Hello Everyone. Here is another chapter. Happy reading and remember to vote 🙏
Morning light bathed the bustling city streets, painting the scene with a vibrant energy as citizens hurried along, immersed in their daily routines. The air hummed with the symphony of urban life, filled with the chatter of voices and the rhythmic cadence of footsteps.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. Tension threaded through the wind as a creature materialized, its ominous presence casting a shadow over the once-bustling street. Gasps of alarm rippled through the crowd as they beheld the creature's sinister form, frozen in stunned silence.
With calculated precision, the creature unleashed its power, a beam of energy that struck its unsuspecting victims, rendering them motionless statues trapped in stone. Panic erupted as the chaos unfolded, a torrent of bodies scrambling to escape the creature's malevolent gaze.
Laughter, cold and merciless, echoed through the now-deserted street as the creature continued its onslaught, transforming more unfortunate souls into lifeless monuments until the thoroughfare resembled a silent graveyard.
Meanwhile, in the tranquility of Blade's home, she wrestled with her studies, her mind consumed by equations and formulas. As she completed the final step of a chemistry problem, she closed her textbooks with a heavy sigh, the weight of her thoughts evident in her furrowed brow.
"Darling."
Blade's aunt's voice, a comforting presence in the midst of her turmoil, broke the silence, accompanied by the clink of a plate of fruit being placed on the table. Blade turned to greet her aunt, her expression a mask of forced composure.
"Hi, aunty," Blade responded, her tone tinged with weariness.
Concern etched her aunt's features as she approached Blade, a maternal instinct driving her to inquire about her niece's well-being. "Are you okay, sweetheart? Ever since you got here, you've been a little down."
Blade offered a faint smile, attempting to assuage her aunt's worry. "I'm fine, aunty. Just a little stressed from studying."
Her aunt's frown deepened, her gentle touch soothing Blade's troubled thoughts. "Why don't you go out for a bit? Hang out with your friends, Vida, was it?"
Blade's response was swift, a reflexive defense against her aunt's assumption. "Aunty! I have other friends than Vida. There's Maddie and Xander and Chip and Clara. There is Glenn and...and...." Blade's voice trailed off, a hint of desperation seeping into her words as she grasped for reassurance.
Her aunt's response was a gentle yet steadfast affirmation, her unwavering presence a source of comfort amidst Blade's uncertainty. "And everything will be fine," she reiterated, her tone imbued with unwavering confidence. "I know leaving them will be hard, but everything will work out eventually. For them and for you."
Blade's troubled thoughts circled back to Glenn, a knot of worry tightening in her chest. "But Glenn..."
Her aunt's reply was swift, her conviction unwavering as she quelled Blade's apprehensions. "Will be fine." The assurance in her aunt's voice was palpable, dispelling any lingering doubts. "Everyone deals with loss in different ways. Even if you stayed here, you won't be able to change anything if he's not ready to move on himself."
Blade absorbed her aunt's words, a sense of resignation settling over her as she accepted the truth in her aunt's counsel. With a faint smile, she reached for the plate of fruit, a silent acknowledgment of her decision to heed her aunt's advice. "Right. I'll finish this, then go hang out with them."
As her aunt nodded in approval and exited the room, Blade was left alone with her thoughts, a glimmer of hope flickering amidst the shadows of uncertainty.
!["THE TALE OF THE SILVER WITCH"[BL] by PhoenixRiversong](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/386963678-80-k930308.jpg)
Location: Rock Podium
Vida swayed to the rhythm of the music, her movements flowing effortlessly with each beat. As she danced, her eyes fluttered open to find Maddie standing before her, a camera in hand, capturing the vibrant moment.
"Nice shirt," Vida remarked, a playful grin lighting up her features.
Maddie returned the smile from behind the camera, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Thanks. That beat is great. You're a genius behind these tables, sis," she praised, her voice filled with genuine admiration for her twin's DJ skills.
Vida chuckled, feeling the infectious energy of the music coursing through her veins. "You know I'm in the zone," she replied with a laugh, her enthusiasm contagious.
Just then, Xander strolled into the room, brandishing a newspaper for all to see. "There has been another attack around here," he announced, his voice laced with concern as he pointed to a picture on the front page. "Man turned to stone."
However, Xander's attempt to relay serious news was promptly derailed by the sight of Chip amusing himself with the price tag tape machine.
"Um, Chip, we're meant to be marking them down," Xander reminded him, trying to maintain a semblance of order amidst the chaos.
Chip, with a red shirt draped over his back like a makeshift cape, quirked an eyebrow at Xander's comment. "Yeah, we are. I suppose you're supervising, right?" he quipped, his playful tone evident as he continued his antics.
Xander chuckled, recognizing Chip's sarcasm. "He catches on fast," he remarked to the others, who exchanged amused glances at Chip's playful behavior.
Unfazed by Xander's reprimand, Chip dove back into his role-playing, using the price tag tape machine as his makeshift superhero accessory. "Every price shall fall under my mighty hand, for I am Count Discounts...defender of the bargain bin, hero to slacker and collector alike," he proclaimed dramatically, earning a hearty laugh from Maddie.
But Xander had reached his limit. "That's it," he declared, marching over to Chip and swiftly confiscating the price tag tape machine. With deft efficiency, he proceeded to tape Chip all over, much to the amusement of the others. "There," Xander declared in satisfaction. "Now you're really Count Discount."
Before Chip could protest, their boss, Toby, emerged from his office, looking disheveled and irritable.
"We don't have 8-track tapes, you neanderthal," Toby admonished, clearly agitated by the chaos unfolding before him. "The fidelity on those things is horrible. Now, get back into your pinto. And take your business elsewhere."
Maddie observed Toby's state with a mixture of concern and amusement. "Toby, what's up? Why so cranky today?" she inquired, noting his unkempt appearance and frazzled demeanor.
Toby sighed heavily, his frustration palpable. "I'm...fasting," he confessed, his tone conveying both resignation and hunger. "I'm trying to cleanse my body and my mind, which means no food—no pork rinds, no cheese fries, no snack cakes, no nothing. I'm so hungry, I could eat the oldies section."
Just then, a customer walked in, oblivious to Toby's plight, carrying a bag of food.
"Hey, uh, dorkmeister, no outside food allowed," Toby admonished, his annoyance evident as he addressed the oblivious newcomer.
Leelee's gaze shifted from Toby's retreating figure to Madison, her expression mischievous as she focused on her.
"You're too shy, Madison," Leelee teased, a mocking glint in her eyes.
Madison bristled at the comment, her posture stiffening. "I am not shy," she protested, her tone defensive.
Rolling her eyes, Leelee brushed off Madison's denial with a smirk. "Please. The last time you went out, those shoes were in, and even Toby can't remember back that far," she countered, her words laced with mockery.
