Page 100 of The Neighborhood Witch

“What voice?”

“A woman’s voice,” she replied.

“Ez?”

“No. A voice I’ve never heard before. She was angry. I heard screaming and then…” her words trailed as she let out a scream of agony. She bent over, holding her stomach. “I’m in pain. You have to find me.”

Tears flowed down her face. “Help me,” she pleaded.

Hugo grabbed the sides of the mirror, pulling himself closer. He wanted to pull her through the glass to safety. He could only watch as she bent over in pain. In agony. Like Elizabeth.

“Where? Where is she?”

“I don’t know. I don’t see sights. Only feelings,” Alice’s reflection said. She fell to the floor, screaming in pain.

“What do you feel? Please tell me. I can help you, but you have to tell me where to find her first,” he pleaded as the ornate mirror design indented into his hands.

“I feel fear. I feel a chill, a breeze. I feel…” The agony overtook her. “I feel… I feel… sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice?” Hugo asked. His mind raced, trying to find what it could mean.Sacrifice. He ran through everything it could be. His eyes widened with the sudden realization of where she was. The place he once thought she was bringing him…

“I know where she is. She’s in the woods!”

“Hurry!” Alice’s reflection yelled.

Hugo ran out of the room, nearly tripping down the stairs as he tried to skip steps. Galahad waited for him in the entryway. He grabbed the broom handle and jumped onto the bicycle seat.

“To the woods!” Hugo commanded.

They flew out the door and into the sky.

Chapter 26

Burn The Witch

The town center came alive with activity as the sun set in the western sky. Shops closed up for the evening. Antonio’s Italian Ristorante received dinner guests. The local pub welcomed new visitors. A handful of pedestrians were out for a walk on the lovely spring evening. Brilliant shades of purples, yellows, and oranges painted the sky. The scene was picturesque. Peaceful. A far cry from what transpired in the black SUV that exited the town.

Alice drove her SUV past the trail entrance of Wildgrove Park. She glanced over to her passenger. Johanna sat motionless. Her eyes focused on Alice’s every move, while holding the twisted wand in her right hand. It pointed at Alice’s side.

“Don’t think about trying anything,” Johanna said. “Keep your eyes forward. Both hands on the wheel.”

Alice did as she was commanded. Her hands gripped the steering wheel in the top corners. Her eyes focused forward. “Where am I going?”

“There is a service road up the street. Turn into it. Nice and slow,” Johanna said, her voice calm and steady.

They left the town of Newbury Grove behind. Alice drove down the road—woods to her right, farm fields on her left. A dirt path, barely wide enough for a vehicle, came into view.

“Turn there,” Johanna instructed.

Alice slowed the SUV. She released her grip on the wheel, sliding her hands into new positions in preparation to make the turn. She glanced over toward Johanna. Her eyes never wavered from Alice. She pressed the brake, slowing the vehicle. Each finger wrapped around the molded vinyl wheel.

As the last finger tightened its grip, Alice made a sharp turn and accelerated the SUV. It jerked forward as it headed toward a tree. Alice’s body slammed against the driver side door. She turned to see if Johanna was caught off guard, but a bolt from the wand struck her side. Every muscle convulsed at once as the pain overtook her.

“Stop the car!” Johanna yelled. Another black bolt shot out from the wand and struck Alice. “Stop the car now!”

Alice stomped on the brakes. The SUV jostled the occupants as it came to a full stop. Alice lurched forward and then slammed back against her seat.

“I can make this as painful for you as possible if you don’t do as I say.” Johanna’s face was furious; her eyebrows were hunched. Fire burned in her eyes. “Do you understand me?”

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