It wasn't the sudden cool breeze or the way the wind howled a bit louder that caused Abby to freeze in her tracks. It wasn't the fact that there was someone very obviously following her, either. But when the voice spoke, when Abby couldn't place the voice with the face she could only just remember, did she slow down and wait for the man to catch up.

Was it smart? No.

Did Abby do it anyways and not give a damn? Of course.

"Now what's a lovely girl like you walking around the woods all alone?" The man asked, stepping into a brisk walk next to the brunette girl. "Shouldn't you be in school?"

"Shouldn't you?" Abby retorted, when she noticed the man couldn't be any older than she was. It wasn't the brightest idea in the world for Abby to act smart with a strange man in the woods, but something about him made her feel comfortable, almost.

The man raised his eyebrow at the girl's words, but his face didn't show anything close to anger. Amusement, however, was clearly adorned on his features.

"I guess you got me there." He smiled. Nicholas looked at Abigail as she walked forward, not exactly in a creepy way; he was just trying to figure her out. Trying to figure out why the High Priest wanted her in his possession so badly. "So, Abigail," the girl looked up at him in shock. Nicholas mental cursed himself, forgetting he took away the girl's memories. He continued anyways. "Do you remember anything about the last time we met?"

Abby could feel her blood running cold, dread taking over every inch of her body. A strange man knew her name. A strange man she – apparently – met before. Abby gulped before answering, "I think you may have the wrong person," she sent him a nervous smile, then added, "sir."

Nicholas chuckled, frightening Abby more, and spoke like he wasn't aware of the girl freaking out beside him. "Really think about it, darling."

So Abby did, for two reasons: one, she was actually a little curious as to where this was heading, and two, she was absolutely terrified that the man would do something to her if she disagreed.

Closing her eyes for a moment and racking her brain for absolutely anything that could aid her in a situation like this, the lack of response from the girl gave Nicholas an unsure feeling.

But then she opened her eyes.

"Uhm," Abby scratched her arm nervously and inhaled sharply. "I was walking home yesterday after school and you followed me to the woods. We talked for a little while and you asked me about some cult-sounding thing, the Church of Night," Abby risked looking into the man's eyes, "is that what you were looking for, Nicholas."

Nicholas looked at the girl in front of him in shock, not expecting her to remember a thing from yesterday. Not prepared for this outcome in the slightest, the man stood in front of Abigail Henson, a stuttering blubbering mess.

He didn't like that.

But she did.

•

Once again, Nicholas Scratch returned to the Academy of Unseen Arts without Abigail Henson. Father Faustus stood tall with his arms crossed over his chest, disappointment clear on his sharp features.

"You've failed me, Scratch." The boy in question looked down at the floor in shame. Not caring about his feelings, the High Priest continued, "you had one job: bring me the Henson girl. Do you not understand what you just risked?"

Nicholas weighed the possible outcomes in his head if he said 'no'. He decided with: "Sir, pardon my asking, but why is she so important?" He can't deny he wasn't curious, Nick has been wondering for the past week why the High Priest wanted a mortal to even know about the Church of Night.

Faustus looked Nicholas in the eyes, "Boy, have you learned nothing in history?" Nick blushed. "The name Henson itself should ring some bells, unless I should be having a word with Professor Mayfield." The older man said, mentioning the history teacher Nicholas has class with every school day.

Nicholas' gaze kept to the dusty floor, not daring to look up and meet the harsh stare of his superior. "Would it be alright if you remind me?" He sheepishly asked.

Although he couldn't see it, Nick was very certain Father Faustus rolled his eyes. "The Hensons are a long line of witches, Mr Scratch." He spoke. "Years and years ago, the Henson family lived to terrorize witches around them. Rumor has it they weren't always like that; something happened in their life and their views on any witch or warlock without the same last name as theirs completely altered in a negative way. For centuries, the Henson family tortured, maimed and killed witches and warlock, for fun or for business no one knows. What we did know, however, was that they needed to be stopped. We couldn't kill all the Hensons, there were too many; and because they were all their own coven, they were too powerful. So we had an idea, one that continues to affect any Henson living to this day: we took their memories."

(note!)
we love progress!!!!!!
ik it may seem like things are moving too fast, but im not planning on this being an overly long book, so im trying to get as much plot into my chapters as possible.
i hope things weren't too obvious before now lol
enjoy lovelies!!

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