Summertime Haze
1.21 - The Witch of the Willow
Ellen stood outside Henry’s house in the dead of night, looking up at the window that she knew belonged to his bedroom. The light was on, and the air was hot and muggy, as it usually was in Willow Creek during the summer, so she wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible. If only Henry could go to bed at a decent time.
This whole situation was ridiculous. Every single person Ellen has found herself associating with because of this had proven to be completely and utterly inadequate. Jaxon regularly let her down- for someone who had acted so tough in high school, she really thought he’d be more willing to take action, to be the brawns while she masterminded everything, but all he ever did was let his emotions take the better of him. Regan clearly had other motivations and Ellen had nothing that would ensure her loyalty like she did with Jaxon, and she certainly didn’t trust Mallory or Owain. Common thugs- that was all they were. Ellen couldn’t believe she’d lowered herself to working with the likes of him, but once she settled on something, her mind was made up. She was going to do whatever she could to cure Henry of his perversion.
So, as Ellen crept around Henry’s yard, heading towards the back corner she knew he kept a ladder in, she cursed the names of everyone she’d found herself working with. She’d never even liked Jaxon, even back when she was his counselor. He was cruel to Henry, and she did not like that. But she’d had to bring him back. For Henry. As a reminder, a warning, a threat, someone who could help set him straight. Everything she’d done, she’d done for Henry.
She carefully placed the ladder against Henry’s balcony, and started to climb. Her ankles cracked. She was way too old for this. If only Jaxon could have done what she’d asked! Nevertheless, after a grueling climb that left her out of breath, Ellen found herself standing on Henry’s balcony. Lucky for her, she knew Henry never locked this door. He was too naive to consider the fact that someone could get up there. The round the clock surveillance of the house she had Jaxon, Regan, Mallory, and Owain doing had really taught her a lot about them. Sometimes, she even joined them out of her own curiosity, just to find out more about Henry.
So, as Ellen carefully turned the doorknob and stepped into Henry’s room, she examined every last inch of the room. She wanted to know him, she wanted to appreciate the same color scheme and paintings he’d picked out for the room, have tasteful commentary on his furniture choice… She knew she was lingering.
Ellen walked carefully over to Henry’s side, and listened to the sound of him snoring quietly. She took a deep breath, and, without skipping a beat, she plucked a hair from Henry’s head. He shuddered slightly, but, luckily for her, he didn’t wake. Ellen pulled a small baggy out of a pocket, and slipped the hair in before sealing. She tucked the baggy into her pocket, then gave Henry a smile, and brightly brushed the hair on his forehead before leaving the room the same way she came in.
Soon enough, Ellen was deep in the bayou that surrounded Willow Creek, looking for what she’d discovered during her many days and nights of research in the local library. Deep in this forest of trees, there was a woman that had the ability to help her. And, seeing that Ellen knew that her cause was noble, she had every reason to believe that this woman would agree to lend her power, and set Henry back on the right path.
After what felt like an eternity of walking through the hot, muggy air of the night, Ellen finally came across an odd little building. It was a ramshackle sodden thing, covered in various plants. The plants continued onward into the yard, with haphazardly placed pots scattered everywhere, featuring herbs of every kid that were evidently thriving.
Ignoring her distaste for the decoration style, Ellen walked forward, and knocked on what she assumed was the front door. It took a minute straight of knocking, but eventually, Ellen heard the voice of the woman she was looking for. It came from the balcony above.
“I’m up here,” a gentle voice said.
She looked totally normal. Ellen frowned. Was this the woman she’d read about?
The woman descended the stairs so she could reach the level Ellen was at. “Look. I don’t know how you found this place, but you need to go. I live out here because I like my privacy, and I really don’t appreciate unsolicited-“
“I know you’re the Witch of the Willow,” Ellen said quickly, cutting her off.
The woman’s demeanor immediately changed. “How do you know that?!”
“I spent countless hours researching-“
“You know what? I really don’t care. If people are really willing to put in the incredible amount of effort it takes to track me down, I guess it means they have a serious need of the kind of help I can provide. So. Tell me Ellen, what do you ask of me?”
“How do you know my name?’
“I don’t get many visitors, so when I’m not caring for my plants, I spend a lot of time out in Willow Creek, observing the comings and goings and daily activities of everyone who lives there. The town was named after me, after all, so I think it’s my job to know the going ons. Ellen… the school counselor. Caring for your students was in your job description, and now, you seem to have fallen so far from that mark…”
“Let’s just get this over with,” Ellen sighed. “In my research, I came across a book that was posed as a work of fiction, but in it, it said that with a lock of someone’s hair, the woman hidden deep in the bayou, also known as the Witch of the Willow, was able to brew a potion that cured sickness of the mind, and corrected behavior to be more socially acceptable.”
Ellen produced the bag of Henry’s hair from her pocket, and held it up. “I have his hair here.”
The woman sighed. “Yes. I did do that once. But that’s a very powerful spell you’re asking for there, Ellen. The man who came to me, begging for my aid… his intentions were beyond pure, and I knew I could trust him with that kind of power. With you, Ellen? I’m not quite as sure.”
“What do you mean? Test me, then! I’ll prove that my intentions are just as pure as that man’s were!”
“Very well,” the woman said. “Follow me then.”
She gestured towards the stairs, and started walking up them. Ellen carefully tucked the bag of Henry’s hair back into her pocket, then took a deep breath, composing herself. Once she reached the top, she found the woman standing over a massive cauldron.
“A lock of hair, if you please,” she said as she waved her hands over the cauldron, resulting in it filling up with liquid.
Ellen reached up and plucked a hair from her head, wincing slightly from the pain.
“Throw it in,” the woman went on, not making eye contact. completely concentrated on her spell weaving as she walked around the cauldron.
Ellen did as she asked, and the liquid in the cauldron became smooth and translucent.
“Ellen Bowers,” the woman said, her eyes rolled back. “I… see… you…”
Suddenly, her eyes locked onto Ellen’s face.
“Ellen… Bowers… In your mind, I can see so much darkness. Rage. Hurt. But Henry… in a sea of disappointing students you helped over years upon years of a thankless job, he was the one person who seemed grateful, the one student you knew would actually make something of his life. He was… your shining light.”
“So… that day, the day everything went south… one bratty cheerleader… Tiki, was it? Henry said what he shouldn’t have said to anyone, and she exposed him, and then he ran. He ran so very far away from you.”
“All that time you spent helping him, all the hope and faith you had in him… squandered. By the time you met with his mother to find out what had happened, he was already gone. So, you took action. You packed up your life, and moved so you could continue to be a guiding presence for Henry in his adult life. He was the only student who seemed worth it, wasn’t he?”
“But you had ulterior motives, didn’t you Ellen? Not just to make him more ‘normal’, the very thing that destroyed the strange fragile relationship you two had kindled, but something beyond that… something you have yet to admit, even to yourself.”
The woman waved her hand, and the liquid in the cauldron vanished.
“Ellen. Can’t you see that Henry is happy? Forcing him to like woman… to become someone he’s very much not, someone he’s never been… do you not see how that’s wrong? Especially when you yourself don’t fully understand your own reasons for why you’re doing what you’re doing. You claim that it’s all for your faith, that the Mother would disapprove, but no. It’s something beyond that. You need to sit and reflect, Ellen. I saw the truth in your mind, and unless you come to terms with it yourself, you’re not going to believe it.”
“So, all I’m hearing here is that you’re not going to help, is that it?”
“Your motivations aren’t pure, Ellen. I can’t see a reason for why I would lend you my aid.”
“Thanks for wasting my time,” Ellen snapped, but her voice was wavering a bit.
Ellen quickly descended the stairs, then stole away into the night, afraid of what exactly the Witch of the Willow had just hinted towards.
“These will be the fluffiest pancakes you’ve ever had,” Jordan promised, placing three steaming plates piled high with golden brown pancakes on the dining room island.
She was radiant. The happiest Henry had ever seen her. Every bit of her just seemed to exude joy, something that Henry would normally be overjoyed to see if it wasn’t for…
“Jordan, baby, of course these pancakes are divine. They’re yours!” Bennett exclaimed.
Jordan hurried around the counter so the two could kiss. They’d been completely insufferable since last night. He was happy for the, but he really hoped they cooled it down soon. All this affection was making the fabulous pancakes a lot less appetizing. Especially seeing that the man he was in love with didn’t even know if he wanted to see him anymore.
Henry picked sullenly at his pancakes with his fork, something Jordan immediately took notice of.
“Henry,” Jordan said, pulling herself away from Bennett so she could sit beside him. “Talk to us. What’s wrong? You still thinking about Toby?”
“Of course I am,” Henry sighed. “How could I not? He’s stuck alone in that massive empty house, trying to be a single father, and the only company he has is someone as obnoxious as Reese. And I guess, sometimes Paolo, but I feel like Reese is definitely trying to put an end to that. I’m worried about him! And… I miss him.”
Jordan gave Henry a sympathetic look. “I know, Henry. I know. All we can do right now is hope that Toby listens to you and agrees to see us at least once in a while. Because it would really help him. But until then, you’ve got to stop focusing on him so much! It isn’t good for you.”
Henry nodded sadly. “I know, I know.”
“Maybe try finding something you can bury yourself in? A passion, or something, you know? No one in my family has seen Regan in about a month, and of course we’re worried, so I just really threw myself into my painting, and it’s been helping,” Bennett smiled.
“You’ve also been burying yourself in Jordan’s vagina…” Henry muttered.
“Henry!” Jordan exclaimed. “I mean, you’re not wrong, but the nerve! Ooh, I would slap you if I wasn’t so worried about you right now…”
“I’m just trying to help Henry,” Bennett said.
“I’m sorry guys,” Henry sighed. “I’m just going to devour these pancakes- which are amazing, thank you Jordan, and then I’m going to go on a walk to clear my head.”
Jordan nodded. “I think that’d be good for you.”
Henry scarfed down the rest of his breakfast, and left the house before Jordan and Bennett started being overly affectionate again. Without ant real destination in mind, Henry just set off. He let his feet take him to where they wanted to take him. He lost track of time, and eventually, he found himself outside of Toby’s house. Yet again. He did feel like he was a little bit obsessed, but he was also just worried about Toby. Pulling away like this, and turning to Reese, of all people… it just didn’t seem like him.
So, yet again, Henry took a deep breath, and walked up to Toby’s front door. He knocked boldly.
A minute later, a disheveled looking Toby answered the door. Surprise lit up his eyes when he saw Toby, but that quickly faded and was replaced by the dead eyed look he’d had ever since Hayley had first entered the hospital. He allowed Henry into the entry room, but didn’t allow him to go any further into the house.
“Henry, I told you I’d think about it, but come on,” Toby said, shaking his head. “It’s only been a day.”
“I know, I just wanted to check in-“
“You can’t keep showing up here, Henry. Please. Everyone in this neighborhood knows that I killed Hayley by going out with you, my children probably do too, and I don’t even want to imagine what they’d start saying with you showing up here this frequently.”
“Dad?” A child’s voice called out from further in the house. “I think both the eggs and toast you’re making for breakfast are burning.”
“Shit. No, shoot. Ugh, look Henry. I’m going to need some time to myself for a bit, alright? As much as I appreciate how much you and everyone else care, there’s too many reminders there, I… I just can’t go back to that. Not yet.”
“Dad?” The voice called out again. “Do you want me to turn the burner off?”
A small girl rounded the corner that led to the entry room, followed closely behind by her brother. Jennifer and Nathan.
The two froze when they saw Henry.
“You,” Nathan said, pointing a trembling finger at Henry. “What is he doing here?” he snarled at Toby.
“He was just, uh, dropping by…”
“Everyone’s saying you’re the reason mommy is gone,” Jennifer said, crossing her arms. “She’s gone because dad didn’t love her enough, and loved you instead. Is that true?”
Henry shook his head, at a loss for words.
“Get out of our house!” Nathan screamed, pointing at the door.
“Please, go,” Toby said quietly, not able to meet Henry’s eyes.
Henry nodded, and hurriedly opened the front door and left, the screams of Nathan and Jennifer echoing behind him.