"Zach..."
"Zach..."
"Zachariah!"
Zach's eyes regained their luster.
Oh man... are we seriously doing this
He rubbed his temples, side-glancing at the candles skeptically.
He stood amongst a human circle in the dim candlelight, looking at what looked like an ancient ritual described in legends.
On the table in the centre were two 8 candles, representing the 8 fools—(I mean students) that dared to attempt to summon a demon by 12 pm just because it was Halloween, and they were feeling curious. At least that's 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.
The girl in the centre of this circle wore some sort of dark robe that covered 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—" she butted in.
"—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 mean..?" Anne annoyingly 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 group's observer.
The friend group was comprised 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's a lifelong 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 go insane from all the information you have to absorb.
But for some odd reason, the group wasn't divided all this time; they managed to go to the same high school and college. They all lived in Austria, so there was little option for choice of education.
Each of them were 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 would be a new member's 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 scent filled the air. On the side were bowls filled with turmeric, fresh cinnamon, bay leaf, and all sorts of things.
The room smelled like lavender and vanilla, creating a 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 seemed he too was enjoying the spooky atmosphere.
'Weirdo..' Zach lampooned inwardly.
Anne brought out a sheet of paper in a dramatic fashion as she pointed to her assistant, Grace.
Sigh.. she's still buying rituals from that fortune teller... who's going to tell her that it's just a scam Zach refused the urge to facepalm.
Grace, who 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 moved to grab an oil-like substance and poured it into the pot, awaiting more instructions from her master.
Anne recited the formula as Grace moved 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 turmeric powder and leaf sap and sprinkled it on the candles.
Suddenly, the group's eyes sparkled, as the candles' flames suddenly turned purple, signalling its 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 joined the circle. 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 our sacred 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, but his mood was so much better.
"Was it a ritual for uplifting one's mood?" his thoughts trailed off.
A loud cracking sound made the group pause.
The empty pot rattled, drawing the group's 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, whose thickness was the same as that of the pot, reached 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 its entrance expanded.
A blob of flesh wiggled out, oozing with a sticky black liquid, as its milky white eyes locked onto the group members.
At this point, only one thought was present in Zach's mind.
"Oh... no."
He had the feeling something was about to go terribly wrong.