he watched Nellie, her joy so simple yet infectious.

But as he watched her, his thoughts drifted back to Charlie.

If only he were here… Nick thought.

It had been days since they’d had a real conversation, and the distance between them had grown.

Nick sighed, the weight of missing Charlie hitting him harder than before.

He didn’t even realize how much he’d been missing him until just now. Their interactions had become sparse — each conversation felt like it was just filling the silence, not really connecting.

He remembered the conversation he’d had with Tao a few days ago, when he’d asked about Charlie.

Tao had been defensive, telling him that if Charlie didn’t want to talk, he should respect that.

Nick wasn’t sure if he agreed. He knew Tao was just trying to protect his friend, but it didn’t feel like the whole truth. If Charlie was going through something, Nick wanted to be there for him.

Lost in thought, Nick didn’t notice how much darker it had gotten.

The streetlights flickered on, casting a soft glow around the pavement. The wind picked up again, and Nick glanced at his watch. It was later than he thought.

He called to Nellie, who had wandered a little farther ahead.

"Nellie!" he called softly.

She perked up, her big brown eyes looking at him with that unmistakable puppy sadness, the kind that made her look as though she hated being told what to do.

It was a face only a dog could pull off so well.

Nick smiled,
Nellie trotted over to him slowly, her tail hanging low, like she knew it was time to head home.

Nick chuckled softly as he knelt down to attach her leash, running his fingers through her soft fur.

"Come on, girl. Let’s go home." He stood up, and together they began to walk back toward the house.

A sudden gust of evening wind swept across the street, biting against Nick’s face and making him shiver. The temperature had dropped with the fading light, the chill settling in and clinging to his skin.

He pulled his jacket tighter around himself, burying his hands deeper into his pockets, but it didn’t do much to stop the cold from creeping in.

The air smelled like damp leaves and the faint smokiness of a distant fireplace.

Nick exhaled slowly, watching his breath form a pale mist in the dim glow of the streetlights. The evening had grown colder than he’d expected, and the sharp sting of the wind made him wish he’d brought a scarf.

Nellie trotted along beside him, her tail swishing happily despite the chill. Nick envied her resilience.

He tucked his chin down, trying to shield his face from another biting gust that sent more leaves skittering across the pavement.

As they neared the house, Nick’s thoughts stayed with Charlie, and he couldn’t help but wonder how much longer it would be before the distance between them was something he couldn’t fix.


As Nick lay in bed that night, the conversation with Tao from a few days ago wouldn’t leave his mind. It was one of those nights where his thoughts just wouldn’t quiet down.

*Flashback*

"Hey, Tao. Got a minute?" Nick asked, his voice casual but a little strained, betraying the concern bubbling underneath.

Tao glanced up, pulling out his earbuds and giving Nick a small nod. "Sure. What's up?"

Nick sat down across from him, leaning forward slightly, his hands resting on the table. He could feel the weight of the conversation pressing down on him. "It’s about Charlie."

Tao’s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly. He sighed, setting his phone down with a little more force than necessary. "Of course, it's about Charlie." His tone was a little tight. "What do you want to know?"

Nick bit his lip, searching for the right words. "He... He’s been acting weird lately. And I don't know what's going on. I thought maybe you might know, because you know him better than anyone else. I’m just... I’m worried about him."

Tao’s arms folded tightly across his chest, his jaw tightening. "I think you should just leave him alone for now, Nick."

Nick blinked, shocked. "What? No, I’m just worried. I want to help." 

Tao’s gaze flickered, his voice going calm but with an edge. "Sometimes, helping isn’t what someone needs." Tao’s eyes softened for a moment, "Charlie’s been through a lot, alright? If he doesn’t want to tell you what's going on, there’s probably a good reason for it." 

"But..." Nick’s chest tightened. He felt his frustration bubbling up. "I can’t just do nothing. He’s my boyfriend. I want to be there for him, Tao. I want to help." 

Tao was shaking his head. "You can’t force him to talk, Nick. You can’t make him open up when he’s not ready. Sometimes, caring means giving someone space.“ 

Nick swallowed hard, his mind racing. "But how am I supposed to just sit back and do nothing?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, laced with frustration. "I can’t just ignore it." 

Tao’s eyes softened, but his voice remained firm. "Yeah, but that’s exactly what you should do. At least for now." He leaned back in his chair, his eyes locking onto Nick’s. "Give him time. Give him the space he needs. And when he’s ready, you’ll be the first person he talks to.“ 

Nick sat there, staring down at the table, his fingers tapping anxiously. "Okay." He muttered.

*Flashback end*

Tao’s words kept echoing in his head as he stared at the ceiling. Sometimes, caring means giving someone space. 

He wondered if Tao was right.

Maybe he was overthinking everything, maybe he was caring too much. But could someone really care too much? 

Nick turned onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow as he stared at his phone, which lay silently on his nightstand. 

Was it really okay to just leave him to deal with whatever was bothering him on his own?

The Weekend arrived, but the unanswered questions haunted Nick like a shadow. 

Saturday morning, he was lying in bed scrolling through his past messages with Charlie.  

Their conversations used to be endless, filled with inside jokes, plans, and confessions that made Nick feel like he truly knew him. But now the messages were sparse, curt, and laced with unspoken tension. 

Why won’t you tell me what’s going on, Charlie? 

Nick stared at the screen, reading the short, neutral responses Charlie had sent. His thumb hovered over the screen, but no new message came through. 

He sighed, flopping back onto his pillow. 

Nick’s thoughts were loud, his mind racing.  


Maybe I’m pushing too hard. 

But then another wave of frustration hit him.

 What if Charlie wasn’t ready, but he was keeping something serious from him? Something dangerous.   

Could Nick just sit by and pretend everything was fine?   

… I should send him a message!  


Nick’s fingers lingered over his phone’s keyboard, wavering with uncertainty about what to type.   

He thought about sending a simple question, something light, but it didn’t feel right. 

Hey, are you okay?  


He paused. No, that felt too direct. It was the same thing he’d asked the last few days, and it hadn’t helped. He typed again.    


We should talk.  


He felt a tight knot in his chest as he looked at the words on the screen. Talk? What did that even mean? They had been talking, hadn’t they? But nothing had changed. Charlie hadn’t really opened up.   

Nick’s fingers hovered for a moment longer, before the message disappeared into the void of the keyboard. 

Maybe that’s not it, either. Nick thought, exhaling slowly.

His gaze drifted away from his phone, wandering across his room.   

Everywhere he looked, there were reminders of Charlie — fragments of memories they’d made together.   

His eyes landed on a framed picture on the bedside table. A tiny smile crept up his face.

It was a picture of Charlie and nick in the snow, both smiling widely with Nellie playfully jumping between them. 

Finally, his finger moved.  


Can we meet up?  


It was a simple question. But to Nick, it meant everything. He needed to see Charlie, to hear his voice. 

His thumb hovered above the send button, then with a quiet breath, he pressed it. 

The message was sent.

The next day Nick stood in front of Charlie’s door, his hand just above the doorbell.   

The familiar sight of the worn, white-painted wood brought a wave of relief.   

This door had always felt welcoming—a place where countless afternoons had been spent with laughter, shared secrets, and quiet moments that meant the world to him. 

Taking a steadying breath, he pressed the bell.

Charlie answered almost immediately, as though he’d been expecting him. His face lit up in a way that made Nick’s heart ache. Just for a moment, it was like nothing had changed. 

“Hi,” Nick said softly. 

“Hi,” Charlie replied with a smile, stepping aside to let him in. 

Nick followed Charlie through the house, the familiar creaks of the floorboards under their feet making him feel even more at home. 

When they reached Charlie’s room, Nick couldn’t help but glance around, taking in the cozy, lived-in feel of Charlie’s space. Everything was so distinctly him: posters of bands, old books scattered across the shelves, and that warm, inviting bed in the corner. 

The world outside seemed to fall away as soon as Charlie closed the door behind them. Now it were just the two of them. 

Charlie motioned to the bed, and Nick climbed in first, feeling the soft mattress settle under him as he stretched out. Charlie followed, leaning back against the headboard before reaching over to grab his laptop from the bedside table.   

He placed it carefully on Nick’s lap. 

As Nick glanced down at the screen, he quietly watched as Charlie started the movie. He adjusted the laptop, positioning it just right so they could both see. 

The light flickered softly against their faces, casting gentle shadows and illuminating the familiar features of Charlie’s face — eyes still tired, but a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he settled beside Nick.  

Neither of them paid much attention to the movie itself, letting it fade into the background. 

Charlie shifted slightly, then let himself lean into Nick’s shoulder, a soft sigh escaping him as he settled against him. Nick’s heart skipped a beat as he felt the familiar weight of Charlie’s head on him. 

For a few minutes, there was nothing but comfortable silence between them, the kind that spoke more than words ever could. 

Nick hesitated for a moment before gently reaching up, his fingers brushing through Charlie’s black curls. His hand lingered, fingers gliding through the soft hair.   

Nick felt a warmth spreading through him, and for a brief instant, it felt as if sparks were flying. 

Charlie let out a soft hum. 

“I missed this,” he murmured softly, almost as if to himself. 

Nick’s heart swelled at the sound of Charlie’s words. He leaned his head against Charlie’s, a small, genuine smile spreading across his face. 

“Me too. I missed you too.”

Chapter Text

He lay still for a moment, just enjoying the quiet of the morning and the feeling of Charlie’s body pressed against his.

Charlie was still asleep, his breathing steady and calm, a peaceful expression on his face.

His dark, black curls fell messily across his forehead, moving ever so slightly with each slow breath he took.

Nick couldn’t help but smile, watching him for a moment.

He didn’t want to get up, not yet, but a glance at the clock told him he didn’t have much of a choice.

Gently, he shifted, careful not to wake Charlie, and slipped out of bed. The cool air brushed against his skin as he made his way toward the door.

Stepping softly into the hallway, he glanced back one last time, the sight of Charlie nestled in the blankets tugging at him.

The wooden floor felt cool beneath his feet as he walked down the quiet corridor, his thoughts already on the day ahead.

He’d promised to take Nellie for a walk before meeting his friends, so he couldn’t stay much longer. But for now, he’d at least freshen up and get ready to leave.

Surely Charlie wouldn’t mind.

As Nick splashed water on his face, he caught a glimpse of something in the corner of his eye.

A small, black leather makeup bag sat on the edge of the sink, its smooth surface catching the light.

Nick furrowed his brows, wondering why it was there.

His first thought was that it might belong to Tori, but she didn’t even wear makeup. He stepped closer and pulled the bag open, revealing black eyeliner, foundation, and a few other essentials.

Before he could process much more, he heard the familiar sound of the door creaking open.

Nick’s eyes darted to the entrance just as Charlie appeared in the doorway, rubbing at his eyes and looking completely disoriented.

His hair was a tousled mess, sticking out at odd angles, and his eyes were heavy with sleep, making him look even more endearing than usual.

He was wearing the shirt from last night, slightly wrinkled and hanging loosely on him.

It was the same one he had "borrowed" from Nick ages ago.

"Morning," Nick greeted him softly, leaning against the sink with a gentle smile.

Charlie blinked at him, a small yawn escaping his lips. “Morning,” he mumbled, his voice hoarse but endearing. He shuffled further into the bathroom, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.

Nick glanced at the makeup bag again, his curiosity piqued. "Wait… is this yours?" he asked, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his voice.

Charlie froze for a moment, his breath catching as he turned slowly to face Nick.

His eyes flickered to the bag, then back to Nick, a faint blush creeping up his neck.

“Yeah, it’s mine,” he admitted softly, his voice barely audible. He hesitated, one hand lingering on the strap of the bag as if to shield it from view.

Nick blinked, the admission catching him off guard - not in a bad way, just... unexpected.

He hadn’t pictured Charlie as someone who would wear makeup, but now that the idea was in his head, it was hard to ignore.

Charlie misread the pause. His gaze dropped, his hand retreating from the bag entirely.

“Sorry,” he murmured, his voice small, a hint of insecurity creeping in. “I get it if you think it’s weird.”

Nick’s heart sank.

“Wait - no!” Nick said quickly, stepping forward, his heart clenching at the apology.

“You don’t have to be sorry, Charlie. Seriously.”

He rested a hand on Charlie’s shoulder, his grip warm and steady.

“I just... I’ve never really thought about it before. I mean, makeup. I’ve only ever seen, like, women wear it, you know? But-”

He paused, glancing down as he tried to find the right words. “Thinking about you wearing it? It’s not weird or anything! Actually…, I think it might really suit you.”

Charlie blinked, meeting Nick’s gaze with a flicker of hesitation.

“Really?” he asked softly.

"Of course," Nick said earnestly, his eyes lighting up. "I mean, you already look amazing without it, but... you'd probably look even better with it."

Nick nodded, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Honestly, I think you'd rock it. You already have that kind of... I don’t know, confidence. Makeup would just add to it."

Charlie looked up at him, the faintest glimmer of relief in his eyes.

But before he could say anything, Nick added with a playful grin, “Honestly, there’s so much I still don’t know about you.”

Charlie’s lips twitched at the corner, and for a moment, Nick swore he saw that familiar, sly foxlike grin.

His heart skipped a beat. A mix of warmth and something else spread through him, and he couldn’t help but smile back.

Charlie grin only widened as he noticed Nick’s reaction, clearly amused by the effect it had on him.

Without another word, he stepped closer, lifting his hand to Nick's cheek.

Nick’s breath hitched as Charlie gently pulled him into a kiss, slow and sweet, his lips warm against Nick’s.

The kiss deepened, and for a moment, everything else melted away - just the two of them, in this quiet, intimate space.

When they finally pulled apart, Nick was left a little breathless, his pulse racing. He stared at Charlie, still in awe.

“You have to wear this today. You’d look so good,” Nick said, his voice still a little breathless, but full of admiration.

Charlie laughed softly, his eyes twinkling. "I’ll think about it."

Some time later, Charlie stood in front of the bathroom mirror, the small black pencil clutched between his fingers.

His reflection stared back at him, half determined, half hesitant. The eyeliner felt heavier in his hand than it should.

“You’re overthinking this,” Agatha said, her voice teasing and lilting as she materialized in the reflection beside him, her arms crossed.

Charlie jumped slightly but recovered quickly, letting out a sigh.

Agatha stood with a commanding presence, her silvery hair tumbling in soft waves around her face, almost glowing in the dim light.

Her dark, shimmering dress caught the faintest flicker of color, its fabric rippling as though alive.

The sharpness of her gaze matched her wicked smirk, giving her an air of danger wrapped in charm.

She leaned casually against the edge of the mirror, her movements fluid and theatrical, as though the world around her was just a stage she chose to dominate.

“As usual,” she added, raising an elegant brow as she tilted her head toward him.

Charlie let out a soft groan, the corner of his lips twitching in reluctant amusement. “It’s not that simple.”

“Of course, it is, Billy.” She smirked, leaning casually against the mirror’s edge as if gravity didn’t apply to her.

“You’re bold. You’re brave. You’re…” her gaze flicked to his hand, “over-analyzing the weight of a glorified crayon.”

“First of all,” Charlie replied, narrowing his eyes at her, “it’s eyeliner. Not a crayon.”

“Sure, sure, whatever helps you sleep at night.” She leaned closer, her tone dripping with mock sincerity.

“But let me guess… you’re worried what Rick will think?”

“It’s Nick,” Charlie corrected automatically, rolling his eyes.

“Right, right. Nick.” She dragged out the name as if testing its flavor.

“Do you honestly think Nick is going to care about a bit of eyeliner? Come on, Billy. You already won him over. Guy’s practically putty in your hands.”

Charlie’s cheeks flushed. “He’s not - Agatha, stooppp.” He looked back at his reflection and bit his lip.

“I just… I don’t want to give him a reason to think I’m weird or… complicated.”

“You? Complicated?” Agatha laughed, the sound rich and a little sharp.

“Oh, sweetheart, you passed complicated about three names and two lives ago. And guess what? He’s still here. So maybe stop sabotaging yourself and just… be yourself.” 

Her words lingered, pulling at something deep in Charlie’s chest.

With a deep breath, he raised the eyeliner to his eyelid and drew a careful line. His hand trembled slightly, but he steadied himself, focusing on the bold sweep of black.

“There you go,” Agatha said, her voice softening. “Look at you, all grown up. I’m so proud.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Charlie capped the eyeliner and set it down, inspecting his work. He did look different - not unrecognizable, but… sharper.

A little more himself.

Agatha’s teasing expression shifted, her eyes narrowing. “If you really care about your friends, Billy, you’ll keep them out of this. You know how dangerous all of this is.”

Charlie turned to face her, his jaw tightening. “I’m doing everything I can to protect them.”

Agatha’s gaze softened, just for a moment, but her voice remained sharp.

“That’s not enough. I’d bet anything that two of the Salem Seven are still alive. And if they are, they’re not just lying low.“

She paused, her gaze hardening, 

„They’re going to hunt for you, Billy. And you know why. You were a part of the coven that killed theirs. They want Revenge, and they won’t stop until you’re gone - or worse, until they’ve destroyed everything you care about.”

Charlie’s stomach twisted, but he held her gaze. “I won’t let that happen.”

“Then stay vigilant,” she said, her voice low and firm. “Always. If you want to keep them safe, you need to be ready for anything. No slipping up. No getting too comfortable.”

Charlie didn’t respond, but the silence was answer enough.

Agatha leaned closer, her voice dropping to a sharp whisper.

“Find the remaining Salem Seven. Eliminate them. And then find Tommy. Until you do, this - your friends, your family, Nick - it’s all a house of cards. One strong gust of wind, and it all comes crashing down.”

Charlie’s shoulders stiffened; his throat dry. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to steady himself.

“I’m tired of living like this, Agatha. Of always looking over my shoulder.”

“I know how it feels, always running, always hiding. But that’s the cost of keeping them safe, Billy. And you know it.”

The air seemed to grow heavier, and for a moment, Charlie couldn’t answer. He only nodded; his throat dry.

Agatha’s gaze softened. “Hey, I’m not saying you have to give it all up. But… don’t lose focus, okay? We’ll find him. I promise.”

Charlie swallowed hard, blinking rapidly before turning back to the mirror. “I know.”

Satisfied, Agatha leaned back, her usual smirk returning. “By the way, if Nick doesn’t fall over himself when he sees you, I’ll personally haunt him into next week.”

Charlie laughed despite himself, the weight on his chest lifting just slightly. “I’ll let him know you said that.”

“You’d better.” Agatha gave a mock bow, then flickered out of view with a wink.

Her final words echoed in Charlie’s mind.

He turned back to the mirror one last time, studying his reflection.

Carefully, he adjusted a stray lock of hair, smoothing it into place. The corner of his lips curled into a small, tentative smile.

“Okay,” he murmured to himself. “Let’s do this.”

Grabbing his jacket, he headed for the door.

The park buzzed with life. Kids ran across the open grass, their laughter blending with the rustling of leaves.

The air was crisp, tinged with the faint smell of fresh cut grass, and the afternoon sun bathed everything in a warm glow, casting golden light through the trees as the leaves shimmered in the breeze.

Nick sat on the blanket spread out on the ground; his legs stretched out in front of him.

Elle sat cross-legged on the grass, scrolling through her phone while occasionally chiming into Darcy and Isaac’s animated conversation about which snacks were the best road trip essentials.

Tao was perched on a nearby rock, listening to their heated debate.

Tara and Imogen shared a blanket, giggling over a series of pictures Tara was showing on her phone.

The scene was peaceful, but Nick’s mind was half elsewhere. He glanced toward the park entrance for the fifth time in as many minutes.

And then Charlie arrived.

Nick didn’t see him at first - just heard Elle’s delighted, “Finally!” and Darcy’s overly dramatic, “About time!” But when Nick turned to look, the world seemed to pause.

Charlie walked toward them, his usual relaxed stride, but something was... different.

His eyeliner was subtle but striking, emphasizing the sharpness of his features. The sunlight caught in his dark hair, giving him an almost ethereal glow. For a moment, Nick forgot to breathe.

Nick’s mind completely blanked.

Wow.

“Earth to Nick,” Darcy’s voice snapped him back to reality, and he realized he’d been staring. Hard.

Heat crept up his neck as he quickly looked away, pretending to adjust the cuff of his sleeve.

Elle was the first to speak up. “Charlie, you look amazing!” she said, standing to give him a hug. “I mean, seriously. You should’ve worn that ages ago.”

“Thanks,” Charlie said, his voice soft but warm. His eyes flicked to Nick briefly, but Nick was too flustered to meet his gaze.

The group settled in, Charlie taking a spot on the blanket between Nick and Elle.

Conversation flowed easily - Darcy shared a story about a chaotic family dinner, complete with dramatic reenactments, and Isaac added a deadpan comment that made everyone burst out laughing. Imogen chimed in with a joke about Darcy’s lack of cooking skills, earning a mock-offended gasp in return.

Nick was only half-listening, too aware of the subtle way Charlie’s knee brushed against his. He tried to focus on the chatter, but every time Charlie laughed, it made him feel a mix of affection and awe.

At one point, Charlie threw his head back, laughing at one of Tao’s sarcastic remarks. Nick watched him, completely mesmerized. The way his eyeliner framed his eyes made them seem even brighter, almost sparkling in the sunlight.

What else don’t I know about you? Nick wondered, a warm curiosity filling him.

Tao threw Nick a glance, his expression unreadable. Nick pretended not to notice.

“We should do something fun next weekend,” Imogen said suddenly. “It’s a long weekend, after all.”

“Camping!” Darcy suggested instantly, throwing her hands up in mock triumph.

“Ooh, yes,” Tara agreed. “Like, proper camping. Tents, campfires, the works.”

Elle grinned. “I’m in, but only if someone else sets up the tent.”

“I’ll do it,” Charlie offered, his tone light, but his eyes sparkled with excitement.

Isaac, as usual, added his own dry twist. “As long as someone remembers the marshmallows, I’m in.”

That sent the group into a fit of laughter, Darcy practically doubling over. “Priorities, Isaac. Marshmallows over survival skills?”

“Obviously,” Isaac replied with a straight face, which only made everyone laugh harder.

“Deal,” Imogen said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

The idea quickly gained momentum, everyone throwing out suggestions for what they could bring and how they’d plan it.

The energy was infectious, and Nick found himself grinning widely.

For the first time that afternoon, he let himself enjoy the moment. Surrounded by his friends, with Charlie right beside him, everything felt… right.

It had been a long time since they were all together like this.

It felt simple, yet perfect in its own way.

Chapter Text

The house was rested in silence, bathed in the dim glow of a pale moonlight filtering through the window blinds.

Billy stood in his dimly lit room, frozen for a moment as his eyes darted toward the closed door. Beyond it, faint snores signaled the sleeping household.

He let out a shaky breath, gripping the back of his desk chair for support.

The room, usually a place of comfort, felt suffocating tonight.

 His jacket lay draped over the desk, the flashlight's metallic barrel peeking out from beneath it. His sneakers sat by the foot of the bed, where a faint crease on the covers betrayed the restless hours he’d spent trying to sleep before deciding he couldn’t take it anymore.

He needed to act, to do something - anything - to help. Sitting around doing nothing wasn’t an option.

Billy slid the chair away silently, snagged the jacket, and looped the flashlight and keys into one hand. He hesitated before leaning down to slip on his shoes. The laces kept slipping from his fingers, refusing to stay in place.

“Going somewhere?” a familiar voice purred from the shadows.

Billy whipped around, his heart racing in his chest, to see Agatha materializing from the faint shimmer of her magic. She lounged on his windowsill as if it were a throne, one eyebrow raised and her mouth curved into a sly grin.

“Shh!” he hissed, throwing a nervous glance at the door. “Do you want to wake everyone up?”

“Oh, no worries! Did you forget that only you can see me? ” Agatha waved dismissively. “ You’re not busted… yet.”

Billy rolled his eyes and tugged his jacket on, stepping past her. “I don’t have time for this.”

“Not time for what? Save your butt from being caught sneaking out?” she countered, her tone mock-innocent. “Honestly, Billy, your paranoia is exhausting.”

Ignoring her, Billy pushed the window open, carefully lifting it inch by inch until the frame stuck, creaking ominously. He cringed, freezing as his eyes darted back to the door. When nothing stirred, he sighed in relief and leaned out to gauge the drop.

“This is your grand escape plan? You’ve got, what, two brain cells working overtime to come up with this?” Agatha’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“I’ve done this before,” Billy muttered, throwing one leg over the ledge.

“Yeah, sure. Experience.” She leaned closer with a smirk, her voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. “Bet that bush is gonna catch you real nice.”

Billy scowled but didn’t answer as he swung his other leg out.

The chill of the night air prickled his skin as he clung to the edge. With a deep breath, he let himself drop.

The bushes below cushioned the fall - mostly. He hissed as a branch snagged his cheek, leaving a stinging scratch.

Agatha materialized next to him, her gaze flicking to the scratch on his cheek. “Huh. Guess the bush didn’t like you either.”

He shot her a glare and brushed the leaves off his jacket. “Can we not?”

She chuckled, floating lazily beside him as he pulled out the flashlight and switched it on. “You’re so grumpy when you’re on a mission. Fine, I’ll behave. But I am tagging along.”

“No, you’re not,” Billy said firmly as he started toward the car, the beam of light bouncing ahead of him.

“Yes, I am,” she retorted breezily, keeping pace without effort. “You need me. Someone has to keep you from tripping all over your own feet out there.”

Billy halted, turning to face her. “This isn’t a game, Agatha. I need to do something! If I just do nothing, they’ll come after everyone I care about.”

The teasing in her eyes softened, and for a moment, the smirk dropped from her face. “You really think I’d let that happen?”

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. I just... I need to figure out how to take the rest of the Salem Seven down before they get to him. I can’t risk him being in danger.”

Agatha tilted her head, watching him carefully. “Alright, boss. But if you think I’m sitting this one out, you're wrong."

Billy didn’t argue. He knew better than to try. Instead, he turned and walked toward the car, Agatha trailing behind him with a flick of her cape and a muttered, “You’re lucky I like you.”

Billy huffed. “Yeah. Lucky me.”

It was around roughly 3 a.m., and the night air was thick with a slight mist.

The road stretched out ahead, a winding path through the darkness. The dim glow of the streetlights flickered sporadically, casting fleeting shadows on the pavement.

Billy’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as he drove, his knuckles white against the blackness of the car’s interior.

The silence in the car was only broken by the hum of the engine and the occasional squeal of a tire over the uneven road. Billy’s mind, however, was loud with the weight of his thoughts.

Too much had been on his mind - too much was always on his mind.

His focus was split between the road ahead and the growing tension in his chest.

Should I tell them? he wondered, his eyes flicking briefly to the rearview mirror as if expecting someone to be there. Tori, Nick, Tao... would they ever understand this part of his life?

A voice cut into his thoughts, sharp and disapproving. “You do realize you’re not even allowed to drive, right? You’re seventeen, Billy.” Agatha’s tone was dry, her ghostly form flickering faintly in the passenger seat.

Billy didn’t glance at her, keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “It’s not like anyone’s going to see me at this hour,” he muttered, his voice low but defensive.

Agatha scoffed, folding her arms as she gave him a pointed look. “That’s your excuse? You’re as reckless as ever. What if you get pulled over?”

“Technically,” Billy shot back, his grip on the steering wheel tightening even more, “you count as a chaperone, don’t you? That makes this perfectly fine.”

Agatha rolled her eyes. “A dead chaperone, Billy. I’m sure that’ll hold up in court.”

Billy smirked faintly despite himself but didn’t respond.

Instead, he let his gaze shift briefly to the string of pearls dangling from the mirror. They were swaying gently with each turn of the road, catching faint glimmers of light from the flickering streetlamps.

With the growing silence in the car, his thoughts drifted back to his friends.

He wanted to trust them, to let them in on the secret, but the weight of it all was so much bigger than anything they’d ever known.

It felt wrong to burden them with it when they already had their own battles to fight. He hadn’t even fully trusted himself with all of this, so how could he ask them to shoulder it too?

He was so caught up in the storm of his thoughts that he didn’t notice the car sputter until it was too late.

Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me, Billy muttered, pulling over to the side of the road just as the car shuddered to a complete stop.

Agatha materialized in the passenger seat, crossing her arms.

“Gas, really? Of all the mundane reasons for a breakdown...” She sighed dramatically, shaking her head.

Billy cursed under his breath, hands running over his face in frustration.

Great. Just great.

Of course, he’d forgotten to check the gas. Of course, this would happen now, when every second felt like a ticking clock. With everything going on, the little things kept slipping through the cracks.

“Well, isn’t this just perfect?” Agatha deadpanned, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Guess we’re walking the rest of the way.”

Billy let out a deep sigh, the exhaustion in his shoulders visible even in the darkness.

"Yeah, I guess we are," he muttered, pushing open the door.

As he stepped out of the car, the cool air hit his face, but it did little to soothe his nerves.

He looked around the quiet road, the only sounds were the distant rustle of leaves and the low hum of a few far - off lights.

Good thing no one else was around. What would they even think if they saw him like this?

A teenager dressed in all black, sneaking around in the middle of nowhere - probably nothing good.

With Billy's luck, they'd call the police.

And explaining that to his parents? No, thank you.

Billy stayed quiet, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. His boots scraped against the pavement with each step, the sound oddly grounding in the silence.

He didn’t need to look to know Agatha was watching him, her presence as constant as his own shadow.

This was going to be a long night.

"Ugh, my feet are killing me!" Agatha whined, throwing her arms dramatically in the air.

Billy glanced at her, unimpressed. "You’re literally floating."

“Doesn’t mean it’s easy. Do you know how much effort it takes to hover this gracefully?”

Billy rolled his eyes and kept walking. The path was rough and overgrown, with roots and weeds breaking through the dirt.

As they reached the edge of the property, the house came into view, its crumbling frame bathed in the moonlight.

How much could happen in just a few months?

The towering ruin loomed over the neighborhood.

The windows were shattered, their jagged edges catching the faint light. The wooden siding had warped and peeled, and vines crawled up the walls as though trying to strangle the last traces of life from the house.

Billy’s gaze drifted to the overgrown garden, his stomach tightening at the sight of the small greenhouse in ruins.

The memory of Rio’s fight rushed back to him - the sound of glass shattering, the sharp pain in his back. Even now, just looking at it made his muscles ache.

He shook off the memory and took another step forward. "We’re here," he said quietly, more to himself than to Agatha.

"Home sweet home," Agatha said dryly.

When he turned to her, he was met with silence. She was staring at the house, her face distant, her eyes clouded with something he couldn’t quite place - nostalgia? Regret?

Billy hesitated. He wanted to say something, but before he could, Agatha broke the spell.

" Let’s go," she said briskly, her voice sharper than before. "We’ve already wasted enough time."

She floated ahead, and Billy followed, shining his flashlight into the darkness as they stepped inside.

They made their way through the partially destroyed house, stepping over broken debris and dust-covered furniture.

The basement was colder than the rest of the house, the chill biting at Billy’s skin as he descended the creaking stairs.

At the center of the room lay the gravestone, its surface smooth and cold, the names etched deeply into the stone. Billy’s throat tightened as he knelt in front of it, his fingers tracing the carved letters.

-Alice Wu-Gulliver, Sharon Davis, Lilia Calderu.

I should bring them some flowers soon.

His heart felt heavy. They hadn’t deserved this.

They had been his coven - his family. Even though he hadn’t known them for that long, they still meant so much to him.

Their laughter, their guidance, their sacrifices... all for nothing now. They had given so much, trusted him, and fought beside him, only for it to end in failure.

It’s your fault, screamed a voice inside his head. It’s all your fault. What would your family think? What would Nick think?

The guilt gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the choices he had made. He could feel the sting of tears threatening to fall, but he pushed them back, refusing to let them distract him.

He had to focus.

"We didn’t come here to mourn," Agatha said quietly, her voice softer than usual.

Billy nodded, avoiding her gaze, and turned his attention to the mess around him.

He sighed, crouching down among the broken wood and dust, shifting through the debris. His flashlight flickered across the wreckage, landing on something hidden beneath a pile of splintered wood.

He wasn’t even sure what he was looking for anymore.

There were no answers online, and the libraries didn’t have what he needed. The Salem Seven - there was nothing about them, not in any of the places he’d checked.

He had come here hoping to find anything that could help him protect the people he cared about.

Just sitting around at home or in school felt wrong with the constant weight of knowing he was putting everyone in danger.

There was a small leather-bound book, its red cover still vibrant despite the dust and debris. He picked it up, brushing off the dirt with his hand. The embossed lettering gleamed faintly:

"A Study of Dangerous Witches and Their Ways."

Billy frowned, muttering, "What’s this?" as he turned it over in his hands.

Agatha leaned over his shoulder, smirking. "Oh, that old thing? Borrowed it ages ago from a coven I crossed paths with. Never got the chance to return it, unfortunately."

"Of course," Billy muttered, rolling his eyes as he flipped the book open. He began thumbing through the pages, reading some of the titles aloud under his breath. "The Bloodthorn Coven... The Blackbriar Circle... The Ashen Flame... Agatha Harkness?"

He paused and looked at her, raising an eyebrow.

Agatha scoffed, crossing her arms. "Can you believe it? Not even a mention at the top? I’m insulted."

Billy sighed and kept flipping, ignoring her indignation until he stopped on a new section.

The header read The Salem Seven. His brow furrowed as he scanned the sparse text. There wasn't much - only a handful of vague notes, a list of their codenames, and a brief mention of their suspected abilities.

It was similar to the entry for Agatha herself.

"Not exactly helpful," he muttered, glancing back at Agatha.

She shrugged with a casual air.  “There was barely anything known about them. Anyone who crossed their path didn’t live to tell the tale. It’s a miracle that this coven even managed to dig up what little they did.”

Billy ran his finger down the sparse list of names, murmuring them quietly.

“Vertigo... Crow... Fox... Owl... Rat... Snake.” He paused, his gaze lingering on two of them. “Crow and Owl.”

Agatha, still standing behind him, leaned in slightly. “The ones that take to the skies,” she said, her voice calm but edged with caution. “If any of them survived, it would likely be those two.”

Billy frowned, the unease settling heavy in his chest. “Because they’re the strongest?”

Agatha snorted softly, shaking her head. “Not necessarily. They’re all strong in their own ways. But Crow and Owl can fly. If the others were trapped on the road, those two would’ve had the best chance to escape.”

Billy’s grip on the book tightened, his mind racing.

“Not as strong as me, of course. And with me on your side, darling, they don’t stand a chance.”

Billy tried to let her confidence reassure him, but the tension in his shoulders didn’t ease. “Right,” he muttered, closing the book and tucking it under his arm. “Let’s just hope you’re right.”

Agatha smirked and gestured to the door. “Come on, then. Adventure awaits, or whatever overly dramatic thing you’d like to call this mess we’re in.”

Billy rolled his eyes but stood, the book tucked securely under his arm as he followed her lead.

A faint smile ghosted across his face, almost unnoticed, as he trailed behind her. The wooden door groaned faintly as they pushed it open and stepped out.

It fell shut behind them with a heavy thud, leaving the room in silence once more.

Billy trudged along, the cold air biting at his skin as he walked through the empty streets.

The fog hung low, curling around the streetlights and casting everything in a ghostly glow. The damp pavement shimmered beneath the orange light, and wet leaves crunched softly beneath his boots.

The world felt still, quiet – like it was holding its breath. As if, in this moment, only he existed.

The town was asleep. There were no sounds except the occasional muttering of drunken figures stumbling down the road, their voices lost in the thick, moist air. Billy barely noticed them. His mind was miles away.

He probably didn’t look much better himself right now.

"Running in the dark like a maniac and talking to yourself," Agatha teased, her voice light. Billy’s only response was a low grunt.

He just wanted to keep walking, too tired to even answer her properly. He just wanted to get home and jump into his comfy bed.

They passed through the park, the shadows of trees stretching across the mist-covered ground, the cold stillness pressing in around them.

Billy’s steps were slow, his movements sluggish as his thoughts drifted in and out of focus. He was beyond tired, his body yearning for the comfort of his bed and the quiet relief of sleep.

Meanwhile, Nick stood outside, his breath visible in the crisp morning air.

The fog wrapped around him as he walked along the street, his gaze drifting to the soft glow of the lamps.

He’d tried to sleep, but his mind wouldn’t let him. His brother was at home, and the thought of him being there kept him restless. He didn’t want to go back inside - not yet.

He rubbed his face, his eyes scanning the quiet streets, his mind still buzzing with thoughts he couldn’t shake.

Nellie sniffed around in the damp grass, the only movement in the otherwise still night. But then, he heard it - a faint mumble, clear through the quiet morning.

At first, he thought it might be just another drunk person. But as the sound came closer, Nick froze.

The voice was familiar, he froze when he saw the figure step out of the mist.

It was Charlie.

Nick’s breath caught in his throat. He spotted him right away, even in the shadows, but Charlie didn’t seem to notice. He kept walking, his shoulders hunched and his movements sluggish.

Nick watched from a distance, his gaze fixed on Charlie. He could see his lips moving as if he was speaking to someone. But there was no one around.

Charlie wasn’t holding a phone or wearing headphones; he was just muttering to himself.

Nick felt a twinge of confusion, but who was he to judge? He himself talked to Nelly all the time, and she was just a dog and couldn't understand him.

Why is he outside at this hour? Alone?

Nick’s thoughts swirled with questions, but he stayed where he was, unsure whether to approach or not. Charlie seemed so distant, so lost in his own world, and Nick didn’t want to disturb him.

What would I even say?

Nick noticed that Charlie’s clothes were dirty, the fabric torn and frayed. It immediately caught Nick’s attention. Something had happened.

A knot formed in his stomach. Nick couldn’t help but worry.

Charlie moved slowly, his steps dragging as he passed by, oblivious to Nick’s watchful eyes. Nick remained standing still, his heart heavy with concern.

He knew Charlie was probably walking home right now, but where had he been?

As Charlie disappeared into the mist, Nick felt a wave of unease wash over him.

What was going on?

He had tried to ignore it for days, maybe even weeks by now.

He had thought that maybe Charlie would tell him. They were close, so naturally, Charlie would open up sooner or later.… right?

Nick let out a quiet breath and turned back toward home, his mind racing.

Whatever it is he’s going through, he shouldn’t have to face it alone.

Chapter Text

The sunlight streamed warmly through the window, painting golden patterns on the wooden floor. The air outside seemed fresh and crisp, the kind of weather that invited you out into the world.

Inside, however, chaos reigned.

Nick’s room was a battlefield of clothes scattered on the bed, draped over the chair, and even piled up on the floor.

Random objects - books, notebooks, a pair of headphones, a soccer ball - lay haphazardly across the space, creating an overwhelming sense of disorder.

In the middle of it all, Nick was crouched by his bed, rifling through a mess of items, clearly frustrated.

"Where is it?" he muttered under his breath, tossing a hoodie aside to search underneath it.

A soft jingle of a collar and the gentle patter of paws caught his attention. Nellie padded into the room, her tail wagging happily.

"Hey, girl," Nick said, pausing for a moment to rub her head.

Nellie leaned into his touch, her tongue lolling out in delight. "It’s just one night. You’ll survive without me."

Nellie barked softly as if protesting the idea.

Nick smiled. "You can hold down the fort, right? Keep an eye on the house until I’m back."

He gave her a final scratch behind the ears before returning to the chaotic task of packing.

He shoved a few stray items into his bag, zipped it up, and glanced at the clock on the wall. It read 4:00 PM.

"Damn," Nick mumbled. Time was slipping away faster than he’d realized.

Dropping to his knees, he wrestled with the stubborn zipper of his suitcase.

It refused to cooperate, and he groaned in frustration, leaning his weight against it in an attempt to force it closed.

"Need some help?"

Nick froze at the sound of the voice and looked up.

David was leaning casually against the doorframe, his smug expression framed by his atrocious mustard-yellow shirt.

Nick sighed, already annoyed. "What do you want?"

David shrugged, his grin widening.

"Just curious. Is your boyfriend going on this trip too? Must be nice. Mum never let me stay overnight with my girlfriends."

Who in their right mind would willingly date you? Nick thought with a mix of Annoyance and disgust.

"Go away, David," he said flatly, returning his focus to his suitcase.

David didn’t move. "What? I’m not even allowed to talk to my little brother? Come on, Nick. Dad wouldn’t like this."

Nick felt his frustration boil over. With a final, sharp tug, he managed to get the zipper closed.

Grabbing his bag, he stood abruptly, shoving past David with enough force to make him stumble slightly.

"Hey!" David protested indignantly.

Nick rushed down the stairs, slinging his backpack over one shoulder as he moved.

The sooner he was out of the house, the better. He yanked the front door open and stepped outside, shutting it firmly behind him.

The cool, fresh air hit him instantly, calming the lingering tension in his chest.

He paused for a moment, tilting his head back to take in the sky. The sun was warm against his skin, and the clouds were sparse - just enough to soften the light.

It was the perfect kind of weather for early autumn, crisp and inviting. A small smile crept onto his face as he thought about the trip ahead. Just him, his friends and Charlie.

But his thoughts were interrupted by his mum’s voice calling out from behind him.

"Ready, sweetheart?" she asked, stepping out of the house with the car keys in hand, a warm smile on her face.

"Always," Nick replied with a slight grin.

He walked over to the car, tossing his backpack onto the back seat before climbing in.

He didn’t have to worry about tents - Darcy and Tara had that sorted. All he needed to bring was his sleeping bag.

They’d agreed to meet at Tara’s house since she was already eighteen and had her driver’s license.

The ride was quiet, the only sounds coming from the soft hum of the car’s engine and the faint music playing on the radio.

Nick stared out of the window, lost in his thoughts.

Suddenly his mum broke the silence.

"Did David say something again?"

Nick shook his head quickly, his gaze still fixed outside. "It’s fine, Mum."

She didn’t look convinced, glancing at him briefly before returning her attention to the road.

"I’ll talk to him. He can’t keep treating you like this."

Nick bit back a sigh. He knew she meant it well, but he also knew it wouldn’t change anything.

She’d tried before and never managed to wipe that smug grin off David’s face. Still, Nick didn’t want to argue with her.

Not now. She already had enough to deal with.

The car slowed to a stop, and Nick glanced out the window to see Tara’s house.

"Don’t take his words to heart, okay?" his mum said softly, turning to him. "You know how he is."

"Yeah, I know," Nick replied with a small smile.

She reached over to ruffle his hair, earning a laugh from him. "Have fun."

"Yeah, I will."

Nick stepped out of the car, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

He took a deep breath, letting the cool air steady him, then walked up to the front door.

Before Nick could even touch the doorbell, it already swung open.

Tara stood there, grinning from ear to ear.

“Nick!” she said warmly, stepping aside to let him in.

The moment he crossed the threshold, the tension from home seemed to melt away.

His brother, his frustration - everything felt distant now.

Tara nudged his shoulder lightly. “Come on, everyone’s in the living room.”

Nick followed Tara down the short hallway, the sound of laughter and chatter growing louder as they approached.

Inside the living room, the others were already sprawled out on couches and chairs, surrounded by an impressive pile of camping supplies.

“Nick!” Elle greeted him cheerfully, waving from the armrest of a chair where she perched next to Tao.

Darcy, meanwhile, was hunched over a large duffel bag, aggressively shoving snacks into it. A pile of crumpled chip bags and chocolate bars sat next to her, looking dangerously close to toppling over.

“Darcy,” Tao asked, raising an eyebrow, “what exactly are you doing?”

“Packing,” Darcy replied without looking up, her voice slightly muffled as she wrestled with a particularly stubborn pack of cookies.

“Packing for what?” Tara interjected, arms crossed as she leaned against the doorway.

“For survival, obviously,” Darcy said matter-of-factly, as though the answer should have been obvious. “We’re going into the wild. Who knows how long we’ll be out there?”

Elle snorted. “Darcy, we’re camping for one night. Not crossing the Arctic.”

“Yeah,” Tao added, smirking. “And half of those snacks will be gone before we even get there.”

Isaac looked up from his book, “How Not to Lose Your Mind on a Group Camping Trip,” raising an eyebrow and grinning at Tao. 

“You know, you’re not going to change her mind.” He shook his head in mock disbelief. “It’s Darcy.”

Darcy looked up, feigning offense. “Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean? I am a responsible packer. Everything here is essential.”

Nick chuckled as Darcy struggled to zip the bulging bag shut, only for it to spring open again.

“Right,” he said teasingly. “Very responsible.”

Darcy shot him a look but grinned as she went back to stuffing more snacks into the bag.

Darcy finally managed to wrestle the duffel bag shut, sitting triumphantly on top of it with her arms raised. “And that, my friends, is how it’s done!”

“Sure,” Tao said, smirking. “As long as we ignore the fact that it’s about to explode.”

Darcy waved him off dismissively, standing up. “Details, details. Anyway,” she said dramatically, throwing her arms wide, “now that Nick’s here, the real adventure can begin!”

Tara snorted from her spot by the door. “Pretty sure the real adventure is just getting us there alive.”

“Which is why you’re driving,” Tao chimed in.

Darcy spun around, gasping in mock offense. “Hey! I could drive us, you know. I passed my test.”

“Barely,” Tara quipped, crossing her arms. “No way am I letting you anywhere near the driver’s seat. I value my life.”

“Oh, come on,” Darcy protested, clutching her chest like Tara had just mortally wounded her. “Where’s the trust? The faith? The spirit of adventure?”

“About as far away as your sense of direction,” Tao said, earning a round of laughter from everyone in the room.

Darcy narrowed her eyes at him, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward.

“Fine,” she said with exaggerated dignity. “But if Tara drives into a ditch, don’t come crying to me.”

“Deal,” Tara said flatly, though her amused smile betrayed her tone.

Before Darcy could fire back with another dramatic comeback, the doorbell rang. Tara perked up instantly, clapping her hands.

“Finally! That’s gotta be Charlie,” she said, already heading for the door with a quick glance back at the group.

“Better not keep him waiting,” Tao called after her, leaning casually against the armrest of the couch.

“What are the chances that he’s bringing more snacks?” Elle added with a teasing grin.

Darcy crossed her arms, pretending to look offended. “You’ll all thank me when I am the reason no one starves tonight.”

Nick shifted in his seat, suddenly sitting up straighter. His gaze followed Tara as she disappeared into the hallway.

Nick’s attention shifted toward the doorway as footsteps echoed in the hallway.

A moment later, Charlie appeared, slightly out of breath.

His shirt, clearly the one he’d worn yesterday, was slightly wrinkled, as if he’d grabbed it in a hurry. His hair was messy, his eyeliner slightly smudged, as though he hadn’t had time to fix it.

“Sorry I’m late,” Charlie said, a little sheepishly. His gaze darted around the room, landing briefly on Nick. „I overslept.”

He shifted uncomfortably under Nick’s gaze.

“Didn’t have time to change?” Tao teased from the couch, grinning.

Charlie smirked slightly, his shoulders relaxing. “Guess not.”

Darcy groaned loudly, interrupting them. “Okay, enough chit-chat! We need to go. I’m not spending my entire afternoon stuck here.”

Isaac rolled his eyes. “Relax, Darcy. We’ll get going, no need to rush.”

Nick smiled as the room burst into a flurry of movement. Bags were zipped, jackets were thrown on, and the chatter shifted into plans for later.

For a moment, he stood still, taking it all in - the chaos, the laughter, the warmth.

Charlie slung his backpack over one shoulder and adjusted the strap.

Just then Nick reached out, slipping his hand into Charlie’s and tugging him toward the door.

“Whoa! Nick!” Charlie stumbled, laughing as he regained his balance. “What are you doing?”

Nick smirked but didn’t let go. “I’m just making sure you don’t trip into another bush.”

“You're never gonna let this down, are you?”

“Never.”

Nick quickly grabbed his own backpack before continuing to tug Charlie along.

As they reached the car, the rest of the group was already gathered, laughing and chatting. Tao leaned against the door, while Darcy, Tara, and Elle debated over who would sit in the front.

“If you’d taken any longer, we would’ve left without you,” Tao teased with a grin.

“Like you’d ever,” Nick called back, opening the door for Charlie.

Charlie gave him a playful look before sliding into the car. Nick followed, slipping in beside him.

Turns out, Tara’s dad had a massive black van, which he’d generously lent them for the trip.

It had two front seats for the driver and co-driver, three in the middle, and another three in the back, with a huge trunk where they’d stuffed all their stuff, throwing their bags in without much thought.

Tara and Darcy sat in the front, Isaac, Tao, and Elle in the middle, and Nick and Charlie were squeezed together in the very back.

Nick glanced over at Charlie, his curiosity getting the best of him. “Are you excited yet?”

Charlie let out a breath, barely glancing up from the window. “We’re driving to a probably overcrowded campsite, not too far away. It’s not exactly thrilling,” he said, his tone dry.

Nick couldn’t help but laugh at Charlie’s lack of enthusiasm, though his attention soon shifted to Charlie’s tired eyes - eyes that had dark circles under them, made even more noticeable by the eyeliner.

“Why don’t you lie down for the ride?” Nick suggested, already making a move to help.

Charlie shot him a small smile, the kind that made Nick’s heart skip.

Nick shrugged off his jacket, struggling slightly as the seatbelt got in the way, and fluffed it up before draping it over his lap, creating a makeshift pillow.

Charlie’s smile widened. “What would I do without you, my knight in shining armor?”

Nick couldn’t help but grin. “That’s what boyfriends are for.”

Charlie gave a soft sigh, sinking down onto Nick’s lap, his head resting on the jacket. Nick gently ran his hand through Charlie’s hair, brushing it away from his face.

“I’ll wake you when we get there,” Nick promised.

Charlie’s response was nothing more than a quiet “Mhm,” as he settled in, his breathing already slowing as he closed his eyes.

The engine rumbled to life, breaking the silence. From the front seats, Tao and Darcy could be heard bickering over the music.

Soon, their argument faded into the background, and the peaceful rhythm of the drive took over, with the scenery blurring past as the car smoothly cruised down the road.

Chapter Text

The drive had been pleasantly uneventful so far, with everyone in high spirits.

Darcy was enthusiastically bopping her head to Dancing Queen, which was blasting through the car speakers.

The entire group was singing along - well, most of them. Elle had been mock-complaining about Tao’s off-key notes for the past few minutes, earning laughter from everyone, including Nick.

He tried to laugh softly, though, careful not to move too much since Charlie was still half-asleep, sprawled comfortably across him.

They had been on the road for about thirty minutes now and were supposed to arrive soon.

That is, until the navigation system decided to give up halfway. Without it, they realized finding their original campsite would be nearly impossible.

After some debate, Tao had suggested an alternative spot.

“It’s not a campground,” he had admitted, “but the forest there is supposed to be gorgeous.”

Elle had raised an eyebrow at his suggestion. “And how exactly do you know that?”

“I read about it online,” Tao had replied confidently. “Plus, imagine the vibe! Camping deep in the woods, away from civilization. It’ll feel like a proper adventure.”

He then added with a dramatic tone, “Perfect for spooky stories.”

Isaac had responded with a deadpan, “Sure, sure. That’ll totally set the mood.”

Darcy had loved the idea, instantly launching into a ramble about everything they could do once they got there.

“Think about it! We could play a massive game of hide-and-seek. The entire forest is our playground!” she exclaimed with excitement.

Tara, however, wasn’t entirely sold. “I don’t think that’s the best idea. You have no clue what’s out there.”

Tao, ever the opportunist, had leaned in with a grin. “Yeah, like ghosts, werewolves and vampires, right?”

Tara rolled her eyes. “That’s totally not what I meant.”

Elle had chimed in, her tone teasing. “The odds of us running into werewolves are probably near zero, but sure, go off.”

Tao smirked. “Not zero, though.”

Isaac had shrugged. “If you say so.”

Nick couldn’t help but chuckle quietly at their banter, the sound of their laughter nearly drowned out by the music.

As they drove further, the scenery began to change. Tall pines and sprawling oaks rose against the sky, their silhouettes tinged orange by the setting sun.

The farther they went, the fewer signs of civilization there were. The last semblance of it had been a gas station about ten minutes ago.

The car slowed as they turned onto a bumpy dirt path, weaving its way deeper into the forest.

The trees grew denser, the sunlight fading quickly between their thick canopies. Finally, they reached a wide clearing, completely encircled by the towering forest.

Tao leaned forward eagerly as Tara brought the car to a halt, cutting the engine and the music.

“See? What did I tell you? Perfect, right?”

He was out of the car before anyone could answer, gesturing proudly at their surroundings.

One by one, the others followed, stretching as they stepped into the cool evening air.

Nick glanced down at Charlie, who was still snuggled against him, his breathing slow and steady. Smiling softly, Nick reached up and brushed his fingers gently across Charlie’s cheek.

“Time to wake up, sleepyhead,” he murmured.

Charlie stirred, blinking his eyes open slowly. “We’re already there?”

“Yep,” Nick replied with a grin. “Come on, it’s getting dark. We should set up the tents.”

Charlie groaned lightly, clearly reluctant to move. Nick leaned closer, teasing, “Unless you want all of us crammed into the car for the night.”

Charlie let out a sleepy laugh, finally sitting up. Nick pushed open the door beside him, stepping out into the crisp air. Once on his feet, he turned and offered Charlie his hand, pulling him up with ease.

The forest around them was quiet, except for the distant rustling of leaves in the breeze.

“Let’s go,” Nick said, his tone soft but insistent. “We’ve got a long night ahead of us.”

The clearing was serene, blanketed with soft green grass. The tall trees surrounding them swayed gently in the evening breeze, their thick branches forming a natural barrier against the wind.

It was comforting in a way; even if a storm rolled through, the tents would be safe here.

Nick tilted his head back, his eyes tracing the jagged silhouettes of branches cutting across the dimming sky.

A movement caught his attention - a raven perched high in a pine tree. Its glossy feathers shone faintly in the fading light as it stared directly at him.

Nick felt a shiver creep down his spine. The bird’s piercing gaze felt almost too deliberate, its dark eyes unblinking as if trying to peer into his thoughts.

Nick’s breath hitched when a hand suddenly gripped his shoulder.

He spun around instinctively, his heart racing.

Charlie stood there, his hands raised in surrender, a surprised expression on his face.

“Whoa! It’s just me.”

Nick exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to his chest. “Charlie, you scared me.”

“Are you okay?” Charlie asked, concern etched into his features. “What’s wrong?”

Nick hesitated, glancing back at the pine tree. The raven was still there, its gaze unwavering.

“It’s nothing,” he said finally, his voice quieter than usual. “Just that weird bird. Its creeping me out.”

Charlie followed Nick’s gaze, his brows knitting together as his eyes landed on the raven.

For a moment, it looked as though the two were locked in some silent exchange. The tension in the air thickened, making Nick’s skin prickle.

Suddenly, the raven spread its wings and soared away, disappearing into the dense forest.

Nick turned back to Charlie, but something in his expression made Nick’s stomach tighten.

Charlie’s face was pale, his eyes wide with a haunted look that Nick hadn’t seen before.

“Charlie?” Nick asked, his voice laced with concern. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Charlie didn’t answer immediately. His gaze darted around the clearing as though he was just realizing where they were. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and unsteady.

“Where… where are we?”

Nick frowned, confused by the sudden shift in Charlie’s mood.

“The navigation broke midway. Tao mentioned this place as an alternative. We didn’t want to risk getting lost in the dark, so we came here instead.”

As Nick explained, Charlie’s eyes widened, panic flashing across his face. “Shit!”

Nick barely had time to respond before Charlie’s head snapped around, his movements frantic. He scanned the forest as though expecting something.

Before Nick could ask what was wrong, the others approached. Tao was carrying a few silver poles for the tents, his face alight with excitement.

“Isn’t this place great?” he said, gesturing around the clearing. “The forest is gorgeous, and it’s way cooler than some boring old campground.”

Nick glanced at Charlie, hoping Tao’s enthusiasm might settle him, but it only seemed to make things worse. Charlie grabbed Nick’s hand tightly, his grip trembling as he tried to pull him toward the car.

“Charlie, wait,” Nick said, his voice calm but firm. “Nothing’s going to happen. It’s safe here.”

Charlie shook his head, his voice strained.

“No, you don’t understand…” He paused, his eyes wide with urgency. “We have to leave now.”

Elle, who had been unpacking a bag nearby, spoke up.

“The sun’s almost down,” she said, her tone practical. “It’s too late to head back now. We should start setting up the tents soon.”

Darcy added cheerfully, “And start a fire! I’m freezing.”

For a moment, Charlie froze, his head tilting slightly as if he was listening to something Nick couldn’t hear. His fingers loosened around Nick’s hand, and he finally let go, his shoulders slumping in resignation.

“Fine,” Charlie muttered, his voice tight. “Set up the tents. I’ll… I’ll go collect some firewood.”

Nick’s brow furrowed as he watched Charlie turn and walk back towards the car.

“Charlie,” Nick called after him, but he didn’t respond.

The air felt heavy, like something was about to go terribly wrong.

Billy couldn’t believe it. They weren’t safe here. Not in this forest.

His breathing grew shallow as his thoughts raced.

The Salem Seven wouldn’t have dared to attack the other campsite - it was too crowded, too public. And he’d made sure it was secure.

The runes he’d etched into the earth there had taken him days to finish, days of working late into the night to ensure they would be safe.

But here? There wasn’t time to repeat the process.

They knew where he was now.

Billy’s eyes darted around the clearing, his heart pounding. The raven - it must have already flown back to its mistress to report that he was here.

He shuddered, his fingers clenching into fists.

His breaths came faster, more ragged. His chest tightened painfully, and the world around him blurred.

He pressed his back against the car, his trembling hands clutching at the metal for support.

I can’t protect them here.

I can’t protect any of them.

A cold hand rested gently on his back. Billy flinched and looked up sharply, his wide eyes meeting the knowing gaze of Agatha.

She stood beside him, her expression unreadable, her fingers lingering against his shoulder.

“Billy,” she said softly, her tone almost teasing but laced with concern. “You were right about them. But panicking won’t help anyone.”

He shook his head frantically, his voice trembling.

“They know I’m here. The raven- she’ll tell her everything. I don’t have time to-”

“Stop,” Agatha interrupted firmly, her grip on his shoulder tightening just enough to ground him. “Breathe. You’re no use to anyone like this.”

“I can’t-”

“Yes, you can,” she insisted, stepping in front of him and forcing him to meet her eyes.

“You’re smarter than this. Now, think. What do you know about keeping magic users out?”

Billy blinked, her words slowly cutting through the fog of panic in his mind.

“Runes,” he whispered hoarsely. “But I don’t have time to-”

“Not the kind you used at the last site,” Agatha interrupted again, rolling her eyes. “Simpler ones. Create a boundary where only you, the caster, can use magic inside. It’s temporary, but it’ll hold.”

Billy hesitated, memories flashing through his mind. “Wanda used something like that… to trap you.”

Agatha’s eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Oh, so you do remember that little humiliation. Thanks for the reminder, dear.”

Despite himself, Billy let out a shaky breath that might have been a laugh. Agatha sighed, her tone softening.

“Look, it’s not perfect, but it’ll give you a little breathing room. You have what you need, don’t you?”

Billy nodded reluctantly, his mind already turning over the steps he’d need to take.

“Yeah. In my bag.”

“Then get it,” she said, gesturing toward the car. “And stop standing here like a lost lamb.”

He nodded again, more decisively this time, and moved toward the back of the car. His legs felt heavy, but he pushed himself forward.

The trunk was already open, the contents mostly emptied. The others had scattered the tent poles and fabric across the clearing. All that remained were a few stray bags, including his own.

Billy rummaged in his bag, his fingers brushing over the familiar black notebook.

He paused for a second, gripping it tightly, before he reached into the side pocket, pulled out a piece of chalk, and slipped it into his jacket pocket. After tucking the notebook under his arm, he casually swung his backpack over his shoulder.

Without drawing attention to himself, he glanced around. Nobody seemed to notice him. Perfect.

With swift, quiet steps, he made his way toward the trees at the edge of the clearing. A quick look back confirmed the group was fully occupied.

Darcy and Tao were bickering over the best spot for the campfire, while Nick wrestled with a tent, sneaking occasional glances in his direction.

Billy quickly turned away, swallowing the lump rising in his throat, and focused on his task.

Setting up Runes.

He didn’t have time to create a perfect protective circle, but placing the right symbols around the clearing might at least keep them at bay for the time being.

“That’ll buy me more time,” he murmured under his breath.

A different thought crossed his mind. He needed more - something that would warn him if anyone entered the clearing. His fingers brushed the edges of the notebook as he opened it, scanning the familiar pages.

“You can never be too careful,” he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he searched for the right symbols.

With a quick motion, he grabbed a piece of chalk from his pocket and made his way over to a nearby tree. There, he carefully began to sketch the symbols, ensuring they were placed high enough to stay hidden.

As he worked, the lines formed a faint white glow, barely visible in the dim light of the forest.

When he finished the first set of runes, Billy paused, his gaze lingering on the faint glimmer of magic etched into the Tree.

The sound of laughter drifted through the trees, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Straightening up, he tucked the chalk back into his pocket and turned toward the camp.

The runes he’d drawn, though powerful, were incomplete. There were still so many others that needed to be placed around the clearing. Without them, the spell wouldn’t hold. They were nothing more than a few scattered runes, fragile and easily broken.

His gaze shifted nervously toward the campfire’s flickering light, where his friends were gathered, unaware of the urgency that had taken hold of him.

He shook his head, pushing the thought away and forcing himself to focus.

The circle had to be completed. As quickly as possible.

All he could do now was hope he wouldn’t be too late.

Chapter Text

The stars were clear tonight, scattered across the sky like tiny pinpricks of light. A few wispy clouds floated lazily by, but they didn’t dull the beautiful view. The moon hung bright and full, casting the clearing below in a soft, ethereal glow. 

It was almost too perfect, Nick thought, as he sat with the others around the crackling campfire. The flames flickered, their warmth cutting through the crisp night air.

The tents were already set up. There were three in total: one for Nick and Charlie, one for Tao and Isaac, and one for Elle, Tara, and Darcy to share.

Charlie wasn’t with them. He had excused himself a while ago, claiming he was going to collect more firewood. 

Nick wasn’t so sure that was the whole story. Charlie had been acting… off. Not that this was something new, but today it felt even worse.

Nick frowned at the fire, the light dancing in his eyes.                                                                                                                                  

Was Charlie nervous about camping? Missing his family? 

Or was it something else? 

He couldn’t shake the thought that it all started after Charlie saw that creepy crow.

“Hey, Tao,” Nick said, glancing at his friend. 

Tao was seated next to Isaac and Elle, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to toast a marshmallow to perfection. 

It was, Nick suspected, just an excuse to show off in front of Elle.

Tao hummed distractedly. “What?”

Nick hesitated, feeling a bit foolish. “Does Charlie have a fear of birds? Like… crows?” 

It sounded like a dumb question even to him, but he couldn’t think of a better explanation.

Tao looked up, startled. “Not that I know of. Why are you ask- AGH!” 

His marshmallow burst into flames. Tao shot to his feet, waving the stick frantically in the air. The flames died, but the marshmallow was now a charred, blackened lump.

Elle laughed, her voice light. “It’s fine, Tao. Just make another one.”

Isaac held up two unopened bags of marshmallows. 

“We’ve got plenty. Someone,” he said pointedly, looking at Darcy, “brought way too many.”

Darcy, mid-chew, gave a muffled protest around the marshmallows stuffed in her mouth. 

She held another bag in her hand. “Hmm-hmpf!”

Everyone burst into laughter, even Tao, who seemed to have completely forgotten about his failed marshmallow.

Nick’s laugh faltered as he heard a faint crack from the trees. His eyes darted to the forest’s edge, where a shadow moved. 

Charlie emerged, stepping into the firelight with a small bundle of sticks in his arms. It was hardly enough to justify a thirty-minute absence.

The group turned to look. Tara smiled warmly. “Oh, Charlie! You must be freezing. Come sit with us.”

Elle patted the spot next to Nick with a knowing smile. “Here, sit next to Nick. He’ll share his blanket with you.”

Charlie approached, setting the sticks down near the marshmallow stash. He dropped into the spot beside Nick, leaves clinging to his dark curls. 

Without thinking, Nick reached over, carefully pulling the leaves from Charlie’s hair.

“Where’ve you been?” Nick asked, his tone teasing but his gaze questioning. “You look like you’ve been crawling through bushes.”

Charlie shrugged. “Just… collecting wood. You wouldn’t believe it, but this forest has barely any decent sticks.”

Nick raised a brow. “Sure,” he said, unconvinced. He didn’t push it, though. Nick didn’t want to ruin the evening. There would be time for questions later.

Elle handed Charlie a stick and a bag of marshmallows. “Here. Take some. We’ve got plenty.”

Charlie’s laugh sounded hollow. Nick noticed, but he didn’t say anything. He leaned back, trying to enjoy the warmth of the fire and the sounds of his friends laughing and talking.

Time passed in a blur of singing, joking, and stories. The marshmallows dwindled, and even Darcy seemed to have had her fill. 

Nick held his hands out to the fire, enjoying the way the heat seeped into his skin.

Tao had disappeared a few minutes ago, muttering something about getting “a surprise” from the car. Nick was immediately suspicious.

When Tao returned, his face was lit with a mischievous grin, the firelight casting shadows across his features. He held up a dark, rectangular box.

“What’s that?” Elle asked, raising an eyebrow.

Tao crouched by the fire, placing the box carefully in front of him. 

“You’ll see,” he said, a sly grin spreading across his face.

Nick leaned forward, curiosity piqued. Beside him, Charlie did the same, their shoulders brushing.

Charlie squinted at the box as Tao lifted the lid. Inside was a dark, polished board etched with intricate black inscriptions.

“A Ouija board?” Charlie asked, his voice low. “Where the hell did you get that?”

Tao shrugged. “Who knows?”

He carefully pulled the Ouija board out of its box, his hands brushing the edges as if it were something fragile. With a deliberate motion, he laid it out on a cloth spread across the ground. 

“It’s perfect!” Tao exclaimed, his excitement growing. “Come on, what better place to use it than here?”

Elle crossed her arms. “You want to talk to ghosts? Seriously?”

“Obviously!” Tao said, unbothered. “Isaac, you in?”

Isaac closed his book, sliding closer. “If you insist. I don’t mind.”

Elle and Tara exchanged glances before nodding. “Why not?” Elle said, leaning back against a log.

Darcy grinned, sitting up straighter. “I’m in!” she declared enthusiastically.

Tara rolled her eyes. “Of course, you are.”

Darcy turned to her, feigning offense. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Their playful bickering filled the space, drawing amused chuckles from the group. Tao, however, clapped his hands to reclaim attention. 

“Alright, alright, settle down,” he said. He turned toward Nick and Charlie. “What about you two? You in?”

Nick glanced at Charlie, who looked hesitant, his gaze fixed on the flickering fire. 

After a long pause, Charlie finally muttered, “I don’t know. I haven’t had the best experience with those things.”

“Oh, come on,” Tao urged, rolling his eyes dramatically.

Next to Charlie, Elle leaned closer, her voice low enough for only him - and Nick, seated on the other side - to hear. 

“Humor him. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Charlie hesitated, his eyes darting from Elle to Tao and then to Nick. Finally, he sighed. “Fine.”

Tao grinned triumphantly and then turned his expectant gaze to Nick.

Nick shrugged, a playful smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, sure. As long as I don’t get possessed or something.”

Darcy laughed, Tara groaned, and Tao began setting up the board, his enthusiasm infectious.

Soon, everyone sat in a circle around the Ouija board. 

Charlie watched Tao light one last candle, which he placed near the board for added atmosphere. The fire crackled behind Charlie, warming his back, while Nick, seated to his left, provided a comforting warmth of his own. 

Tao had scattered several candles around, claiming it was to “set the mood,” though Charlie doubted they’d need any more ambiance than the eerie night itself.

“This is going to be a complete fail,” Nick muttered under his breath, shooting Charlie a sidelong glance.

Charlie noticed Elle’s raised eyebrows, clearly skeptical, and Tara’s doubtful expression as well. Neither of them seemed all that convinced.

“All set!” Tao said brightly, rubbing his hands together with an exaggerated grin. “So, how do we start?”

Isaac, who was holding the instructions, cleared his throat. “We should probably go over the rules first.”

“Oh, come on,” Tao groaned.

“It’s not like anything’s going to happen anyway,” Elle added dryly.

Charlie’s voice cut through the chatter, firm and certain. “If we’re doing this, we’re doing it properly.

“See? Charlie agrees with me,” Isaac said, looking smug as he unfolded the sheet of paper and cleared his throat again.

Tao flopped onto the ground with an exaggerated sigh. “Fine, read the stupid rules.”

Isaac straightened the paper and began. “Number one, do not use the Ouija Board alone. Number two-”

Charlie tuned him out almost immediately. He didn’t need to listen; all Ouija boards followed the same principles. The one he had at home operated the same way, though his experience with it was far from normal. 

Unlike the others, Charlie already knew exactly how serious these things could get.

From the corner of his vision, he caught a shimmer of movement. 

Behind Isaac, Agatha materialized, her lilac dress gently billowing as if caught in a breeze only she could feel. Her silver hair shimmering in the candlelight.

Charlie barely reacted, having grown used to her sudden appearances. He was relieved he hadn’t flinched, knowing Nick was already worried about him after how he’d been acting today. For now, though, that didn’t matter.

Agatha’s voice cut through his thoughts, soft and laced with amusement. “A party? Without moi?”

Charlie narrowed his eyes at her, silently urging her not to make a scene.

Agatha smirked. “Relax, darling. I’m just here to enjoy the show. And for the record, I didn’t find any trace of the Salem Seven nearby. You can stop fretting, Billy.”

Her casual tone did little to ease Charlie’s anxiety. “You’re sure?” he murmured under his breath, so quietly no one else could hear.

“Positive,” Agatha replied, her grin widening. “But let me liven things up a little, hm?”

Charlie shot her a warning look, his jaw tightening.

Agatha chuckled softly, waving him off. “Oh, come now. Trust me.”

Despite himself, Charlie felt the corner of his mouth twitch. He gave her a subtle nod, knowing she was unlikely to cause real harm - but you could never be too sure with her.

He refocused on the group just as Isaac finished reading the rules. His tone had been serious, but the faint smile on his lips betrayed that he, too, saw this as more of a joke than anything else.

“Finally!” Tao said, clapping his hands together. He motioned for everyone to lean closer. “Okay, everyone, gather ‘round. Time to summon a ghost!”

Tao’s attempt at a mysterious tone fell flat, especially since Darcy was grinning so widely it looked like her face might split in two.

Agatha rolled her eyes dramatically, gliding closer to the board. 

“Summon me? Oh, darling,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she addressed Tao, “you don’t just summon me.”

Charlie bit his lip, struggling to keep his laughter in check. He was the only one who could see her, after all.

“Right,” Tao continued, oblivious. “Now, we all put our hands on the planchette.”

Everyone complied, placing their hands on the small wooden piece. Charlie noticed Agatha moving closer to the edge of the circle, her translucent form illuminated by the flickering candlelight.

As their fingers made contact, the candles around them wavered, their flames shrinking slightly before returning to normal. 

Charlie’s gaze darted to Isaac, whose usual calm demeanor wavered as his eyes flicked nervously toward the flickering candles.

Agatha smirked, her silvery eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, this should be fun.”

Tao asked dramatically, “Okay, so… is there somebody there?”

Charlie could tell that Tao wasn’t really expecting anything to happen. Still, his eyes widened as the planchette began to creep - slow and steady - toward YES.

Elle snorted, shaking her head as she turned to Tao. “Oh, come on, Tao. Did you rig this thing? Or are you using magnets? Because, honestly, I don’t buy it.”

Tao looked genuinely offended. “I didn’t do anything! Come on, which one of you moved it?” He glanced suspiciously around the group.

Everyone shook their heads. Charlie fought to keep a straight face as Agatha floated behind Tao, her mouth twisted in an exaggerated smirk.

Tara tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. “Are you sure you didn’t do something to it?”

“Of course I’m sure!” Tao exclaimed, throwing up his hands. “It’s brand-new! I just bought it last week from that thrift shop down the street.”

Charlie’s lips twitched. “Maybe it really is a ghost,” he said, his voice deliberately neutral.

Darcy grinned. “Maybe it’s a nice ghost!”

Agatha burst out laughing, her silver hair shimmering as she doubled over in amusement. 

Charlie winced at the sound, involuntarily flinching, which Nick noticed. Misinterpreting the reaction, Nick placed his hand over Charlie’s, his warm touch grounding him.

Charlie almost felt bad for them. Almost.

Darcy leaned closer to the board, her grin widening. “So, uh… ghost! Are you nice?”

Agatha, still cackling, leaned over the board dramatically and whispered, “No,” her voice low and sinister, though only Charlie could hear her.

The planchette, with Agatha’s invisible guidance, slid slowly to NO.

Elle groaned. “Very funny, Tao. Are you trying to freak us out now?”

“I swear I’m not doing this!” Tao insisted. He gestured wildly at the board. “Why would I go through all this effort just to mess with you guys?”

Isaac raised an eyebrow. “I mean, it is something you’d do.”

“Thank you for your support, Isaac,” Tao deadpanned.

Darcy’s eyes lit up with excitement. “So, if it’s not Tao, then who? Or what?” She leaned closer to the board, her anticipation growing.

Tara sighed, tugging Darcy back slightly by her sleeve. “Can we not encourage the ghost? Or whatever this is?”

Nick glanced between Charlie and the board, his brow furrowed. “So… uh, if it’s not Tao, and it’s not anyone else here…” He hesitated. “What do we do now?”

Agatha floated closer to Nick, pretending to examine him. “A skeptic. How cute,” she mused, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Charlie coughed into his hand to hide his laugh, shaking his head slightly at Agatha.

Elle rolled her eyes. “What we do now is pack this up and move on. This is a waste of time.”

Tao gasped dramatically. “How dare you disrespect the sacred Ouija board!”

“Sacred?” Isaac snorted. “You literally just said you got it from a thrift shop.”

Tao ignored him. “Let’s ask it another question! Something… something big!” He turned to Charlie, his eyes gleaming. “You’re good at this spooky stuff. You ask it!”

Charlie hesitated, glancing at Agatha. She smirked and motioned for him to go ahead. “Humor them,” she mouthed.

“Fine,” Charlie muttered. He leaned forward slightly. “Um… are you here to… harm us?”

The planchette moved again, this time quicker, sliding ominously to NO before veering sharply toward MAYBE.

“Oh, that’s comforting,” Tara muttered under her breath.

Darcy laughed nervously. “It’s probably just shy!”

Agatha floated lazily over the group, whispering sarcastically, “Shy, sure. Let’s go with that.”

Charlie bit his lip, trying to suppress another laugh.

Tao clapped his hands together again. “Okay, this is officially the coolest thing I’ve ever done.”

Elle groaned. “You’re impossible.”

“Impossible or amazing?” Tao shot back, winking.

“Neither,” Isaac replied dryly. “Can we go now? This is getting boring.”

Agatha leaned toward Charlie, her voice dripping with mischief. “Shall I give them a proper scare?”

Charlie shot her a warning look, but his lips quirked into a small smile. “Don’t.”

Agatha pouted dramatically but didn’t push it further.

Charlie quickly thanked and said a respectful goodbye to the “ghost they summoned,” even though it wasn’t necessary with Agatha - he just didn’t want his friends to try it themselves and, as Nick had put it, get possessed.

Tara stood, brushing off her jeans. “All right, that’s enough ghost hunting for one night. I’m going to bed.”

Darcy whined. “But it was just getting good!”

“Good?” Tara raised an eyebrow. “We’ve been sitting here for an hour, and the scariest thing that’s happened is Tao being Tao.”

“Rude,” Tao muttered.

Nick sighed, shaking his head slightly. “Alright, let’s finish this up.”

Agatha, however, wasn’t done. She floated closer to the group, mischief sparkling in her eyes. As everyone began standing and stretching, the fire flickered ominously, casting long shadows across their faces.

Tao froze. “Did… did anyone feel that?”

Darcy gasped dramatically. “Oh my God, is that a cold spot? Isn’t that what happens when-”

The flames in the fire pit suddenly whooshed higher, startling everyone. Tara let out a small yelp, clutching Elle’s arm.

“What the-?!” Elle exclaimed, looking wide-eyed at Tao. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything!” Tao insisted, holding up his hands.

Agatha smirked, her voice a low whisper only Charlie could hear. “Should I make the trees move too? Or maybe… tip over a tent?”

Charlie shot her a sharp look, but his lips betrayed a slight smirk. 

“Agatha,” he muttered under his breath, “don’t push it.”

The wind picked up, rattling the branches around them. Isaac clutched his book tightly, squinting into the shadows. “Uh… does anyone else think we should maybe leave now?”

Darcy spun in place, her arms out. “This is AMAZING. It’s like we’re in a real-life horror movie!”

“More like a bad B-movie,” Tara muttered, dragging her towards the tents. “Come on, Darcy, before you start inviting the ghosts for tea.”

Nick placed a steadying hand on Charlie’s back, his brow furrowed. “You okay?”

Charlie nodded, his gaze flickering to where Agatha hovered near the fire, clearly enjoying herself. The flames dimmed back to normal as she gave him an innocent shrug.

Darcy sighed dramatically as everyone trudged to their tents. “Fine, but I’m telling you, we just scared off the ghost of the century.”

Behind them, Agatha’s laugh echoed softly, just loud enough to make Tao stumble over his own feet. 

Charlie hid a grin as Nick pulled him closer.

“Next time,” Nick murmured, “we’re skipping the ghost stuff.”

Charlie didn’t respond, but the faint, knowing smile on his face didn’t go unnoticed.

Chapter Text

The forest was enveloped in an eerie silence, the kind that presses against you, quieting your thoughts.

The occasional whoooo of an owl echoed through the woods, a sound that felt miles away, though it was only a few trees over. The full moon hung above them, casting its pale glow over the clearing, washing everything in a cold, silver light.

It was enough to illuminate the space, even without the warmth of the campfire, which they’d put out hours ago.

The fire had been comforting, a crackling warmth against the chill that had begun to settle, but no one wanted to risk leaving it unattended all night.

After the unsettling encounter with the obviously rigged Ouija board, the group retreated into the girls’ tent.

It had been a while since they’d all gathered in such a cramped space, but they made do.

Monopoly had become their game of choice, though it wasn’t long before the competitive streaks emerged.

Elle and Isaac controlled almost every property, drowning in a sea of fake money while Tara and Charlie were quick to bow out. Tao had been close to bankrupt, constantly grumbling about how the game was rigged and based purely on luck.

It hadn’t helped that the game had dragged on far longer than anyone anticipated.

The sun had long since set, casting a dim glow over their campsite, and everyone was starting to grow restless.

With a dramatic sigh, Elle finally tossed the dice aside. “Alright, that’s enough of this,” she announced, stretching her arms over her head.

She exchanged a quick glance with Tara before turning back to the group.

“We need some girl time, so boys, take a hike. Tent’s off-limits for the next hour.”

Tao groaned in protest, but Isaac just laughed, gathering up the game pieces.

“Fair enough,” he said, already heading toward the campfire.

Charlie gave Nick a quick smile before following the others out, leaving Elle, Tara  and Darcy behind to their much-needed time alone.

Tao and Isaac, wandered off to their own tent, where their low voices could barely be heard.

Nick and Charlie, however, were already in their sleeping bags, tangled together in the quiet warmth of each other’s presence.

Nick, tired from the day’s events, drifted off quickly, his head resting against Charlie’s shoulder.

It was an hour later when Nick woke, a groggy haze clouding his mind.

A cold draft had slipped into the tent, brushing against his skin and rousing him from sleep.

The air was cooler now, and the soft rustling of the trees outside seemed more pronounced in the silence of the night.

He blinked at his phone, the screen illuminating his tired face. It was just past 3 AM.

He shifted in his sleeping bag, still half-asleep, reaching out for Charlie. But when he turned to look, he found the space next to him empty.

Nick froze, a jolt of panic shooting through him.

Where is he?

He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the confusion, but it didn’t help. The tent felt too quiet, the absence of Charlie’s warmth all too real.

With a deep breath, Nick sat up, his heartbeat quickening.

He scanned the small space around them in the woods, his eyes searching for any sign of Charlie, though he knew he wouldn’t find him here.

He waited for about five minutes, hoping Charlie had just stepped away briefly and would return soon – he knew Charlie didn’t feel particularly comfortable here.

The silence stretched on, pulling at his patience.

He swung his legs out of the sleeping bag, the cold floor beneath him grounding him in reality.

Quickly, he pulled on his jacket and shoes. Maybe Charlie was still outside.

He unzipped the tent, and the cold night air immediately hit him, sharp and biting. He pulled his jacket tighter around himself, shivering slightly.

It hadn’t been this cold earlier, but then again, the absence of the fire probably made all the difference.

He stepped outside, the damp earth crunching beneath his boots as he looked around.

The girls’ tent was dark, but from Tao and Isaac’s, he could see the faint glow of a flashlight through the fabric. Without thinking, Nick started toward their tent, his footsteps quick and purposeful.

As he got closer, he could hear their voices, low but distinct in the stillness of the night.

Isaac’s voice floated to him first, eager as always. “I told you, the adaptation is trash. You have to read the book. It’s way better.”

Tao’s voice followed, a note of frustration creeping in. “But the book has, like, 700 pages! I don’t have time for that.”

Nick smirked.

He didn’t want to scare them, so he knocked gently on the fabric of the tent before unzipping it.

He ducked his head inside, the dim glow of the flashlight illuminating Tao and Isaac sitting cross-legged, surrounded by crumpled snack wrappers.

Both of them turned toward him, surprise etched on their faces.

“Hey,” Nick whispered, his voice tense, “Is Charlie in here with you?”

Isaac frowned. “No. Why? What’s going on?”

Nick hesitated, his fingers gripping the edge of the tent flap. “I… I can’t find him. He’s not in our tent.”

Tao’s face shifted from confusion to mild alarm. “Did you check the whole camp? Maybe he went to the girls or-”

“Not yet,” Nick interrupted. “I haven’t been to the girls’ tent or near the car yet. I just… I thought I’d check here first.”

Tao exchanged a quick glance with Isaac, and without hesitation, both of them began scrambling to their feet.

“Okay,” Tao said, reaching for his flashlight. “We’ll help you look.”

Nick nodded gratefully, stepping back to let them out. Isaac flicked on his flashlight, the beam cutting through the night, while Nick used his phone’s flashlight.

Together, they walked through the clearing, their breaths visible in the cold air.

“We’ll go to the girls,” Tao suggested, pointing toward their darkened tent. “You head toward the car. If we find him, we’ll come get you.”

“Yeah, okay,” Nick agreed, his heart hammering in his chest.

He watched as Tao and Isaac approached the girls’ tent, their movements cautious and quiet so as not to scare them. Nick turned toward the other side of the camp, where the car was parked.

The beam from his phone’s flashlight bounced off tree trunks and the damp grass, but there was no sign of Charlie.

Nick called his name softly, not wanting to disturb the whole campsite, but the only response was the rustle of leaves in the distance.

When he reached the car, he checked around it thoroughly, his heart sinking further with every passing second. The doors were locked, the windows fogged from the cold. No Charlie.

He let his flashlight sweep across the campsite as he stood there, the silence around him growing heavier.

In the distance, he could see Tao and Isaac walking back from the girls’ tent, their heads shaking. They hadn’t found him either.

Nick’s chest tightened, his throat dry. This wasn’t like Charlie. He wasn’t the kind of person to wander off without saying anything. The growing unease twisted into something sharper - guilt.

Charlie hadn’t even wanted to come to this camping site. He’d made it clear he wasn’t comfortable, but Nick had pushed for it anyway, convincing him it would be fun, that they’d all be together.

And now Charlie was out there somewhere, alone in the cold, and Nick had no way of helping him.

He stood there as his thoughts spiraled.

What if he panicked?

What if he ran and got lost?

His fingers tightened around his phone, and he took a shaky breath, forcing himself to stay calm.

It was all their fault. - His fault.

Nick let his gaze sweep over the clearing one more time, his breath catching when he spotted a faint light flickering between the trees in the distance.

It was dim, barely visible, but undeniably there. It had to be far away, deeper into the forest.

He froze.

That has to be Charlie, he thought, the logic rushing in to support his fragile hope.

Who else would be out here at this hour?

They hadn’t passed any nearby villages or even cars on the way to the campsite. The forest had felt vast, isolated, like it belonged to them alone. That flickering glow couldn’t be anyone else.

“Tao! Isaac!” Nick called out, his voice louder now, urgency breaking through his earlier caution.

He jogged toward Tao and Isaac, his breath hitching in his chest. The two turned to face him, their flashlights wobbling slightly with their movement.

“What is it?” Tao asked, his voice laced with concern.

Nick pointed toward the faint light. “There. Between the trees. Do you see it?”

Both of them squinted, and after a moment, Isaac nodded. “Yeah, I see it. Barely, though. It’s far.”

“It has to be Charlie,” Nick said firmly, the conviction in his tone almost masking the rising fear in his chest. “Who else would it be?”

Tao shot Isaac a wary glance before turning back to Nick, his expression uncertain. “It might be, but… what if it’s something else?”

Nick’s fists clenched at his sides, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. “We can’t just stand here. If it’s him, he might need us!”

They hesitated for a moment before both of them shrugged. “Fine.”

Tao spoke first, voice calm but firm. “The girls will stay here in case he comes back - or if he suddenly shows up.”

As if on cue, Elle unzipped the tent behind them and stepped outside, her face a mix of worry and determination. She crossed her arms, the chill of the night air making her shiver slightly.

“We can keep watch here,” she offered. “If Charlie returns, we’ll make sure he’s safe and let you know as soon as we can.”

Inside the tent, flashlights flickered as the girls sifted through their things, quiet murmurs filling the air.

The mood was heavy, a sense of unease hanging over them all.

Isaac glanced between them. “Maybe he walked out toward the road or the gas station we passed earlier.”

Tao nodded. “We’ll handle that. Isaac and I can check that direction.”

He paused and looked at Nick, his expression serious. “But you shouldn’t go alone. We can’t be sure its really him. So I don’t think-”

“It is him,” Nick interrupted, his voice sharper than he intended. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It has to be. I’ll go.”

Tao frowned. “Nick-”

“No.” Nick’s voice softened but stayed resolute. “It’s my fault. I pushed him to stay here, even when Charlie obliviously didn’t want to. If he’s out there because of me… I need to make it right.”

For a moment, there was silence between them, broken only by the rustling of the trees in the cold night breeze.

Tao exchanged a glance with Isaac and then with Elle.

Finally, Tao gave a reluctant nod. “Fine. But be careful. If you’re not back soon, we’ll come after you, okay?”

Nick nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He adjusted his jacket, the weight of his guilt settling heavily on his shoulders.

Without another word, he turned toward the woods, his phone still casting a dim light in front of him.

“Be safe!” Elle called after him, her voice fading as Nick quickly crossed the clearing.

The world seemed to close in around him as he entered the trees, the branches arching above like dark, skeletal fingers.

The air was colder here, the moonlight barely reaching through the dense canopy.

The faint glow of the distant light pulsed softly, almost like it was waiting for him.

Nick quickened his pace, weaving through the underbrush, the sound of his footsteps swallowed by the oppressive stillness of the forest.

Each step took him farther from the others, farther from the safety of the camp - and closer to the unknown, which he desperately hoped was Charlie.

Please let it be him, he thought, over and over, as he disappeared into the dark embrace of the woods.

Charlie’s eyes flew open, his body jerking upright in a panic. His chest heaved as his mind scrambled for clarity, expecting an attack - expecting them.

“Relax,” Agatha’s voice floated through the still air, calm and laced with her usual smugness. “No one’s here but you, your little boyfriend, and me, darling.”

She paused for a moment before adding, her tone losing its usual playfulness and becoming unnervingly serious, “Though, I must say, one of your precious runes seems to have cracked.”

Billy’s heart still raced, but he let out a slow breath, forcing himself to focus.

He glanced at Nick, still fast asleep beside him, his peaceful expression almost enough to make Billy hesitate. Almost .

Carefully, Billy slipped out of his sleeping bag, wincing at the faint rustle of fabric.

He grabbed his jacket, pulling it on quickly before sliding into his boots. The last thing he wanted was to wake Nick - or worse, the entire camp.

He crouched low, pausing by the tent’s entrance, listening for any sounds from the others.

With one last glance over his shoulder, Billy unzipped the tent just enough to slip out, the cold night air biting against his skin. He made his way toward the tree line, moving with practiced stealth.

His path took him deeper into the forest, where the shadows grew thicker and the air heavier.

Billy had placed the circle farther out, away from the camp, where his friends wouldn’t accidentally stumble across the runes.

The specific rune that had broken the circle lay in the direction of the road, near the edge of the woods.

As he reached a dense thicket, he paused, squinting into the darkness.

Great, he thought bitterly, crouching low. Guess I’m crawling through bushes after all.

He pushed forward, the branches scraping against his jacket and catching in his hair. When he finally emerged on the other side, his eyes immediately fell on the circle etched into the dirt.

Or what was left of it.

The rune closest to him was smudged, its lines faint and uneven, almost as if something had deliberately tampered with it. He frowned, crouching closer to inspect the damage.

Probably a squirrel or something.

Normally, that kind of interference wouldn’t be possible. The runes should have held, their energy strong enough to withstand the random movements of wildlife.

But these weren’t his best work. He hadn’t had enough time to craft them properly, and he’d been distracted the entire time.

His thoughts drifted as he worked to redraw the rune, carefully carving the lines back into the soil with his fingers.

Where are they?

The question hung in his mind, heavy and unshakable.

For days, he’d felt their presence, catching glimpses of crows and owls out of the corner of his eye. They’d been watching him, taunting him.

But nothing had happened. Not yet.

As he finished the final stroke, the rune pulsed faintly, a soft glow illuminating the ground around it. He exhaled in relief, brushing the dirt from his hands.

“Charlie! … Charlie!”

The distant sound of Tao’s voice made his blood run cold. He froze, heart hammering as the realization hit him - they were looking for him.

Shit.

He turned and moved quickly, but quietly, through the thick underbrush, trying not to stumble over the roots and rocks hidden in the shadows. His heart raced with every step.

The last thing he needed was to be caught out here - too many questions he couldn’t answer.

As he crawled back through a dense patch of bushes, he couldn’t help but curse under his breath.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Billy scrambled to his feet, swiping at the dirt on his pants in a rushed attempt to make himself presentable. He needed to get back to camp, and fast.

He had been so careful!

Billy froze at the edge of a bush that separated the woods from the camp.

What do I tell them? he thought, pushing the branches aside to get a glimpse of the clearing.

He stepped forward, but his foot landed on a twig. It cracked loudly beneath his weight.

Fuck.

Suddenly, a beam of light from Tao’s flashlight swept toward him.

“Charlie! There you are!” Tao’s voice rang out, full of relief.

He ran toward Billy. “We’ve all been looking for you. Where were you?”

Billy hesitated for a second, then muttered, “I had to step outside for a moment, needed some fresh air. I just went into the woods for a bit. My phone died, so I couldn’t check in.”

To prove his point, he held up his phone, showing the dead screen.

Tao didn’t seem to question him, still too relieved to have found him. He quickly led Billy back to the others.

Isaac looked up from where he was standing by the girls’ tent, his face a mix of relief and confusion. “You scared us. Where have you been?”

Tara folded her arms and shot Billy a look. “You gave us a real fright. We thought something happened to you.”

Elle added, her voice softer, “We thought you were in trouble.”

Darcy joked, “Or maybe kidnapped by the ghost.”

Tara scoffed, “You’re probably the only one who thought that.”

Billy was still trying to collect his thoughts when he noticed something was off.

Someone is missing.

He looked toward their tent, which was now empty.

“Where’s Nick?” Billy asked, his heart sinking.

Agatha, standing next to him, shook her head. “He’s not here.”

Elle spoke up, “He went to look for you.”

Tao, who had been quiet, suddenly seemed more agitated. “See? This is why you don’t go off on your own! Why would Charlie be so deep in the woods? Makes no sense!”

Charlie frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Tara, stepping forward, explained, “The guys saw a light in the woods. Nick thought it was you.”

Elle checked her phone. “It’s been about 5 minutes since he ran off,” she said, glancing up at Charlie.

Charlie was still processing when Tao pointed further into the forest. “That light. It’s coming from the hills.”

Everyone turned to look. From their vantage point on the hill, they could clearly see a bright, orange light flickering in the distance.

It wasn’t a campfire - it wasn’t even a regular flashlight. It was… too bright.

Charlie squinted, his mind racing. He focused on the light, trying to block out everything else.

A faint pull of magic… The Salem Seven.

Suddenly, it clicked.

They had to have damaged the rune to lure him away from the rest.

The light was a trap. A bait.

Billy’s stomach twisted in knots. He cursed under his breath.

What if Nick gets to that light? He couldn’t bear to think about it.

Tao, oblivious to Billy’s internal panic, was tapping furiously on his phone. “No signal. Weird. I had service a minute ago.”

Charlie cursed, looking at his friends. “You take the car and get to the gas station. You’ll have signal there. I’ll go after Nick. If I get closer to the tower, I’ll be able to contact you.”

Tao immediately volunteered. “I’ll come with you.”

Charlie’s gaze held him in place. Tao hesitated, seeing the unspoken urgency in Charlie’s expression.

He nodded reluctantly. “Fine, but don’t do anything reckless.”

Elle took Charlie’s hand, her grip firm. “Be careful.”

Tara added, “Call us as soon as you find him.”

Isaac chimed in, “If we don’t hear anything from you in the next hour, we’re calling the police. We’ll get a search team out here.“

Charlie nodded, determined to avoid that at all costs.

He gave Agatha a quick look. “ Time to go.”

And with that, Charlie disappeared into the darkness of the forest, vanishing from sight as the others watched helplessly.

Chapter Text

Nick’s feet crunched softly against the forest floor, each step heavier than the last as the faint glow of his phone’s flashlight flickered uncertainly through the dense trees. The forest seemed ancient here, thick with gnarled branches and tangled underbrush. At first, he had walked slowly, trying to steady his breath, but as minutes stretched on, a gnawing worry began to twist deep inside his chest. His pace quickened, thorns scraping against his jacket.

Guilt gnawed at him, sharp and relentless. This was his fault, he should have kept a closer eye on Charlie, should have stopped him from wandering off alone into the dark. The trees around him loomed like silent witnesses, their skeletal branches seeming to close in, accusing him without a word.

The forest floor was uneven, roots jutting out like hidden traps, rocks waiting to trip him with every frantic step. Nick’s eyes darted wildly, searching for a clear path, but the endless rows of indistinguishable trees swallowed any sense of direction. Pushing through a thick patch of brambles, he winced as the branches tore at his skin.

He forced himself to focus on the faint glimmer of light flickering just ahead. It had to be Charlie. But suddenly, a flicker of doubt cracked through his hope. What if it’s not him? What if all this time he had been telling himself that light was Charlie , had just made it up to calm himself down? What if Charlie wasn’t even in the forest at all? What if he was nothing more than an idiot wandering alone, following no one, while Charlie was safe somewhere else, with the others? Those lights could be nothing more than campers’ fires or signals.

Suddenly, a rustle shattered the quiet, and something darted from the bushes beside him. Nick froze, heart leaping to his throat. He spun around, his flashlight beam catching a flash of rusty red fur — a fox, slipping away silently into the shadows. His breath came in ragged gasps, adrenaline flooding through his veins. A shaky sigh escaped him as he tried to calm the frantic pounding in his chest.

Nick let out a short, humorless laugh at himself, shaking his head. Here he was, the brave guy, wandering alone through a godforsaken forest at three in the morning , and now he was scared of a damn fox jumping out from the bushes. How was he supposed to find Charlie like this?

He glanced down at his phone, 9% battery left. A wave of frustration crashed over him. How had he been so reckless? No power bank, no plan. He barely even remembered how he’d gotten here in the first place, let alone how he was supposed to find his way back?

Squinting, Nick scanned the dense foliage and caught sight of the glow again, closer now, just beyond a cluster of trees. His steps hastened with renewed urgency. The light grew stronger as he approached, revealing a small clearing bathed in an unnatural, eerie glow. His breath stuttered. This wasn’t what he expected.

There was a campfire. At least, it looked like one from a distance, glowing softly in the middle of the clearing, right where you’d expect a group to set it up for the night. But there were no tents. No sleeping bags. No backpacks. Just the fire.

Nick narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of it. It looked like a campfire, but… something was off. It was too still. Too bright.

Oh god. There was no smoke curling into the night sky. No flickering flames dancing in the breeze. Just that steady, unnatural glow.

He rubbed his eyes hard , but the light didn’t change. Didn’t move. Didn’t fade. It stayed exactly where it was, casting that strange, cold radiance across the trees, as if daring him to come closer.

Then he saw them — two figures. They were already there. Standing on either side of the glowing light, one to the left, one to the right, like statues. Nick hadn’t seen them at first. They hadn’t moved. Not once. Just… there. Still. Waiting.

Long, dark robes cloaked their bodies, falling to the ground in heavy folds that barely stirred with the wind. Their backs were turned to him, heads slightly bowed, as if in some silent ritual. They were tall — too tall.

His breath caught. Were they… people? Campers didn’t stand like that. Hikers didn’t stand like that. No one did.

The silence deepened. And Nick took a step back without realizing it.

And then — Crack.

Shit.

Nick froze. His eyes dropped to the forest floor. An old branch. Snapped clean under his shoe. Loud in the silence.

Too loud.

Had they heard that?

His gaze snapped upward.

And that’s when they turned. Both of them. At once. Not jerkily, not like startled people. Fluidly. Like liquid poured into a new shape. Like their bones bent differently than his.

Nick couldn’t breathe.

Their faces were Pale. Almost glowing in the unearthly light. Not just pale like moonlit skin, but wrong. Smooth in places where faces shouldn’t be. Eyes too still. Mouths that seemed unused to expression.

There was something hollow in their gaze. Like they were looking at him through a wall of glass.

He couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. There was no logic left in his mind, no plan, no clever internal voice whispering what to do next.

Only one thought remained: You don’t belong here. You need to run. Now.

So he ran.

Without thinking, without looking back. His legs moved before the rest of him caught up.

Branches whipped past him. Shadows blurred. His breath tore from his lungs in shallow gasps as he stumbled through the darkness.

The forest had erupted. Now every rustle, every snapped twig sounded like thunder crashing around him.

Nick ran. Branches tore at his arms, shadows streaked past him, and the blood in his ears roared louder than the wind.

But none of it mattered. He could hear everything, the frantic thud of his own footsteps, his breath coming in ragged, gasping bursts. And his heartbeat hammered against his ribcage like it was trying to escape.

The light had vanished. Swallowed by the woods like it had never even been there.

His phone’s flashlight, trembling in his hand, had switched off somewhere in the chaos. He didn’t remember how — maybe he’d hit the button, maybe it had died, he didn’t know. It didn’t matter.

All that mattered was moving. He stumbled over a thick root, nearly faceplanting into the undergrowth, but caught himself just in time. His legs were shaking. His hands stung where they’d scraped rough bark. His breath burned in his throat. He didn’t know where he was anymore.

The trees were a blur , everything looked the same. No paths. No sky. No sense of direction. Just forest, and dark, and fear.

His mind reeled back to the clearing. He couldn’t stop thinking about it.

The fire, or whatever it had been. It had looked like a campfire from a distance, soft and warm and familiar. But it was just cold, steady and wrong. Like it wasn’t made to warm anything. Just to lure. To draw things in. And he had come. So easy. Was that the point? Had it been a trap? A lure?

His stomach twisted.

And the figures… God, the way they’d stood. Perfectly still. Like statues. Like they’d been waiting for him.

And their faces… He shuddered. Too pale. Too blank. Like masks made of wax, left out too long in the cold. No emotion. Just... eyes. Eyes that didn’t blink. Eyes that looked at him like he didn’t belong there. Like he was interrupting something private. Eyes that disnt belong to a living human beeing.

His brain tried to label the figures, to force the impossible into familiar shapes.

Werewolves? No.

Vampires? Maybe. They fit the look. But that didn’t feel right either. They were something else. Something worse. And he... He’d walked right into it. Like bait.

He clenched his jaw, lungs burning as he dodged a low branch. He didn’t know what they were. He didn’t want to know.

His shoulder slammed into a tree, snapping him out of the spiral. He grunted, catching himself, breathing hard. His hands were scraped raw. His sleeve torn.

Something rustled to his left. He spun around so fast it made him dizzy. His eyes searched the dark, breath hitching, arms raised , but there was nothing. Just trees. Everywhere just trees.

He turned slowly, carefully this time, his boots crunching softly on fallen leaves. He avoided every twig, every branch. The forest around him had gone still again.

Did I lose them?

He didn’t know if he was asking himself, or praying to someone.

He took a breath. Tried to calm the noise in his chest.

Then — Thunk. A pinecone dropped from above. Landed a few feet in front of him with a soft, final sound.

His heart jumped. He looked up, stomach twisting — and met a pair of gleaming eyes in the branches above.

A raven. A raven? Perched on a crooked limb. It tilted its head to the side, but didn’t move otherwise. Just watched. Something about it chilled him more than it should’ve. Nick held the stare, his own breath caught in his throat. He didn’t know what he expected it to do. It did nothing. And that, somehow, was worse.

Behind him, the underbrush rustled again, louder this time. He flinched, but didn’t turn. He kept his eyes locked on the bird.

Then, a hand clamped around his arm. A strangled cry tore from his chest, “Uahh!” Another hand snapped over his mouth, cutting the sound off completely.

Nick’s body went rigid. His mind screamed.

It got me. Oh god, it got me! The creatures, whatever they were, they’d found him. He was done. He was going to die here, in the middle of nowhere, torn to pieces or drained or… or worse. Panic exploded through him like wildfire. He thrashed. Kicked. Yanked at the grip.

But the hand on his arm tightened,... and pulled? Through low branches. Between trees. He stumbled after the figure, barely able to keep up as they wove through the underbrush.

They were fast. Too fast. Leaves slapped against his face, branches clawed at his jacket, the forest blurring past in streaks of black and green. He couldn’t see properly — not with only the moon above and no time to focus. 

They were trying to get away. From what? From the raven? It didn’t make sense, but then nothing did.

Thorns scratched at his legs. Something snagged his sleeve. And then, a stone. Huge. Half-covered in ivy. They dropped behind it together.

Nick’s heart thundered in his chest.

He’d never see his mum again. Never hug his dad. Never—

Charlie.

His thoughts froze. Oh god. Charlie. Maybe he’d run into them too. Maybe he was already…

Nick struggled harder, twisting, trying to pull his arm free.

“Idiot,” a voice hissed in his ear. “Be still. Unless you want them to find us.”

He froze. Everything inside him stilled. That voice. He knew that voice. He knew it better than his own. He’d heard it a thousand times. In laughter. In whispers. In late-night calls and quiet I love yous.

His breath caught. Slowly he turned his head to the side. A pale face looked back at him. Messy hair. Wild eyes. It was him. It was really-

“Charlie?”

The name cracked from Nick’s throat like a branch under too much weight.

For a heartbeat, the world stilled. No wind. No sound. Just them.

“Oh my God,” Nick choked out, stumbling forward a half-step. “Charlie, what the hell, what are you, what is happening?”

His voice came out all at once, breathless, uneven. It felt like something had broken loose inside him—relief, confusion, panic. He wanted to grab Charlie, shake him, hug him, demand answers. All at the same time.

Charlie blinked. His gaze flicked around them, darting to the trees, the underbrush, the path behind.

Nick swallowed. “Those people, those things, whatever they were, are they following us? What’s going on? Where were you? What the hell is this?”

“Nick.” Charlie’s voice was low, almost too calm. “Breathe. You have to calm down.”

But Nick couldn’t. His whole body trembled. His hands were cold. His chest hurt from how hard his heart was beating.

And then Charlie stepped closer and pulled him in.

Nick didn’t hesitate. He dropped forward, hands clutching the back of Charlie’s hoodie, burying his face into his familiar scent. His breath hitched.

He didn’t cry. But the tears were there, just barely held back.

“You’re okay,” he whispered, not sure if he was saying it to Charlie or to himself. “You’re okay. I found you.”

Charlie exhaled softly and wrapped his arms around him, holding tight—but not too long. His spine stayed rigid, head turning slightly, as if listening for something.

Nick noticed. He pulled back just enough to meet his eyes. His voice cracked. “What’s going on? Are you running from them too?”

Charlie hesitated.

Then, instead of answering, he asked, “Did they see you?”

Nick blinked. “What?”

“Your face,” Charlie said, more urgently now. “Did they see your face?”

“I- I guess? Yeah. Why?”

Charlie let out a sharp exhale and turned slightly away, muttering a curse under his breath. His hands balled into fists.

Nick narrowed his eyes. “You… know them?” he asked slowly. “What is this, Charlie? What the hell is going on?”

Before Charlie could answer, there was a rustle behind the stone they were crouched behind.

And then, suddenly… white mist appeared.

It curled in low and fast, spilling over the forest floor like dry ice at a concert, except there was no cold. No moisture. No reason. The night had been crisp and dry, the sky clear. This wasn’t weather. It was something else.

Charlie’s head snapped to the side. Without looking back, he said—quietly, and fast: “Okay. Listen to me. We’re getting out of here. Together. I’ll explain- …just not here. It’s not safe.”

Nick wanted to protest. He wanted to demand answers right now. But something in Charlie’s voice shut him up.

He nodded once. “Okay,” he said, almost a whisper. “I trust you. Let’s go. Just, please, explain later. I can’t do this much longer.”

Charlie nodded, grabbed Nick’s hand, and they ran.

Through brambles and roots, through shadows thick enough to choke on. The trees above tangled together, blackening the sky. Only the occasional glint of moonlight caught in their breath.

But then Nick noticed there were other sounds. Wrong sounds.

They were behind them.

A faint scraping noise echoed through the trees, the harsh rasp of claws dragging against rough bark. It wasn’t footsteps. Not quite.

Nick’s heart slammed against his ribs. He didn’t dare turn his head.

Instead, he fixed his gaze on Charlie’s back, the familiar shape, tense but steady. Their fingers still intertwined, holding on.

At least they were together.

Then a sharp sound split the air — a snarl, too close.

Before Nick could react, Charlie yanked his hand free and shoved him back, hard.

“Get down!”

And then it hit.

A pale figure crashed down in front of them, slamming its claws deep into the trunk of a tree with a sound like thunder. Wood exploded, splinters flying as the tree split from the impact.

The force knocked both of them off their feet.

Charlie was thrown sideways, slamming into a tree with a brutal crack, bark shattering behind him.

Nick, disoriented, was flung into the underbrush, brambles tearing at his arms as he hit the ground.

Everything rang. His ears buzzed like he’d just been too close to an explosion.

He rolled, slowly, groaning.

A few meters away, Charlie was slumped against a tree. Splinters fanned out behind him like a starburst. Had he been thrown too?

Nick’s heart stopped. “What the- what the hell was that?”

White mist still snaked around their ankles. 

And a tall, pale figure moved through it, toward Charlie.

Nick froze.

They weren’t after him.

They were after Charlie.

Not random. Not campers. Not a misunderstanding.

They were hunting him.

Nick’s body wanted to move, to scream, to do something — but fear kept him pinned. His eyes stayed locked on the figure ahead. It moved slowly, deliberately, almost too slow to be real. Then, it raised its hand. Long, razor-sharp claws extended, glinting unnaturally in the faint moonlight.

Charlie reacted in an instant.

He ducked low, his body rolling forward on the damp earth with the grace of someone used to fighting battles. The soft rustle of leaves barely gave him away. Then, with a sudden, sharp motion, his hand snapped upward, fingers slicing through the air. A blinding burst of electric blue light exploded from his palm, casting eerie shadows through the tangle of branches.

The ground seemed to tremble.

Stones, roots, and shards of bark lifted violently from the forest floor, spinning and twisting as if caught in a cyclone summoned by Charlie’s will. They shot forward like missiles, crashing into the pale figure with thunderous force. It staggered, stumbling backward until it collided hard against a tree trunk, splinters cracking under the impact.

But the creature did not fall.

It swayed, as if drunk, but rose again, claws scraping against bark, eyes blazing with unnatural fury.

Nick’s mouth hung open in disbelief.

Charlie’s hands shimmered, glowing faintly with the residual blue light. He did that.

“What the…” Nick exhaled sharply, barely able to believe what he’d just seen.

Before the creature could recover and lunge again, a second, unseen force struck it like a freight train.

The figure was slammed sideways, flying through the air far beyond where Charlie’s magic had pushed it, like something colossal had grabbed it mid-flight and thrown it with brutal strength.

Nick blinked, stunned.

The force had not come from Charlie.

There, just for a second, he saw a flicker of violet. A pulse washing through the mist just as quickly as it appeared.

Charlie hadn’t even glanced that way.

Nick’s chest tightened sharply. His breath hitched, sharp and cold.

There was someone… something else here.

Then, almost from nowhere, behind Charlie, another figure appeared. Silent. Claws glinting. Almost close enough to touch him.

Panic exploded inside Nick’s mind. His voice was trapped somewhere deep in his throat.

Do something!

He had done nothing.

Just stood frozen.

They were here because of him. Because they had followed him.

He had to act.

Without thinking, he snatched his phone from his pocket, gripped it tight, and hurled it with all his remaining strength.

The device smashed against the figure’s skull with a sharp, sickening crack.

The creature jerked violently, staggering, disoriented.

Charlie whirled around.

First, his eyes locked on the wounded figure.

Then, slowly, he turned to Nick.

For a split second, something flickered across Charlie’s face — surprise? Guilt?

And then, without hesitation, he bolted.

The blue glow surged once more around his hands, crackling with electric intensity. With a punch that somehow seemed too small, too slight for the power it unleashed, Charlie slammed the creature high into the air. It smashed into a tree with a shattering crash, then collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Nick stood frozen, staring at the aftermath, heart hammering, mind racing.

Charlie turned back to him, chest rising fast, but not ragged — just enough to show the fight had taken something out of him. His hands, still faintly glowing, lowered slowly, fingers twitching like they hadn’t fully let go of the power yet.

“I’m gonna pretend you didn’t see that,” he said, his voice a little breathless, somewhere between dry sarcasm and tired resignation.

Nick let out a short, incredulous laugh. “Too late.”

Charlie pushed a hand through his messy hair, then looked at him with sharp eyes.

“I’ll explain,” he said quickly. “I promise. But we need to go. Now.”

“Yeah.” Nick nodded. “Yeah, let’s just… let’s go.”

They grabbed each other’s hands and started running. Above them, the trees grew so tightly packed that not even moonlight could slip through, wrapping them in almost total darkness.

Nick stumbled more than once, catching himself on tree trunks and sharp roots, breath coming in short, uneven gasps. Charlie didn’t let go. His grip stayed firm, tugging him forward every time he slowed.

Finally, after what felt like hours compressed into seconds, Charlie slowed. His shoulders dropped slightly, and he looked over his shoulder, eyes still wary. “I think we lost them,” he said, voice low and slightly ragged. “They won’t follow us much further tonight.”

“What—” Nick started, but his voice cracked. He swallowed hard, straightened up just enough to look at Charlie.
“What even were those things? Those—people? Or whatever the hell that was.”

Charlie hesitated, just for a heartbeat, and then said, “Hunters.”

The word lingered in the air, heavier than it should’ve been. Hunters. Like something out of a horror movie, not real life.

Nick blinked. His breath was still shallow. He turned his head slowly, eyes scanning the dark, endless trees around them. A beat passed.

“Okay, but…” he said, quieter now, “… what do we do? I mean — where do we even go?”

Charlie looked around too, his expression tightening. 

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I- I wasn’t paying attention to where I ran. I just… ran.”

Nick pressed his lips together, the weight of it all finally settling in.

“Cool,” he muttered. “I can’t even see anything. Like… at all.”

Charlie stopped walking, just for a second. Then he lifted one hand and extended his fingers.

Nick blinked.

At first, there was nothing. Just the night. But then, slowly, a soft, glowing orb of light rose above Charlie’s palm — weightless and flickering gently, like a flame without heat or smoke. It hovered there, stable and silent, casting a cool blue light over the forest path. Not too bright. Not sharp. Just enough to see each other’s faces. Just enough to walk by.

Charlie watched it. Completely still. Like he didn’t trust it to stay.

Nick, lungs burning but breath steadying, looked from the glowing orb to Charlie. Something in his chest shifted. There was no fear now, not of him at least. Just awe. And confusion. And a hundred new questions tangled together.

His voice came out quiet. “What… what is that?”

Charlie turned his head slowly, meeting his eyes.

And then, he smiled — tired and small, but warm. Like something soft had finally cracked through all the fear.

He didn’t explain it right away. Just looked back at the light.

Then he said, simply, “Magic.”

Nick stared at him. For a moment, the word didn’t register—it felt too big, too impossible, too true.

Then he huffed out a laugh. Breathless. Disbelieving.

But he somehow believed him.

Even if it made no sense.

He believed him completely.