The Witch Tale -- Part 4

And now, the thrilling conclusion of The Witch Tale...

The Witch Tale -- Part 4

"Well, ladies, here's to us!" said Hazel.   All three of them lifted their mugs and toasted.

"Down the hatch!" added Hettie.

The trio drank the potion.   During and after swallowing, their faces grimaced at its taste.

"Oh dear god!" said Bertha.  "That's a taste I'm glad we only have to endure every fifty years!"

"What do you think gives it that nasty taste?" said Hazel.  "Maybe something washed off that girl.  You are sure she was a virgin?"

"Yes, not to worry," said Bertha.  "I couldn't take the other one.  She's a slut."

"I don't know, but I wish we could get a better recipe." said Hettie.

"Well, now we just sit and wait."  Bertha plopped down onto the couch and grabbed an issue of "Housekeeping for Witches."  Meanwhile, Hazel sat by the fire in her rocker and Hettie put away potion bottles organizing them in alphabetical order.

After an hour,  Bertha looked in the mirror.   At first, she glanced, then getting closer, she pinched her cheeks.   Her fair skin remained pale, her hair blond, her eyes blue, and cheeks still rosy.   Bertha turned to Hazel and Hettie who had stopped and looked at her.

"Well, how do we look?" said Hazel glancing at Bertha, then over to Hettie.   Bertha cocked her head a little examining both their faces.

"The same," said Bertha.   Hettie and Hazel both stepped in front of the mirror.   Hettie's hair remained auburn, her eyes green, her lips red, and her skin clear of any blemishes.  Hazel's brown bobbed hair still shined, her brown eyes twinkled, and, like the others, her skin remained soft and fair.  All three looked like ideal female models.

"DAMN!" shouted Bertha. "It didn't work."  Bertha kicked the end of the sofa, while Hettie cried.

"I can't believe this!" said Hazel. "All that work! Rounding up those damn kids!  Putting up with 'em! We did everything by the book!  Word for word! We measured each ingredient!"  She shook her head and started crying.

"I want to be pretty like other witches," lamented Hettie.  "I want the green skin... warty nose... black nasty hair...  But no, I look hideous!"

The Witch Tale -- Part 3

And now Part 3 of The Witch Tale...  It's like being on an old radio show... only on-line!

The Witch Tale -- Part 3

"Dinnng donng."  Mike raced to the front door and quickly opened it.  The light illuminated the front porch.  The grandfather clock started to strike eleven. The streetlights glowed.

"Joellen..." said Mike sadly. 

"Hello to you, too...," said Joellen sarcastically.

"Sorry, I was hoping it was..."  Tears began to well in his eyes.   Joellen stepped in and gave him a hug. 

Hannah had gone missing the day before.   The police, his parents, and several neighbors were out combing the neighborhood and surrounding areas.  It was one of their worst nightmares.  Mike stayed home in case she showed up or called. 

Mike and Joellen sat down in the living room.   "Dinnng donng."  Mike jumped up once again and ran to the door.

"Hey," said Seth.  "Any word?"   Mike shook his head and began to well up again.  Seth gave him a passionate hug before sitting down in the living room.

"Hey Joellen."

"Hey Seth."

"Dinng donng."   Mike once again jumped up.  When he opened the door, the porch was dark.  The metal light fixture swung back and forth despite the lack of wind.   He noticed a strange odor.

"Hello?" said Mike as he gazed in the darkness and wrinkled his nose.  There was no answer. 

"Who is it?" said Seth from the living room.   He and Joellen came into the hall.

Just as Mike stepped out, the porch light slowly glowed back to its original brightness.

"Hannah!" yelled Mike.  Hannah laid unconscious on the front porch.  All three bent down next to her.  

"Yuck!" said Joellen.  "What's that smell?"

Seth held her wrist.  "She's alive."

"Let's get her inside," said Mike.  "Joellen, call an ambulance."

Mike and Seth carried her into the hall.   Hannah moved a little.  She was alive.

The Witch Tale -- Part 2

Here it is -- Part 2 of my short story.   I finished it, re-read it, and said to myself "Did I just write that?!"  Stay tuned for part three of this four part series.

The Witch Tale --Part 2

Hazel stood over the large metal pot on a wood fire stirring the steaming concoction.  After brushing her hair from her face, she finally looked up at her sister.  "Hettie,  have you noticed these kids today just aren't the same as what we used to get?" 

"I know," said Hettie as she shook her head in dismay. "It's just not like what it used to be.  Remember when they used to beg for their lives?"

Hettie was standing next to one of the boys who was strapped to a chair.  His eyes were starting to open.  "Uh-oh, looks like this one is coming to.  I just hate it anymore when we have to knock them out." 

The boy came to and looked up at Hettie before realizing that he was strapped to a chair.  "You fuckin' bitch!  I'm gonna kill you!  You bitch..."  Hettie pushed his forehead back and slit his throat before he could finish his last sentence.  Blood gushed down his shirt and all over the floor.   He choaked and tried struggling free, but his actions slowly faded.

"Such language these days," said Hettie.  "And that last batch of knock-out spell must have been weak."

"You have to look at it this way," said Hazel smiling.  "We still get to see lots of blood."

Hettie sighed.  "I know.  But I want them to be awake and aware that they're young lives are coming to an end."  She shook her head again in dismay.  "It's just not the same."

"I don't see how we can be so upset with them," said Hazel.  "They don't appreciate their lives any more than we do."

"Yes, but they used to be so nice about it," said Hettie. "Today all they do is swear at us.   They don't even beg for their lives.   I feel that this generation just doesn't care about their lives or anyone elses." 

Hettie was trying to drag the dead boy to long narrow wooden table.  Hazel stopped stirring and laid the ladle on a nearby table.  "Here let me help you with him."

"Thanks.  He was a bit heavy."   Hettie took a long blood-covered knife and sliced open the boy's chest. 

"You know I'm surprised that I even find hearts in these kids these days."  She reached in and pulled out his heart cutting the arteries with the knife.  

"Here's one more." Hettie tossed it into the pot.   "Eleven down and one more to go."

"When do you think Bertha will be back?" asked Hazel who was tossing in some herbs and started stirring again.

"I don't know," said Hettie.  "Hopefully she will find someone who will help finish the spell.  It's not easy these days."

"Was she going to try to find one of those girls that saw us?" said Hazel.

"Maybe.  I'm not too worried about them.  Who would believe them anyway?"

"You're probably right." 

Hettie left the room and returned a few moments later dragging a large girl by the legs behind her. 

"Hazel, help me with this one.  She's really heavy.  How did we get her back here?"  They both panted and heaved the girl across the floor.  They stopped by the table with the boy's body on it.  Hettie rolled him off to the side hitting the floor with a thud.

"Oh now, Hettie, you mustn't be so rude to them."

"Phttt... Like he would have cared."

"Hettieeeee...," said Hazel.  "You are becoming insensitive."  They picked up the girl and Hazel laid her head gently on the table.   Just as they finished adjusting her, the door flew open.

"I'm back," announced Bertha as she carried a body over shoulder.

"Oh Bertha, you shouldn't be carrying somebody by yourself like that.   You might hurt your back."   Bertha unloaded the body onto a nearby sofa.  

"Well, I got that last one we need.  That should do it.  Boy, was she hard to catch!  I had to chase her down the street."  Bertha smiled proudly at her accomplishment.   "How's the brew?"

Bertha and Hettie walked over the steaming pot.   "Well, the spell is fine.   I wish I could say the same about Hazel."   Hazel made a face over disapproval.

"I am fine," said Hazel.   "It's this damned generation that upsets me.  They have no respect."  She rolled her eyes, shook her head, and proceeded to cut open the girl's chest.  As she cut, she mumbled "I just don't get it.  Damn kids today."   After she laid the knife down, she reached into the cavity and yanked out the girl's heart.  And with a quick turn, she tossed it into the pot.

"There that's all! Hehe haha!"   Hazel announced with joy and a big smile.  "There I'm being happy."  Her dismal look returned quickly.

Bertha and Hettie just looked at her.   After a few moments, Hettie went back to stirring and Bertha helped Hazel carry the bodies out of the room.   They returned with mops in hand.  Blood was everywhere.  They started to mop the floor, clean off the chair and table, and push the blood towards the floor's center drain.

"I wish we could find a spell that would make all of this blood just go away in an instance."  Bertha lamented.

Hettie stopped for a moment from her stirring.   "Is that girl ready to go or do we have to prep her?"  Under her breath, she mumbled "Please let her be ready..."

"Nope.  She's all ready to go."

"Good," said Hettie. "I checked the pantry and we have plenty of forget potion so she won't remember a thing tomorrow."

After the mopping, all three stood around the pot.

"Yuck!  Why does this potion always have to smell so bad?    I remember that smell from the last time."

"Really!  That was over fifty years ago," said Hettie.  "I'm impressed by your memory."

"How could you forget that smell!"  Bertha grimmaced.

"Alright girls.  Let's get this done."   Hazel went over the limp girl in the chair.   "Let's get her out of these clothes and into the pot.   Did you check the temp?   I don't want her to get scalded."

"Yes, it's fine," said Hettie as she swirled her hand in the pot for a quick check.  The trio undressed the girl and carried her to the pot.

"Careful, don't hit her head," said Bertha.   "She's sleeping like a baby.  Let's try not to wake her up.  That would be such a mess."

The trio hoisted her into the pot holding her head so it wouldn't sink into the potion.   Hettie grabbed the ladle and started scooping it over her shoulders.  After about ten minutes, they pulled her out, dried her off, and redressed her.

"That's should complete the potion." said Hazel.

"Look it's turning bright purple," said Hettie excitidly.  "That's means it worked.   Good job on selecting the girl."  She patted Bertha on the shoulder.  They all breathed a sigh of relief.
 

"I'll have her home in no time," said Bertha,  After uncorking a small purple bottle labled "Forget potion," she put a couple of drops of the contents into the girl's mouth.   "That should do it."

Bertha heaved her over her should.  "I'll be back in a little while," she said closing the door behind her.  "Don't drink without me."

More to come...

Next week, you should see Part 2 of my short story, The Witch Tale.   It is such a tale of strangeness.   I re-read the second part and thought "Did I just write that?"

Also, I am planning on posting chapters of my young adult novel starting the first week of December.    I figure if I get a date on the schedule, I will make it happen.  

The Witch Tale -- Part 1

I've had no success getting back to my book... It's lying there waiting for me...

Since I can't get back to it, I have decided that I just need to keep writing. So, I'm working on a short story. And guess what! Here's part one. Be prepared; it gets pretty wild!

The Witch Tale -- Part 1
"You bastard!" Hannah yelled at her cousin Mike. Although she was only thirteen, her vocabulary was well-rounded for a girl her age. She had learned a lot of similar words from the numerous arguments between her mother and step-father, both respected people in town but had a rough marriage.

"Don't call me that! You sawed-off bitch!" Mike, now sixteen, knew just as many words himself, learning them from the same source as Hannah. Mike had come to live with the Anderson's when he was nine. His mom and Marge Anderson were half-sisters. Hannah was six at the time being raised as an only child gave her an edge of being the center of attention. They lived in the new average middle class home with the typical middle class family.

"Just 'cause you're older, doesn't mean you get to boss me around!" Hannah returned in this fiery argument that had begun three days before.

"I'm not bossing you around! You're just mad 'cause I don't believe you."

"And why would I lie?"

"You've been known for a few strange stories in your life but this one is too much."

"Alright mister smarty-pants! So how did those kids disappear?"

"How the hell should I know! Maybe they all moved at once."

"I'm telling you right now. Those witches came out of the sky and picked 'em off one by one..."

"Witches my ass! There are no such things."

Three days before, on a late October evening, a gang of local hoodlums had mysteriously disappeared from the sidewalks of a near-by neighborhood. The newspaper headline read "Twelve local teens missing all in same evening. Police baffled but suspect another gang." The article spelled out how last Saturday night, a gang of both boys and girls had been harassing the locals and causing damages to private and public property. Most had already been in trouble with the law.The group was last seen along Windsor Drive running over to Middlebury Street. By the time police had arrived in the area, the teens had disappeared. It wasn't until the next day that parents began to call stating that their teenager had not come home. Finally, the list stopped with twelve disappearances.

Mike and Hannah continued to walk and argue.

"I'm tellin' you there are witches. Joellen and I saw them that night. Flyin' around. Lookin' like three black clouds."

"You mean Joellen from over on Wesley Street. She's nothing but lyin' whore."

"She is not!"

"Is too! She got caught with Billy Stevens in the back seat of his dad's car. She was down between his legs..."

"That's not true. She said he had something stuck on his pant leg and she was lookin' at it."

"Ha! She was more than lookin'. And how about just a few weeks ago when she was doin' the same thing to Paul Dempsey's mom... You know she's a big ass dyke!" Mike grinned and shook his head. Joellen Finney was known as the neighborhood slut.

"Just shut the fuck up! I don't care what Joellen does. She can do whatever she likes. I'm more concerned with those witches. We're both worried they saw us."

Mike stopped in front of their house and turned to face Hannah.

"So let me get this straight. You and dykey Joellen..." Hannah rolled her eyes making a sour face. "...Saw three witches flyin' on their broomsticks in the sky come swoopin' down and grab up all twelve and fly off into the wild blue yonder..."

"Not all of them at once... Just one by one... They seemed to pick out the one laggin' behind... quietly fly down... grab 'em even before they even had a chance to scream. These are smart witches."

Mike rolled his eyes before walking up the sidewalk. Hannah lagged behind him tired of his disbelief.

In her bedroom, Hannah searched her book bag for her cellphone before plopped her back pack on the floor. She sat down on her bed and called Joellen.

"Hey girl, what's going on?" Joellen answered.

"OMG! I just had a huge argument with that jerk of a brother of mine..."

"Is he even your brother? Isn't he like your cousin?"

"It doesn't matter. I tried to tell about the witches. He didn't believe me." Hannah rolled her eyes. "Why is he such a jerk!"

"Well, he is a homo. You know how prissy they can be at times."

"He is not!"

"Oh yeah! Why don't you ask him about Seth Tourner? They were seen kissin' behind the high school."

"They were not! They're just good friends." Hannah knew better. She remembered the night a couple of weeks ago when Seth came over while their parents were at a meeting. They were supposedly keeping an eye on her and studying for a big biology test. She had taken a break from watching television upstairs. She heard them in the kitchen talking about some movie star. Saying how hot he was... How hot he was making them... By the time she tiptoed to the kitchen, they were lip locking. Even though she argued with him, she loved Mike and approved of Seth.

"Whatever you want to believe..." added Joellen.

Hannah moved on. "I don't have time for this conversation. I am more concerned about those damned witches. Do you think they saw us?"

"Hell, no. They were too busy pickin' off the gang. And I say good riddance to them. They caused more trouble."

"But twelve all in the same evenin'! What would they need all of them for?"

"Probably some big spell?"

"Well, I am still concerned they saw us. What'll we do if come back for us?"

"How the hell should I know? Google it and see what you get."

"Fine, but I am tellin' you. Those witches are gonna come back and get us! And if they do, I wanna be prepared."
Three days later, the newspaper headline read "Local girl missing. Police suspect same gang."