Chapter Text

 

Chapter 10.5: Divergence

Amity, please look at me.

Heartbroken and furious tears ran down her face as she walked briskly down the path that led to her house.

The ghost followed behind, pleading with her ever since she’d run from the festival.

Please!

She only walked faster, brushing hot tears off her face. 

The mansion loomed in the distance, illuminated by the cold, cruel moon.

Fallen leaves crackled under her feet, a single tether to the real world, a small reminder of where she was. Amity latched onto the sound, trying to keep her head clear enough to just make it back to the house.

Please turn around.

“Get lost.”

Her hands shook as she turned the doorknob, and she slammed the door behind her.

Amity ignored the sound of the door creaking back open behind her.

More tears fell as she entered her room, and she all but collapsed on the bed, and her body was racked with sobs.

Amity, can I please talk to you? 

“Don’t you dare come in here.”

She heard a heavy sigh and what sounded like Luz sliding down her door.

I’m sorry. 

Amity grabbed a vase from beside her bed and threw it against the door, where it shattered instantly upon contact, broken pieces scattering across the floor. She imagined that the vase resembled the broken pieces of her heart.

A quiet settled in the house.

“Leave me alone.”

No sound came from the other side of the door, but she knew that the ghost was gone.

~~~

Pale sunlight filtered through her window, beams hitting Amity’s eyes and forcing her to get up. She felt like lead had been injected into her veins. Her footsteps were unsteady as she made her way to the bathroom.

Bloodshot eyes stared back at her, dried tears staining her face and hair beyond tangled. She forced her hands to turn on the sink and splash some water on her face. 

Amity exited the bathroom and collapsed back on her bed. 

She didn’t want to remember. 

~~~

The late afternoon sun filled her room, rudely awakening her from the nap she’d been enjoying. It had been peaceful, no tears, no pain, no Luz. 

Amity.

She groaned and gritted her teeth, forcing herself to look at the ghost that’d just materialized in her room. 

“I told you to leave me alone.”

I did. 

“It wasn’t long enough.”

Luz’s face looked drawn and haggard, previously warm eyes cold and shining with sadness.

I couldn’t stay away longer. I need to talk to you. 

We need to talk about this.

Amity slowly sat up, head pounding and agony coursing through her body.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

I didn’t lie to you. I love you.

She felt the tears return as Luz looked at her with both an earnest and heartbroken expression. A lump formed in her throat.

“I didn’t lie either.”

The ghost exhaled shakily, burying her face into her hands.

Tears fell again, her heart far beyond broken.

Amity, I have to leave. I can’t stay anymore. I don’t belong here.

You deserve someone still alive.

“I don’t want anyone else! I want you .”

Shining tears fell from behind Luz’s hands, disappearing before they hit the ground. 

I wish-

It’s too late for us. I’m dead, you’re alive, so alive .

Please come with me, I want your face to be the last thing I see before I go.

“How can you ask me something like that?!”

Shuddering sobs escaped both of them, both ghost and witch unwilling to move, not wanting to accept what was happening.

“Just stay, please, just a few more days.”

I can’t. I should’ve told you earlier, but I’ve been fading for weeks.

If I stay any longer, I’ll dissolve into nothingness, still conscious but with no form. It’s a fate worse than death.

I forgave you weeks ago, and stayed, selfishly, because I enjoyed being with you so much . 

Amity wiped her eyes, the heavy weight of everything left unsaid pressing against her chest.

“I hate you.”

The words held no bite, and Luz chuckled weakly.

Please, come with me. One last request.

Amity let out a heavy sigh, making her way to a standing position.

“What kind of person would be if I declined your after-death wish?”

Gold looked into brown, unspoken words and moments never experienced hanging on a string stretched between them.

------


Neither girl spoke a word as they walked, not knowing how or what to say to break the silence. This deafening quiet clawed at their minds while the knowledge of what was to come ripped at their hearts.

This aching, maddening stillness persisted until Amity felt the now oh so comfortingly familiar chill fade from her side. “Luz?!“ She said worriedly as she whipped her head around, fearful that the girl had already begun to vanish from her life. 

But no, she had simply stopped and was standing still upon the snow covered path, staring out into the cold woods with an unreadable expression on her face.

“Luz?“ Amity said again, this time as a question rather than a fearful exclamation. 

The ghost sighed before responding. <“It’s...it’s nothing, let’s just keep going, alright?“> She gave Amity a smile that held absolutely no reassurance whatsoever.

Amity stepped in front of Luz and shook her head. “It’s not nothing, don’t lie to me, Luz. Not now, not when….“ She swallowed the lump in her throat, but couldn’t say the words. 

“You wouldn’t have stopped like this if it wasn’t important, so talk to me….please.“ In truth she didn’t care what they talked about, she just wanted the quiet to end, to hear Luz speak again.

The ghost girl sighed and let her shoulders slump, looking back out into the woods. <“It’s just...Eda lives out that way, and I haven’t gone to see her since I died.“> 

Amity couldn’t help but flinch, both at the word and at the thought of having to explain to Eda The Owl Lady, the most powerful witch in the boiling isles, that she, Amity, had-           

Her train of thought screeched to a halt as her brilliant mind began to piece together a half-baked plan of action. It was risky, stupid, and uninformed, and just the kind of plan Luz would probably make.

Amity’s lips twitched upwards into a slightly manic smile, before she took off in the direction Luz had been looking. 

“Come on!“ She called out over her shoulder as she ran at full speed towards what was likely her one and only chance to save Luz. It truly did terrify her to think about meeting Luz’s mentor and explaining what had happened, but her heart had won out over her mind long ago.

<“Amity, wait up!“> Luz called out, lagging behind the witch. 

“You’re a ghost, Luz! Can’t you just fly or something?“ Amity shot back. A moment later, the witch felt that frigid yet calming cold spot at her side again. Unlike the winter air, Luz’s ethereal temperature could slip past her coat without effort. 

<“Let’s toss it into the ‘Or something’ category, and thanks for reminding me!“> Luz said in a chipper tone, before the weight of the situation returned to drag her mood back down.

<“Amity, thank you for this. I know we don’t have much time but-“> 

Amity cut her off. “Don’t thank me yet, Luz.“ She didn’t look to see how, if at all, the ghostly teen reacted to her rude outburst. She just pushed herself even harder as she charged towards the Owl House. 

Luz didn’t reply, just furrowed her brow as she simply kept pace with Amity, giving her the occasional direction as they went.

Had it not been so cold out today, Amity would surely have been sweating when she arrived. The icy air had taken its toll though, leaving her panting for breath though she took no time to catch it. 

Instead she ran right up to the door, bringing up her hand to knock only to cry out in alarm as what she had assumed was a decorative door knocker suddenly spoke and elongated itself. “HELLO! I’M HOOTY! NICE TA MEET YA, HOOT HOOT!“

Amity liked to think that she was a somewhat cool, calm, and collected individual. At least, she had been before Luz had entered her life. So while the witch had managed to stifle her yelp at the sudden invasion of her personal space by the...door thingy, she still found herself on the ground, holding a spell in each hand aimed defensively at the owlbomination. 

<”No wait! Don’t shoot! That’s just Hooty, he’s harmless...ish? He’s at least friendly, maybe a little too much though…”> Luz shrugged as she gave the other girl a sheepish look.

Amity turned her head to look up at Luz, holding her gaze a moment before nodding and letting the spells fade. 

The absurd creature seemed utterly unbothered by what had just happened, and chose this moment to speak yet again. “YEP! I’M ME! OH, HI LUZ! LONG TIME NO SEE, HOOTY HOOT HOOT!“

Both the girl’s attention now snapped back to Hooty, shocked looks etched on their faces. “YOU CAN SEE HER?!” <“YOU CAN SEE ME?!?“> They said in unison, Amity pointing at Luz with both hands while the girl in question pointed at herself with both of her own. 

The owl tube scoffed as it looked at them indignantly. “UH, DUUUUH? I’M A MAGICAL HOUSE DOOR GUARDIAN! YOU THINK I CAN’T SEE GHOSTS? GEEZ, GIMME SOME CREDIT HERE, HOOT!“

Amity and Luz looked back to each other at his words, Luz rubbing her chin in thought. <“Huh, y’know, that actually makes a lot of sense. Guess I really should have wandered over here after I died, huh?“> Luz gave Hooty a halfhearted smile as she forced a little laugh. 

Hooty gasped comicaly loudly as his expression now mimicked what theirs had been only moments ago. “YOU’RE DEAD?!? AHHHH! A GHOST!“ He cried out in a terrified tone, before slamming his face into the ground and burrowing himself deep beneath it.

Amity just sat staring at what all was visible of Hooty’s body between the ground and the door, her brain trying to make sense of what all she’d just seen. Luz just facepalmed and groaned. <“Classic Hooty.“> She said dryly. 

Just then, the door opened and the infamous Owl Lady herself stood before them, looking only a little less ferocious than she did on her wanted posters. “What’s all the racket about, Hooty? Hmm? Who the heck are you?“ She said, looking down to see Amity still sitting on the ground where she’d fallen.

Amity shook her head as the woman’s words and sudden appearance snapped her out of her dumbfounded state. She stood up swiftly, her heart suddenly hammering in her chest as she swallowed her fear and held out an only slightly trembling hand towards Eda. 

“A-Amity Blight, ma’am. I….I know Luz was your apprentice and I-“ Amity suddenly found herself nose to nose with Eda, the woman having cut her off by grabbing her winter coat collar and yanking her up to be on the taller witch’s level.

“You know Luz?! Have you spoken to her?! Where? When? What did she say? Is she alright? Why hasn’t she come back? How-“ Amity grit her teeth and shoved herself away from Eda, only managing to now be held at arm's length as the older woman’s strength was more impressive than one would assume at first glance. 

“There’s no TIME! I can’t answer all your questions right now, and Luz is here with me.“ She pointed at the ghost, who waved at them with a nervous smile. “Right there.“

Eda leaned her head to the side, looking at the spot Amity was gesturing to. She raised an eyebrow and returned her now far sterner gaze to meet Amity’s. “Don’t play games with me here, kid. Now did you or did you not- “ 

This wasn’t working, Amity thought to herself. She hadn’t thought about what she’d actually say when she got here, or how the Owl Lady would react, she’d just acted on a whim fueled by desperate hope. She needed this witch’s help right now, and to do that she had to get past all this twenty questions crap. Another mad idea sprung into the emotional tornado that was her teenage mind, and it seemed about as good to her as any.

“I KILLED HER!“ Amity shouted, hands shaking as her eyes began to well with tears. There was a pregnant pause as Eda’s eyes slowly widened, before her grip loosened and Amity dropped back onto her feet. 

“You….killed Luz?“ Eda said softly, eyes staring at nothing. Amity’s face was contorted with emotions as she nodded.

“Yes, I did. A-“ She suddenly found herself with a fireball spell held an inch from her forehead and a dagger of ice pricking her neck.  

“Give me one good reason I shouldn’t end your worthless life right now.“ Eda growled menacingly, her eyes far colder than the frigid weapon pressed against Amity’s flesh.

<“Eda, no!“> Luz cried out, but of course to no avail. 

However, Amity simply smiled past gritted teeth and let out a choked half sob, half laugh. “Because you’d just be doing me a favor if you do.“

Eda’s eyes narrowed as she pushed the deadly spells closer, singing Amity’s hair and drawing blood from her skin.

“Do it.“ Amity said softly, tears flowing down her face freely now, the look on her face becoming peaceful as her smile did not falter, only grew. “Kill me, Eda the Owl Lady, the most powerful witch in the boiling isles. Kill me and save me from the lifetime of suffering I will endure until I can be with Luz again.“ 

Eda’s look grew more wary now, slight confusion visible on her face.

<“Amity…. No, don’t-“> Amity held up a hand towards Luz to stop her, turning her head slightly to the side to look at her. 

“Or, Eda the owl lady, most powerful witch in the boiling isles. Help me, Amity Blight, a magical freak of nature with more power than I know how to handle….“ Her hand turned from palm out, to palm up, gesturing at Luz as she returned her gaze to meet Eda’s. “Save the girl I love.“

Her voice held utter conviction, not a hint of doubt nor a seed of deceit. Her eyes, though full of tears, were clear and her mind was set. 

Eda could see all of this, and again her eyes darted to the side, looking at empty space once more, but this time her expression slowly softened as nearly forgotten knowledge began to bubble to the surface of her mind. 

“...Luz?“ She said to the thin air, knowing full well she wouldn’t be able to see nor hear the girl if she was a ghost afflicted by the murderer’s curse, but… “Staff, to me.“ She said, the fire spell vanishing as she held out her hand on an outstretched arm. A moment later, Owlbert was in her grasp, and she stabbed the base of the staff into the ground beside her.

“Luz, if you can hear me, pick up Owlbert. The magic in him should give you the strength to….lift him.“ Her eyes began to well with tears as she stared at the now floating staff, shaking slightly in the air at her eye level. “...by the titan.“ She whispered softly, as she let the other deadly spell dissipate from her hand held at Amity’s neck.

“Blight...I don’t know how or why, and right now, I don’t care. But it’s been MONTHS now, and I know how this stuff is supposed to go.“ She said, her gaze still glued to the staff that Amity could see was held in Luz’s trembling hands. 

The two girls locked gazes, both sets of eyes filled with tears, before Amity spoke up. “I know, Luz told me. She doesn’t have much time left. But, with your power and my raw magic, I know we can-“

“Stow it, Blight. I know what you’re getting at. Yes, there is a way to save her. At this point she’s either about to turn vengeful, or she forgave you for some asinine reason.“ Eda closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh, reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose. 

“Knowing Luz, and given that you said the word love , I can only assume it’s the latter. In which case, do you really think you’re the only murderer to fall in love with their victim? It’s called Stockholm syndrome you wretch, and we’ll deal with it AFTER we fix this.“ 

Eda turned on her heel and rushed back into her house, leaving Amity and Luz to look at one another in a mix of confusion and hope.

Moments later, Eda had returned with a backpack full of things, wearing a warm coat and hat. “C’mon, we’re going to the knee. Gonna need powerful magic for this spell to work, and YOU better be as strong as you say you are, Blight. Otherwise-“ 

Eda glared daggers at Amity as she poked her in the chest with an accusing finger. “ YOU’RE going to be haunting ME .“ She said, as she jerked the thumb of her other hand towards her own chest. Eda then retrieved Owlbert from Luz’s invisible grip and quickly sat astride it. “Now get on and hold on, we’re not wasting any more time than we have to.“