As I've said in the Shout Box, my version of "The Visitor" was an entry for a contest that I was part of back in '06. The instructions were to take "The Visitor" as written by Wicca Witch and write it in a different genre. My genre was classic horror.
For your information and enjoyment, here's Wicca's original fic:~The Visitor~
By Wicca Witch
Disclaimer: I do not have rights to anything belonging to Charmed, Spelling Television, The WB, etc. This story is written merely for the enjoyment of myself as well as others, and is not intended to be sold or copied. I do own my own characters, spells, and storylines, even if I haven't written them yet. Because I say so.
Chapter 1Storm clouds rolling across the sky went unnoticed by the lone figure in the cemetery. Even as the first drops of rain began to soak her long, dark hair, she kept her vigil at the grave site before her. Soon her tear-streaked cheeks were washed clean by the rain, and she pulled her jacket tighter around her slender frame.
She probably wouldn't have noticed the steady ring of her cell phone if it hadn't been for the slight vibrations accompanying it. Pulling it from her pocket, she used one hand to shield it from the rain as she studied the word on the screen. Home. She contemplated turning the phone off. Couldn't they just give her an hour alone? But she knew that with the constant dangers of their lives, this could be an emergency. And she wasn't about to lose someone else. Sighing, she answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Prue?"
"Yeah, Piper, it's me. What's up?"
"Where are you?"
Prue rolled her eyes, looking around. "I'm shooting some photos for an assignment," she lied. "Why?"
"Well, we're having sort of a witchy problem here."
"It's the phone, Piper. You don't need to use euphemisms."
"Right. Okay then. Phoebe and I were attacked by a demon a little bit ago."
"What? Are you okay?" asked Prue, concerned.
"We're fine," replied Piper. "Phoebe and I are gonna go after it. We just wanted to let you know beforehand."
"Okay, it should only take me a half hour to get back to the manor. We can leave from there, and-"
"Prue, relax. Phoebe and I can handle this one on our own. You just finish your photo shoot and bring home the bacon."
"Piper, no. You shouldn't go alone. We're stronger when we're all together, remember?"
"Yes, but there's also a reason we have individual powers. We don't always need the Power of Three."
"But still-" Prue was interrupted by a beep on the other end as Phoebe picked up the extension.
"Prue, we're going. We'll probably even be done by the time you get here anyway. Good-bye!" Piper and Phoebe both hung up, and Prue was left stammering protests to the dial tone.
"Oooh." Prue glared at the phone as she hung it up, and if she could somehow menace her sisters from there. She turned around and began to trudge through the rain back to her car. "If they die, I'm gonna kill them."
If she had glanced back even once, she might have noticed the figure who stepped out from behind a large oak tree a few yards from where she had been standing. And if she had looked closely, she might have noticed that his piercing blue eyes were fixing her with a stare that was awfully familiar.
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Chapter 2"I hate being a witch." Piper walked through the front door of the manor, covered in bright teal ooze.
Phoebe entered behind her, similarly slimed, and slammed the door. "Yep."
"It's tiring, and it's messy, and it's dangerous."
"Yep."
Piper lifted a hand toward her nose, then pulled it away quickly to keep from retching. "And now I smell like demon throw up."
"Yep."
Prue walked in from the kitchen, carrying the open Book of Shadows. She looked up from the page she was reading at the sound of their voices, and had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. "What the...?"
"Demon," replied Phoebe, heading toward the stairs.
"I can see that." She put a hand over her nose. "And smell it. How?"
"I don't wanna talk about it," said Piper, following Phoebe.
Prue closed the Book and followed her sisters, still struggling against her laughter. "Well, I hate to say it -"
"Then don't," Piper and Phoebe snapped in unison.
"I just want to take a shower-"
" -or ten- "
"Eat some takeout, and hope we never have to face another demon again."
"I'm just hoping we don't see one for a day. I don't have enough optimism to cover Forever yet."
"Yeah, well. if you happen to get a premonition - Keep it to yourself."
"Only if you'll pay for the economy-sized bottle of aspirin I'll need."
"Hey, need I remind you why you have those headaches in the first place?"
"Because it's my destiny?"
"Because you read the stupid spell!"
"Oh, so this is my fault now?"
"If the shoe fits..."
"That's not fair."
Prue watched her sisters bickering, eyes growing wider with each comment.
"No, you know what's not fair? That my life has been taken over by something I never even wanted!"
"You think I wanted this?"
"All I know is that these powers are a curse, not the gift you make them out to be. And I wish we'd never received them." Piper's look toward Phoebe was like ice. Shocked and hurt, Phoebe could do nothing but stand there openmouthed at this uncharacteristic attack.
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Chapter 3Prue looked from Piper to Phoebe, amazed. She had never seen Piper lash out at anyone like that, especially not at one of her own sisters. Thrown into the role of buffer for the first time, Prue took a few steps forward. "Piper..." she flinched as Piper's glare was turned on her instead. "You don't really mean that."
"Yes, I do, Prue." Piper's voice became quiet, yet still held its previous edge. "And I know that deep down, you and Phoebe do too."
Prue and Phoebe looked at each other, unable to deny it. Phoebe spoke first. "You're right. I hate it sometimes. But just think of all the people we've saved, and still can save."
"And think of all the people we've lost," Prue responded. "I'm sorry, Phoebe, but Piper's right. Mom, Grams.. Andy. If it weren't for witchcraft and the stupid Warren powers, they'd still be alive." Tears were beginning to fill her eyes.
"But it's a part of who we are now, Prue. It's in our blood. We can't change that."
"Maybe we can." Both sisters turned their eyes toward Piper. "It won't bring them back, but... It'll stop the demons, and we'll get to be normal again."
"What are you talking about?"
"The power relinquishing spell." All three faces were pale, yet Piper's and Prue's eyes were bright with hope.
"You're kidding, right?" asked Phoebe.
"I've never been more serious," replied Piper.
"But if we do that... if we read the spell... there's no turning back."
"Don't you get it, Phoebe? We don't want to turn back." Piper looked to Prue, who nodded.
"Wait, don't I even get a say in this? It is my life too, after all." Phoebe looked near tears.
"Of course you do. But majority rules."
"Yeah, when we're deciding between pizza and Tai food! This is our future we're talking about here." She looked between the two of them desperately. "And I don't wanna lose you two."
"Phoebe, you're not gonna lose us," said Prue.
"Really? Do you even remember what it was like before I moved to New York? We could barely even stand in the same room together. And now we're closer than we've ever been."
"That's not gonna change if we give up our powers."
"Don't kid yourself, Prue. Our destiny is what brought us together in the first place. If we give it up.. we give up the bond that we worked so hard to build this past year and a half."
"Phoebe.."
"Don't! Look, just give me two days."
"What?"
"Two days. 48 hours. If I haven't convinced at least one of you that our powers are gifts, then... I'll change my vote."
"And what's to stop us from just reading the spell?" asked Piper.
Phoebe frowned. "Well, aside from the hope that you actually care one iota about my feelings? It takes all three of us reading it for it to work."
Piper and Prue exchanged a glance. "Two days."
"Two days."
"You're on."
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Chapter 4"Okay, it's settled," said Piper. "Can I please go take a shower now?"
"Oh, please do," replied Prue, covering her nose and mouth against the sickening stench. She and Phoebe watched as Piper walked into her bathroom, closing the door behind her. Turning to Phoebe, Prue gave her a little smile. "You're not going to lose me, Phoebe. I love you too much for that."
"Whatever you want to tell yourself, Prue." Phoebe walked into her bedroom and closed the door. After a minute, Prue could hear both of their showers running, and she sighed as she went back down the stairs. As she entered the foyer, she noticed something wasn't right. Walking over to the door, which was now slightly ajar, she called up the stairs. "Phoebe? Didn't you close this?" She pushed it closed, hearing the click, and looked around for a sign that someone had entered. Heading toward the family room, she raised her hand, ready to throw something across the room in an instant. As she rounded the corner, she saw a man standing in front of the fireplace, looking at the pictures on the mantle.
"Who are you?" She asked, still tense. As he turned, she felt the blood draining from her face. Every inch of her being had turned numb from the moment their eyes met, and she felt ready to faint.
"Forgotten me already?" His eyes danced, and that oh so familiar smile made her melt, just as it always had.
"Andy." She was falling as soon as the word left her mouth, but he caught her before she hit the floor.
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Chapter 5"Prue.. Come on Prue, wake up." She opened her eyes, and steadied herself as her vision cleared. The face before her was one out of her dreams, and she couldn't understand how he got there.
"Andy." She pulled him into a close hug, and felt safe in his arms for the first time in a very long time. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm not sure," he replied, hugging her back. "One minute I was just biding my time in the afterlife, and the next thing I know I'm here."
"I don't even care why. I'm just so glad you're back."
"You have no idea." When they finally released each other, it seemed as if a lifetime had passed. Andy stood and walked back to the mantle, gesturing to the pictures. "You guys sure have changed."
"Not that much."
"Yes, you have. You and Phoebe are actually both smiling in this picture. Do you remember when your Grams had to bribe you to do that."
Prue smiled, "Vaguely. But we were close last year too, before.."
"Yeah." Both of their smiles faltered. "So are you guys still close?"
"Of course we are. Except.."
"What?"
"Well, Phoebe said the craziest thing. She thinks that if we give up our powers, we'll lose the bond we've formed."
"What?!"
"I know! I mean, it's just ridiculous because-"
"You want to give up your powers?"
"Well, maybe. It's an option."
"Prue, why would you want to do that?"
Prue's eyes widened in shock. "I'd have thought you, of all people, would understand."
"Why?"
"Because we killed you!"
"What?!" Andy walked back over to her, cradling her in his arms. "Prue, you didn't kill me. Rodriguez killed me."
"But we couldn't save you."
"You tried Prue. You warned me. But it was meant to be."
Prue's eyes began to fill with tears. "I refuse to believe that you were meant to die."
"Everything happens for a reason, Prue. You taught me that." His echoing of what he had told her right after he had died shook Prue to the core.
"That wasn't a dream?"
"That wasn't a dream."
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Chapter 6"Prue? Where are you?" Piper's voice called down the stairs.
"Uhh.. Downstairs!" Prue called back up. "Be prepared for the shock of your life though."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll see. Get Phoebe too."
Prue's eyes stayed locked on Andy as the sounds of her sisters slowly moved from upstairs, to the stairwell, to the hallway.
"So what's the big surp- Oh my god!" Phoebe shouted as she entered the room.
"Andy? Is it really you?" asked Piper, not believing her own eyes.
Andy smiled, "It's really me. In the flesh." He opened his arms for their hugs, remembering once again why he loved this family. They had always treated him like the brother they'd never had, and that hadn't stopped while he was dead.
"For good?" asked Phoebe, pulling away.
"I'm not sure."
"How did this happen?" asked Piper.
"No idea. But I'm glad it did."
"So am I," said Phoebe. "You can help me convince these two that we shouldn't give up our powers."
"Like he's actually gonna-"
"I agree."
"What?!"
"Ha!" laughed Phoebe. "Now it's 2 vs. 2. Take that, stupid majority people."
"Why do you care if we're witches or not?" asked Piper, ignoring Phoebe.
"Because I've seen the good you can do. You can't just throw that away, Piper. I know you've had your bad days. And I know you've had days that have been worse. But I also know that you've had days that aren't quite so bad. And you have each other to help get you through them."
"We'll still have each other without our powers."
"But do you really think you'll be as close?"
"See! I knew there was a reason I liked you, Andy. That's what I've been trying to tell them!" exclaimed Phoebe.
"I just don't see how not being witches will stop us from being sisters."
"It's not quite that simple, Prue. When Phoebe read that spell, you guys were bound for life by your powers. It goes deeper than blood. Sisters fight, that's no secret. But when you rely on each other each day to survive, something happens. You grow closer."
Each sister looked to the others, starting to understand.
"If you three give up your powers, there's nothing to stop you from growing apart again."
"There's us," said Prue. "We're not gonna let that happen."
"Are you going to give up your powers?"
"I don't know. But if we do, we're gonna make sure we stay close." She turned to her sisters, pulling them into a hug. "You're my sisters, and nothing can change that. And if fighting demons is what makes us this way..."
Piper sighed. "Bring em on."
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Chapter 7Prue and Andy were in her bedroom the next day, sitting on the end of her bed. She and Piper had decided that, for now, they wouldn't give up their powers. They'd build their friendship so that one day, if the time came to stop being witches, nothing would be able to break them apart.
"Andy..."
"Prue." He placed his hand on her cheek, and she leaned into him, savoring his familiar touch. "I have a confession to make."
"About what?"
"I lied yesterday. When I said I didn't know why I was here... I did. The Elders sent me here to help restore your bond as sisters."
"Wait, the Elders.." Prue pulled away, starting to become upset.
"Shh," he placed a finger on her lips, calming her. "They were going to try a different approach, but I volunteered. You and your sisters are the most amazing people I've ever met. I couldn't stand by and let you fall apart. Especially not because of me."
"Andy-"
"No, don't. I know you still blame yourself, Prue. But I went in there on my own." He reached over to wipe away the tears that were beginning to fall down her face.
"So where do we go from here?" Prue asked, unable to hide the unsteadiness of her voice.
"You go on living your life. Loving your sisters. Saving the world."
"And you?"
Andy looked up with a vague smile on his face. "I go back where I belong."
Prue closed her eyes against the pain, biting her lip until she began to taste blood. "You belong with me. I can't lose you again." She felt Andy pull her closer, and she opened her eyes.
"You never lost me, Prue. I've always been with you."
"Don't give me any of that spiritual crap, Andy. I need you corporeal."
Andy laughed. "Maybe someday Prue. But for now, I have to go. I'll be watching over you though."
Prue closed her eyes again, eyes burning with salty tears. "I love you, Andy."
"I love you too, Prue. I always have, and I always will. Not even death can change that." He cradled her face in his hands and placed one last kiss on her trembling lips before disappearing in a swirl of golden light.
Prue looked around the room, feeling suddenly lost and alone. A knock on the door caused her to stir, and she wiped the tears from her face. "What is it?"
"Prue, honey, it's us. Can we come in?" called Piper.
"I guess," replied Prue.
Piper and Phoebe walked into the room and stood on either side of Prue.
"You gonna be okay, sis?" asked Phoebe.
"Yeah, I'm fine," said Prue, blinking back a few tears with a sniffle.
"No, you're not. But you will be. We'll make sure of that." Piper wrapped her arms around Prue in a tight hug, and Phoebe followed suit. "We love you, you know that, right?"
"I know. And I love you both too."
And suddenly, Prue didn't feel quite as alone.
THE ENDSo how would you have rewritten this fic?? Which genre you have chosen? And would you like to read the other entries or would you like to try your own version first?
Just for Matthew who said in the Shout-Box that he would like to see where I was taking this story (and, yes, it's already written; was written during 2006 for a contest), here's Chapter Two.
