Maybe.

( his throat--tightens again. oliver feels like he can't breathe, but he's getting in short little quick breaths through his nose. forgets about distracting caleb, but he--stays in the moment. talks in a voice just barely over a whisper, )

Witches, back home--they can uh. ( another little breath in, eyes squeezing shut. ) get corrupted. By abusing power, using too much, pulling on magic they shouldn't. Or--like, dying, and coming back.

( another breath, but it's a little gaspy. he's afraid, but he's here. )

Corrupted witches turn into--monsters.

( his hands raise up, one gripping hard onto caleb's wrist, the other wiping at his eyes. )

I don't--want to die and come back. If I die I want to stay dead, but there's. no choice here.