Any Witch Way Read online

  It’s all been just a horrible nightmare.

  She smiled like she hadn’t ever before and opened her eyes completely. Silence. Grey light filled the room, and Sadie’s smile faded as she realized she was home and not “home.” Home was where her mother was. Home was where Sadie felt like she was okay. Home wasn’t the Argyle’s big old empty house. It was her and her mother’s cozy little apartment. Home wasn’t the nightmare of foster care at all.

  Yeah, it’s a nightmare all right, a waking one, she thought as she rolled over and tried not to let the sadness creep in yet again. I miss my Mom.

  Three hours later Sadie woke and dressed quickly, for she was in a hurry to get back to the bookstore. She tried to avoid her foster family as much as possible. They were nice, nicer than most had been, but they still weren’t “hers.” And Sadie had the sneaking suspicion she was just filling a void since they couldn’t have children of their own.

  Mrs. Argyle was at the head of the table with her needlepoint accoutrements in the two remaining chairs as Mr. Argyle had already left for work. The new, un-matching one had been placed carefully amongst the other two just for Sadie, but she felt as awkward as it looked when she sat there. It wasn’t a part of the set and neither was Sadie. She said her “good mornings” and “goodbyes” as she grabbed a piece of toast from the clutter of threads and hoops on the kitchen table.

  “Sadie, where are you rushing off to? It’s your birthday, and I thought we’d do something especially Halloween-y since it’s both Halloween and your thirteenth birthday. And I wanted to ask you why you’re always wearing black now? Are you trying that whole Goth thing? I do understand children expressing themselves through their clothing. Where are…” said Mrs. Argyle to no avail. Her voice was fading in Sadie’s ears as the woman shouted out, “Happy Birthday, Sadie! Make it home in time for the trick-or-treaters!”

  But Sadie was already out the door.

  She felt bad for ignoring Mrs. Argyle; she tried really hard to make Sadie feel at home, but talking about her Halloween birthday was something she just didn’t want to do. Kicking at the sticks and leaves that last night’s wind had left in piles around Main Street, she didn’t look up in time to see the moving van and boxes piled high on the sidewalk. Just then, she smacked into a very large, very solid wall made of dark clothing. It wasn’t really a wall, but it felt like one. What Sadie had really run into was a very large man.

  “You should watch where you’re going. A little girl like you could run into all sorts of dangers,” said the man through a wide, beaming grin.

  “I’m s-sorry. I wasn’t paying attention,” she said as she tried to sidestep him and the mess of clutter in front of her.

  “Hey, what’s the rush?” he boomed as the statement began to make Sadie uncomfortable. “I’ve got a son about your age; you should meet him. Since we’re new to town, maybe you could show him around? He’s not helping out here that’s for sure,” he said as he motioned for someone in the house.

  Why does he seem, I don’t know, familiar?

  “I…I don’t know…” Sadie stammered, feeling very uncomfortable, “I’m supposed to be somewhere. It’s my bir…I just can’t….”

  But he cut her off. “Nonsense!” he said a little too forcefully for Sadie’s liking. “He can go with you, can’t he?”

  The man looked at Sadie with condescending eyes and a disgusted smirk, yet his voice had become softer. “Well, at least you two can meet so he has a friend come Monday morning. I understand you can’t just go off willy-nilly with a stranger. I’m just anxious for him to meet people since we’re new in town.”

  Why do all adults think that children don’t have important things to say or do? How rude, Sadie thought to herself. And isn’t he being a bit forward?

  She softened a little remembering how hard it always was, and still is, for her to make new friends. She smiled up at the tall man.

  Stranger-Dangers she heard her mother’s voice say in her mind, yet clear as crystal.

  As she stood on the sidewalk feeling confused, awkward and on the spot, Sadie watched as a dirty-blonde haired boy, about her age, appeared at the door. With his hands shoved deep in his pockets, he begrudgingly came towards her and the man who was his father.

  “David, come meet…” he slowly turned to face Sadie again. “I’m sorry, what do they call you, girl?”

  “S-Sadie,” she said shyly, “I’m Sadie.”

  And I HATE being put on the spot.

  “Come meet Sadie, David.”

  David sulkily walked up to Sadie and without looking up, said hello. At least, she thought it was a hello. It was a low mumbling of a hello, and it reminded Sadie of how painful it was for her to meet new people—let alone a boy. His dirty- blonde hair hung down in his eyes, not like he was going for a look, but like he was in desperate need of a haircut. His clothes were black, which she didn’t know why but she liked, and he was shoving a stick into his pocket as he drew near.

  Just like a boy! I bet he’s got a frog or snake or something in those pockets, too.

  He didn’t look too happy about having to meet her, or it could have been the fact that he had to unpack all this stuff; but he looked disturbed enough that Sadie warmed to him a little. She felt genuine pity for this kid, especially with a dad like that. But…at least he had a dad.

  I never had a dad, and now I don’t even have a mom.

  “Hello, David,” Sadie replied with a hint of pity.

  After a few moments of awkward silence consisting of Sadie looking at David—I have nowhere else to look—David looking at the ground—poor kid—and David’s father glaring down at both of them—I can feel his eyes boring into my flesh. Sadie finally broke up the standoff by clearing her throat.

  “I have to go now,” she said, sounding sure, but feeling unsure.

  Mumbled goodbyes began and just as it looked like David’s father was going to touch Sadie, to pat her on the back or something, he pulled his hand away as if he thought better of it.

  Like he would get cooties or something, she thought. Even strangers think I’m a weirdo.

  The last two blocks to the bookstore went quickly, and as Sadie opened the door, once again the wind took it and flung it wide. But...this time Sadie noticed there was no wind.

  “Sorry, Mrs. Felis, I guess I don’t know my own strength,” said Sadie as she wiped her feet on the mat.

  “It's okay, Piseag. The hinges are just too loose,” Mrs. Felis replied, bearing a huge grin not unlike that of the Cheshire Cat.

  Sadie hung her coat by the door and made her way to her usual overstuffed chair with Grimm tagging along behind her. Following the two of them was a very eager, very glowing Mrs. Felis carrying a large box wrapped in Happy Birthday wrapping paper which had NO markings what-so-ever stating that today was also Halloween. Sadie grinned to herself and acted surprised when she turned to sit down and saw it. Though she had seen the gift out of the corner of her eye, she still wasn’t convinced it was all birthday and no Halloween. Looking at the present, she smiled wider when she realized that pink and yellow wrapping paper in no way would make someone think of Halloween.

  Just like Mom used to do, she thought before taking the gift from Mrs. Felis.

  “Happy thirteenth Birthday, Sadie. May you have many more!” Mrs. Felis said with a slight tear in her eye.

  Grimm had jumped on top of the package and rubbed his face along Sadie’s cheek. Little bits of catnip fell from his fur to Sadie’s lap, and he quickly scooped them up with his paws and put them on his tongue, all the while still rubbing on Sadie.

  “Leave her alone, you cheeky cat,” Mrs. Felis said as she picked him up. “Let Sadie open her gift and then you can monopolize her time.”

  “Oh, he doesn’t bother me. I kinda like his touching me. For some reason, it makes me feel good,” said Sadie as she played with the ribbon on her present.

  Mrs. Felis cleared her throat, set Grimm down, and began pouring the tea. Grimm did figure eights at
Sadie’s ankles as she smiled inside, wondering what on earth her gift could be. It was only nine o’clock in the morning, and, so far, it was turning out to be a wonderful birthday day.

  I only hope something doesn’t mess things up like usual. I’ve got that weird feeling in my chest like I always get right before something comes along and WHAM! My world is upside down again.

  Handing Sadie her cup, Mrs. Felis began to speak after she took a quick sip of tea. “Sadie, my pet, I want you to make a wish before you open that gift. It’s not every day a girl turns thirteen.”

  Mrs. Felis looked as though she bit her tongue. Sadie suspected it was because she was about to say it was also Halloween.

  Sadie took a lengthy, unhurried sip. She let the honeyed, warm liquid wash down her throat slowly. She then took two more to give herself time to think about her wish. One more sip and she set the cup and saucer on the side table so that she could be very serious about this birthday wish. She always wanted to make Mrs. Felis happy. Plus, for some reason, she really felt that whatever wish she made could come true.

  As she looked up at Mrs. Felis, about to speak, Mrs. Felis’s face began to contort and blur. Sadie saw Mrs. Felis grab the arm of her chair and slowly, awkwardly begin to sit down. Sadie tried to move, but felt as though she weighed a thousand pounds. Her head was thick and her tongue matched. In her distorted vision Sadie saw Mrs. Felis’s lips move, but just barely heard her words.

  “Sadie, the tea, I think something’s wrong. This smells like my sleeping tea, not chamomile.” Then, everything went black.

  Somewhere Between Dreams and Reality

  A cold wash of air blew over Sadie, causing her to shiver. Where am I? Last thing I remember, I was in the bookstore. She looked around, not recognizing her surroundings, and became alarmed. It was getting dark here, wherever she was, and fear began to prickle up her spine. I think I’m going crazy. I have no idea where I am or how I got here. She spun around, trying to take it all in and ground herself in the situation.

  “I’m coming for you, Sadie,” cried a vibrating voice in the menacing darkness.

  She inhaled quickly, but the cold air bit into her lungs with its icy fangs and took her breath away just as fast. Resisting the urge to cough, Sadie struggled to capture just a moment of controlled breathing. As she focused on equal inhaling and exhaling, she tried to take notice of her surroundings. That horrible sleet was back again, coming at her from all directions and assaulting her brutally. She pulled her coat closer to shield herself from the new burst of weather as she searched for a way out. At least the moon was full and bright, giving her some sort of light in the darkness.

  In front of her lay a vast, murky peat bog, sure to filch her to her death. If the quicksand waters didn’t get her, then Tod Lowery would.

  Children steer clear of the Tod Lowery’s bog; they’ll drown your soul and turn you into a frog. Oh, my God, how do I know these things?

  To her left, the immense forest began. It was undulating and moving like fabric in the wind. The wicked storm tore the vestiges of fall’s leaves from their branches and didn’t give them time to alight on the ground. It swept them away forever. Not bending to wind’s will, limbs began to snap and crash to the earth violently.

  Too many dangers in the forest, both living and dead.

  To her right the immense lake pounded the shoreline with angry intentions of utter destruction. Cold fingers of surf seemingly reached out for her, to snatch her away to a chilly and painful dark blue death.

  As she stared out at the angry loch, the mast of a large sailboat broke and crashed into the furious waters, taking the handful of sailors on board with it. All disappeared rapidly below the ever-changing surface in the blink of an eye.

  The Undines will have fun tonight. Wait! Who is putting these thoughts into my head?

  Sadie turned widdershins, trying desperately to spot a safe place amongst so many threats. As she did so, she noticed three ethereal wraiths appear from nowhere known. She crouched behind a cluster of abandoned fishing gear and remembered once again to breathe, as the hideous ghosts glided in the opposite direction from her position on the beachhead. Further up the beach, five algae-draped, calcium-encrusted corpses trudged slowly out of the waters, oblivious to the surf. Slick black eels slithered from their homes within eye sockets and crayfish dropped from the flesh they had been feeding on. These rotting and stinking pieces of water-logged tissue moved precariously towards shore to begin their part in the hunt for Sadie.

  How is it I know they’re after me?

  From the wood emerged the Hell Hounds, shaking off moist clumps of black earth, their fiery red eyes glowed bright in the fury of the gale. Their rancid, hot breath could be seen in puffs steaming forth from their nostrils and lather had formed around their mouths. With enlarged new claws clicking and clacking against the sound of gnashing teeth, the beasts assembled to carry out their orders. Before the Hell Hounds ran off towards the swamp, Sadie thought they had caught her scent as they furiously sniffed the air sweeping from her direction.

  Where are all the good magikal creatures when you need them?

  A gust blew up and scattered her cover, exposing her to whatever entity should come for her next.

  RUN.

  Staying on the middle ground between forest and lake, she ran as fast as her legs would carry her.

  She ran, not feeling the pain in her chest. Somehow fear gave her back her ability to breathe. She ran, not caring what she ran towards. She knew she had to run away. She ran, like a sneak thief coveting her prize. She barreled towards what she hoped was safety.

  When hope ends, grasp for anything to stay alive, but use your heart before your head.

  As if Mother Nature were against her as well, the sleet came harder, faster, causing her to shut her eyes from its attack. A voice in the darkness began calling her name.

  “Sadie…Saaaaaaaadieeeeeeee….”

  When she opened her eyes again, the sheer impact of her surroundings struck her like an angry open hand. Everything was silent. Gob-smacked, she realized she was staring into her mother’s smiling face.

  “Sadie, you were having a dream, a very bad dream. I’m here love; it’ll be okay,” said her mother in a soft and gentle voice.

  Relief flooded Sadie as the warmth of her bed, her mother’s presence, and her new-found safety encompassed her entire being. She stared at her mother’s soft expression and relaxed a bit.

  “Oh, Mom! It was awful. I couldn’t get away. They kept coming. I couldn’t breathe, and I was scared and….”

  Wrapping her in the time immemorial safety that her mother’s hugs always brought her, Sadie slowly began to calm down and relinquish her urge to flee.

  “Ssssshhhhhh, sweetie. I’m here now. It was all just a dream.”

  Sadie smelled the sweet lavender, her mother’s scent, and inhaled deeply. She felt the warmth of her hug and, in an instant, felt safe and secure. The strength in her mother’s arms somewhat surprised her, she had never known her to be so strong, but Sadie chalked it up to a mother trying to calm a distraught child.

  When her trembling had stopped, Sadie pulled back a little to look at her mother’s face, wanting to ground herself in reality after such a nasty, frightening nightmare. She was smiling down at her and moved her hand to caress Sadie’s tear-streaked cheek.

  When did Mom’s hands get so rough? They’re usually so soft and un-calloused? She must have been working in our little garden plot out back of the apartment without gloves.

  “It’s all better now,” she whispered to the child.

  Sadie buried her head and hugged her mother back as if she hadn’t seen her in years.

  Something’s not right.

  Her senses came alive again, tingling with reception.

  My mom’s dead.

  Her own heart skipped a beat as she tried to reconcile what was now happening.

  My mom’s car went into the river. My mom died in that car crash.

  Slowl
y, she released herself from her so-called mother’s hug and with new fear, lifted her gaze to face her latest obstacle.

  Her mother’s beautiful red hair turned black and grey while her smooth skin aged centuries in seconds before Sadie’s eyes. Her nose began to hook and crook and her eyes turned to narrow red slits. Yellow, broken teeth bared themselves from between thin, cracked lips that dribbled greasy spittle onto its now caved in chest. The smell of rotting flesh emanated from this creature, causing Sadie’s stomach to turn. She put her hand over her mouth to quell the urge to vomit.

  A slimy grey tongue flicked in and out of the repulsive mouth like a snake scenting the air for prey. Black shadow creatures flitted about the space surrounding this new witchy creature, weaving an invisible web to ensnare their victims. As Sadie stared, horrified at the thing before her, festering boils appeared on any exposed flesh and oozed pus that sizzled like bacon grease. She opened her mouth, maybe in protest, but she couldn’t speak as she stared into its ominous eyes.

  “I told them I’d get you, Sadie, any which way, we are going to get you,” the witchy-thing before her rasped as Sadie’s world turned to black yet again.

  “SADIE!”

  From some vast distance a voice called to her across the black abyss. She struggled, as something had a hold on her consciousness, to open her eyes once more.

  “Oh, Sadie, thank ye gods, you were having such bad dreams, and I couldn’t wake you,” said Mrs. Felis as she hugged her tight.

  Sadie remained motionless in the old woman’s arms, afraid, yet ready, should this be another trick of the mind or some crafty concoction from those “otherworldly” creatures that had been after her. As she slowly regained her composure, her head pounding, Sadie tried to focus on something, anything, not to remember the wretched breath or horrid eyes of the witch-thing that had only moments ago been breathing in her face.