Jessica's hands trembled as she secured the last knot around Salina's wrist. The unconscious girl slumped in the wooden chair, positioned directly in front of the ornate mirror that had started this nightmare. Moonlight filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the room.

  "The ropes aren't too tight?" Kevin asked, thumbing through the weathered pages of Seren's journal.

  "No. Just enough to hold her." Jessica checked the bindings once more, hating the necessity of restraining her best friend. "How's the translation coming?"

  "Better this time." He pointed to a passage written in faded ink. "The first attempt failed because we didn't complete the full incantation. There are three parts, and we only did the first two."

  A groan from Salina made them both freeze. Her head lifted slowly, and when her eyes opened, they faded into black that meant Seren was still in control.

  "No..." Seren's voice emerged from Salina's mouth. "Not again!"

  The ropes creaked as she strained against them. A blast of supernatural energy rippled outward, sending books flying from one shelf and shaking a cabinet. Jessica braced herself against the onslaught while Kevin clutched the journal tighter.

  "Start reading!" Jessica shouted over the growing chaos. "I'll keep her contained!"

  Kevin's voice rose above the supernatural tumult as he began the Latin phrases. "Spiritus malignus, audi verba mea..."

  "You can't send me back!" Seren thrashed harder, making the chair legs scrape against the floor. "I won't return to that darkness!"

  More objects went airborne–candlesticks, paperweights, centuries-old tomes. Jessica deflected what she could while trying to hold the chair steady. A heavy brass bookend caught her shoulder, making her grunt in pain.

  "Keep going!" she urged Kevin when he hesitated.

  The temperature in the room plummeted. Frost crystallized on the windows as Seren's power lashed out in desperation. The mirror's surface rippled like disturbed water, reflecting ghostly shapes that reached toward them with skeletal hands.

  "It's not working fast enough," Kevin said between phrases. "She's too strong!"

  Jessica looked at Salina's face, contorted with Seren's rage and terror. Beneath that mask of possession, her best friend was still in there, trapped in her own body. Deciding, Jessica stepped closer despite the supernatural storm.

  "Salina!" She grabbed her friend's shoulders, leaning in close. "I know you can hear me. Fight her!"

  "She can't hear you anymore," Seren snarled.

  "Yes, she can." Tears spilled down Jessica's cheeks as memories flooded back. "Remember that day after we first met? I found you crying behind a tree because you got a phone call about your parent's death in the car crash. I sat with you for hours, telling you about the psychopath who murdered my mother.”

  The purple light in Salina's eyes flickered.

  "You said you felt alone," Jessica continued, her voice breaking. "But I said we weren't alone anymore, because we had each other. Remember? We promised to always be there, no matter what."

  Something shifted in Salina's expression–a moment of recognition through Seren's control.

  "I won't lose you too." Jessica pressed her forehead against Salina's. "Fight back. Come back to us. Please."

  Kevin's voice rose to a crescendo as he reached the last verses of the exorcism. The mirror's surface churned like quicksilver, and the temperature dropped even further.

  A scream tore from Salina's throat–not Seren's voice now, but her own. Her back arched against the chair as black mist poured from her mouth and eyes, coalescing into a writhing shape in the air.

  "No!" Seren's true form became visible in the mist–a beautiful young woman with long white hair and black eyes in an ancient dress, her face twisted with desperation. "I won't go back! I won't—"

  The mirror's surface exploded outward, not in shards of glass but in reaching tendrils of shadow. The ghostly forms of Seren's previous victims emerged–faces Jessica recognized from the Moon Valley history books. Their hollow eyes fixed on their tormentor as their ethereal hands grasped at her spectral form. Whatever they were, they looked happy to have Seren back.

  "Release me!" Seren clawed at the air as they dragged her toward the mirror. "I command you!"

  “I don't think they want to," Kevin said grimly, speaking the final words of the ritual.

  With a sound like rushing wind, the green shadow-hands pulled Seren into the mirror's depths. Her final scream echoed through the room as she vanished into that otherworldly darkness. The surface rippled once more, then settled back to normal reflection.

  Silence fell. The flying objects dropped to the floor. Warmth slowly returned to the room.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Salina's head lolled forward, then lifted again. Her eyes fluttered open – normal dark eyes, confused but free of that supernatural purple glow.

  "Jessica?" Her voice was hoarse. "What... what happened? Oh God, I remember... I remember everything."

  Jessica quickly untied the ropes while Kevin helped support Salina as she swayed in the chair.

  "The cheerleaders," Salina whispered, horror dawning on her face. "I hurt them. And Jessica, I got you kicked off the squad! And Kevin..." She looked at him with fresh tears. "I made you... I forced you to..."

  "That wasn't you," Kevin said firmly. "Seren was controlling your actions."

  "But I let her in." Salina's shoulders shook with sobs. "I heard her voice when I saw the mirror… Whispering me to come forward and touch it. I couldn't help it.”

  "Hey." Jessica knelt in front of her friend, taking her trembling hands. "We all make mistakes. What matters is you fought her in the end. You helped us break free."

  "You don't hate me?" Salina looked between them. "After everything that happened?"

  "Of course not." Jessica pulled her into a fierce hug. "You're my best friend. Nothing will change that."

  Kevin joined the embrace, wrapping his arms around both girls. "We're just glad to have you back."

  They stayed like that for several moments, supporting each other as the first light of dawn crept through the windows. Finally, Salina pulled back, wiping her eyes.

  "I swear, I am never touching another mirror without thoroughly researching its history first." She managed a weak smile. "No more touchy touchy inside a creepy house.”

  "Probably a wise policy," Kevin agreed with a small chuckle.

  Jessica helped Salina to her feet, steadying her when she swayed slightly. "Let's get out of here. I don't know about you, but I've had enough of this place."

  "Wait." Salina looked at the mirror nervously. "What do we do about...?"

  "Leave it," Kevin said, closing Seren's journal. "The binding spell is complete now. She won't be able to influence anyone else from behind the glass."

  "Besides," Jessica added, "I think her ghost friends will keep her occupied for a very long time."

  They made their way out of the room, leaving the mirror to reflect nothing but ordinary shadows. As they walked through the mansion's front doors into the morning light, Jessica felt the weight of the past few days finally lifting. They had all been changed by this experience, but they had survived it together.

  And somewhere in the depths of that spirit realm, in the darkness she had tried so desperately to escape, Seren Winter faced an eternity with the consequences of her actions. It wasn't a happy ending for the ghost witch, but it was, perhaps, just one.

  Salina squeezed Jessica's hand as they reached their cars. "Thank you. Both of you. For not giving up on me."

  "Never," Jessica promised, squeezing back. "We will always be friends as long as we live.”

  They drove away from Winter Manor as the sun rose fully above the horizon, leaving the haunted house and its imprisoned witch behind. There would be challenges ahead–explaining everything to the school, helping the injured cheerleaders recover, dealing with their own traumatic memories. But they would face it all together, their bond stronger for having been tested by supernatural fire.

  Some friendships, Jessica reflected, were powerful enough to overcome even the darkest magic. And those were the ones worth fighting for.

  *****

  The Friday afternoon sun bathed Moon High's football field in golden light, casting long shadows across the freshly cut grass. Jessica, Salina, and Kevin made their way toward cheerleading practice, their footsteps crunching on the gravel path leading to the field. Jessica and Salina's white and purple uniforms caught the autumn breeze, the pleated skirts dancing in the wind while Kevin lugged the bulky Mighty Wolf mascot costume beside them, his arms straining under its weight. Salina's newly restored black hair swayed gently as she walked, finally back to her preferred style after the ordeal at Winter Manor.

  "Are you sure about this?" Kevin asked, shifting the mascot head under his arm. "Maybe we should wait a few more days before—"

  "No," Salina interrupted, her jaw set with determination. "I need to face them now so Jessica can reunite with them. It's Seren's fault for what she did. I must clean up her mess.”

  Jessica touched her friend's arm. "We're right here with you, Salina."

  As they approached the squad, the temperature seemed to drop several degrees, as if an invisible cloud had passed over the sun. Tiffany, Amber, Mia, and Camella stood in a tight cluster with arms crossed, their expressions hardening at the sight of Jessica. The memory of Tiffany kicking Jessica off the squad for allegedly attacking Salina was still fresh in everyone's minds.

  Amber whispered something to Mia, who snickered behind her hand. Camella at least had the decency to look uncomfortable, shifting her weight from foot to foot.

  "What is she doing here?" Tiffany demanded, her voice carrying across the field. "I thought I made myself clear about—"

  Before she could finish, Salina stepped forward, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "I need to tell you all something," she said, her voice trembling slightly. She glanced back at Jessica, who gave her an encouraging nod. "Everything that happened - the injured new cheerleaders, ruining Jessica's reputation, trying to become the most popular girl - that was all my fault. But not exactly me." She took a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling. "I was possessed by an evil spirit. Jessica and Kevin performed an exorcism last night to save me."

  The silence that followed was deafening. Amber's mouth hung open, while Mia's eyes darted between Jessica and Salina as if watching a tennis match.

  "You expect us to believe that?" Amber scoffed. "What is this, some kind of joke?"

  "It's not a joke," Kevin stepped forward, still holding the mascot costume. "I was there. I saw everything."

  Tiffany raised an eyebrow, her perfectly manicured nails drumming against her arm. "That's... quite a story, Salina. First Jessica attacks you, then you claim you were possessed?" She shook her head. "Do you have any idea how this sounds?"

  "I know it sounds crazy," Salina pleaded, taking another step forward. Her voice cracked with emotion. "But it's true. Jessica is innocent. If anyone should be punished, it's me. I hurt people. I manipulated everyone. I—" She swallowed hard. "I became someone I never wanted to be."

  Camella spoke up for the first time. "She has been acting different lately. Remember how she suddenly changed her hair and started dressing all... you know?"

  "And those new girls did get hurt right after practicing with her," Mia added thoughtfully.

  Tiffany studied them both for a long moment, her green eyes narrowing as she considered the situation. Finally, she sighed, some of the hardness leaving her expression. "Look, I don't know what's going on with you lately, Salina, but I'm willing to give both of you another chance." Her expression hardened again as she looked at Jessica. "But if anything weird happens again that puts this squad at risk, you're out. Both of you. Understood?"

  "Completely," Salina nodded vigorously, relief flooding her features. "And I'm so sorry for everything. I'll do whatever it takes to make it right."

  "Well," Tiffany clapped her hands sharply. "Let's get started then. We have a game next Friday and this routine isn't going to perfect itself."

  As the squad began warming up, with Kevin practicing his mascot routine nearby, attempting to master a new dance move without tripping over the costume's oversized feet, Salina pulled Jessica aside near the bleachers. The metal seats creaked above them in the breeze.

  "There's something else I need to tell you," Salina said quietly, her dark eyes fixed on her shoes. "I... I've had feelings for Kevin since I first met him." She glanced at the mascot-suited figure attempting a cartwheel and failing spectacularly. "When he fell for you instead, I was hurt. Really hurt. I think Seren used those emotions to control him, to try giving me what I wanted." She looked back at Jessica, her eyes glistening. "But that was wrong, and I won't let it affect our friendship. You two are good together, and I want you to be happy."

  Jessica stared at her friend, processing this revelation. The pieces clicked into place - Salina's initial coldness toward her when she first joined the squad, the way she'd sometimes catch Salina watching Kevin during practice, the hurt in her eyes whenever Jessica and Kevin showed affection. "I appreciate your honesty," she said finally, reaching out to squeeze Salina's hand. "No hard feelings. Really."

  Salina smiled gratefully, wiping quickly at her eyes. "Thanks, Jessica. For everything." She jogged back to the squad, her ponytail bouncing with each step.

  Jessica watched her go, a chill running down her spine as she remembered how dangerous Salina had become under Seren's influence - the calculated manipulation, the injured cheerleaders, the way she'd nearly succeeded in destroying Jessica's life. What if something like that happened again? Could Jessica bring herself to stop her own friend if necessary? The weight of responsibility settled heavily on her shoulders.

  She shook her head, pushing the dark thoughts away. The sun was warm on her face, Kevin was making the whole squad laugh with his ridiculous mascot dance, and Salina was back to her old self. Right now, she just wanted to be a normal teenager and protect her town from whatever came next. There would be time for worrying later.

  "Alright everyone, positions!" Tiffany called, clapping her hands again. "From the top!"

  Jessica ran to join the formation, falling easily into place beside Salina. As they began the routine, moving in perfect synchronization, she caught Kevin watching her through the mascot's mesh eyes. He gave her a thumbs up, nearly dropping the wolf head in the process.

  For now, at least, everything was exactly as it should be. She was back where she belonged, surrounded by friends who knew the truth, ready to face whatever supernatural challenge Moon Valley threw at them next. But first, they had a routine to perfect and a game to win.

  "Five, six, seven, eight!" Tiffany counted, and Jessica threw herself into the dance, letting the rhythm wash away her fears. The future could wait. This moment was all that mattered.