Witch Hunt #Wattys2018

Chapter 13

Mira glared at me, "What are you doing here?" she snapped, "I told everyone to go back to the hollow!"

I wasn't sure what to say, and even if I was, I doubted my voice would work.

"Well?" She snapped, taking a step closer to me. In the dim light her face apeared even thinner and even more starved.

I opened my mouth to try to say something, anything, but no sound come out. I was in shock. Did she not recognize me? I doubted it after seeing what she did to a girl that only slightly resembled me.

"What are you, dumb?" She growled, poking me with a bony finger.

Just as I thought I had regained use of my voice to spin some lie, she turned away from me, "I decided I don't care, get back to the hollow before I skin you alive!" I quickly turned and ran. I had no idea what had protected me from Mira, but I was eternally thankful for it.

I ran faster than I had when I escaped Mira the first time, all the way to the cabin I knew Michael was in.

I pounded on the wooden door, "Michael!" I screamed, "Michael!"

The poor flew open, Michael, with messy hair that stuck up awkwardly, opened the door. "Rose?" He asked groggily, "What is it? Why are you up?"

"It's Mira!" I yelled, "Not far from here! She's killed a group of people!"

Michael's eyes sprung open, "Show me where!" He demanded

I led him and his cabin mates, who I had woken up with my door banging and screaming, to the spot where I had encountered Mira. The torch had been put out, and Mira had left the area. The people were still where they were when I had first been in the area.

"She was definitely here." Michael said observing the bodies.

"She hasn't been gone long." One of his cabin mates, a burly man with black hair, said feeling the torch.

"How did you escape her?" Michael asked standing up.

"She didn't seem to recognize me." I explained, "She thought I was one of her witches."

"Didn't recognize you?" The black haired man asked, "How is that possible?"

"Angus," Michael told him, "You and the others go ahead and tell Reverend Alden what's happened. Rose and I will scout the area to make sure none of the witches stayed behind."

Angus nodded, and signaled for the other two to follow him, they quickly disappeared into the forest.

"What were you doing out here?" Michael asked, stepping closer to me.

"I couldn't sleep." I explained, "I was just stepping outside for some fresh air and I saw the torch light."

"And you didn't think to come get me sooner?" He demanded

"I didn't think about that then!" I defended stepping away from him

"I would think you of all people would know the dangers of going out alone!" He roared at me, "I didn't take you for the type that made childish decisions!"

"I'm not a child!" I yelled at him, "And if not for me you wouldn't have known about this at all!"

Michael stopped yelled at me and said quietly, "You're right. I'm sorry."

Feeling that the time for arguing was gone, I asked the question that had been on my mind since the encounter, "Why didn't she recognize me?"

"The necklace," He said gesturing to the necklace, my hand grasped the pendant, "It was made to protect us from the witches, it will disguise the wearer from them."

"That's why you were there when the captured me!" I gasped

He nodded, "I had snuck in and was there to gather information."

"Why haven't you done it again?" I asked, "You could find out what groups they were planning on attacking."

He shook his head, "That's too risky, I've already snuck in once. They're crazy, not foolish."

I nodded my head in agreement, "I suppose you're right."

He looked around, "We should go ahead back to the town and try to get what sleep we can."

"I don't think I'll be able to sleep after this." I muttered

He laughed, the first time I had heard him do so, "You'll be surprised what you can sleep after, after doing this for a while."

We walked the rest of the way in a strangely comfortable silence, and parted ways when we entered the village, but not after bidding each other a good night, and Michael told me, "Don't tell anyone, I don't people knowing Mira was so close to camp."

After quietly sneaking through the door, I collapsed on my bed, without taking my boots off. Michael was right, I was surprised with how easy it was to fall asleep.