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Chapter 1 The Change and the Witch

  A poet she said, is that what I am?

  I’ve been called worse: demon, evil, damned

  Holy shit! Did I just make a rhyme?

  And here is another with this line!

  Maybe I can do this, go with the flow

  But what to write about, I don’t know

  I guess I can start with what i can recall

  And hope I can write without hitting a wall

  It all began a few years ago

  So much has happened it doesn’t seem so

  My memory starts in twenty eighteen

  To you it may seem like some crazy dream

  I know it’s all true this story of mine

  A tale of love death innocence and crime

  In a world just beyond human eyes

  Where tales tell truths within their lies

  But before I lose track of my thought train

  Confusing myself, or you, I must refrain

  From mixing up when events occurred

  Keep things in order, so nothing gets blurred

  Time is quite odd for a creature like me

  Some explaining is needed so let’s see

  I am not human, never was, I suppose

  This is not an existence that I chose

  Temporary and finite, some cosmic joke

  Wandering cracks of a world already broke

  But there I go losing focus once more

  Fuck, this is becoming quite the chore

  Let’s maintain order, to keep it all clear

  Answers will come, I promise my dear.

  October fourth, two thousand eighteen

  A new musical graced the scene

  Of a small stage in Washington DC

  Based on a film from the nineteen eighties

  A Tim Burton comedy, a classic indeed

  About a ghost whose name all will heed

  When thrice it’s said by one who breathes

  Twenty years later a musical was writ

  Soon to grace Broadway, becoming quite a hit

  About a young girl, with rapier wit

  Meets married ghosts and a demon of the pit

  As the child mourns she who gave her life

  She feels unseen, father ignoring her strife

  She forms in the demon a strong bond

  And it, of her, seems rather fond

  But even Beetlejuice cannot resist

  The allure of life, if just can’t be missed

  So he betrays his new friend’s trust

  And his plan to live the young girl will bust

  It’s the very first performance of this show

  And the earliest memory of what I know

  After the bows, I walked my way home

  When some great fear chilled me to the bone

  I didn’t know then why or how

  So neither will you, at least not now

  Something changed in me, as I stood in the night

  Though my eyes saw it more bright

  To elaborate the point how my eyes

  Perceive the world, is a limelight guise

  As if on a stage, awash in light beams

  Detail and contrast, to me, can be extreme

  There is not much that can hide from my sight

  Yet that moment seemed to show a new light

  One so severe that everything changed

  My mind, my body had been rearranged

  “What did you do?” I heard someone say

  I turned to see I wasn’t alone that day

  A woman of such beauty, it made me choke

  Perhaps another reason my voice broke

  Is the fear that gripped me freezing my brain

  Just what caused it, I could not explain

  The woman stared at me, filled with concern

  To speak, ask her for help is what I most yearned

  But i was confused, my mind was racing

  I couldn’t grip a thought I was chasing

  My silence angered her, or so it appeared

  Her eyes darted around, then on me leered

  My instincts kicked in and told me to run

  I just knew this would not be fun

  But I’d made the error of meeting her eyes

  They’re a steely blue like dark stormy skies

  Her auburn hair blew in a sudden breeze

  And my body remained in a deep freeze

  I heard the ocean’s crashing waves

  Though we were miles from the nearest bay.

  The sound of thunder was also heard

  But above us the stars continued to burn

  The only clouds there that I could see

  Were in her fierce eyes, focused on me

  “What did you do?” she asked me again

  I wanted to answer but twas all in vain

  That gaze held me frozen including my voice

  So much to say if I had the choice

  Did she know me? Who were we?

  What was happening? Why was nobody helping me?

  I mean it was eleven PM in Washington DC

  There were tons of people walking the city

  Why did everyone just pass us both by?

  Someone should help, or even just try!

  Nobody did, it was just us two

  Only the witch and me, the frozen statue

  Finally, my racing mind began to slow

  But before I could think on what I know

  A new problem began to be present

  My feet no longer felt dry cement

  Rather, they were wet! And waves I could hear

  As the water rose, so did my fear

  I couldn't see, my eyes locked on her own

  But i could feel the water level grow

  Climbing my body moving in waves

  Back and forth like and ocean behaves

  At the edge of my sight I could see foam

  Fierce as she was, she seemed right at home

  Calling her witch I didn’t exaggerate

  Sad to say, in her hands, she held my fate

  This was her doing, as salt stung my eyes

  Firey hair blew in a wind, still quite dry

  It framed her face, a halo of fire

  If not so scared, her I might admire

  But the water still rose, now to my chest

  The force of the sea beat upon my breast

  Her eyes squinted, seeming confused

  She nearly screamed, “What did you do?”

  Wish I could say or ask what she meant

  As my mouth filled with the water she sent

  My precious breath, I did try to hold

  I was oddly calm, truth be told

  Of all the thoughts, buzzing in my mind

  One that was sound I could finally find

  While I was scared, it was not of death

  It was not fear that stole my breath

  Rather defiance had come to me then

  For this witch didn’t act like a friend

  I would not fear her if that’s what she wished

  Death was preferred to giving into this bitch

  As salt water rose to string my eyes

  I held my gaze, still immobilized

  Hoping to show that i won’t be her prize

  Releasing my breath, watching the bubbles rise

  I could barely see through salt and….seaweed?

  I learned then that breathing, I had no need

  Still couldn’t move in my watery cell

  But I guess I was spared a trip to hell

  Floating there, for who knows how long

  I was able to think just what had gone wrong

  Red seemed to know me, which made one of us

  Something had happened to cause all this fuss

  We saw this show, but I could not recall

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  What was on stage, I must've been enthralled

  Anything before I just could not find

  As if the curtain also closed on my mind

  Who I was, who the witch here was too

  There wasn’t a thing that I could do

  To my mind’s front, bring the answers I sought

  Though I tried hard, it was all for naught

  Instead I began to think what I knew

  Here are the facts that I then reviewed

  I have thoughts and so I exist

  Stuck in a trap that I could not resist

  My body seems human but it does not breathe

  I wondered what else I don’t really need

  Now the woman, my captor indeed

  Even her red hair, was no longer seen

  She summoned the water I floated in now

  I did my best to consider how

  If she had power did I have some too

  Not drowning now made it likely true

  Before I tried to attempt anything

  Lack of air began to make my throat sting

  Maybe drowning takes longer for me

  And before I could think on how this could be

  My bubble burst, water flowing away

  Falling down, on damp ground I lay

  I was so tired and cold suddenly

  Barely felt the blanket draped over me

  By a small girl I could just about see

  Confused, I begrudgingly fell asleep

  I awoke to the sound of a school bell

  The shrill noise did not make me feel well

  Holding my head and groaning I sat up

  I was on top of a desk, and handed a cup

  Grateful it was fresh water, I drank slow

  So I could think again on what I know

  One moment, water didn’t bother me

  I didn’t drown in the witch’s small sea

  Then at once I felt my lungs burning

  Some kind of change left me, for air, yearning.

  Unsure if that was her magic or mine

  These questions would wait for another time

  For right now as I sat on the desk

  Taking in where I was trying my best

  To think clearly with a throbbing head

  Starting first with my makeshift bed

  A teacher’s desk placed in front of the class

  I realized one other thing pretty fast

  Not alone in this room was I it seemed

  Some kids sat in front of me, quite a team

  They each wore a uniform dressed the same

  Now I knew from where water and blanket came

  Clearing my throat, I asked who they were

  One young girl answered, her name was Summer

  This class was grade five, all aged less than teen

  In the elite private school, Horace Green

  The names rang bells I could not quite place

  I thought I could recognize her face

  But my head hurt if I tried to focus

  Possibly more of Red’s hocus pocus

  Didn’t want me to see who these kids are

  Fine, I’ll play, but only going so far!

  Rubbing my eyes, I asked who I might be

  Our sub, Summer replied, Mr. Schneebly

  Hearing that name my mind began to race

  Like watching a movie at a fast pace

  I suddenly knew the lyrics, lines, blocks

  Of the Broadway musical School of Rock

  The kids were characters of this here play

  But where they all came from, I couldn’t say

  Did Red capture them as she did me

  It would take some time until I could see

  For as the next school bell began to ring

  All of the kids, sat in desks, began to sing

  “Here at Horace Green” I knew this song

  We face the future” but it seemed wrong

  Always striving, eager to succeed” there was no stage here

  “Here at Horace Green” no audience near

  “The old traditions shape who we are” unnerving as it was

  “In word and deed” I think it was because

  “Some are meant to read” they’re all being controlled

  “We shoulder duties, seek perfection” by some spell’s strong hold

  “Toil and never rest” held in this cage

  “Thanks to Horace Green” began to feel a rage

  “Our Alma Mater we'll take our place” These were fucking kids

  “Amongst the best” squeezing my eyelids

  “Here at Horace Green” chains all around me

  “We march in lock-step” could feel them, not see

  “Ever upward, destined to achieve” tried to find my power

  “Here at Horace Green” but their song grew louder

  “We go forth proudly” my world soon went black

  “Marked for success the day we leave” deafened by the pack

  “And we shall achieve” Now her I could hear

  “In years here after” a high melody was clear

  “Decked with honor” notes that are not easy to reach

  “Worthy of these halls” as if rousing a speech

  “Thanks to Horace Green” It made my head spin

  “Our Alma Mater” lost in the din

  “Nothing will shake these ivy walls” Wanna fucking bet?

  Nothing will shake these ivy walls!” She’ll soon pay her debt!

  My brain had become too full once more

  The world spun and I fell to the floor

  It was dark, the class and room all gone

  One thought in my head: The show must go on

  If, dear reader, you have not yet seen

  Musical or film about Horace Green

  It’s focus is actually a man

  Dewey Finn, who concocts quite a plan

  Needing a job, he chooses to teach

  Kind as this is, it’s also a security breach

  Dewey lacks a license o degree

  And the kids’ talent he does see

  He is a musician with dreams of fame

  Using the class, assuming a new name

  He lies his way into the school to win

  A Battle of the Bands with the young kin

  Along the way lessons are learned and taught

  Bonds are created before Finn is caught

  The story does end happy for sure

  While the battle is lost, the band does stay pure

  Finn finds a way to continue this road

  Keeping the band to rock, he bestowed

  And all lived happily, just don’t think too much

  About how Finn would go to jail and such

  This did begin as a film with Jack Black

  A feel-good romp I recall thinking back

  Then Andrew Lloyd Webber writer of songs

  Like Phantom, Cats, a career rather long

  Decided to base his next big show

  On this classic film many people know

  So it came to Broadway, quite a success

  A talented cast, one of the best

  If offered a role, I might’ve said yes

  But fate had in mind a different test

  The overture’s notes shocked me awake

  Still sporting a rather nasty headache

  Notes blared and bright lights did shine

  I found autonomy was no longer mine

  Against my will I began to sing

  Dancing around like a puppet on a string

  Performing this show against my will

  Ignoring my obvious lack of skill

  Clearly not trained in song or in dance

  Hitting notes and marks by the slimmest chance

  But the cast ignored my skills not honed

  Seemingly in a trance of their own

  Against this control I did try to fight

  But the chains held strong despite all my might

  By intermission’s start tired as I was

  I was grateful for a small moment’s pause

  This show is rather exhausting, you see

  And it did not help that I played the lead

  For most of the shot I was on stage

  Making this a very unique cage

  Still unsure as to why I was trapped here

  One thing to me became very clear

  I’d save them all if it the last thing I do

  And maybe I could survive all this too

  I learned something else about who I am

  Low in priorities is where I stand

  The children were all I could think to save

  Any adults could follow the path we’d pave

  Away from the show, away from that witch

  By the way she had her own role, the bitch

  Headmistress of the school, Red chose to play

  Dewey’s love interest, at the end of the day

  As if this capture wasn’t bad enough

  Being forced to kiss her was gonna be rough

  Yup, they kiss in the show, not once, but twice

  Doing this against my will is not very nice

  My body was forced to work and perform

  While my mind did swirl with a growing storm

  The finale was sung and I needed to sleep

  After a moment I wanted to weep

  For the overture had begun once again

  My body still separate from my own brain

  I wondered how many shows I could do

  Before I collapse for all here to view

  We performed School of Rock, the very same

  How in the fuck can I win at her damn game!?

  I won’t bore you with the parts that repeat

  Just that torture became this theater feat

  This tiring show, done constantly

  An end to this was not guaranteed

  I had begun to question my reality

  That’s when Red began the inquiry

  There is one scene that’s in the second act

  Finn and Red meet in a bar’s very back

  In the show they speak, furthing Finn’s goal

  Before the kiss scene that still pains my soul

  But after doing the show many times

  Out of the fog, my own voice did climb

  I was able to speak but nothing else

  So I took the chance to say how I felt

  I wasn’t polite, there was some swearing

  Angered me more, her not really caring

  When I sat, out of breath, out of steam

  I was dragged back into her musical dream

  I never did coin how many I’d done

  How many versions of this show were run

  Odd, the multiple times I went through it

  No food or sleep but just felt like shit

  Right on the edge of just passing out

  But finding more energy for one more bout

  Not like I had much choice as you have read

  Unseen will controlled what I did and said

  Spare moments I had, spent catching my breath

  In between wishing for my own death

  Survived by keeping my focus on the rest

  The kids, my cast also doing their best

  To hide their own fear but I could see

  They were forced to do this just like me

  In those brief reprieves I had from my trance

  Sat in a booth, able to speak rather than dance

  I asked the questions that swirled in my mind

  I had quite a few as we soon would find

  “Who are you?” I demanded of her

  “You used to know, even love me, I’m sure”

  “So who am I? Who was I before?”

  Honestly? I sounded like a fucking bore!

  The person she loved, who was me, I guess

  Was a musician and one of the best

  You wouldn’t know them, never played a show

  And despite how much I wanted to know

  I felt the chains loose, her focus had waned

  Hoped she missed it, continue to explain

  But our performance, her puppet show, went on

  I lost count but I performed like her pawn

  And at that scene I asked what I could

  Trying to see an ounce in her of good

  Biding my time until my own power stirred

  Figuring out why she trapped me with her

  Because of her, I suppose I should say

  I have to guess but she would release her sway

  Every other show, about once a day

  I figured that fighting it just wasn’t the way

  I needed info so I went with it

  Exhausted, and maybe insane a bit

  I endured her magic captivity

  To uncover the reason for this activity

  Cuz I could not recall why I was here

  What crime I committed just was not clear

  In this situation, who’s in the wrong?

  I needed to know, it shouldn’t take long

  Or so I thought, but if a query I asked

  She disapproved, I’d return to my task

  Remaining in control every second

  Had to be a difficult action I reckoned

  So I did my best to choose my words well

  Here is her story from what I could tell

  Red and Finn, as my past self’s name had been

  Woke a few weeks ago, she said about ten

  They began together and as such they stayed

  Hidden in a theater for many nights and days

  They did find out their past had been frayed

  As they spoke of each other’s thoughts and ways

  This explained things when I considered this

  Changes I felt, my memory gone to piss

  Fully grown adults is how we were born

  Never hungry or tired, tis not the norm

  We look human but for sure we are not

  New bodies, new life, what else had we got?

  Abilities, powers that come from a source

  But not witchcraft of the gods of Norse

  Rather theater and the actors therein

  We draw power from the shows they are in

  Sierra Boggess, Red’s source was found to be

  Alex Brightman, the source left to me

  His name turned my mind as if by a key

  And how things were I could suddenly see

  This character I played is why I was tired

  He’s a mortal man, but I was not hired

  She forced me into this role day by day

  To keep me weak, hear what she had to say

  That would explain why I was held here

  The next query that hadn’t been made clear

  What about the kids, the cast by my side

  The answer she gave, in me, turned the tide

  They are not real, she thought I could tell

  She’d never allow children to this hell

  I reminded her she did it to me

  She thought it’d bring back who I used to be

  That person is gone, her actions assured

  Could’ve talked instead of what I’d endured

  Scared she was of what I’d become

  The power we have cannot be undone

  She thought it was best to keep me in here

  Until she could test if I should be feared

  I told her I was quite a fearsome being

  But that’s only because of this first sting

  If this is how she treats those she loves

  Then now is the time to take off my gloves

  Since I am the sole prisoner inside

  Then I will ensure there is no place to hide

  My plan to escape was almost at hand

  Since there’s no need to care about the child band

  You see, in between my convos with Red

  I began to use a bit more of my head

  While my body and voice moved on their own

  Through focus and thought my power had grown

  My source had had a successful career

  Stored in my head, time made it all clear

  A current flowed through me all around

  He’s on a show now, I could hear the sound

  Everything Brightman was credited in

  Had some ability that I could pin

  One thing for sure, I was no longer Finn

  A chance of their return, you can toss in the bin

  I’ll burn this place down, if I can be free

  This witch will not make a trophy of me

  Stating my plans like this? A bad idea

  She locked the place down like North Korea

  No more shows, thankful for this, I felt

  I could start to recover the damage they delt

  The water returned, her favorite trick

  Along with some chains, both metal and thick

  I had always felt them, but now they were real

  Kind of nice to see what I could still feel

  Too dangerous, Red felt, I had become

  She feared what I’d do, if free I could run

  Finn she could trust, but they were not me

  I asked, “Is this right, from what you can see?

  Something had happened and I was new life

  Along with answers, you’ve given me strife!”

  Red left me alone floating in the drink

  Rather than despair, I was glad for time to think!

  Mostly submerged in a small salty sea

  Below my chin the water’s level happened to be

  The chains wrapped tight so moving was hard

  Keeping me in place, no need for a guard

  There was no light, I was left in the dark

  I didn’t need to see to look for a spark

  Taking a breath, I thought what I knew

  Reasons for Red to lie were rather few

  So we had existed for less than a year

  Both have power, but mine she had to fear

  Began to focus on what’s in my mind

  It took some time, there was a lot to find

  Not of me, but my source’s career

  Alex Brightman had become Broadway’s dear

  Starting quite young, only eight years old

  His skill and passion was one to behold

  Broadway debut in two thousand and eight

  Glory Days opened and closed on the very same date

  Went on to perform in Wicked as Boq

  Big Fish and Matilda, he cannot be stopped

  Fate took a turn when he got his first lead

  School of Rock, I know it, unfortunately

  But none of that had caused my birth

  What happened to Finn and all he was worth?

  I came to a theory, I think I am right

  We are drawn to our source, though we may fight

  Even now he’s on stage, of that I can tell

  Could just about see him from my watery cell

  Finn had been drawn to Brightman’s new show

  About a striped demon whom you may know

  Leaving the theater fear struck Finn’s heart

  Because they knew, this person was smart

  A new character had been added now

  It would affect Finn, they didn’t know how

  Teacher, fraud, bully, man, were all in Finn’s head

  This would add a demon who was dead

  Scared they could not control this new power

  Finn destroyed themselves, making it my hour

  Whatever we are, we don’t die, we change

  From Red’s point of view it had to be strange

  Where once stood this person she cared for

  Now some kind of stranger, understanding was poor

  While I understand her anger and fear

  I would have preferred a talk over beer!

  But how had Red kept me captive so long

  If she was so scared, surely I was strong

  Stronger than her, of that perhaps

  I began to think on her choice of traps

  The water, of course, but we’ll get to that

  My answers did lay in Red’s source’s past

  Sierra Boggess and Brightman did act

  Together in School of Rock, this was a fact

  Trapping me here, mortal and weak

  Dewey didn’t have much power to seek

  This show I am sure I will find a use

  She’d made it a vessel to fuel my abuse

  Other character’s power she had drawn on

  Caught in a theater, a Phantom’s long con

  Chrsitine Diae Boggess had once played

  So I bet Phantom is one of her power stays

  Manipulating minds, the Opera’s as well

  And the ocean’s course was clear as a bell

  Sierra Boggess had played Ariel

  Princess of the sea created my cell

  So where did the chains come in you may ask

  Figuring that out another easy task

  For that came from my own source indeed

  The musical Big Fish had this one scene

  People of a town, Brightman included

  Wanted a dam from their locale excluded

  So binding themselves to the town with chains

  Hoping the dam’s creation could be changed

  The protest began as the water rose

  Slipping the chains, the citizens chose

  I focused on this and soon had found

  The chains fell away and sunk to the ground

  I floated at sea, escape not yet prepared

  I vowed to give Red a reason to be scared

  Angry I was and with good reason

  I wanted revenge for her great treason

  What came to mind was a demon in stripes

  And a lesson to learn that Red would not like

  Those chains had shown me quite a neat trick

  That somehow we both could use Big Fish

  If she could use mine, I could use hers

  Why this was true, I wasn’t concerned

  But now I can say this feat’s rather hard

  I don’t use it often, quite a rare card

  At the time I was anxious to try

  Anything I could to say my goodbye

  To Red, and Finn, I’d tear this place apart

  A certain striped ghost seemed a good start

  If you look Beetlejuice has no constraints

  Once saying his name released his restraints

  Shaping new reality as he pleased

  This ability I quickly seized

  Focusing upon the chains at my feet

  They began to move in a way that was neat

  Slithering around like snakes in the sea

  I began to think what else they could be

  The chains came together and grew to great size

  Becoming a creature that I could ride

  A two faced sandworm my brand new pet

  I knew that with this, escape I’d soon get

  My vengeance as well, though try as Red might

  One thing for sure, I fucking look good in stripes!

  Fire, destruction, my plan was fantastic

  But it really was anticlimactic

  I rode my pet through the dark to the school

  Walking the halls I felt like a fool

  Completely empty, no students or witch

  My elaborate plan had hit a hitch

  Growing more frustrated with each passing second

  At least, the building can burn, I reckoned

  The sandworm had shrunk, on my shoulder it sat

  But at my command, it grew long and fat

  I sent it away to destroy what it could

  Soon heard the sound of splintered glass and wood

  Able to conjure balls of sparks and fire

  In a moment my surroundings turned dire

  If I was human, I’d have been choking on smoke

  But I had embodied the ‘ghost with the most’

  His power, mind, even a bit of his style

  With no fucks left, I could do this for a while

  Combined with that, there was also sorrow

  And a lot more that could wait till tomorrow

  For that moment, I was focused on fury

  As my sandworm returned to me in a hurry

  Seems it cared for my life more than I

  As the school fell, I said my goodbye

  Climbed on it’s back, the sandworm did scurry

  For I still had a witch somewhere to bury

  As we moved, the smoke blocked my sight

  But I could still see a change in the light

  Dismounting, I shrunk my pet travel size

  Unsure of what trick or trap may now rise

  The smoke cleared away and I saw Times Square

  My instincts did tell me I was really there!

  Wanting to feel the sun, pushing back the ghost

  So I could feel the sun’s summer heat roast

  My rage did fade as I saw I was free

  But something odd became clear to me

  The people in the streets were so latent

  New York fucking City was totally vacant!

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