have teenagers around them anymore.
The cold air licks at my face, as I head down the pathway and pass one of Coral’s cronies, who looks drunk as she wobbles her way past me then a boy I don’t recognize wobbles his way a minute later. I stumble as I get to the edge of the bathroom facilities. The lights flicker. A vision flashes before my eyes, I reach out and the building I was near is no longer there. I’m in the woods as a little girl in my pajamas and coat, holding my arm to my body. There’s a deep voice calling me a little witch. They are taunting me, and then I see my father. He has blood all over him, but he’s there to help me. He swoops me up and we hug each other tight. This was the accident, again. I blink several times and the vision is gone, but my goosebumps remain.
Chapter Eight
I walk past the bathroom facility, to the side of the clearing just about 20 feet from our tents. I can somewhat make out my friends, and I wave to show I’m okay.
I’m not okay. What the hell am I doing? I wiggle my fingers to test my magick, but nothing happens. I flex my hand and try again. I clutch my hand to my side and walk into the woods just beyond the trees, and when I hear the earth give way to something off to my left in the distance, I ask meekly, “Who’s there?” I don’t recognize my own voice, sounding like a little girl.
No one responds.
“Who’s there?” I say, louder this time. Again, nothing, but there is a rustling in the canopy of the trees.
It could be an animal. It could be… an animal.
The sound is getting closer. It’s approaching.
I turn toward the campsite, and all I see is the forest. I went too far. I turn left, right — my sense of direction is gone. How did I get this far into the woods?
What the hell am I doing out here? I clench my hand and feel nothing. No light, no magick.
Pop.
Snap.
Tree branches are breaking.
I’m out of time. Someone or something is coming toward me!
I jog forward. There is a faint light on my right, and I head for it. That’s when I hear it.
A deep voice, full of menace, says “Little witch” I freeze. “Little witch, come play with me. I promise not to kill you quickly. That way we both can enjoy it.”
My body is moving of its own accord because my mind is locked up, I’m not thinking just moving. I’m clumsy and touching the rough unfriendly trees, turning around and around, pure panic setting in. I flex my hand and again no magick. I hear him, he’s huffing through his nose like an animal. The glowing light on my right is getting brighter, away from the threat.
Fight or flight time.
I run at full speed. Screw this!
There is an anguished cry of an animal behind me. I run as fast as I can without tripping on the uneven forest floor. My heart is pounding, I can’t see well, my breathing is labored, and I don’t seem to be gaining any distance on the light.
He’s gaining on me.
Smack.
Something hits me in my shoulder, and I’m on the ground.
“Aaaahhh!” The pain sears like a hot iron.
SHIT!
I know I’ve been stabbed with something, but if I lay here in pain I’m dead. I know it. No time. No time. Keep moving. MOVE! I scramble and claw to my feet and turn.
There he is! Death has come for me. He’s real: a dark-skinned skyscraper with massive horns that raise above his head like a bull and long claws that look deadly. His red glowing eyes straight from hell mesmerize me. His powerful muscles ripple like a body builder. It’s like a movie, but nothing I have ever seen before. He’s real, this is freaking real.
He stops in front of me, smirking. “Little witch doesn’t know how to play yet… I see.”
His fangs show white against his dark black skin. His smell is of an animal. He has a belt with various types of knives and other weapons. I favor my shoulder and left side as I scoot away.
“This isn’t as satisfying as I had hoped, but your heart will taste good either way!”
He jumps for me. I brace for
The cold air licks at my face, as I head down the pathway and pass one of Coral’s cronies, who looks drunk as she wobbles her way past me then a boy I don’t recognize wobbles his way a minute later. I stumble as I get to the edge of the bathroom facilities. The lights flicker. A vision flashes before my eyes, I reach out and the building I was near is no longer there. I’m in the woods as a little girl in my pajamas and coat, holding my arm to my body. There’s a deep voice calling me a little witch. They are taunting me, and then I see my father. He has blood all over him, but he’s there to help me. He swoops me up and we hug each other tight. This was the accident, again. I blink several times and the vision is gone, but my goosebumps remain.
Chapter Eight
I walk past the bathroom facility, to the side of the clearing just about 20 feet from our tents. I can somewhat make out my friends, and I wave to show I’m okay.
I’m not okay. What the hell am I doing? I wiggle my fingers to test my magick, but nothing happens. I flex my hand and try again. I clutch my hand to my side and walk into the woods just beyond the trees, and when I hear the earth give way to something off to my left in the distance, I ask meekly, “Who’s there?” I don’t recognize my own voice, sounding like a little girl.
No one responds.
“Who’s there?” I say, louder this time. Again, nothing, but there is a rustling in the canopy of the trees.
It could be an animal. It could be… an animal.
The sound is getting closer. It’s approaching.
I turn toward the campsite, and all I see is the forest. I went too far. I turn left, right — my sense of direction is gone. How did I get this far into the woods?
What the hell am I doing out here? I clench my hand and feel nothing. No light, no magick.
Pop.
Snap.
Tree branches are breaking.
I’m out of time. Someone or something is coming toward me!
I jog forward. There is a faint light on my right, and I head for it. That’s when I hear it.
A deep voice, full of menace, says “Little witch” I freeze. “Little witch, come play with me. I promise not to kill you quickly. That way we both can enjoy it.”
My body is moving of its own accord because my mind is locked up, I’m not thinking just moving. I’m clumsy and touching the rough unfriendly trees, turning around and around, pure panic setting in. I flex my hand and again no magick. I hear him, he’s huffing through his nose like an animal. The glowing light on my right is getting brighter, away from the threat.
Fight or flight time.
I run at full speed. Screw this!
There is an anguished cry of an animal behind me. I run as fast as I can without tripping on the uneven forest floor. My heart is pounding, I can’t see well, my breathing is labored, and I don’t seem to be gaining any distance on the light.
He’s gaining on me.
Smack.
Something hits me in my shoulder, and I’m on the ground.
“Aaaahhh!” The pain sears like a hot iron.
SHIT!
I know I’ve been stabbed with something, but if I lay here in pain I’m dead. I know it. No time. No time. Keep moving. MOVE! I scramble and claw to my feet and turn.
There he is! Death has come for me. He’s real: a dark-skinned skyscraper with massive horns that raise above his head like a bull and long claws that look deadly. His red glowing eyes straight from hell mesmerize me. His powerful muscles ripple like a body builder. It’s like a movie, but nothing I have ever seen before. He’s real, this is freaking real.
He stops in front of me, smirking. “Little witch doesn’t know how to play yet… I see.”
His fangs show white against his dark black skin. His smell is of an animal. He has a belt with various types of knives and other weapons. I favor my shoulder and left side as I scoot away.
“This isn’t as satisfying as I had hoped, but your heart will taste good either way!”
He jumps for me. I brace for
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