#and this is only the first batch he's gonna keep drip-feeding us over the next 24 hours??

[httpsgfg]

[chubby-derek-and-friends]

Thicc Thursday (Holiday Style) (Part 1)

(So this chapter absolutely got away with me. 5600 words! Hope everyone enjoys!)

Christmas morning found Stiles springing from his bed with an energy and excitement he hadn’t possessed since he was a kid. The anticipation of seeing Derek again, of spending the day with him-Christmas Day at that-had left Stiles more giddy and nervous than he had been on his first day interning for the FBI. At least he was expecting to see Derek this time. Though...Stiles wouldn’t mind seeing Derek shirtless again. Especially Derek now, soft, chubby, and gorgeous. The very idea spurred Stiles along with an entirely different sort of excitement.

Quietly, so as not to wake his father, Stiles made his way down the stairs from his childhood bedroom, and headed into the kitchen to start preparations. In the past, it had only been Stiles and the Sheriff for breakfast, but the two of them took Christmas morning as the chance to really indulge. With their added guest, who was both a werewolf and a man who definitely had an appetite to satisfy (if last nights 6 plates of food had been any indication), Stiles knew he was going to need as big of a head start as he could get.

Coffee was first. Stiles knew his excitement would only last him so long. Then caffeine would be needed. After he started the pot, Stiles pulled out the three packets of bacon he’d bought, and set them on the counter to begin to thaw. Then he started the pancake batter. Not that he intended on cooking the pancakes until everyone was up, but it wouldn’t hurt to get a little ahead. The tricky part was deciding on how big of a batch to make. Stiles and his dad could both tackle a fairly large stack themselves, so Stiles decided to make triple the everyday recipe. Better to be safe, right? And if a certain werewolf ends up eating the leftovers, well, at least Stiles was keeping his man fed, right?

Stiles felt himself getting hard as he imagined feeding Derek pancakes, flipping them one right after the other from griddle to plate for Derek to devour. He licked his lips as he mixed the ingredients, ending up with two full pitchers of batter, which he promptly placed back in the fridge. Then he laid the bacon strips out on prepared trays for the oven, the easiest way to cook this large quantity of meat. Each rimmed tray had been wrapped in foil and set with a rack to allow the bacon grease to drip away. He didn’t stop until he had all three packets in the oven to sizzle away.

Feeling a little more prepared, Stiles poured himself a cup of coffee and wondered to himself if he would have enough time to go back upstairs and relieve a little tension, but a knock at the front door diverted him from that idea.

Stiles practically ran up to the door, his heart pounding with excitement, but once he got there, he paused before opening it to take a deep breath and steady himself. “You’re not a teenager anymore, Stilinski,” he told himself, “Just because he’s the first guy you ever had a crush on doesn’t mean you have to act like an idiot.”

After a couple of calming breaths, Stiles pulled open the front door, but nothing could have prepared him for the sight of chubby Derek in sweats. Stiles’s mouth went dry as he took in the way the soft fabric clung to Derek’s thighs. Derek had always had powerful legs, but now...the sweats practically stretched around Derek’s gorgeous, powerful, fat quads, not to mention how they cradled the v-shape of Derek’s crotch. Stiles licked his lips as he imagined those thighs wrapped around him. Only Derek clearing his throat pulled Stiles from his revery.

“Oh, shit,” Stiles said, his eyes snapping up to Derek’s blushing face, “I’m so sorry, dude, come on in.” Stiles stepped back so Derek could enter the house.

Derek smiled at him as he followed Stiles inside. He still wore a jacket to keep out the early morning December chill, and was also carrying a large gym bag.

“Sorry,” Stiles said again, feeling suddenly shy, “I didn’t...um...expect the sweatpants.”

Derek shrugged, “Oh, well, your dad said that Christmas Day was a pajama day. Said he insisted that I be comfortable. But I can change if you want. I brought some jeans...” Derek lifted the gym bag slightly to indicate his clothes were in there.

“No, no, no,” Stiles rushed out, “it’s totally cool, dude. If you’re comfortable, I’m comfortable.”

Derek smiled again. “Well, I mean, being the first guy you had a crush on and all, I wouldn’t want to make you uneasy...”

Stiles paled, opening and closing his mouth a couple times before he could form actual words. “You...you heard that?”

Derek tapped his ear, “werewolf, remember?”

Stiles blushed, looking down embarrassedly. “Damnit,” he said.

Derek took a step forward and slipped his fingers under Stiles’s chin to lift his face back up. “You were the first person I trusted after Laura died,” Derek said softly, his eyes staring into Stiles’s.

Stiles swallowed against a lump in his throat, and got lost in Derek’s gorgeous eyes. He and Derek stood there, just looking at each other until the beeping of the timer snapped them out of it.

Stiles smiled at Derek, then turned and headed into the kitchen. Derek removed his jacket and hung it in the front closet, then followed.

“So, what else you got in that bag,” Stiles asked as he turned off the timer and pulled the trays of bacon out of the oven. “I know it has to be more than jeans.”

“Well, I do wear larger jeans now,” Derek teased.

Stiles’s cock twitched in his pants at the thought, wondering just how many sizes Derek had to go up from his trim days, but he refused to be distracted.

“I’m sure, big guy,” Stiles said, winking over his shoulder at Derek, “but still, that bag is pretty packed.”

Derek sat down on a bar stool at the edge of the kitchen and set the bag on the floor next to him. “Well,” he said, “I brought my laptop. I was gonna try and Skype Cora later...if that’s okay?”

“Of course, Dude!” Stiles responded immediately. He had begun flipping the bacon over on the trays but took a moment to smile over at Derek. “Family, man. We understand.”

Derek smiled back at him, then continued, “...and then I’ve got your gifts...”

Stiles froze. How could he have forgotten? It was Christmas and he didn’t have anything for Derek. “Oh, um...I...” he stuttered.

“Stiles, it’s okay,” Derek said, seeming to read his mind, “I didn’t expect you to have anything for me. You weren’t really expecting to see me, and we weren’t expecting...us...to happen. I’m not worried about it.”

Stiles relaxed slightly, but he still felt bad. It’s not that he didn’t have anything for Derek, he just didn’t have anything WITH him. He’d spent the last couple of years picking up small trinkets and books...things that reminded him of Derek, things he’d thought the older man would like, but they were all back at his apartment in DC.

“Maybe I’ll just have to make your present something a little...physical,” Stiles teased.

Derek’s answering smile was more predatory. “I could be into that,” he said.

Stiles chuckled. He finished flipping the bacon and began sliding the trays back into the oven.

“Is there anything I can help with?” Derek asked.

“Hmm? Oh, uh...” Stiles started, “...well...”

“What about the tables in the living room? I can put those up for you.” Derek said, standing.

“Oh, yeah, sure!” Stiles said, “just, uh, maybe try and do it quietly. Dad’s sleeping in.”

Derek nodded, moving into the living room. Stiles couldn’t help himself from stopping what he was doing and watching Derek walk away. The sweats clung even more to Derek’s ass than they did his thighs, each leg and glute shifting and jiggling slightly with every step, and Stiles licked his lips at the thought of getting his hands on those cheeks. The long sleeve t-shirt he wore also clung to his love handles. All in all, it was quite the enticing image.

Once Derek had left the room, Stiles quickly finished putting in the bacon, then quietly removed the griddle from the cabinet and placed it on the stove. He didn’t want to start making pancakes until he had oven room to keep them warm, so he didn’t turn on the burners yet. Instead, he busied himself taking out the butter and syrup, along with the silverware, and putting everything on the table. When he was done, he looked up to find Derek bent over one of the folding tables, unlocking the legs.

Derek’s ass and thighs were on full display, and Stiles couldn’t help himself from staring. The sweat material left almost nothing to the imagination, and the rear seam even seemed to be straining slightly as Derek clicked the legs into folded position.

“Fuck,” Stiles whispered softly.

Derek’s head whipped around, then he caught Stiles’s gaze. He smirked at the younger man.

“See something you like?” Derek asked.

Stiles couldn’t answer verbally, so he simply nodded. Derek winked at him, then went back to what he was doing, flexing his thighs intentionally.

“Dude, you’re gonna be the death of me,” Stiles said softly.

Derek chuckled in response. He stood up and easily lifted the table with one hand, giving Stiles a side profile which was as delicious if not more so than the previous view. “Where do you want them?” He asked.

“Uh, just put them in the front hall. We borrowed them from Deaton, I think,” Stiles said.

Derek nodded and silently moved the table out into the hallway, leaning it up against the wall. His ability to move so gracefully still left Stiles somewhat in awe. Derek smirked at Stiles again, then returned to the living room to take down the other table.

Stiles just barely prevented himself from watching, deciding instead to focus on the food. Grabbing a couple apples and bananas from the fruit bowl, Stiles quickly moved to rinse the apples, then he pulled out a cutting board and kitchen knife and began chopping the fruit for a salad. He might be indulging his dad’s love of bacon for Christmas, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have something healthy to go with it.

“Do you want me to put the couches back?” Derek asked, peeking his head into the kitchen.

“Oh, uh, sure!” Stiles said, wiping his hands off on a towel and following Derek into the living room.

“The couch goes here and the loveseat goes here, right?” Derek asked as he gestured at the indentions in the rug.

“Yeah, same place they’ve been for years,” Stiles replied, walking towards the couch, “here let me...what are you doing?”

Derek had walked up to the middle of the couch where it sat pushed against the wall and was crouched in front of it. With barely a sigh, he tilted the couch back slightly and slid his arms under it, then picked up the entire thing and deadlifted it up until he was standing. The muscles in his shoulders flexed as Derek walked backwards, then squatted, placing the sofa exactly where it should be with only a muffled thump as he removed his arms from beneath it.

Stiles could only stare. Sure, he knew that Derek was strong, he was a werewolf after all, but there was something about the way that he effortlessly used his strength and power that made lust pool in Stiles’s belly. Maybe Derek could be convinced to re-enact the way he used to pin Stiles against the door, though hopefully this time with more sex and less juvenile aggression.

“Stiles?” Derek asked softly.

Stiles jerked out of his fantasies, looking over to find Derek holding the loveseat aloft, staring at him.

“You’re standing where this needs to go,” Derek said.

“Oh, right,” Stiles replied, moving quickly out of the way as Derek placed down the furniture like it was made of feathers.

Derek rubbed his hands together to clear them of dust, then looked up proudly at Stiles’s face. “How’d I do?”

“Perfect,” Stiles whispered.

Derek blushed, but continued to smile.

Stiles blushed in return, realizing how ridiculously obvious he was being and headed back into the kitchen while Derek finished moving the coffee and side tables back where they went.

Doing his best to calm himself down, Stiles pulled out the pitchers of pancake mix along with a couple of cartons of blueberries and strawberries and a large tub of yogurt.

“What are you making?” Derek asked softly behind him.

“Fruit with yogurt,” Stiles said, her rinsed the blueberries in their plastic crate, then set them aside to drain.

“Can I help with something else?” Derek asked from closer behind.

Stiles turned to look at him, and smiled. “I think I’ve got everything covered, big guy. Why don’t you grab yourself a cup of coffee and relax?”

Derek shrugged, sliding his hands into the pockets of his sweats. “I don’t know, I just want to be helpful. You guys did invite me into your home for Christmas and all...”

Stiles rolled his eyes, then took a step up until he was belly to belly with Derek. He rested his hands on Derek’s arms and leaned in to give him a quick peck. “You’re sweet, big guy, but I promise I’m not doing anything that’s all that involved. As soon as the bacon’s done, I’ll start making the pancakes.”

The entire move had been braver than Stiles really considered himself to be, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. He stood there and rubbed Derek’s arms with his thumbs. Derek’s cheeks flamed red at the gentle kiss and Stiles couldn’t stop the smile on his face in reaction to the blush.

“Now go on and get yourself a mug,” Stiles said, pushing Derek toward the coffee maker.

“Yes sir,” Derek said, chuckling.

Stiles rolled his eyes again and started cleaning the strawberries. The low sound of the faucet streaming into the sink and the sizzle of the bacon became the only noises in the kitchen as he worked. Behind him came the soft tinkle of the coffee pot meeting a mug, then the sound of the fridge being opened and closed, followed by a brief pause, and then by the clinking of a spoon.

As Derek came around the counter to take up his stool again, Stiles couldn’t help teasing him. “Light and Sweet, huh big guy,” he asked, watching Derek take a sip, “quite the change from the ‘black as my soul’ Derek I used to know.”

Derek shrugged, leaning forward on the counter with the mug between his hands. “Got tired of all the bitterness. Turns out I was punishing myself for years, been trying to focus on enjoying things.”

Stiles raised his eyebrows at that. Not only was Derek using therapy language, he was actually telling Stiles things about himself.

“Wow, punishing yourself, huh?” Stiles asked, unsure how to ask what he wanted to ask.

Derek nodded. “Yeah, Suzy, my therapist, she helped me realize that most of what I was doing was, in some way, to punish myself. The crazy intense workouts, starving myself, keeping myself from forming relationships with people that mattered to me…” Derek gave Stiles a significant look that sent butterflies flying through the younger man’s belly, “…only allowing myself to drink black coffee even...it’s all part of dealing with, well, you know,” Derek trailed off. He was staring down at his coffee mug, his ears pink.

“It’s good, Der,” Stiles said.

Derek’s eyes snapped up to Stiles’s.

“It’s good that you found someone to help you. I’m...I’m glad you’re not punishing yourself anymore. You don’t deserve it.” Stiles said, his voice growing stronger as he went on.

Derek smiled softly and looked down again. “Thanks, Stiles. I...I did it because of you.”

Stiles froze, his heart thumping in his chest. Derek looked up to meet Stiles gaze again.

“When you found me after that mess with the FBI, I had been in the run for a while. I had been trying to redeem myself by tracking down hunters, making up justice for everyone else. It wasn’t until I came back and faced Kate again that I realized that I was ready to let go. Kate didn’t have the power over me that she used to, and after everything with that monster, when it was Jennifer’s voice and everything else I was still holding against myself was being used against me, I knew that I needed to make myself move on. I would never have gotten there if it hadn’t been for you.”

Stiles had stood stock-still through Derek’s whole speech. He was barely able to breathe. Derek had been through so much, dealt with so much, and here he was, calmly telling Stiles about it.

“Der,...” Stiles said. He reached across the counter and placed his hand atop Derek’s own. He worked his mouth, trying to find something else to say, but nothing made sense.

Derek turned his hand, twisting it so their fingers laced together. “I’m really glad you came home, Stiles.”

Stiles swallowed, and thought about the plans he had set in motion. He squeezed Derek’s hand tightly, and said “me too, Der.”

The two of them sat smiling softly at each other, Derek’s thumb caressing Stiles’s hand lightly, until a thump from upstairs broke the moment.

(Read part 2 here.)

[twdixonimagine-blog]

The crash/chapter two

Chapter one

Chapter two: I’ll stomp your ass

Info: Glenn, Rick, Daryl and Dakota go on a trip to save Merle. 

Warnings: swearing, blood

“Nothin I haven’t seen before. Gotta get that crystal before ya kill yourself”

I nodded knowing that was the truth. As Glenn and Rick got in the truck, Shane closed the back on us. Leaving a long hot car ride into Atlanta together with a redneck, cop, an Asian and meth head.

“He better be okay” Daryl threatened Rick “It’s my only word on the matter”

“T-dog said he padlocked it and only we can get through that” Rick spoke.

Daryl wiped his mouth and shot a death glare at Rick. The breaks squealed and engine stopped rumbling.

“We can walk from here” Glenn spoke.

Daryl hopped up and opened the back of the truck. He jumped out and I followed suit, shutting the door behind me. We ran across the train tracks into the city where Merle was left.

We climbed through a hole in a chain link fence into an underpass of a bridge ahead.

“Merle or guns first?” Rick asked as Daryl was climbing through the fence.

“Merle” We both said simultaneously.  

“We ain’t even having this conversation” Daryl continued to speak as he walked past Rick.

“We are” Rick said and turned to Glenn “You know the geography, it’s your call, Glenn”

“Merle’s closest, guns would be us doubling back. Merle first” Glenn explained as we jogged further into the city.

We walked through the lower level of the department store. Keeping quiet and staying low. The store had barely been touched aside from the shattered windows. Rick signaled to Daryl about a walker lingering. He quickly moved, but was still quiet, up behind the lone walker.

“Damn, you are on ugly skank” He mumbled as he raised his crossbow, firing an arrow right through its’ skull.

He retrieved the arrow, wiping the blood on his pants.

“It’s the end of the world and still disrespecting women” I said as I walked past him “She wasn’t even alive for Gods sake”

“Don’t matter what I call em’, they’re dead” Daryl scoffed.

We ran up a stairwell after clearing an alley. I ran ahead with wire cutters and Daryl was a close second. I broke though the chain and Daryl kicked the door open.

“Merle! Merle!” He yelled as he ran out onto the roof.

I followed behind just to see nothing. Daryl packed back and forth as he shouted in disbelief. A bloody saw, amputated hand and pair of bloody handcuffs was all that was left. Fresh crimson pooled and stained the ground below. I stared in shock while I shook my head.

“No! No!” Daryl yelled in the background.

It felt like my world was coming down. Daryl lost his brother but I felt even deeper sorrow, I lost my drugs, they were my family and friends.

“Fuck!” I shouted and kicked the pipe on the roof and the handcuffs rattled against it.

I turned to Rick with anger. I could feel my face turning red.

“You locked him up here, alone! With no weapons!?” I yelled as I came at him “Now he’s gone, fuck you, fuck you! He’s gone” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

I felt myself being pulled back but I thrashed against that force. I soon realized Daryl was pulling me away.

“Fuck you, officer Grimes!”

“Calm down!” Daryl yelled “W-we’ll find him. I swear to ya” 

I calmed down and he let me go. I turned to him and looked him in the eyes.

“You don’t find him and I swear to fucking God I’ll murder you when that crash kicks in. You find him or you find his stash” I spoke dead serious.

“You got a cloth or anything?” Daryl asked Glenn, ignoring my threat.

Glenn handed him a blue bandanna. He walked to the hand and crouched down.

“Saw blade too dull for the handcuffs” He picked up the hand by a finger “Ain’t that a bitch” He grimaced.

He stood and placed the hand in Glenns bag while he looked uncomfortable. Daryl returned and picked up his crossbow.

“Must’ve used his belt to tie off his arm, would’ve been more blood if not” He commented while following a trail of blood.

I followed as well as Rick, Glenn stayed behind to pick up the tool box. We moved into a stairwell on the opposite side of the roof. Daryl led us, crossbow raised calling out his brothers’ name. Rick had his Colt Python in hand and I carried whatever gun I had picked up a while back.

“Merle! Ya in here?” Daryl yelled and no response followed.

Out of the stairwell we landed in an office of some sort. One lingering walker, no lower jaw, turned to us slowly. Daryl shot her down in one strike, only walking to her to get his bow. Rick cleared through another entrance as Glenn caught up with us. We all met back up shortly in another part of the office. Two dead walkers laid on the ground.

“Had enough in him to take out these two” Daryl commented walking over the bodies “One handed” He changed positions to load his bow “Toughest asshole I met, my brother. Feed him a hammer, he’d crap out nails”

“Any man can pass out from blood loss no matter how tough” Rick said as he walked past Daryl and then taking lead of the group.

More blood led into a kitchen.

“Merle!” Daryl yelled.

“We aren’t alone, asshole” I spoke.

“Screw that” Daryl brushed it off.

In the kitchen, stove burners were left on with the flames out. Blue flame turned into a yellow at the top. Blood on the stove, dripping onto the oven and on the counters. Smelled like burning flesh, reasons I knew brought back the past but that was over now. Rick picked up an iron with flesh remains and blood on it.

“What’s that burned stuff?” Glenn asked naively.

“Skin” I responded.

“He cauterized the stump” Rick noted.

“Told ya he was tough” Daryl remarked, sadness in his eyes finally breaking the tough front he had going “Nobody can kill Merle but Merle”

“He’s lost a lot of blood, don’t count on that”

“Yeah? Strong enough to bust out of this death trap” Daryl spoke walking away leading us to a broken window.

“He left?” Glenn asked in disbelief “Why the hell would he do that?”

“Why wouldn’t he. He’s alone as far as he knows, doing what he’s gotta do, surviving”

“Call that surviving? What are his odds out there?” 

“No worse than being handcuffed and left to rot” I mumbled.

“You couldn’t kill him” Daryl spoke now inches away from Rick “Ain’t so worried about some dumb dead bastard”

“What about a thousand dumb dead bastards? Different story?” Rick responded.

 “Why don’t ya take a tally? Do what ya want, I’m gonna go get him”

Daryl continued past Rick and towards the window but Rick stopped him with his hand to Daryls’ chest.

“Get ya hands off me! You can’t stop me” Daryl shouted getting in Ricks’ face again.

“I don’t blame you, he’s family. I went through hell to find mine. I know exactly how you feel”

“You know a brothers need to find his other half? A druggies tweak for another batch? You know that feelin?” Daryl spat.

I shifted from one foot to another trying to keep my cool at Daryls’ reference to my drug habit. Didn’t help as Glenn looked back at me, either because he knew or he saw me move.

“Just, listen, he can’t get far with that injury. We can help check a few blocks but only if you keep a level head” Rick turned to me “You too”

“I could do that” Daryl spoke after a brief pause and then turned to me.

I looked at Rick, I didn’t want to give in but Daryl did. I looked back at Daryl. I nodded in the end.

“Guns first though, as a precaution” Glenn spoke.

We settled into another room and cleared to floor. Glenn opened the cap of a dry erase marker ready to draw a map. Rick and Daryl were off to the side, Glenn and I waiting for their attention to start.

When they joined us he started.

“If I’m alone, I can move fast. In a group, we’re slow and drawing attention” He spoke.

He placed a binder clip on a road.

“That’s the tank, five block from here”

He then placed a balled up piece of paper near it.

“That’s the bag of guns. There’s the alley I dragged you in when we first met, that’s where Daryl and I will go”

“So I’m with Rick?” I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

“Listen, Daryls’ crossbow is quieter than a gun” He clarified why.

He then placed a soda tab in that alley.

“This is Daryl, he’ll wait in the alley while I go and grab the bag”

“Dakota and I are where?” Rick asked.

“Yeah, you’ll be here” He dropped down a pink eraser.

“Two blocks away, why?” I asked.

“I may not be able to go back the same way, walkers can cut me off and I can’t get to Daryl. So I’d go forward instead to the alley to meet you guys. Whichever direction I go, I got you three to cover me. Then we all meet back here” 

“Hey, kid, what’d you do before all this?” Daryl asked.

“Delivered pizzas, why?”

“You’re smart” I commented.

Daryl took the little time we took as a break to sit next to me. Rick and Glenn sat near a window, looking into the city further going over the plan.

“You got china man and I got sheriff. This isn’t fair” I scoffed.

“Don’t matter, we want Merle back, right?”

“Yeah” I nodded with a half smile.

“It’ll be over before you know it. Just, do what he says”

“Merle has that blue sky” I whispered as to keep myself focused.

As Rick and I waited in our alley, there was a commotion. Rick wanted to wait it out but I went and looked instead. it was where Glenn and Daryl were posted up. Gun shots and yelling.

“Shit” I mumbled.

Rick and I ran through back alleys, past walkers in the main street. I prayed that Daryl was okay. When we arrived, Daryl had a scrawny teen pressed against a wall and Rick has to push Daryl off the boy.

“I’m gonna kick your nuts up in ya throat!” Daryl yelled.

“Daryl!” I shouted in an attempt to bring him back down.

“What happened here!” Rick shouted tersely.

“They took Glenn. That little bastard and his bastard homie friends. I’m gonna stomp your ass!” Daryl explained.

“I got the boy, you get the guns, please” Rick told me with a hand on my shoulder.

“Yeah” I nodded.

I went back and grabbed the bag. I turned around and Daryl was waiting to make sure I was good. I hadn’t eaten, drank or really slept more than 5 hours in a few weeks. I was running out of energy and he knew it. From times I had crashed at the Dixons’ house and also with his brothers own addiction.

I nodded to let him know I was fine and we kept going to the office. When we got there Daryl pulled me aside.

“You, sleep, Rick and I will talk to this kid and get you when there’s a plan. Gonna need some energy for this” Daryl took the bag of guns from me.

“Thanks” I smiled.

He nodded as I left to find an empty sofa. Made myself comfortable and slept.

[ecotone99]

[MF] Under The Covers

The fire was dazzling. It’s warmth was unlike any they had ever felt. The heat wasn’t blistering. The light didn’t turn them into candles. It opened their eyes. It blew their mind. And then, it all faded away. Into the darkness. Why? How? Who could tell? It was all just too much for Catherine. She fell down to her knees crying.

“Marcy you fat cow why did you let that happen?!”

“Catherine you can’t talk to me that way! I am a person and I deserve to be respected!” “No Marcy you earn respect. Besides if you want to be respected then just walk away.”

Marcy was locked in place. She couldn’t leave. The quality of her life depended on it.

“You eat on my dime Marcy!” Catherine said standing to her feet. “And don’t you forget it!”

Marcy could never forget. Marcy knew very many spells. There was a time when she studied witchcraft religiously. Early in her years under Catherine’s thumb. She wanted a way out. She wanted to be free. Days turned to months, and Marcy even made it to years but that was all she could take. She rationalized it all. The food was too good. Catherine’s money and connections meant the best restaurants in town. Marcy couldn’t walk away from that.

“It’s just a drop in the ocean” Marcy would tell herself as she choked back tears.

Catherine knew. Marcy knew Catherine knew. Sometimes when Catherine hurt Marcy she would get real close and whisper “Drip drip”. Marcy didn’t know if Catherine knew, but she believed. It was all too coincidental.

“We’ll never summon the eternal flame if you can’t even manage to summon a little drop!” Catherine would yell.

“I know” Marcy replied. “It’s hard.”

“Everything’s hard for you Marcy” Catherine would say. “You would think you’d be used to it by now”

“Where’s this coming from Catherine?” Marcy would ask. “Why do you hate me so much?!”

“It’s coming from deep inside me” Catherine said. “From my deep sense of morality! You’re a parasite Marcy! You’re lucky I keep you around!”

“I’m not a parasite” Marcy cried. “I work really hard…”

“Then why can’t you summon a little ember?”

“Cause it’s hard. If I had your parents…”

“Life isn’t fixed Marcy!” Catherine interjected. “You need to grow up! Try it again!”

Marcy did the best she could. The spacing of her wand was difficult to pinpoint. She had to trace out her magic as best she could while reciting the chants. She often found herself stuttering. It felt like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Marcy tried again. The ember dissipated faster.

“Maybe I’m tired” Marcy suggested. “If I get some sleep.”

“That’s all you want to do!” Catherine shouted. “You’ll never summon the eternal flame like this!”

“Is that so bad?” Marcy asked.

“I’m not feeding you forever Marcy!” Catherine yelled. “I’m the only friend you got. If you don’t summon the eternal flame, you’ll run out of magic soon and then poof…it will be as if you never existed. You don’t want that do you Marcy?”

Marcy didn’t care. But the food. The food made life worth living. It was so delicious and full of magic. Why was it restricted to the older families? Was it so difficult to grow this magic food? “I don’t care” Marcy replied. “I’ll do this how I like. I’ll get that eternal flame going! And then I’ll live the rest of my life out in peace!”

“Yeah…good luck with that.” Catherine replied.

“I need a moment Catherine.” Marcy said. “Just some rest if I could.”

“Um…no?!” Catherine replied. “You can’t go home and take a nap! If you want, you can sleep on your bookbag. We have to get this done Marcy! I need an eternal flame before I become a 2nd year or else my reputation is ruined. I have my part done but I need a second witch Marcy. This is why I feed you!”

“Well gosh Catherine. Does that mean you would let me starve if you didn’t need the eternal flame?”

“Damn straight” said Catherine absent-mindedly as she looked through her phone.

“How could these witches be confused by technology?” Catherine screamed at her phone. She hated stereotypes.

“So once I summon the eternal flame…you’ll discard me like a toy?”

“Yes I’ll…wait what? Marcy no!”

“I’ll just take my time then. We’ll summon the eternal flame. But I’ll decide when!”

“Marcy. Do you realize what this means?” Catherine’s toneless voice and dead eyes bore holes through Marcy’s mind.

“I don’t care Catherine.” Marcy replied “Good day.”

Marcy walked home. She was slow at first but soon increased her pace. Desperate to get out of eyeshot of Catherine Marcy walked faster still. She couldn’t believe what she had done. Her home. Her life. All of the things Marcy loved. She would lose them all. And the magic food. Marcy would die without it. But that was who she was. Always breaking rules. It’s the reason she chose the witch path and not the wicca path. Black hat to the end. It was the only way. Marcy walked on but the sensation of doubt gnawed at her. Just how much did her life depend on Catherine. How deep within Catherine’s grasp was she? Marcy had forgotten but this incident woke her up.

The next day Marcy woke up and stared at the ceiling in deep despair. She usually went to Catherine’s for breakfast. The most delicious food. Only God knew what magical creatures went into that life-giving bread. But it could’ve only been the good kind. Marcy stared at the ceiling for a while. She was fighting with herself within.

“Just give up” A voice within her said. “It’s too hard to live this way. Who cares about words. Words can’t hurt you.”

“No” The other interjected. “You can’t be that weak. You have to depend on yourself. It’s the only way!”

“You can’t depend on yourself. You’re always depending on others.”

“Then you need to find better others”

“You’re telling me!”

And on and on it went inside Marcy’s head. The words had eaten away at her sanity months ago. “Words can’t hurt me anymore” Marcy would say. “Just a drop in the ocean.”

That morning Marcy crawled back to Catherine and apologized profusely. She spent that afternoon shamefully practicing the spell. Catherine made her stay into the night. She couldn’t take it anymore. She needed new friends.

Marcy had seen an Ad. She didn’t remember where she had seen it but she knew there was a farmer’s meetup. At the very least she could get a lead on growing the delicious food that enlightened her life.

When Marcy arrived at the meeting spot way out in the country she was a little disappointed. For a two hour drive the meeting only had four people including her. “Well” Marcy thought. “Just need one friend. That’ll be enough for someone like me.” Marcy approached the group. There were 2 guys and 1 girl. The girl made Marcy feel better.

“Hey guys. What’s up?” Marcy introduced herself. “I’m Marcy.”

“Hi Marcy, I’m Ben.” A guy with tussled blonde hair and deep blue eyes moved forward. “You’re actually our first new member in a while now.”

“Oh really” Marcy said absent mindedly. “What’s that about?”

“Super far out of the way. Hi I’m Terry.” The other boy stepped forward his hand outstretched.

“And I’m Janine” interjected the girl. “I’m a witch. What about you? You look wicca.”

“Yeah. I was gonna be wicca but my other friend convinced me to be a witch”

“Oh really? Did it look more interesting?”

“No but, she needs a partner.” Marcy started kicking the sand beneath her feet feeling foolish as she said it.

“Oh wow. But if you don’t have an affinity for the practice then it’s supposed to be really tough right?”

“Like torture” Marcy replied.

“Huh” Janine had a big smile on her face.

“Well” Ben began “This is the farm.” He turned around surveying the fields behind him.

“We can and will show you how to grow everything.”

“Everything?” Marcy held herself back. It’s too good to be true.

“Everything” Ben replied.

“Even…red berries?”

Red berries were the most potent of all the berries. Not only did it supply them with the magic force that kept their forms together, it also increased the power of those who ate it. It was a huge boost over others and only the old families had access to it. It was how they kept their influence strong.

“Yeah…” Ben said. “Don’t know what those are but yeah we can teach you how to grow anything. Technology is great you know?!”

They couldn’t grow red berries. The old families would never allow that to happen. But these people seemed lonely. They were a perfect fit!

“Do you want to come on in? We got some blue elixir that you have to try. Fresh harvest!”

“Oh My God” Marcy was about to scream. “Yes!”

They went into the main house. They entered the kitchen. Ben reached into the fridge and pulled out some iced blue elixir.

“It’s the best” Ben poured Marcy a cup.

“Oh, wow thanks.” Marcy said. She looked around. “You’re not gonna have any?”

“Oh, we had some yesterday” Terry replied.

“I thought it was a fresh batch?”

“What Terry meant to say was that we had a ton yesterday and we’d rather wait to try it again. That harvest is fresh. It’s from today.”

“That last part is definitely truth” Marcy thought to herself. She gulped down the blue elixir. The taste caught her attention. Something was wrong. This elixir wasn’t bitter. It was sweet.

Terry and Ben came forward. They grabbed Marcy by the hands. Marcy opened her mouth to let out a scream but nothing came out. Marcy was confused.

“Get the cuffs on her!” Terry yelled.

“I’m trying” Ben replied.

They struggled with Marcy but were able to get silver cuffs on her hands. Marcy tried to scream again but nothing came out. Marcy struggled and was able to break free. She ran for the door. She ran out of the main house and to her car. When she came to the farm fence she was thrown back by a magical force.

Terry and Ben ran to her. They grabbed her and dragged her back inside. As they did they explained her situation to her. “That’s a force field.” Ben began “It will keep you on this farm as long as these cuffs are on you. That draught you drank mutes you. No matter how hard you scream you can’t make a sound.”

They dragged her to a cellar and connected her silver chains to chain links that were bolted down. Marcy looked around. She wasn’t the only one there. There were 3 others. 2 guys and a girl. Their eyes had black circles around them. Their faces had no sense of hope in them. Pale from the lack of sunlight, they looked like ghosts or zombies.

“What are you gonna do to me? OMG are you gonna sell me out?”

“No you fat cow!” Terry screamed. “We’re gonna have you gather the crops and make elixirs here. It’s cheaper this way. We just need to wait for night fall so no one sees. It’s a full moon tonight. Werewolves will be out. No one will notice us.”

“And then?” “We’ll have you make shoes! I dunno but there’s always work to be done!” Terry scoffed, rattled the links, and walked out with Ben and Janine. Janine looked back.

“Don’t leave me here Janine!” Marcy pleaded. “You can’t let them do this!”

“Oh I’m sorry Marce but this is the only way we can compete. We’re not fancy prep school witches like yourself.”

“My name is Marcy” Marcy said through gritted teeth.

“Whatever.” Janine left.

Catherine saw everything.

Catherine had seen everything. Well she saw those dudes dragging Marcy into the house against her will. Catherine knew she had to do something. She couldn’t complete the eternal flame without Marcy. Marcy was a parasite but so was everyone else. At least Marcy admitted to it. That was a rare quality. That was the reason Marcy was Catherine’s only friend. Catherine couldn’t lose her only friend. Her reputation would be ruined.

Catherine decided it was best to observe for now. One mistake and they were both gone forever. “What were these people doing” she thought. “They better leave Marcy with both her hands.” Some people might say that Catherine should have tried to get help. Some people might say that Catherine should have contacted the authorities. What do those parasites know? If Catherine left those freaks might abscond with Marcy. What would Catherine do then? There’s no way she could make a new friend before 2nd year was over. Her reputation would be ruined. Catherine couldn’t let that happen.

Sitting in her car, Catherine poured over her phone looking for a way to save Marcy. She consumed information like she was the devil incarnate. Like she fed on the energy of others. And then, it came to her. She understood what she had to do. It was risky. Catherine needed to prepare. If these monsters moved too soon it would all be for naught. Catherine’s future was riding on this.

The day dragged on. Finally, the sun set and the moon came out. Inside the main house Terry and Ben were playing cards while Janine watched them.

“It’s time” Ben said ominously.

“Allright” Terry replied. “This should be a big harvest. Can’t wait till they clean it all.”

“That’s for tomorrow” Ben snapped. “They need to pick it first.”

“No need to be so high strung. Just chill out” Janine suggested. “We do this all the time.”

“And I’ll always be worried” Ben explained. “It’s just smart business.”

Janine scoffed. The three of them went outside. They opened the cellar door. “You ready?” Terry asked.

“Ready as ever” Ben replied.

“OK. Listen up! We’re gonna take you above ground and have you harvest the crops. No funny business! Remember, you’re all chained to this yard. Without us you’ll starve out here! If you guys so much as scrape one of us, we’ll whip the crap out of all of you.” Terry explained the situation as he always did. Then, he unthreaded the first set of links while Ben threaded a second pair. Janine watched, wand at the ready. The prisoners no longer fought. They were skinny and weak. Their hope had died away a long time ago.

They took their chain gang above ground. The moonlight poured over them. “Well” Terry shouted, “Get to work!”

“Careful!” Ben whispered.

“Oh, don’t worry! There’s no one around. That mute potion was just for passing cars.”

Terry howled to prove his point.

“The werewolves!” Ben shouted.

“They don’t care Ben. Jesus, grow a pair.” Terry gave Ben a firm pat on the back that sent him nearly flying.

Marcy was working in the field. She couldn’t believe it. She would be a slave forever. And she wouldn’t even get paid for it. She would miss out on the rest of her education. But the worst part, she wouldn’t get to have any more red berries. Those red berries that fueled Marcy’s need for Catherine. She would die without them. She could already feel the power leaving her.

“Marcy…Marcy you fat cow get over here.” Marcy’s ears perked up. What was that? Marcy began thinking. She contemplated deeply and then her eyes began to tear up. “I’ve gone crazy!” Marcy thought. “It’s all too much for me!”

“Marcy! Marcy you fat cow get the fuck over here!” Marcy turned around. She saw Catherine’s face sticking out of a bush. She looked at her captors. They were on the front porch of the main house looking around lazily. Marcy was too far out to be noticed. She approached Catherine but the force field kept them apart. Marcy tried to tell Catherine what was happening, but nothing came out.

Catherine was sitting in her bush amazed at the stupidity of Marcy. In this terrible, dark, dangerous moment Marcy had decided to put on a mime show. Instead of coming over to Catherine so they could run away, Marcy was building out a pretend wall with her hands. She even went as far as to mime scream. But who was she screaming at? Catherine? It couldn’t be! But Catherine was the only one here! How dare she! Catherine picked herself up out of her bush and stomped on over to Marcy.

“What the hell Marcy!” Catherine whispered aggressively. “What the hell are you doing let’s go!”

“I can’t” Marcy tried to say but nothing came out. Catherine walked back and forth between the bush and Marcy.

“Now lets go! We have to escape before they notice!”

“It’s these chains! I can’t leave the field while I have these on!” Marcy was screaming as hard as she could.

Catherine grabbed Marcy by the hand and led her towards the bush. Marcy slammed, face first into the invisible wall. Catherine repeated this a few times until she understood what she was dealing with.

“I see” Catherine said exasperated. “And they must be using silver to keep the werewolves away. This will be tricky.”

Catherine began to walk away. Marcy got to her knees and began to plead with her hands.

“Don’t be a drama queen Marcy! I’ll be back.”

Terry was looking into the forest. As long as he wore silver, werewolves couldn’t hurt Terry, but they would still trash the house and Terry couldn’t allow that.

“Um guys? Can we worry now!” Ben jumped to his feet. The other two didn’t have time to register what was going down. They turned their head and saw a truck hurtling toward them. The front had a front guard. The kind cop cars have.

“Who does that?” Is what Janine would’ve said. Terry was too busy trying to get out of the way. The truck barreled forward running over Janine. Terry got to his feet and marched towards the driver seat. He opened the door. There were runes on the steering wheel.

“Witches!” Terry screamed. He walked out from behind the main house to survey the fields. He spotted Catherine with a wand, trying to undo Marcy’s chains.

“Ben! Ben!” Terry screamed. “I’m allright!” Ben said. “Go get them I’m right behind you!” “Fuck yeah! That’s my boy! Let’s do this!” Terry charged forward. He started slowly and then began to run faster. “Hey!” he screamed. “That’s mine!”

Catherine was fumbling with the chains. There didn’t seem to be a way to get them off. Terry was closing in. Realizing she didn’t have enough time, Catherine ran into the forest. Terry chased after.

Deep in the forest the night seemed colder. The mist was thicker and every crunch echoed.

“I don’t know who you are…but you made a shitty mistake running here. I know these woods like the back of my hand! I’m a master tracker! And if I don’t get you first, the wolves will. You should just give up. Then you can live you know?” The moonlight caught a glimmer of fabric. Terry ran to it. It had been snagged on a branch. It pointed to a path that lead to a clearing, and a dead end. Terry smiled.

“Too late now! I’m coming to get you!” Terry walked forward. After what seemed like forever, he got to the clearing. Trees encircled Catherine who was sitting in a pile of leaves crying. “Don’t matter how much you cry now” Terry shook his head. “Not gonna let you get off easy now.”

“Wait!” Catherine pleaded.

“Gosh they must sure be dumb where you come from.” Terry didn’t slow his pace.

“Please wait!” Catherine leaped towards Terry. She wrapped her arms around Terry’s waist. Terry was caught off guard.

“Please” Catherine said “We can work something out. I didn’t see anything.”

Catherine planted her hand in Terry’s butt pocket and pulled him closer. She traced his spine before putting her hands into his front pockets. She slowly traced them out. They were empty.

“Please” Catherine continued. “I can be good. You don’t have to hurt me. You don’t want to hurt me. You’re not a bad man.”

Finally Catherine unbuckled the silver chain belt wrapped around Terry’s waist.

“Not a bad man…”

A growl came from behind. It caught Terry’s attention. Catherine fell back with the silver belt.

“Missing something?” Catherine asked.

Terry looked down. The silver chain he had tied around his waist was gone.

“Give me the silver you witch!” Terry screamed.

“Don’t got any” Catherine replied tossing the belt into the forest.

“He’s gonna eat you too you know. You’re dead just like me!”

“No he’s not. He’s my pet. Can’t you see it in his eyes.”

Terry was confused. Terry turned around. The wolf was finally in the moonlight. Terry could see it now. It’s eyes which were usually black were like red lightning.

“That’s my spell.” Catherine replied. “I can enslave beasts at will.”

“Fuck you witch…” Terry turned in an attempt to strike Catherine but the wolf was too fast. It tore him to pieces.

Ben was in the cellar. He was playing dead. He couldn’t control the 3 slaves that were left. He had to get the money and run. He just needed a little piece of silver. His silver was buried underneath the truck and rubble of the main house. That’s when he felt something dragging him to attention. It flipped him around like he was nothing. Shivers ran down Ben’s spine. In front of Ben was Marcy.

“Jesus Christ!” Ben exclaimed. “You’re as strong as a bull!”

“Cut the crap! You take those chains off Marcy and these others or my werewolf will tear you apart.”

Ben couldn’t take his eyes off the terrible werewolf in the background.

“Ok Ok!” Ben begged. “I’ll do what you say just please please. Please let me live!”

“Take off the chains!”

Ben fumbled for the key. His hands were shaking. He unlocked their chains.

“Ok…now you promised. Let me go OK? I got no problems with you. It was just business.”

Catherine sighed. Parasites like these were the ones she hated the most.

“Come on Marcy we’re leaving.” Catherine reached into her purse. She pulled out a large ceremonial knife. She handed it to one of the freed captives.

“I use this for sacrifices. Use it as you will” Catherine said.

Marcy, Catherine, and the wolf left the cellar. Ben looked at the 3, dead eyed prisoners. He looked at the knife in their hand. He looked at them turning the knife over. And looking at him. The cellar door was so far away.

Catherine released the wolf into the forest. “Go home parasite!” she said. “I can’t tell you what to do anymore!” The wolf fled into the forest.

Marcy opened her mouth to show her appreciation. “I’m not gonna feed you Marcy!” Catherine said with a smile. She laughed to herself. She liked the new Marcy. She knew that the minute they got to civilization she would have to take Marcy to the doctor. She should enjoy this while she could.

“Another wasted night.”

Silence.

“A little appreciation would be nice Marcy!”

Silence.

“Oh well if that’s how things are going to be then I’ll just have to cancel our reservation to the red berry festival!”

Marcy was jumping up and down. Pleading on her knees. Crying to herself. Silently. Catherine didn’t care. Catherine was dead inside. She only saved these parasites because the people holding them were even worse parasites. It was the way the world worked.

“By the way Marcy we’re taking your car. And you owe me a truck.”

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