We Don't Talk to Edith Thompson Part 7

Ch 7: The Ritual

October 31st, 2025- 10:17 AM

I felt frozen, completely taken aback by what Rachel told me. My necklace, an heirloom handed down through Dad's side, would save our lives? How? Why? And what did it have to do with me?

"I-I don't understand..." I mumbled, touching the delicate pendant. "How will this help us?"

Rachel and Mom exchanged a look, one that implied they would have a long, difficult discussion about this whole situation later. Then she flipped to another slide containing a weather-worn page.

"Unfortunately, this is the last slide, and yes, the readability is rather...horrid," Rachel explained, her voice cracked with surprise at the state of the page. "Nonetheless, it contains the recipe to perform a specific ritual. This, with the correct intention present, will seal Edith's power away forever. "

Everyone cheered in hushed tones, except Mom and me; we give her a somber look.

Mom asked, "What will happen to Edith after her powers are gone?"

Sabrina yelled, "Are you fucking serious?" Everyone glared at her with pure hate. Yeah, I don't think she had friends or a boyfriend anymore. "Who cares!? She's a monster who's slaughtering everyone she encounters!"

Ignoring her tirade, I repeat Mom's question. "What will happen to her?"

Rachel turned off the screen, lips trembling. She whispered, "The pact has been attached to her for too long. Each year, although she appears ageless, her body has been falling apart piece by piece. Teeth falling out, hair thinning, organ failure, you name it. So, unfortunately, sealing that power away will kill Edith."

"S-so to save everyone," I muttered, tears forming in my eyes. "I have to kill Edith?"

"D-Dont think about it like that," Rachel begged, holding my hands. "She's not herself anymore; the power has taken full control and turned her into a monster. Agatha promised to stop her bloodline if something were to happen. You aren't taking her life, you're fulfilling a promise made between best friends decades ago."

I collapsed to the floor sobbing, not for me, but for Edith and all that she has endured. Mom and Rachel held me until I had no tears left to shed.

"Here's what I want to know, Rachel," Sabrina began, playing with her nails again. "Why is it you know all of this information? Are you good friends with the witch girl out there?"

Rachel gave Sabrina a stern look. "It's been my job to keep tabs on her well-being and development for years. I have to check on the seal periodically, you know."

She huffed, storming off into an empty corner.

Amara raised her hand. “So, how does this work? Do we shove the necklace into Edith, or?”

She raised an important question: how did this work? Was it something moderately simple, or did it require a lot of effort to pull off?

Sniffling, I questioned, “Yeah, how does this work? If I’m supposed to be our best chance at surviving, then I need more information.”

Rachel nodded giving me a solemn look. “I understand. Unfortunately, the ritual requires certain items that aren’t here. We will have to venture outside and make for the Historical Society. Everything we need should be there.”

Sabrina interrupted. Again. "Seriously? You want us to go out there with that thing on the loose!?"

I slapped her across the face. Twice. She stumbled backward, mouth agape.

"What do you recommend, Sabrina? That we sit here, waiting for death?" I shouted, readying my hand for another strike. "Does that sound fair to everyone, considering this is your family's fault in the first place!?" I swiped my hand at Sabrina, hoping it hurt more than it looked.

Amara grabbed my hand before it collidesd with Sabrina's face again. "Look, as much as I love seeing you smack her, we've got shit to do." I nodded, lowering my hand. "Like planning an escape that doesn't result in us getting murdered.”

Eric raised his hand. "We don't have to go outside."

Everyone gave him a confused look. He then further elaborated, "There's a tunnel under the Theater Club stage. It was used during a recreation of World War I. It connects the stage area to the Historical Society, which was the 'checkpoint' for the soldiers.”

Rachel gasped, covering her mouth. "Oh my God, I completely forgot about that!"

“How do you know about that, Eric?” Amara inquired, resting her hands on her hips. “I’ve never seen you anywhere near the Theater Club before. And I do costumes for them all the time. “

You know, it was strange for him to know all that information. He didn't seem like a drama enthusiast.

His ears turned pink. “I’ve, um, been seeing someone in the club.”

Everyone gasped. Oh crap, he’s been cheating on Sabrina?

“You!” Sabrina shrieked, launching herself at Eric. “You lying piece of shit!” Sabrina slapped his face with one hand while yanking at his costume top. “How dare you cheat on me!? The hottest, richest girl in the school!”

He broke free from her, rubbing his sore face. “Because Anna makes me happy!” Eric roared. “She doesn’t pretend to be something she’s not, we have real conversations, she listens to me, and she gives the best blow jobs!”

Amara and I covered our mouths, trying to stop our laughs. We just heard Eric say that he preferred another girl's blow jobs over Sabrina’s, if she even performed them. I suppose if we might die today, it was best to get everything out in the open?

“Anna Blankstandt? Boring Anna? She gives blow jobs? I highly doubt that! And I listen to you, just not about that stupid future stuff!” Sabrina snarled.

Eric rolled his eyes. “Everything is stupid to you! And she’s not boring! She’s smart, creative, and it’s reflected in the way she cups my-“

Rachel whistled loudly. “Alright, that’s enough!”

Sabrina and Eric mean-mugged each, crossing their arms.

“This whole drama thing is entertaining, but we need to move quickly if we want to survive. “ Rachel stated, pointing her finger at Eric. “Where’s Anna? Can she show us where the tunnel is?”

Eric frowned, shaking his head. “I-I didn’t see her at the ceremony. I don’t know if she’s even alive…” His voice cracked with emotion. Gosh, he must really like her. "But, I can show you where it is."

Rachel smiled. "Thank you! Alright, everyone, let's-"

Sabrina snapped. "I'm not going anywhere until I find my sister!"

Amara sighed and then nodded. "As much as I hate her right now, I want to find Trent. He's been absent for the whole celebration thing when he was supposed to meet with our mom at the food stands."

Come to think of it, I hadn't seen them either. I wonder where they went?

"Maybe they're hiding in the school, somewhere?" Eric suggested, waving his arms around. "It's a pretty big place."

"Okay, okay," I announced, holding my hands up. "We can do both, let's just do something before Edith gets here and burns the school down, yeah?"

10:37 AM

We wandered through the dimly lit hallways, peering around each corner, hoping something horrific doesn't await us. As we passed by the restrooms, we heard several strained, groaning noises. Crap, was there an injured person in there?

Amara flinched. "What the hell was that?"

"Maybe it's someone hiding from Edith?" Rachel whispered, heading toward the door. "I'm going in there."

"Wait," I said, reaching for the door. "I'll go with you."

Eric handed me a small pocket knife. "Take this."

Awkwardly, I took it from him, suppressing the need to ask follow-up questions. Slowly, I pushed the bathroom door open. The noises became louder and more frequent.

What the hell was going on here?

Carefully, I moved toward the handicapped booth, the door was slightly ajar, and the source of the noise. I flicked the knife open and rushed inside, only to be met with Karina pinned against the metal walls. She was dressed like a nun, or maybe a church congregation member, with her legs wrapped around Trent's waist, who was dressed like a priest.

How delightfully sacrilegious of them.

She noticed me there and screamed, "OMG! Get the fuck out! We're busy!" She threw a roll of toilet paper at me.

I ran out of the bathroom, panting, nauseated at what I just saw.

Rachel and the others looked at me with confusion.

"I found Karina and Trent. They're screwing in the bathroom." I blurted out, feeling embarrassed by sharing their intimate moment. But it was better than everyone thinking someone is dying in there.

Sabrina scoffed, storming into the bathroom screaming, "Hey Slut! When you two are done, we're leaving through the Theater Club! Meet us there!"

Eric directed us to the club room, through the elegant red velvet curtains, to the well-built wooden stage. In the distance, we heard Claude yelling, shooting his gun wildly. Crap, I think Edith's here!

"There's a trap door here! Under the supplies!" Eric shouted, tossing stuff around wildly.

Rachel, Eric, Amara, Mom, and I moved stuff around. Desperately looking for the trapdoor. The club room door flew open, and Claude stumbled in, clutching his heavily bleeding abdomen. He tried to say something, but was cut off when a set of claws sliced his body into three, uneven chunks.

Then a deep, gnarled voice cried, "Sinner!"

A creature resembling a demon with spiral horns, jagged teeth, a forked tongue, and a burnt-brimstone body sauntered in. It smiled wickedly at all of us as it announced, "Rejoice, everyone! Another sinner has been punished!" It hovered over the floors; only scraps of clothing grazed it. "Claude was a naughty man who enjoyed touching little girls, whether they liked it or not."

Ew, I knew there was something off about him! But, wait, how did this thing know about that stuff?

Upon closer inspection, I noticed strands of black hair and the remnants of onyx irises. Oh my God, it was Edith! Rachel was right, she wasn't human anymore.

Rachel declared. "We found it! Let's go!"

She jumped down the trapdoor, holding it open for others. "Come on!" Eric dove in without hesitation, taking Mom with him.

Karina and Trent came in through the emergency exit, setting off the fire alarm. Edith screeched at the blaring, obnoxious noise. She faced them. Karina screamed in terror, running to the stage, dragging Trent along. Edith dragged him away by his legs. He struggled against the beast, acting like a macho, protective boyfriend.

"Karina, get out of here! I love you, baby!" He yelled, punching Edith in the face. "I'll hold it off!"

Tearfully, Karina nodded. She sprinted to Sabrina, hugging her, sobbing loudly. Sabrina pulled her into the trapdoor, mumbling about her being a stupid slut.

Amara cried hysterically, throwing items at Edith. "Get away from him, you bitch!"

"Amara, come on, we need to leave!!!" I shouted, pulling on her arm.

She shoved me down into the trapdoor and shouts, "This bitch has probably killed my parents, and has my brother in her claws, I'm not going anywhere!!" She grabbed a prop spear and aimed it at Edith. "Come at me, you stupid bitch, I'm right here!"

Trent called to his sister, "I've got-" His words are cut off when Edith bit his head off with a crunch. Blood sputtered everywhere as she spits his head at Amara, knocking her backward.

Amara shoved me down further, tears of grief streaming down her face, and cried, "Get what you need and end it all, Thorn!" The trapdoor slammed shut, clicking with a metallic locking sound. Almost as if she used a padlock on it or something.

God rest your souls, Amara, Trent.

10:57 AM

After a fairly long trek, we finally arrived at the Historical Society. Well, most of us. When we got inside, Rachel quickly went to work. Directing me which pages to grab from which book, then lead me to a pantry-like room.

"So we need to collect..." She mumbled, staring at the pages. "Rosemary, smoked newt tail, a vial of holy water, and the blood of a Thorn, preferably a virgin."

Why did every ritual have something to do with virgin blood?

"Wait, you said the necklace had the recipe, so why did we need to come all this way?" I asked, feeling frustrated at this point.

Rachel gathered the items in a pouch, all except for the blood. Not going to question how she has holy water.

She explained, "It has the instructions written on the inside of the pendant. I've looked at the necklace through textbooks, which briefly describe the ingredients, but not where they need to be utilized."

She removed the necklace, flipped it over, then illuminated it with a flashlight. In faded, white inscription, it read, "Where it all began..."

In the background, I heard the twins and Eric arguing about everything revealed.

"Can you guys shut the hell up!?" I snapped, turning to Rachel. "What does this mean? Where did it all begin?"

The annoying trio meandered into the pantry, looking noticeably pissed off. Good, they should be angry. None of this situation was ideal.

Rachel sighed. "Well, for Edith, it began at the burned-down factory, but the magic is older than her. My guess is...our destination is the shrine in the woods. Where Thompson first made the pact."

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places, and incidents are fictitious and the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, organizations, or events are entirely coincidental.

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