A Little Lost

The Chase

Elise

"You wont get away this time, Witch!"

My heart was banging in my chest louder and faster than my feet were hitting the ground. The stone street did nothing to help muffle my shoes, and the narrow alley walls only helped to amplify my repeated scuffling. But I couldn't stop, they'd be on me any moment.

"We'll get her this time, we'll have the whole city searching for her!"

"Go that way! Cut her off!"

"Send more men back to the other side!"

There were so many people this time. Way too many to simply lay low in a barrel somewhere and hope they go away like last time. I could cast a distraction, but it would hardly work if I didn't have a place to hide- or better bait than a young witch alone in a city. 

I didn't bother to glance back, knowing that the route would be closed. I could only continue running through the back roads, feeling the glow of heated torches pressing closer around me.

I skidded to a halt when I looked ahead to see a small blockade of people holding the cool end of their fiery sticks. More and more of them coming from their homes to capture and burn the witch. Desperately, I ran down an oddly angled alley and pushed my legs to go faster than they ever had.

Then I hit a fence, hard. I felt dizzy as I stared up the big wooden gate, a thick chain with a lock holding it firmly closed. From over my shoulder came more shouting and running, increasing in volume every moment I stood there in my disoriented panic. 

I turned, just in time to watch the fire glow brighter as their figures drew near, their shadows splaying over the walls in layers.

It made it seem like there were many more than there were.

What was I going to do now? I didn't have my coven to help me, I didn't have any place left to run, I couldn't even use my magic! I was going to die here... or wherever they wanted to burn me!

I pressed myself into the corner behind some crates, trying my best to keep myself small and invisible. But I knew it wouldn't work, one look down the alley and anyone would be able to see my skirt. It shimmered in even the darkest light.

I was a sitting duck, all I could do now was hold my pendant close and pray.

"Oh, come off that. Will ya?"

I jumped, surprised by the sudden rough and deep voice. It was a little raspy and of an accent I couldn't recognize, but it didn't sound malicious or angry like the others. I whipped around to see nothing but the dark walls, and the still incoming search party.

"Come on, get over and climb in awready. You want to die?"

A board suddenly fell with a bang, behind it was a small opening in the building. A crawlspace for cleaning and pipe maintenance. I dove in without thinking.

I managed to just barely shimmy into the small cove, placing the board back up to block the entrance, and then crawling on my hands and knees as far from it as I could.

"There ya go, not so bad now, eh?" The voice came again.

 "Yeah, thank you. I don't think I would have- Gah!" I sputtered as I ran face first into a some kind of web, a little of it getting in my mouth. I spent a moment shaking out my hair, trying to get it off.

"'Old on, 'old on... Calm down." The voice said.

I dropped my hand from my face and sat myself in the dark. Though I wasn't entirely sure why. I still had a bunch of webs in my hair and I didn't want to wait to see if I caught a spider with it. I scrunched my eyes closed, hoping that whatever happened I didn't get bitten.

I felt something and nearly backed away, but it was gentle. Just a light touch on my face removing the sticky webbing. Then there was another tender pull at my hair. After a few more tugs the voice came back again.

"There... Better?"

I opened my eyes in the darkness and was met with two milky white eyes. Somehow still visible even in the darkness and floating right in front of me, just out of arms reach. I nearly screamed they were so terrifying.

But before I got the chance, the voice commanded me, "Don't make a sound, or they'll hear you."

My mouth suddenly shut tight, and my need to yell dulled. My lips were no longer able to convey the terror I felt in my soul. Regardless, it didn't feel dangerous to follow the eyes orders. But why was I was so willing to do it?

A bang on the wall suddenly pulled me back into reality.

"That blasted witch, where's she gone?" Came a disgruntled mans voice from the blocked entrance.

I turned back to the eyes, my breathing getting faster with each man that yelled outside. 

"Stay here and stay quiet... I'll deal with them." Then they blinked and were gone. 

I sat, dumbfounded in the darkness. I would have tried to move or find a better spot to hide, but I was somehow frozen to the ground. I could only turn my head to look as the board hiding the crawlspace was pulled back forcefully, letting in some frightfully vibrant firelight.

"Must be down there... Under the old bookshop."

"Let's smoke her out! We were going to burn her anyway."

I gulped, still cornered like an animal and close to death. And then I smelled it, the undeniable scent of burning wood wafted around me and I wanted to cry; or scream, or anything! 

But the eyes told me to stay quiet, and so I will.

"Look! She's up there!"

The shouting started anew and the board to the entrance was replaced.

"How did she climb up there so fast?"

"She's a witch! just get up there! You! go around front and make sure she doesn't leave!" 

Other orders of the like were suddenly being shouted as the mob turned away to chase me again.

But it wasn't me, I was right here. How could they see me somewhere else? What had the eyes done?

I tried to dry my own eyes as I gathered myself again. The mob was gone, but for how long? Surely they'd be back as soon as they realized that whoever was out there wasn't me.

I would have gone. I would have climbed back out and did what I could to get away again, but I was still held fast for some reason. Maybe it was the shock keeping me planted to my spot, or the fear that they'd still be right outside the door.

After who knows how long there was another shuffle from the door as it was again opened and closed. I watched it as it moved with no one there to move it.

What was going on?

"There, wasn't so bad, ey? They've all gone, but we'll wait a while, yeh?" The voice said. 

I didn't respond, as much as I wanted to. Somehow I was still being held in a state of silence.

"Oh, right. Er, sorry 'bout that. You can do as you like again."

Then I was suddenly released. As if her word was the one I was waiting for. 

I tried to breathe, but it came out as a choked sob. I sucked in another shaky breath, then sobbed more. I was too afraid to even breath right.

"Woah! 'old on! You awright?"

I didn't respond, but this time it was because I was crying too hard. 

I sat myself back, pulled up my legs to my chest and bawled into my hands like a child. The voice did it's best to calm me down, telling me that the people were gone and I was safe. But I knew that I wasn't safe in this place and that I wouldn't be safe until I was back with my family.

I guess I'd really screwed up this time.

"I just want to go home..." I managed to say once I'd cried myself out and was able to calm down again. The voice didn't say anything to this. I'm not even sure it was still there. And somehow, that made me feel more alone and helpless.

I cried harder.

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