"Zach..."
"Zach..."
"Zachariah!"
Zachs eyes regained their luster.
"Oh man... are we seriously doing this" he rubbed his temples side glancing at the candle skeptically.
He stood amongst a human circle in the dim candlelight, looking at what looked like an ancient ritual described in legends.
On the centre of the round table were two 8 candles, representing the 8 fools—(I mean students) that dared to attempt to summon a demon by 12pm just because it was Halloween, and they, were feeling curious. At least that what Zach thought, Anne said this was a ritual for eternal life.
Zach's hands trembled as he gripped his friends but he could not show his discomfort otherwise he would be the clown of the group for a very long time.
Kolon could relate. Zach chuckled at the thought.
The girl in the centre of this circle wore some sort of dark robe that cover her face with a hood, but her cheeky smile could still be seen.
"Uh okay.. everything's ready I think" she tried to sound spooky.
"Anne... I'm not saying this is a cult thing—"
"It's not—"
"—but if we end up summoning a unicorn I won't even be surprised", he pointed to the item on the table.
"Are you trying to change our Sexual orientation or something.."
"Huh? what does that even mean..?" Anne annoying raised her brow.
"It's giving.."
He pointed to a member in the corner.
The girl rolled her eyes.
"I just want to do this and go home" a blonde girl stood uninterested as she observed the whole process, she was Cassie, the groups observer.
The friend group was compromised of Anne, Zach, Reece, Milo, Jacob, Cassie, Kolon and Grace.
It all started as a childish game of 'spy team' in elementary school, now?, it a life long pact of undying loyalty towards the friend group.
Zach thought his life in college would comprise of just the following. Study, write exams, and make sure not to fail at least.
But for some odd reason the the group wasn't divided all this time, they managed to go to the same highschool and college. They lived in Austria so there was little option to get for choice of education.
Each of them where students of their respective majors, Zach's being business management, and entrepreneurship.
Each Sunday night they gather at Kolon's place for a weekly game night.
Of course this idea was brought about by Anne and at the time, no member saw anything wrong with it.
Each week it will be a new members turn to select the game they play, and Anne had selected they attempt an eternal life ritual.
Not sure if that's even a game, but compared to the grueling Animal kingdom role play grace had them play last week, this was bearable.
The candle burned as a sweet lavender sent filled the air, on the side were bowl filled with tumeric, fresh cinnamon, bay leaf and all sorts of things, the room smelled like lavender and vanilla crate sort sort of comfortable mix that smelled wonderful.
"Alright... let's just do it already" Kolon, who had been silent all this time spoke with a grin.
It seems he too was enjoying the spooky atmosphere.
'Weirdo..' Zach lampooned.
Anne brought out a sheet of paper in a dramatic fashion as she pointed to her assistant, Grace.
Grace which was wearing a dark robe without the hood nodded in accordance with her role.
"Uhh um, first add the mixture and vanilla mixture into the central pot" she spoke.
Grace move to grab an oil like substance and poured it into the pot, awaiting more instructions from her master.
Anne recited the formula as grace move to toss the corresponding ingredients into the pot.
Slowly the movement became fast and skillful, as Anne's reciting grew more frantic.
Grace grabbed a pinch of the tumeric powder and leaf sap and sprinkled it on the candles.
Suddenly the groups eyes sparkled, as the candles flames suddenly turned purple, signalling it's authenticity.
Zach was taken aback, the 'potions' Anne provided in the past were all counterfeits, and he was beginning to think witchcraft didn't exist, even if he held that belief tightly as a child.
"Boom"
The candles flames soared high Into the sky burning even brighter than ever.
Grace tossed the last ingredient, and join the circled, the whole group was excited, Anne had told them this was a potion formula for eternal life.
"The great angel of light, we pay for your guidance in this scared journey" Anne was more committed to the role.
The flames converged above the pot as an inexplicable light radiated, filling the room.
The 'potion' floated in the air merging with the purple flames above.
Zach was both excited and terrified, his childhood beliefs were true, he couldn't deny it, it was right up in his face on the other hand it meant that things could go south.
The flames spread to everyone in the room, covering them with warmth as the light dissipated, everyone was examining themselves.
"I can't believe that actually worked!, I'm so pumped up" Reece exclaimed.
Zach couldn't feel any changes to his body l, but his mood was so much better.
"Was it a ritual for uplifting ones mood" his thoughts trailed off.
A loud cracking sound made the group paused.
The empty pot rattle. Drawing the groups attention.
'Wait did I imagine it ?.... No I didn't the others heard it too didn't they' self doubt creeped in.
"Did you guys hear that?", Grace, who was the closest to the pot spoke.
The pot rattled again and the silence made it even scarier.
"Guys relax..., maybe construction tools are being used across the street the vibrations could reach us, it's possible." Kolon walked over and picked the pot
The pot's insides were black, really dark, like a portal to a place filled with eternal darkness and sorrow, the abyss rattling with little stars.
Suddenly a hand which thickness was the same as that of the pot reach out and grabbed Kolon by the head, yanking him in with so much force, his bones and organs all rearranged themselves to fit into that small vessel.
Kolon's screams resurfaced after as the pot dropped to the ground.
Zach's mind returned to normal.
"No... no wait, what was that?"
Black smoke creeped out of the pot as it's entrance expanding.
A blob of flesh wiggle out, oozing with a sticky black liquid, as it's milky white eyes locked onto the group members.
At this point only one thought was present in Zach's mind.
" Fuck. "