Chapter 9: Marlene!

 I recognized the voice from the silhouette but pretended not to know. "Why must I join forces with you, witch? After everything you've done to me, you want me to be on the same team as you," I said. She laughed aloud. "I thought you were unsuspecting, my dear! It turns out you're pretty smart," she said, pausing halfway through her sentence. 

"Not smart enough! Or else you would not have gotten yourself captured and lived most of your life as an unhappy, vengeful ghost under my command," Agatha said. 

"Agatha Durham, you might have made me like this, taken away my youthfulness and killed my father, my older brother, and turned my mother into Crideo—-then made my sister and I into unhappy ghosts, but today I, Marlene Katrina Caldwell shall kill you," I said. 

Agatha let out a menacing cackle, slowly approaching me; I stood my ground because if I showed her the fear I once did years ago, she would win. 

"I believed I gave you courage because you couldn't save your lover and family! You cried so pathetically back then but are trying to act tough here. Marlene, please don't make me laugh!" whispers Agatha. 

"I'm not acting tough! I am tougher than you think, and you can't command me this time," I reply. 

With that, she grabbed my neck in a chokehold; then, she started mumbling the exact curse words she had placed on my mother. "No, Please don't! I will join forces with you, please," I said. Agatha lets go of me, and I manage to catch my breath. Before I can process anything, Agatha and I are out of the spider-infected dungeon. 

"Where are we going?" I asked. 

"You keep quiet because if you disobey me, I will send you back to Paulina," she says. 

I spotted a lit cabin, and Agatha pulled me inside. "Go find a cauldron for me, and we shall begin our revenge!" she said. I didn't waste time, although I wasn't fond of her—but if Agatha Durham is willing to help me, I shall accept, right? 

As I rummaged through the kitchen to find the cauldron she requested, I spotted a dusty one behind the door. However, before I could grab it, someone's hand touched me—- "How dare you step foot in my house?" she said. 

"Who are you?" I asked. 

As she came out, my eyes widened; "You?" I said.