What the Spell

Chapter Four: They're Coming

When I got back to the room, I waited until everyone fell asleep and turned on my reading light and started to scan through the pages.

The first thing I decided to read was the warning, which seemed like a good idea considering it was a book about hexes:

WARNING: Hexes are very dangerous to put on other witches/mortals/anything living because it can result in serious harm/death. Hexes have been known to easily go out of control, so do not attempt unless you are classified as an experienced witch.

And, I was most certainly not an experienced witch; I couldn’t grow a simple flower without it trying to eat the whole library.

However, I did start to read through the hexes. Make someone hate another, cause vomiting, turn someone ugly, falling in love, eternal misery… Some of these were harmless, as in giving someone a cold, and others caused insanity. No wonder the book was restricted.

I knew that if I turned it in, however, that they would think I stole it, regardless of that I told them. So, I decided it would be best to hide it in my room. I found a good place in my closet where no one would find it before settling into bed.

I’d figured that some witches had to use their magic for darker purposes, but I’d never thought it would be that intense, and so public; a book that demonic shouldn’t exist in the first place. If that was one that had simply gotten out… what other horrors were in that room?

And, how did the book get out of the section? No one had gone in or out, and I didn’t think anyone really ever did. Did someone else steal it, and then forget about it? If so, who? And what were they planning on using it for?

I didn’t want to know.

I, for obvious reasons, didn’t sleep well the next night. I woke up exhausted, but dragged myself out of bed and got dressed.

I slipped into my favorite floral skinny jeans and a lacy aqua-green top, as well as tan boots. I then slipped on my favorite hipster headband, curling my hair instead of leaving it natural.

I was dreading going to my Scouting class, because I knew that Ash and Charlie were in that class, and things would be awkward. Awkward, because Ash had just dumped her because of what I told him, and because she got so jealous.

When I walked in, Ash was already sitting, Charlie in front of him, trying to no avail to get him to talk to her. He looked relieved to see me, probably wanting an excuse to not listen to Charlie.

“Hey,” he said as I walked in. “Sit next to me.”

“Alright,” I hesitantly said, sitting next to him. Charlie stared daggers at me as I took out my notebook, getting ready to take notes.

“What are we learning today?” I asked.

“I don’t really care.”