Up On Hickle Hill

Chapter 3 - Revisit

I lost the cat that I thought had once been Miss Murdo about halfway there. But there was no doubt in my mind that this is where it was headed. I sprinted up the hill, grateful for the daylight this time. As I reached the top of the hill and the opening of the cave loomed overhead and blocked out the sun, I noticed a familiar looking cat sitting by the one I had been chasing. I had recognised the other cat by the colour of its collar; black and white stripes. Both cats sat staring at me with wide eyes. They looked almost human. I'd later find out that they almost were.

The cats both sprung up at the same time and attacked me with claws out. The only sensible thing that I felt I should do was run. Silly me though. I ran in the direction of the cave. Once inside I thought I was safe. I was wrong - which you'll later find out happens a lot - as even though I coudn't see much I could still make out several other pairs of green eyes further into the cave. I heard hissing and spitting. The cats were taking it in turns to hiss. It was almost as if they were conversing. I heard the shuffling of feet - human at that - behind me. As I turrned round, I was hit square in the face by something I couldn't make out. The last thing I remember before hitting the cold hard ground and going unconscious was the familiar cackle of Miss Murdo's voice and the hissing from the cats that almost sounded like laughter.

I woke up slowly, drifting in and out of consciousness. While doing so I heard Miss Murdo's voice whispering quietly to another voice that sounded like Mr Jenkins from next door. I'll tell you all I remember, which was

"We can't let her go,"

"We have to go ahead with the plan,"

"She's going to tell someone,"

"She'll have to be one of the test subjects."

The words "test subjects" woke me up with a jolt of energy. Only then I noticed the pain that covered my face. It felt as if the entire thing was engulfed in flames and I could almost feel the large red mark that whatever had hit me had left. It took me a few moments after truly waking to realise that I was in a cage that dangled over an eerie looking cauldron. The contents of the cauldron were unknown to me. It didn't look natural. Pink liquid boioling in the cauldron with green swirls running through the whole thing. I should have kept quiet but I couldn't help myself.

"Test subject for what!? Why am I here!? Miss Murdo, if my mum finds out about this and she decides to let someone with a higher authority than yourself know, you will be in deep trouble. Let me out of here and maybe I won't tell her!" I surprised myself. I didn't know I had that in me. I sounded like a grown up. All the while I was saying this Miss Murdo's grin grew wider and wider.

"And you can wipe that grin off your face Miss Murdo. My mum will not be happy!" Where was this sudden brave voice coming from? I had no idea.

"Oh," Miss Murdo started "there's not much your precious mother can do, my dear. I really feel that what is going on here is beyond a higher authorities.." I could see she was looking for the right word

"authourity." her grin dropped and she continued "I won't be the one in deep trouble, little missy. You ARE the one in deep trouble. You see, we are beings of immense power and we plan on taking over your petty little village. We'll start with your children and then work our way up to your teenagers and if we still don't have enough power we may even move on to your adults. You see, we have a greed for power and without it we would simply shrivel up and die. Not literally but you get what I mean."

"No actually, I don't. What are you talking about?" I made a list in my head "Beings of immense power, a greed for said power and being able to transform from human to cat?" The word was on the tip of my tongue but I couldn't bring myself to say it.

"You mean, you're.."

"Witches?" Miss Murdo finished for me.

"I suppose you could call us that, yes," she continued.

"But as for you, it is too late. I would tell you turn and run and get away as fast as you can and maybe save yourself, but you know too much. It's too risky!" Miss Murdo cackled again.

"Because if you bothered to tell anyone, who'd believe you?" she finished. Or maybe she hadn't but I butt in anyway,

"You didn't answer my question; What am I the test subject for?" I was now by the bars of the cage, rattling them and trying to swing the cage to have it fall but I realised if I did I'd plummet right into the strange looking liquid so I stopped. I sat back down on the cold steel floor.

"Calm down, deary. All in good time." And then for the first time since really waking up I heard Mr Jenkins speak.

"All in good time indeed."

That was when I completely forgot about the throbbing pain in my face and it slowly turned to a throbbing hatred. I felt like I was a slowly boiling kettle that when ready would pour all my anger and hatred onto those who made me boil in the first place. And that is exactly what I did. "All in good time," I thought "all in good time."