An Unexpected Visit

“Well” She started as she pulled her hoodie back over her head, “I’m not really sure how to explain it, even if you commanded me to. It happened last night, while Holly and I were out to dinner. We were talking about everything and suddenly everything around us got quiet, like dead silent. It was a busy place so we looked around and no one was moving. The world just seemed to stop.”

Maisie must have seen Brad’s disbelief on his face and simply said, “Really? You’ve had days to work out this curse is real and that’s what you don’t believe?”

“Fair point” Brad admitted, “go on”.

“This woman came up to us, hot as hell, by the way, and I’m straight, and at down at our table. Before either of us could ask what was going on, she started talking. Actually, can we try something?”

Brad just sighed at getting off track and said, “sure”.

“Tell me to show you what happened, I mean, command me to” She said quickly.

“Umm alright, Maisie, show me what happened” Brad said with **** curiosity.

“Ok, so if this works, it only works with you. Hold still.”

She leaned over and put her hand on his head and suddenly the room changed around him. Suddenly, instead of sitting on his couch, he was sitting across a restaurant table from Holly and a mystery woman, presumably from Maisie’s perspective.

“Holy shit” Brad said, or at least, tried to say. Nothing came out when he tried.

“Ladies,” the mysterious figure began, “I know you have questions. I’m here with answers. First, my name is Rosalind, and I’m a witch.”

“You bitch!” You hear Maisie’s voice say, though it felt like Brad was the one saying it, “I’ll fucking kill you!” Brad sees himself, or Maisie, he can’t really tell anymore, reach down and pick up a fork and lunge at the woman but stop short. Holly looks like she wanted to do the same but was too slow.

“Ladies, please. I’m not that witch. I suppose I should have worded that better.” She waves her hand and he feels himself sit down and drop the fork.

“However, I was involved. I want to explain everything and go over all the history, but I just don’t have the energy. So, before question time, let me give you the rundown. You’re both cursed, big surprise I know. The curse was meant as the ultimate punishment for an act done so long ago it shouldn’t matter anymore, but here we are. There is no way out of it, and there is no making it better. The only thing you can hope for is whoever claims you, yes claims, is slightly less evil than they could be.”

“But what about mom?” Holly interrupts.

“Ah yes, ‘the first in history to not be taken advantage of’” Rosalind goes on, “She actually is very lucky her husband is willing to take the punishment that he’s been getting.”

“Punishment!?” both Holly and Maisie exclaim.

“Do you really think she’d be able to get away with it if someone wasn’t paying the price? No. Now, there is nothing that can be done to make your lives easier or better. Trust me, I’ve tried for ages to help with this.”

“Why are you telling us all this? Just to rub it in?” Maisie/Brad said, grasping the fork again.

“I’m offering my assistance, at least in the limited way I can. I’m offering to make you both more useful to your masters in order to hope for better treatment.”

“What if no one claims me?” Holly asked quietly.

“Oh my dear, someone already has. Just ask your sister.” Rosalind gestured.

“That’s not possible. I would’ve known. You’re lying. Maisie, tell her she’s full of shit!” Holly began to panic.

Brad could feel the internal turmoil of Maisie. She wanted to tell her sister the truth, but his previous command prevented her from doing so.

Instead, she looked the witch dead in the eye and said, “You’re lying. I don’t know anything.”

Rosalind sighed, “Alright then, this is what I’m giving both of you for now. It is the ability to allow your masters to see events through your perspective. It will allow him to see, hear and feel everything you feel. The main catch is they have to command you to use it.”

With that, Rosalind stood up and walked away. As the girls were about to chase after her, the restaurant buzzed back to life.

The restaurant faded away and Brad was once again on his couch next to Maisie.

“Well?” She asked, “Did it work?”

“Yeah, it worked. Holy shit.” Brad answered.

“So what now? Are you still pissed at me?” Maisie gave him the big puppy dog eyes he never could resist.

“I was never mad.” He started, “In fact, seeing that you tried to kill her right off the bat was perfect. But I think we need to talk to Holly.”

“I was hoping you’d say that. Out of everything you’ve had me do, lying to my sister was the worst. Do you want me to set it up?”

“Yeah, go ahead. Set it for tomorrow though. I’ve got some thinking to do.”

“Can I go then?” Maisie asked quietly.

“Of course, you are not and will never be a prisoner, Mais. We just have to figure out how we live with our new normal.”

Maisie scrunched her nose, “I fucking hate that phrase, ‘new normal’. Ever since covid everyone uses it for everything. Anyway, let me know when you want to meet.” Maisie put her shorts back on.

“Anytime tomorrow is fine, just let me know. And Maisie,” Brad paused.

“Yeah?” she asked, visibly concerned.

“Have a good day, relax, and don’t let yourself get too worried about tomorrow” Brad said.

Maisie nodded and walked out, closing the door behind her. As soon as the door closed, Brad doubled over, clutching his head. This was by far the worst pain he’d dealt with yet.

Once the pain subsided, he pulled up his laptop and opened up a word doc. It was high time he started keeping track of what he was doing, as well as his plans for the future.