The Witching Hour

[Cal]

Story Title: The Witching Hour

Type of story: Long story

Main Characters: Belle, Mattie, Ric, Luc

BTTB rating: T/A

Genre: Angst/Thriller

Does story include spoilers: No

Any warnings: V/D, L

Summary: Imagine if you could make anyone love you; make yourself look more beautiful; punish your enemies just by casting a spell...

NOTE: This is based on the movie "The Craft", so it might be a bit familiar. Made a few changes here and there. I just needed something to help me write it.

I'm leaving you with the plot for tonight, chapter 1 will be up soon.

_______________________________________________________

Belle is a 17-year-old with a troubled past. She begins her final year at Summer Bay High, Belle is a lonely stranger - until she meets a gang of black lipstick and nails.

The gang mess with the strange world of Witchcraft. With the arrival of Belle, the fourth element, their wishes can finally come true.....

And they make their enemies very sorry.

[Cal]

Chapter 1 - Earth, Air, Fire, Water.

"Now is the time, this is the hour, we are the magic, we are the power...."

___

BELLE:

By mum, I'll see you at 3.

AMANDA:

Alright sweety, Have a good first day!

Belle walks towards the school, her surroundings a complete blur. People are gossiping, messing about. She knows no-one. She enters the school.

---

Mattie, Luc and Ric are gathered around their lockers. Luc is watching people pass by, Ric is painting his nails black, and Mattie is reading the Almonac - a witchcraft book.

LUC:

Hey, look - new girl.

He's pointing at Belle.

MATTIE:

The almonac says that today we will get an arrival of something, "A new wholeness and a new balance. Earth, Air, Fire, Water" - maybe it's our fourth?

RIC:

We don't need a fourth!

MATTIE:

Ric, we need somebody to call the corners - North, south, east and west.

RIC:

Maybe she could be our fourth?!

- Ric is pointing at the principle, Miss Fetcher.

LUC:

I love a woman in uniform!

The gang laugh and walk down the corridor.

__________________________

Short, I know, but the second chapter will be longer and so will the other ones. It's just a wee taster.

[Cal]

Thanks, guys.

___________________________

Chapter 2 - The Warning

-Belle is sitting at a table during lunch, thinking about life. She sees a jock walking over to her, she tries to look busy.

STEVE:

Hi,

BELLE:

Hi....

-Belle feels awkward. Who is this dude?

STEVE:

You're Belle, right?

BELLE:

Yeh...

STEVE:

Hi, I'm Steve. I just thought I'd say hi and welcome you to Summer Bay. You look a little angry.... are you OK?

BELLE:

Sorry, my defenses are up today, new school and all.

STEVE:

Anybody giving you a hard time?

-He chuckles, thinking that his question would have been ignored.

BELLE:

Actually, now that you mention it, the gang over there.

-She looks at Mattie, Luc and Ric perched on the wall.

STEVE:

Oh sh!t, stay away from them.

BELLE:

Why?

STEVE:

See the girl on the left? That's Mattie. She has burns all over her body.

BELLE:

How'd she get them?

STEVE:

There was an explosion at a wedding back last summer. Pretty sad really, a few people died.

BELLE: And the middle one?

-Belle looked worried.

STEVE:

That's Luc, the quiet one. Very wierd.

- The group were staring over at them. Luc's stare being the strongest. Belle felt very uneasy.

BELLE:

And the one on the right?

-Steve looked at Belle with a worrying look on his face.

STEVE:

That's Ric, the leader. He has done some weird crap over the last few years.

BELLE:

Like what? What did he do?

-Belle was getting scared. How could such a small, peaceful town have such a group of freaks in it?

STEVE:

Gave his dad a heart-attack. They never arrested him. There was no proof. But we all saw the way Ric looked at his dad that day. He just stared at him like an animal waiting to prance on it's prey. Then, down his father went. Right over there.

-Steve pointed at the steps leading up to the Gym. He looked at Belle. She obviously was quite scared.

STEVE:

On a happier note, I'm doing football practice after school, you should come and watch.

BELLE: Football practice? That is so tempting!

- Steve gets up and leaves. She looks over at the gang. Only Luc is there...

Belle got up and walked over to the Gym steps. She stared at them. She was so transfixed about how somebody could just kill you with a stare. Maybe it was all lies..... but maybe it wasn't. She didn't know who to believe. She thought the gang were weird enough to do something like that. But then again, she didn't know them. Not yet...

[Cal]

Chapter 3 - The Craft

Belle walked up beside the pitch and up into the seating area. She was watching Steve play football. She started to think about what life would have been like if she stayed in Sydney. But she kind of liked it here in Summer Bay. It was quiet, no drugs, no violence, no problems. The only thing that was in the way was the gang. The witch gang. The gang that stares at her everytime she is close by. They make her feel uneasy.

She looked out beyond the pitch. They were there.

She heard somebody behind her. She turned. It was Luc...

LUC:

Why are you watching that loser?

BELLE:

He's been nice to me.

LUC:

Steve is a twat, he wants one thing and one thing only. C'mon, follow me.

-Belle stayed still, she didn't budge. Luc noticed she was scared.

LUC:

I know we may look weird...and we are, but we are just as nice as everybody else once you get to know us.

-He smiled.

BELLE:

Where are you going?

LUC:

To the shop full of 'goodies'.

-Belle followed.

They walked down a street. She didn't know where she was going.

LUC:

Where did you live before this?

BELLE:

Sydney

LUC:

Did you like it there?

BELLE:

No, you need a car there!

LUC:

You need a car everywhere. Why did you move?

BELLE:

Mum wanted to, something about 'New beginnings'...

LUC:

Ah, that excuse to move.

Luc noticed some marks on Belle's wrists.

LUC:

Hey, what are they?

-Belle hid them.

LUC:

Oh, sorry.

BELLE:

It's fine, really.

-He smiled.

LUC:

We're here!

They stopped at an old building. They both entered.

The smell of insense hit Belle like a train. She coughed a few times. The store was full of lighting candles and ornaments. She saw Ric and Mattie over at a book shelf, looking at a large book.

MATTIE:

Belle, come over here.

BELLE:

What?

MATTIE:

Put this in your bag.

-She was holding a book.

BELLE:

No!

-Mattie put it in her own bag.

MATTIE:

You put all your spells in it and you don't let anyone read. Well, except us.

BELLE:

So you guys are really a cult?

MATTIE:

A Cult? No. Witches? Yes.

-Belle walked over to Luc and Ric. They were looking at candles.

BELLE:

How do you guys pay for all this stuff, it's so expensive.

RIC:

Five finger discount.

BELLE:

Right, five finger discount.....

[Cal]

Thanks.

________________________

Chapter 4 - The Fourth

They walked out of the shop. Belle was so relieved to get fresh air. She was beginning to feel sick in that shop.

They began to walk down the street.

BELLE:

You guys, I think I should go home, I'm so late.

RIC:

Just keep walking.

Belle noticed a homeless. He was holding a snake. He began to walk over to the gang. They started to walk faster. Then, they ran.

Luc, Ric, Mattie and Belle ran across the road and stop there. The homeless guy was in the middle of the street. They all stared at him.

Belle felt a buzzing in her head, something she never felt before. The man lay dead on the road.

MATTIE:

Belle, c'mon, lets go quickly.

-Mattie grabbed her.

LUC:

You're our fourth.

RIC:

And we can make things happen.......

[Cal]

Thanks!

____________________________________

Chapter 5 - Payback

The next day at school, Belle, Ric and Mattie were at their lockers. Luc was at swimming practice.

Luc was at the edge of the diving board getting ready to jump. He was about to attempt a risky dive. He looked over to the seats and saw Karen and Laura - 2 stupid blondes who's middle names were 'Bitch'.

He jumped.

LAURA:

Shark!

Luc lost all focus and belly-flopped into the water.

The girls giggled.

______

Luc met up with the rest of the gang later after practice. He was obviously annoyed.

LUC:

That stupid Laura and her dog!

MATTIE:

What did they do?

LUC:

Em, Nothing important.

The schoolbell rang. Time to go to Chemistry.

_____

Ric stopped writing and looked at Belle.

RIC:

Did you have fun on your date?

BELLE:

What date? What are you talking about?

RIC:

Steve is telling everyone about it. He said that you did 'it'.

BELLE:

But we didn't do it!?

RIC:

He said that you were the crappest sex he's ever had and coming from him, that's pretty bad!

Belle looked down. Time for payback.

___

The gang met up after class. They needed to talk.

MATTIE:

Right guys, time for some payback.

LUC:

Who are the unlucky ones?!

MATTIE:

Steve and Laura.

The gang smiled.

RIC: C'mon lets ditch Business and head out to the forest.

____

Ric, Belle, Luc and Mattie were on the back seats of the bus, heading for the romote forest, far away from Summer Bay.

The bus stopped.

BUS DRIVER:

Here you go, Pembrooke Forest.

Luc:

Thanks.

The gang stepped off the bus and turned around to the driver.

BUS DRIVER:

You guys look out for those weirdos!

RIC:

We are the weirdos, mister.

Ric smiled.

____

The gang were grouped in a circle, all of them holding hands. Luc was first to talk.

LUC:

I drink of my friends, and I ask for the ability to not hate those that hat me. Especially pieces of bleached blonde sh!t like Laura!

Belle was next.

BELLE:

I drink of my friends, and I ask to love myself more and to allow myself be loved by others. Especially Steve.

Mattie was next.

MATTIE:

I drink of my friends, and I take into myself the power to be beautiful, outside aswell as in.

Ric was next.

RIC:

I drink of my friends, and I take in to myself, all the witchcraft power....

BELLE:

That's all?!

The gang laugh.

LUC: Can't wait to see what happens!

[Cal]

Cal, I think I just fell in love with you!

and then got angry , because now I REALLY want to watch The Craft

I love this fic - its sad I know how it all ends... or do I...? but its great all the same!

Aww, thanks Jess. Well the final scene, you know the one, will have a major character 'injecting Ric. I hope you know what I'm on about.

________________________________________________________

Chapter 6 - Light As A Feather

The next day, Mattie and Belle were in French class. They were looking at Steve and whispering.

MATTIE:

Do you think it's working?

BELLE:

I don't know, I think he just looked at me. Did he look at me?

MATTIE:

He's looking now!

BELLE:

He's looking!?

After French, the girls went to lunchtime assembly. They were walking across the grass. Steve was following them.

BELLE:

Is he still back there?

MATTIE:

Yeh

They laugh. Steve catches up.

STEVE:

Belle

BELLE:

Yeh?

STEVE:

.....Nevermind!

They laugh again.

MATTIE:

Your spell is working.

BELLE:

Good.

Steve came up again.

STEVE:

Belle, do you hate me?

BELLE:

No, I think your an asshole

STEVE:

OK, cool.

BELLE:

Did you tell your friends?

STEVE:

Tell them what?

BELLE:

That you're a lying sack of ****.

STEVE:

No...bu..but I will!

They walk into assembly.

_______

After school, the gang went to Mattie's house. Belle and Mattie were throwing popcorn into each others mouths, unsuccessfully.

LUC:

Get one in already!

MATTIE:

It's difficult, Luc!

LUC:

You're like two feet away from eachother!

Ric leaned over Luc to get his water.

LUC:

Get off! You're so heavy!

RIC:

I'm not that heavy!

LUC:

Yeah, you're light as a feather! ... during deep space travel.

RIC:

I am actually.

BELLE:

Hey, did you ever play that?

MATTIE:

Play what?

BELLE:

Light as a feather, stiff as a board?

One person lays down and you gather around them. You put your fingers underneath?

RIC:

Put your fingers where!?

They laugh.

Luc lay down on the floor and the gang circled him.

BELLE:

Okay, so you take your index finger and your middle finger, and you put them under him like this.

She shows them what to do. They all do it.

BELLE:

Now you have to imagine that he is incredibly light. Like he's made out of air.

MATTIE:

Is that his whole body or just his head!?

LUC:

COW!

BELLE:

Guys, c'mon concentrate or it's not gonna work.

They all concentrate. Ric looks up.

RIC:

I think I just sprained my finger!

LUC:

Shut Up!

BELLE:

Focus! .... Light as a feather, stiff as a board.

The gang follow on chanting.

"Light as a feather, stiff as a board"

Luc slowly starts to rise. He is three feet above ground when he opens his eyes.

LUC:

Wow!

The gang open their eyes. They are in shock.

LUC:

Who's got the instructions!?

BELLE:

Shut up or you're going to fall!

LUC:

How do I get down!?

BELLE:

Shh! Just keep concentrating.

MATTIE:

Amazing!

Their is a knock on the door and Mattie's mum, Beth, walks in. Everyone turns. Luc falls.

LUC:

AGH!

BETH:

What's going on!?

Mattie jumps up and turns her mum away.

MATTIE:

Nothing, Mum!

BETH:

Are you guys getting hung!?

Mattie slams the door. They all laugh.

LUC:

Ow, my butt! ..... You guys gotta try it!

[Cal]

Chapter 7 - Stupid Girl

Belle was walking down the hall in school. She saw Laura coming her way. They were getting closer and closer. Belle through up her arm and pulled Laura's hair.

LAURA:

Ow, you pulled my hair out!

BELLE:

Sorry, I thought I saw a bug. They have shampoo for that you know.

LAURA:

Stupid bitch.

She walked away.

______

Belle took Luc into a empty classroom. She showed him the piece of Laura's hair.

LUC:

Is that Laura's?

BELLE:

Yep. And in order for your spell to work, I need to braid it into your hair!

LUC:

Great.... thank god she is blonde!

Luc sat down and Belle started to braid it in. A few minutes later, they were done.

LUC:

How does it look?

BELLE:

Let's just say, The quicker the spell works, the better!

LUC:

....Thanks..... What do you think will happen to Laura?

BELLE:

That depends, if she is a bitch to you after this, one lump of hair that I pulled out of her head will be the least of her problems.

__________

Ric ran down the hall when he saw Belle and Luc leave the room.

RIC:

Guys, you gotta come quick, it's Mattie!

The trio ran down the hall and into the assembly hall. Mattie was standing there.

RIC:

Mattie, show them!

BELLE:

Show us what!?

Mattie lifted a part of her t-shirt. It was normal skin. Her spelled worked.

LUC:

Your burns! They're gone!

MATTIE:

It feels weird! I feel so normal, you know?

RIC:

This calls for a celebration!

BELLE:

Can we celebrate quickly, Steve is coming!

They turned around and Steve was coming towards them. They all ignored him and walked away. They turned left, and exited the school.

BELLE:

Jeez, When will that love spell wear off!?

LUC:

Whenever you actually hate him. At the moment, you don't have enough hate to break the spell, you need real hate that comes from your heart.

BELLE:

Oh, yay...

RIC:

So, were are we going?! Taco Bell? Elephant and Castle?

MATTIE:

'Elephant and Castle' sounds great!

LUC:

Ohh, my favourite!

The gang walked down the street.

____________

The gang entered the Burger bar, the smell of Burgers and spicy chicken made them smile.

BELLE:

I'm in heaven!

RIC:

We can get our food for free.

BELLE:

How!?

RIC:

Well, now that there are four of us, we can make anything happen.

Ric smiled.

The gang walked over to the biggest table and sat down.

MATTIE:

Don't look now, but Laura and her minions are at table 9.

Luc looked up.

LUC:

Great.

Laura looked over. She saw them.

LAURA:

Don't choke on your forks, freaks!

The gang looked at her. Stared at her. Laura shrugged the stare off and continued to talk to her friends.

RIC:

What a bitch.

LUC:

Tell me about it!

BELLE:

Alright guys, what do you want? I'm going up to order.

They told her what they wanted and Belle went up to the bar.

MATTIE:

Is it really hot in here or is it just me?

Mattie took off her jacket. It was the first time she was able to do it in public. She felt proud.

RIC:

WOW! Definitely you!

LUC:

Ha! The heater is on. Look.

He pointed up. They could see that everyone was getting a little hot and bothered. Especially Laura.

They noticed her taking off her hat............ They all froze............ Her hair was falling out.

LUC:

Oh, oops!

MATTIE:

Was that your spell?

LUC:

I guess so!

RIC:

Nice!

Laura was freaking out. She ran into the bathroom screaming. They all laughed. Belle came back to the table after ordering.

RIC:

Laura's hair fell out!

BELLE:

Are you serious!?

LUC:

Yep! It worked!

She looked stunned.

[Cal]

Thanks.

_________________

Chapter 8 - Changes

The group were outside school, sitting on the grass. Luc, Belle and Mattie were lying down talking while Ric was sitting on the bench.

BELLE:

Mattie, you look so beautiful.

MATTIE:

Aww, thanks! I feel beautiful. I'm so glad those burns are gone!

LUC:

Belle, you made them go away.

BELLE:

No, I didn't.

MATTIE:

You did.

Ric got up and left. He was obviously pissed off.

BELLE:

What's up with Ric?

LUC:

His spells not working.

BELLE:

What spell?

LUC:

The spell to make him really powerful.

BELLE:

Oh.

LUC:

I just said that he should deal with it, do another spell.

__________

Ric went home after he stormed off from school. He entered Summer Bay House and saw Alf, his grandad, lying on the ground.

RIC:

Grandad?

Ric went over to him, kneeled down and started talking to him.

RIC:

Grandad, can you hear me? Grandad!?

_______________

RACHEL:

It seems that Mr.Stewart died from a heart-attack. I'm sorry.

Ric and Sally sat completely still, not saying a word.

________________

It was a few days later when Morag called the Summer Bay House.

MORAG:

Hello? Anybody home?

Sally and Ric were at the sink, washing up.

RIC:

Yeah, Auntie Morag, in here.

Morag walked in to the house and into the kitchen area. They all had a group hug. She was obviously upset, but she was trying to put on a strong face.

MORAG:

I've got Alfred's will in my bag. Do you want me to see what he has left you?

RIC:

Yeah, sure....

Ric was scared. He didn't want to take anything from his grandad. He didn't think it was right.

They all sat down at the table. Morag took out some papers.

MORAG:

Alfred had a whole life pension plan through Summer Bay council. And with benefits this size, it's standard to pass it on towards family members in Summer Bay, us three and Martha.

SALLY:

What size?

MORAG:

Em, lets see.

She took out another folder.

MORAG:

$985,000.

RIC:

What!?Are you serious?!

MORAG:

Very much so, Ric.

SALLY:

And that is left to us?

MORAG:

Yep, to you and Ric. I've got my chunk aswell. And Ric, since you're 18 in three weeks, your split of the money will go your bank account then. Sally, yours is being processed into yours as we speak.

SALLY:

I don't know what to say....

MORAG:

Alfred would have wanted us to have it.

_____________

Luc, Mattie and Belle were walking towards a huge apartment block in the south of the City.

MATTIE:

I can't believe he's dead.

LUC:

Do you think our magic on other people killed him?

BELLE:

No, no way.

Mattie saw a tall handsome man walking towards them.

MATTIE:

Hi, honey!

The guy was heavily embarrassed.

MATTIE:

Don't be shy, honey. Nice ass!

LUC:

Mattie!

MATTIE:

What! He has a cute butt!

BELLE:

You're a slut!

LUC:

"Yeah, I like your butt, do you wanna do it"

The trio laughed and walked into the building.

They went up an elevator to the eighty-ninth floor. Sally bought an penthouse on that floor. They knocked.

Ric answered.

RIC:

Hi guys, come in!

They walked in. It was HUGE!

MATTIE:

Wow, this is amazing!

LUC:

It's so big.

BELLE:

It's practically bigger than Summer Bay!

RIC:

Do you guys wanna come into my room.

MATTIE:

Sure, where's Sal?

RIC:

Shopping!

LUC:

Ah!

________________

They entered him room.

LUC:

Wow, this is cool!

BELLE:

I think this calls for some new magic.

LUC:

Like what?

BELLE:

Fooling an on-looker. It's one of the oldest forms of magic.

MATTIE:

How do you know all this?

BELLE:

I read a load of magic books a few days ago.

LUC:

How did you learn how to actually do this stuff, I mean, you only met us a few weeks ago. It took us years to learn it.

MATTIE:

Ooooh, a natural witch!

BELLE:

Okay, lets get started.

They all sat on the floor......

[Cal]

Song to go with Fic