Brian's POV
All my life all I’ve ever wanted was power. I remember a year ago, almost to the day when I first discovered the craft. I’d stolen a book about it from a gift shop while on a school trip. I spent hours reading it that night fascinated by the things it was telling me. I also remember my mother, and how she would preach to me about God. She’d talk to me about how I should embrace my religion instead of running from it. Little did she know that I already had a religion and I’d read everything I could about it. The craft is my religion. I follow it like she follows the bible. After two weeks of research I decided to form my own brotherhood, I told my friends Michael and Ben about it, they were eager to learn the craft just like me, to have the power. So here we are, sitting in Ben’s attic around our altar chanting together. We are finally experienced enough to receive the power we so desperately crave, all we need now is a fourth.
“Now is the time, now is the hour. Ours is the magic, ours is the power. Now is the time, now is the hour. Ours is the magic, ours is the power. Now is the time, now is the hour. Ours is the magic, ours is the power. Now is the time, now is the hour. Ours is the magic, ours is the power.”
Justin's POV
I get out of my seat and exit the plane, following my dad and Molly to the luggage pick up. Once our bags are collected we make our way outside and climb into a taxi. I stare out of the window and try to ignore Molly’s annoying car games as best I can. Pittsburgh is dull and drab, there’s no colour, no life here like there is back in LA. I miss my friends already especially Ethan. We promised to write and phone each other everyday, but it just won’t be the same. I won’t be able to touch him or feel his body pressed against mine and everybody knows that long distance relationships don’t last. I bet pretty soon he won’t even remember my name. The taxi pulls up outside our new house, I (somin) climb out, half listening to dad and Molly talk about their new life in the Pitts. I wish I could get excited, really I do. It's just... I miss him so much already and its only been twelve hours. How am I going to manage a week, a month even. I take my bag from dad and throw it over my shoulder.
Entering the house, I go straight upstairs to find my room. Finding my bedroom, I walk over to the boxes and start to unpack hoping that it will take my mind off Ethan until I can ring him. A few hours later all the boxes have been unpacked and my room looks more liveable. Frowning I check the boxes one last time before running down the hall to dads bedroom.
“Dad, where are my art supplies? My sketch books and stuff? They’re not in any of the boxes in my room,” I say panicking, thinking that maybe they’ve gotten lost.
“I think there’s a box of your stuff downstairs near the front door that the movers forgot to put in your room”
“Thanks,” I say, before racing down the stairs. I check all the boxes until I find the one containing my stuff. I pick up the box and turn around to go back upstairs, when I come face to face with a strange man. The box I was holding slips from my hands and crashes to the floor, as I start to back away.
“I found this out back you want it?” the man asks, holding up the snake he’s holding. I start to feel my heart beating loudly in my chest and begin to shake. “Relax! what’s a matter with you? Relax!”
“Dad!” I shout. Hearing my father’s footsteps running down the stairs, I fall to the floor my legs unable to hold me up any longer.
“Justin, what is it? Hey...” he yells, seeing the man standing in the doorway. Dad grabs a poker that’s lying at the bottom of the stairs and chases the man out of the house. “Get the fuck out of my house you lunatic,” he says, coming back in the house and shutting the door. “Justin are you okay? Did he do anything?” Dad asks, running over to me.
“He didn’t do anything, I’m okay. He just scared me that’s all.”
“Yeah, I guess. Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. I’m alright honest. Uh... dad” I say, looking down at the snake that’s wrapping itself around my father’s leg. Dad looks down to where I’m staring and notices the snake. “Fuck!” he yells, killing it with the poker. Picking up the dead snake off the floor he takes it into the kitchen and places it into a plastic bag, before disposing of it in the trash can outside.
I get up off the floor and begin to put all my stuff back in the box. Dad returns and helps me pick up my things. He picks up one of my sketches I did of Ethan and looks at me. “Justin, I know you’re going to miss him, we’re all going to miss people, but it will get better. You’re going to get through this, okay” he says, rubbing my shoulder. I nod my head and pick up the box. I walk back up to my room and unpack the last box. I pin my sketches up on the walls, before lying down on my bed and crying, burying my face in the pillows to muffle my sounds of pain.
We pull up outside the school and I can’t help the fear that I feel. I mean I’ve been to a new school before nothing to it.
“Well here we are,” dad says, turning off the engine. “Look you don’t have to go in today Justin. Why don’t you wait... at least until we get a school uniform”
“I can’t stay at home watching daytime TV for the rest of my life.”
“Why not, I could.” Which causes me to laugh.
“I just want to get it over with” I say, climbing out of the car
“Good luck. I’ll pick up.”
"I'll walk."
“You sure?” he asks
“Yes,” I say, motioning with my hand for him to go. I walk towards the entrance of the school building and even though I can’t see it, I can feel it, the whole school is staring at me. I mean it’s not like I stick out or anything in my jeans and t-shirt. I’m a little upset today, I tried calling Ethan five times last night, but his mom said he wasn’t there. I knew he’d forget me and I haven’t even been gone a full day. As I approach the entrance doors I stare up at the Jesus on a cross and immediately feel freaked. Fuck, this school is scarier than all the others, it’s religious. I hope I make friends today, I could really use some. I take deep breath and push open the doors, entering the school also now know as my personal hell.