The Price of Beauty

Original Version (2016): III

"Do not be alarmed my child, I'm not going to hurt you. I want to help you," said the old shrew.

Eva took a few steps back. "Stay away," she trembled.

The lady limped over to the large stove in the center of the room and stirred a huge, black pot. Steam rose from it and the lady sprinkled in some red and yellow spices.

"I know you came to me for help," the lady said. She hacked a cough.

Eva glanced around the room. There was barely anything in it, except for a few old wooden chairs scattered about, a dusty table with a few candles lit, and a broom in the corner. Then there was the large stove occupying most of the space, but what caught Eva's attention was the wide rack of bottles. Not just ordinary bottles, but potion bottles ranging from tall to short, small to big, and many variety of colors. Two animal skulls were placed on either side of the rack as a decoration piece. Eva gasped.

"You--you're--"

"A witch? That's right dear. You don't see many of those every day now do you?" the lady finished with a cackle.

Eva tried to run, but the door wouldn't budge. "Help!" she screamed, banging on the door. "Help!"

"That's not going to work. You are here for my help, and you are not leaving until you have gotten what you came for."

"I don't need anything! I just want to go home," Eva squealed.

"Oh, but you don't know your way around these woods. And let me tell you, it can be a dangerous place to wander, Eva."

Eva looked up at the witch, startled by what she had just heard.

"Especially if I don't give you my blessing to leave," said the witch in a dangerously low voice.

Eva shuddered at the threat. "How--how do you know my name?"

"I know everything dear," the witch replied, her voice light and happy again. "And I know you want more than just the directions back to your home. I'm Agnes by the way."

Eva froze in her place, not knowing what to do or say.

"What do you want?" Eva whispered.

"I can ask you the same question, but I already know the answer. Eva Farrow, you want happiness. You want beauty. But most of all, you want love." Agnes added three drops of blue liquid into her mixture. "And I'm going to give you just that."

Eva stared at her with disbelief. "H-how?" she stuttered.

"With this," Agnes said, taking out a small bottle with a round end. She picked up the ladle she was using to stir the cauldron-like pot and poured the contents into the bottle. She walked over to Eva and placed it gently in her shaking hand. The witch gave her such a warm inviting smile, Eva felt her fear melt away.

"Here you go my sweet child," Agnes said. "I know how much you've been hurting and I don't like to see such an innocent girl carry so much sadness. Drink this at midnight tonight, and tomorrow morning you may start your life anew."

Eva was speechless. She stared at the magenta liquid in the bottle, not knowing if she should trust the witch.

"No need to fear. Trust that it will work," Agnes assured, obviously reading Eva's mind again.

Eva thought for a moment. There was something about the aroma of the room, the kindness of the witch's touch, and the bottle in her hand, that sparked something in her. Everything Eva could possibly want was right in the palm of her hand. This was an incredible offer and she wasn't willing to give it up.

"Thank you," Eva whispered.

"Happy to help, though...I do require payment."

"Oh." Eva's hands rushed to her pocket, only coming up with a few quarters. She had left her wallet in her locker back at school. "I only have this right now. I have more money at school, I can run by and get it--"

"It'll do," the witch said, taking the coins. "And I'll need this--"

"Ow," Eva yelped when Agnes pulled out a strand of her hair. Of course. How typical for a witch to do, she thought.

The door opened. Eva looked out and saw a new path had been carved leading away from the cabin.

"Run along my dear," Agnes whispered as Eva stepped out the door. "I hope you find happiness in what I have given you."

Eva turned back to see the witch flash a rotten, crooked smile before slamming the door shut.