Sleepy Hollow 🔖

Liliana

No one said this would be easy when we set off from the beginning. So no matter the situation nobody dared complain. We'd walked to the edge of the town like Salem had asked us to. Now we're currently in an Inn asking for directions.

"What d'ya fellows wanna see the witch for?". The innkeeper with browning teeth asked as he scrutinized us.

"Their mother is sick and we heard that the witch can help us". Richard said as he gestured to us. "If you'll just direct us and we'll be on our way"

The man stroked his chin thoughtfully, not believing our story. I didn't blame him, I wasn't believing it myself.

"I know you're lying to me". He said with a bored expression. "But I'm still telling cause I really don't care. Two houses down, turn left".

We thanked him and followed his directions to an old house. The path to the door was overgrown with weeds and the worn out shape of the exterior was uninviting.

"Tony, why don't you go ahead and knock?". Richard said pushing Tony towards the path.

"You're the one from around here, I'm a foreigner". Tony spoke back.

"Will you two man up? We don't have all night you know". Vanessa pointed out.

"Actually we do...". Rebecca said but kept quiet as Vanessa glared at her.

"Alright we'll go together".

We waited as they approached the door and knocked softly. Eyes widened as the door opened on its own accord. Communicating with our eyes, we walked slowly into the house. The inside was far different from the outside.

It seemed like something meant for royalty. A chandelier, dark carpeting all around, paintings on the wall and a staircase going up through the middle. I figured out that the outside was actually to scare people way. As we stood marvelling, a figure in black appeared at the top of the stairs.

She walked ever so slowly, letting her dark dress cascade around her as she seemed to flow down the stairs.

"Oh Liliana. Always a dramatic one". A smooth voice echoed through the house but it wasn't the woman who spoke.

I froze. Who said that?

"Welcome". She finally spoke, her voice sounding dreamlike.

"Cough cough". The smooth voice spoke again.

"Well if my rude house let you in, then you mean no harm". She said

"Look who's calling me rude"

"How can I help you...young travellers?". She said as she got to the bottom of the stairs. With her dark hair pulled into a ponytail and a V-shaped face, she looked elegant. And was that white in her eyes?

"You talk to your house?". Alexa asked, earning a jab in her side.

"Sorry. What she meant was that we need help and you are the only one who seems to know how to help, Liliana". Tony said.

"Oh. And what might that be?". Liliana asked straightening her shoulders.

"We want to go back to earth". He replied.

There was a pin drop silence as she stared at each one of us.
"We escaped the horseman's castle". Richard explained further. "He wanted to perform the Sacrifice of twelve"

"So the rumours are true"

Liliana thought for a moment. "Study"
The room changed and in the blink of an eye, we found ourselves in another room. Illuminated by a few candles, it smelt of old books. Sure enough, there were books on the shelves.

"I will help you and I won't ask for a price. Not out of goodwill, definitely not that. But because that blasted horseman is always breaking the rules. He thinks he can do anything just cause he's in that castle. Witches everywhere are restricted to certain practice certain magic excluding the Sacrifice". She said.

Liliana sauntered to a shelf and returned with an armful of books. A table materialised and she dropped them unto it. I wished I could materialise a chair to sit one. We'd been walking for ages. A soft, plush one. I closed my eyes but when I opened them, everyone was crowded around me with wide eyes.

"What?". I asked.

"You're sitting in a chair which just came out of thin air".

I glanced to the witch to find her staring too.

"So you wield magic, eh? That horseman wouldn't have known what hit him if he had gone through with the process". Liliana said with a sly smile.

We paused as we heard a door banging.
"Open this house in the name of the horseman!"

"Don't let them in". Liliana said.

"You think?". The house spoke again.

"He found us". Someone whispered and the girls started panicking.

"They're using magic to get in"

"You have to leave, come back when it's safer". Liliana said as the room shifted again, taking my chair along with it. A door morphed from the wall and opened on its own to the outside. We scurried out into the dark night.

"Hey! Stop there!". A voice called from the side of the building and we made for the trees. Once, under the canopy, we sort out hiding spots. With the moon casting shadows, it would be difficult to find us, unless they were with torches.

Then I heard howling from the edge of the forest.

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Check out the image up there.
#VCF
Sorry for the late post, I've written the exam but I'm still waiting for the result.
Love, Vicki.💟