A Night with the Witch - Short Story

A Night with the Witch

By John Matthews Torres Sarno

“To HEPA FAMILY, who’s always there for me.”

                The school of mine was preparing for the trip. Students formed their lines according to the bus they belong. Outsiders and student’s relatives are allowed to join. Therefore, I invited my cousins Jem, Jireh, Paul, and my mom to join me. The buses are specially designed with its unique style. The corners were a bit round, it has a jolly color and the windows are thick-bordered.

                The people inside was so noisy, they just stopped when our bus reached for a gas station. The bus freakily rotated thrice around the station. There’s this weird phenomena that my mom fell standing on the first rotation because the door opened. The scenario was followed by Jem and I falling standing still. I don’t know where our destination was. But we had a stopover at the front of a cemetery. I walked with my best friend, Jurish. “Someday, I’ll bring you there” I said to her minding it was just a simple park. A few kilometers away, I saw a house, standing at peace on a vacant land and reigned by dark sky. It is scary to gaze because of the dead trees scattered around it. It has two gigantic floors and a creepy, huge, and old banner, “HOTEL”. I remembered that grandfather’s corpse was laying there. But I think it doesn’t (in real life). 

                Then, I heard someone suggesting if we could stay overnight at the Hotel I’ve seen.  I felt nervous but I kept in mind that there were plenty of us so I shouldn’t worry. “I’m surethe fair trip would increase if this trip would be extended” I whispered. Then, what I fear had happened because Mr. K, the tour manager, agreed.

                Later on, we reached the hotel. Hurriedly, we get our trolleys. I got one without knowing it wasn’t mine, but Jireh’s. So I came back and get mine. I observed. The hotel was antique and spooky, the vines scattered defines the terror. There are two doors located opposite each other, at the center of it lies a huge door. A t the right side of the main entrance was a hallway, at the end of it rests a bloodcurdling and gigantic comfort room. I entered it and saw sinks rotated around a huge fountain-like figurine of a witch’s hat. It’s like the lobby of the comfort room. On its sides was the ladies and gentleman’s room, obviously it has a cover. At the front of the sinks was a huge old-mirror stained with blood. I was in the vast expanse of scrutinizing when I heard a gasp from somewhere which made me scared. Without a pause, I ran.

                We had a formation inside the hotel. The teachers reminded us about the dos and don’ts. But my soul demanded for much more secrets to reveal. With that, I distinguished that there is no person in-charge; no hotel personnel or cashier was there. In short, no one was there! We are free to do anything. But there’s this fear that made us think carefully before doing such actions. The tour manager declared that we are to stay on it until tomorrow morning because it was already dark.

I borrowed mom’s music player flashlight, got my sketch pad and started drawing. It is my hobby.  But a few seconds passed, Paul called me, “Matt, your hamsters may be dead, go check on it. I brought it in a vacant room”.

Whoah! I brought my hamsters? Why should I? This is a trip. I am curious so I asked him where it was. Speedily, I got myself there. They were still alive. My hamsters have a hanging red light with their head, that’s strange!

               I opened my eyes. My head is spinning. Oh! I just fell asleep. I stood up and noticed I was outside. My head still was then recovering from a dream, when I heard a laugh. Due to curiosity, I spied. I have a fear that something’s happening unnatural. So, I walked slowly, directly to the first door at my left. I glanced inside holding the broken knob while slowly opening it. The wind was stormy that moment, it pushes me but I kept having a strong grip on the knob.

                I heard the voice of the villain again. She was laughing and cursing. I saw her transfiguring my schoolmates and relatives into toy-dolls. My instinct affirmed the presence of a filthy witch.

 I ran away by so much fear. I accidentally left my slippers and stepped in a bloody nose beside the door. I hid behind a stone column of the hotel. I saw her go out on the second door, transfiguring each child who goes near her. I warned every child I see near me to be quiet and hid somewhere else.

                Walking straight backward, I lost my balance, due to the group of young boys and girls rotated, playing a cooking game at the right side of the hotel, where the hall is located. I went near them and recognized one of them as my sister’s childhood sweetheart, Aaron. But then, I noticed my right foot was bold. So when the villain went in, I hurriedly got my slippers back and also got the nose. I saw Aaron holding a piece of paper; it was filled with steps and ingredient, a recipe, yeah, definitely!

Memories flashed back, I remembered that on my childhood, I killed a witch using a book filled with recipe that mother had given.  One of the recipes there was entitled “The Soup of the Triumph” it will make the witch burn to death.

                I asked him, “Is that the recipe that will kill her?”

                “Yeah, and I only need her nose to make this complete.”

                “I got it”

                We headed to the bathroom at the end of the hall. We locked it so no one could bother and for safety. The time I dropped the nose, it boiled, bubbles became extremely excited and hit my right hand’s thumb. “Oh, never mind” I said. It doesn’t hurt.

                “Give me a bowl”

                “Here” Aaron’s friend said.

                I went outside with the recipe and immediately sneak inside the hotel without getting caught by the witch. I saw toy-dolls everywhere. The witch walked near me, her face was bloody. She was aiming for the aroma of the soup maybe to eat it or to kill me. I heard the voice of my mom, “Run my child! Run!” I was surprised that I saw her, so I slapped the bowl on the face of the witch. Now, she’s liquefied and green. She slowly burned and left her bones. She cursed me for her last. I rebuked it in Jesus name then the whole place glowed. A very bright light filled our sight. I heard the voice of the witch retrieving her curse and uttered this: “Heal the thumb of this young lad for he saved me from my burdens”

                My schoolmates and relatives were back to life again. We slept in peace that night and bright morning appeared upon us. And it also made me awake for the dream which is unrealistic. I started to write it immediately while it is still fresh in my mind.

~END~