Day Four, First Moon, Hunting Year Five Hundred and Four
Jacob Wilder struck me between the eyes in the schoolyard today. It hurt like a bitch, but I didn't hit him back even though I really wanted to because getting in a fight with him is not a battle I can win. I've tried it before. Either he would use it as an excuse to really pummel me, or Aunt Martha would take away my lunch and make me lay on a pile of rock salt to ward off evil -- "A woman's purview is the intangible," and all that.
So, Jacob can hit me and all he has to say is he thought I might be dabbling in some kind of witchery, but I don't get to hit him back. I have to purge with salt instead. I'm not lying when I say that rock salt is painful to lay on. It's all sharp and knobby and digs into your skin. I still have marks from last time. Then, if the aunts think you're still at risk of a curse or witching, they'll make you swallow spoonful after spoonful of salt until you empty your stomach.
I kind of think Jacob should give it a try. I think I'll sneak some extra salt into his stew at lunch tomorrow.
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I know some of these entries are really short, but they will all come together into a novella-length story. It will just take a while for it all to come together.
I'm not really the type of person that plays pranks, so I have to really convince myself to have a character to play a prank, get payback, or do something vindictive...and then I feel bad for days afterward. My question for myself is why do I feel guilt over fictional characters???
Thanks for sticking with this story!

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The Wood
FantasyLike every other girl in her village, Kyla has been taught to ward off curses with the right concoction of herbs, but when a new plague falls upon the village, the elders begin to hunt for the witch who caused it. Kyla becomes the next target after...