Jo looks on helplessly as Salem tries to convince the other two witches to come with them. No matter their partner’s plea though, it still appears that only two of the escapees will be leaving with them that afternoon as they watch the other two grab onto the other’s hand. If Salem was wanting to try to fight them into coming with them, then Jo was too, but deep down they knew that this was the best- and probably the only possible outcome if they wanted to get out of that cabin unharmed by the other squad.
As Ester tugs their hand to follow her, Jo takes one last look behind them towards Rose and Faye, tearing welling up in their eyes as they watch the two women throw open the door, and rush out of it wands blazing together.
With Rose and Faye out front fighting off the incoming squad, Myra and Ester rush towards the back of the cabin, ducking through a small kitchen and through a door that opened up onto the back porch. Myra is the first to pop her head out, holding her hand back to warn the other three to stay back until she assures the coast is clear.
“I think we’re alright,” she nods, and motions the three to follow her out, as she begins running towards a small boat house that sat down a small hill against the lake’s shore. Ester holds up the rear as they make their way down, making sure should any spells come their way, she’d be the first in line to deflect them. Whatever Rose and Faye were doing out front though seems to serve as a good distraction though, as Myra makes it to the boat house without any trouble, opening its door with a quick flick of her wand, and holds it for the others to come in behind her.
When they’re finally out of harm’s way, Jo doubles over, trying to catch their breath, and regain some composure after the chaos that ensued ever since the other squad’s arrival- an arrival they still were confused about given the fact only them and Salem knew of the cabin’s location. Looking over to Salem they nearly ask them their thoughts until they catch Myra walking over to Ester, tears streaming down her face, due to what Jo can only assume is the realization that the end of their journey together was about to end. .
“Everything will be okay, we’ll get through this together,” Ester assures her, wrapping her arms around the other witch as she pulls her in. “I’ll tell them everything, they’ll know I came with you willingly, don’t worry.”
“I know, sweetheart,” Myra nods, her hands shaking as she brings one up to cup the side of Ester’s face. “And that’s exactly what I’m afraid of.” Before Ester can react Myra pulls her in for a kiss, as her free hand moves to point her wand at her. “I love you,” she whispers against the woman’s lips, before flicking her wrist in a casting motion and uttering her intended spell.
For the second time that afternoon Jo looks on helplessly, feeling very much like the rookie they were. “S-salem?” they stutter out, looking towards them then back at Myra who was now stepping away from a clearly confused Ester.
It’s clear that the fight raging on in front of the cabin is going to keep them all occupied for at least a short amount of time, just enough to get out of harms way and to apparate somewhere safer, back to headquarters even. It should be easy, it should be nearly over, even if Salem’s thoughts are still racing, just like their heart as they run into the boat house with no trouble, leaning back against the wall, trying to catch their breath as they finally have a split second of safety. It makes no sense, though, how it came to this point, how the other squads came to the cabin, but there’s no time to wonder what had happened, seeing Myra and Ester coming together for what could be one last time.
They watch silently, feeling a little like they’re intruding on a private moment, feeling a little more like they wish there was some way this wouldn’t be the end for them, that they could just let them leave somehow, give them the chance at the quiet life together it seemed they were looking for. But they can’t, no matter how desperately their heart aches as they watch the tearful goodbyes.
It feels like time slows down for a split second in the moment after she says those words, and that’s exactly what I’m afraid of. They can feel something coming, instinctually from the stress and the strain and the worry reach out around them, can feel Jo’s similar emotions, Ester’s determination, Myra’s heartbreak, and her plan. They’re just about to interrupt, but everything speeds up again and the spell hits before they even have a chance to move.
Myra steps back, and it’s clear from the nearly blank, confused look on Ester’s face that the spell worked as intended. They look over at Jo, feeling just as out of their depth as they look. There’s panic rising in their chest, and they need to keep going, need to leave, but they can’t think past what they’ve just seen.
It feels a whole lot like everything is completely out of their hands, like no matter what they do now, it’s not their choice. It’s the realization that there’s nothing to do to take what she’s done back, that things are out of their control, combined with knowing she cares so deeply for her that she would take all of the blame, so she might go free, that breaks something in their chest, and they can feel warm tears welling up in their eyes.
“What have you done?!” they nearly shout, desperately, looking back at Myra. Except they know exactly what she’s done, can read it clearly in her thoughts, can see her whole plan, a snap decision made with certainty, as clear as day. Erase the memories, erase any chance of her taking responsibility.
“I’m sorry, but I have to give her that chance; I can’t let her ruin her life for me,” she explains, face still stained with tears, but gaze resolute.
“But we know,” Salem says, voice breaking slightly. Their thoughts were moving too fast, trying to comprehend everything that had just happened, and what that meant for them and Jo. “What are we supposed to do? How can we...I don’t know what we do. You could’ve just run, I can’t fight you, you could’ve escaped together if you didn’t want her getting caught. But now...it’s on us to lie.”