13. Found Family Re

Chapter 13

Found Family Reunion

A lice stood in front of the Raskin's white front door and inhaled. The air was crisp on the bright sunny day. A deceiving day. The type of day where one would expect warmth and comfort from the welcoming sun, only to find the bitter cold of the oncoming winter's breeze. The Christmas lights rattled against the white trim of the blue house. The plastic LED bulbs beat against the wood, like chains foretelling doom and gloom.

Max tugged on the leash, distracted by the activity off the porch and the people out for a stroll. Alice drew the inquisitive pup closer, and Max sat at Alice's feet. She glanced over her shoulder and gave a final bark to the people walking past.

One week until Christmas. I have to hurry. Please answer the door.

Alice's neck tightened. She held her breath, not wanting to relinquish her inhale. She rolled her neck three times, exhaling over the entire stretch to relieve the tension. She straightened and locked onto the green Christmas wreath decorated with a gold ribbon hung in the upper center of the door.

Alice raised her hand and gave three swift knocks. After a delay, the door opened, and Carol Raskin peeked through the opening.

"You," she said in a low grumble before closing the door.

Alice lowered her head. She pulled down on the brim of her hat to hide the tears welling in her eyes.

I deserved that. I could really use a hug right about now.

Alice turned to Max. "Come on, Max. We're not welcome here. I'll drop you off with Ez. It'll be okay."

A tear ran down her cheek. She turned to leave the porch when the door opened once more. Instead of a small crack, it opened wide to welcome the neighborhood witch into their home.

"You'll have to forgive Carol," Oliver Raskin said, standing in the entryway. "She's still not taking it very well."

"No, I deserved her slamming the door on me," Alice said.

"No, you didn't. You're family. We don't shut the door on family. Come on in." Oliver stepped aside, holding the door, and welcomed her into his home with an open arm.

Alice entered with a joyous Max following behind. The Raskin's home was well decorated for the season. An artificial Christmas tree decorated with all sorts of ornaments from Christmases' past, and brightly colored strings of lights stood in front of their window. Garland draped down over the curtain rod to decorate the beige window curtains in a lively green pine.

Their TV stand held all sorts of Christmas knickknacks. A shelf stand nestled in the corner, once filled with personal photos, was now filled with Santa statues, snowmen, and a nativity scene. A menorah rested on the top shelf, gold and worn with scratches. A family heirloom of Oliver's.

Alice fixated her eyes on a decoration of Santa in his sleigh. A small reindeer connected to the front bobbed up and down in a mechanical motion. As the reindeer lowered, Santa's arm raised to wave Merry Christmas to everyone. The motion mesmerized Alice. Her eyes were unable to break away.

"I'm really glad you stopped by," Oliver said. "And it's good seeing you again, old buddy."

Oliver's voice broke the hold the Santa decoration had on Alice. Oliver shut the door, and in the same motion, scratched Max under her chin. She sat down at his feet, her tail wagging back and forth on the carpet, and closed her eyes. Max always enjoyed the attention and scratches. Alice bent down to release Max from the leash.

"Thank you, Oliver. It means a lot," Alice said.

"Can I get you something to eat or drink?"

"No, thank you. I need to be going, actually."

"Going? You just got here."

Alice hung the leash over the silver bells drooping down from the door knob. The leash swayed the bells back and forth, providing a festive jingle throughout the room. She pulled her hat back slightly and raised her head to Oliver.

"I need to leave Max with you for a little while. I'm leaving," Alice said. She fiddled with her hands, her fingers interwoven as if they were trying to dispel her nervousness.

"Of course," Oliver said. "I hope you're not leaving forever."

"Oh, no," Alice said, as she was taken aback by the statement. "I'm not leaving forever. I?—"

She paused. Every possible rephrasing of the words ‘I made contact with Hugo' coursed through her mind. If she said it in the wrong order or wrong phrasing, it could give them false hope she could return Hugo to the material realm. If she failed in her duty, then her failure would crush the Raskins. She didn't want to give them hope only to replace it with despair.

"What is it?" Oliver asked.

Alice gulped. She worked through various excuses as to why she needed to leave. She had to continue her research at Ez's place. She needed to consult with witches and wizards in other towns. She needed to do anything. Anything other than to give them false hope.

"I—"

Oliver's usual optimistic expression faded to a sense of worry. He gulped in anticipation.

"Oliver, there isn't an easy way to say this, but?—"

Alice couldn't. She couldn't lie. The Raskins were her extended family. Family not from blood, but from shared experiences. A found family whose bonds ran deep. She couldn't lie to either of them. They had every right to know about Hugo and her intentions.

"What is it? Is everything okay?" Oliver asked.

"I made contact with Hugo," Alice said, fighting back tears.

Oliver stumbled backward. Without peeking, he reached for the love seat placed across the wall from the TV. He found the beige cushion and sat down. The normally talkative Oliver was rendered speechless.

"Hugo is trapped in a twisted place. It's been called many names. Some refer to it as a purgatory," Alice said, her voice nearly cracking as she held back the tears.

Oliver covered his mouth.

Alice continued, "I tried to bring him back. I tried to pull him through from the other side, but there's something on the other side keeping him there. It stopped me. The only way I can save Hugo now is to go there myself and retrieve him."

Oliver leaned back on the couch. He placed his hand on the armrest and exhaled. He fixated off into the distance, still silent.

"Are you . . . are you okay?" Alice asked.

Oliver shook his head as if he were clearing his mind. "Are you sure? Are you sure you can't do anything else to rescue him?"

"It's a long shot, but it's the only thing I have left to try. I'm going to need a Christmas miracle," Alice said.

"We'll need a Christmas miracle," Oliver said. "All of us will need a Christmas miracle."

"I don't know how long I'll be gone. If you don't mind, can you watch Max for me?" Alice asked.

"Of course," Oliver said. "We're family. We'll help in any way we can."

"And if I don't come back?—"

"If we don't come back," Carol said.

Alice snapped her attention to Carol. She held onto the wall with one hand and peered around the corner leading to their bedroom.

"Carol, I appreciate the offer, but it's risky. I don't even know if I'll come back," Alice said.

"Can you get him back?" Carol asked. "Can you bring our Hugo back?"

Alice removed her hat. She turned the brim in her hands. "It's a long shot. It's risky. It's the last hope I have left."

"Then it's good enough for me," Carol said. "If you need to go somewhere to get Hugo, then I can't let you go alone."

"Carol, maybe we should think about this," Oliver said.

Carol gulped, tears forming in her eyes. She held her right hand over her heart in a fist. "We've lost too many friends. Too many people we hold dear. And Hugo—" Carol's voice cracked. "Hugo is like a son to us. I've cried every day since you told me he died."

Tears streaked down Alice's face. "He died saving me. His last act of love was to ensure I lived. He sacrificed himself for me because he loved me so dearly. There was no other way. I tried. I did, but Sylvia had a hold over him."

Alice wiped away her tears with the sleeve of her coat. "It was his idea. He told me to do it. I couldn't . . . I couldn't stake him, but he insisted. He told me it would be okay. But it hasn't been okay. I haven't been able to sleep or eat. I've been researching day and night how to bring him back. I've tried to call for him, but he didn't answer."

Alice sniffled to hold back the deluge of tears. "Hugo was trying to communicate with me, though. He placed a hockey stick under the bed. I was able to speak to him through my reflection. There was a spot where I tried to pull him through until some dark figure interrupted it. I'm not able to pull him through without endangering him. Possibly both of us. I have no choice except to go there myself."

Carol moved toward Alice and wrapped her arms around her. Alice hugged her back, placing her chin on Carol's shoulder.

Carol squeezed, holding Alice close. "If you can bring our Hugo back, if you can perform this miracle, then we'll go together. As a family."

Carol and Alice released their hug.

Oliver rose from the couch and stood next to Carol. He took her left hand. "We'll go together," he said.

"I don't even know where to go or where it could lead," Alice said. "Are you up for the trip?"

"For Hugo?" Oliver asked. "Yes."

"For Hugo," Carol chimed in.

Alice lowered and shook her head. She placed her hat back on her head. "Alright. Okay. But whatever happens, you must do exactly as I say."

"Whatever it takes," Carol said.

Alice smiled and said, "Whatever it takes."

"So, how do you expect us to get there?" Oliver asked. "It's not like we can take a plane or bus."

Alice threw her hands up. "I don't know how. I was going to ask Ez if she had any clue. It's far beyond any magick she or I could conjure. We need someone truly powerful."

Alice turned her head, mesmerized by the Santa figure waving at her from across the room.

"Do you mean like Merlin?" Oliver asked. "Is he real?"

Alice never turned her eyes away from the waving Santa. " Was real. A long time ago. We need someone who can really deliver on this. One of the most powerful magick users I know. Someone?—"

The reindeer rose and fell. Santa's arm fell and rose.

Alice turned to the Raskins and smiled a Cheshirish grin. She pulled back her shoulders with her chest out and stood tall. She tilted her head. "Get your cold weather coats. Christmas is going to come early. But first, we're going to need some help from Ez."