Page 47 of The Neighborhood Witch

“Do you want to meet my horse?”

Hugo’s eyes widened with curiosity. “Sure.”

“Midnight. Tonight. In the woods,” Alice said.

Hugo raised his eyebrows. “Where in the woods?”

“Oh, you’ll know,” Alice replied as she stepped away from the fence and disappeared back into the house. “Get plenty of rest. You’re going to need it.”

Chapter 13

Alice’s Horse

The waning crescent moon cast little light. Clouds canvased the sky, attempting to suppress what little star light tried to penetrate the inky darkness. Shadows of tree trunks stood as the watchful sentinels of Wildgrove Park. Their trunks squealed as they shifted ever so slightly in the chilly fall air. Overhead limbs stretched out over the path, ready to strike at those who dared venture into the woods at night. Their skeletal like hands swayed back and forth. Snake-like trails crisscrossed the landscape as the tree roots waited to enthrall the feet of unsuspecting victims.

Hugo stepped in short strides along the path. Confidence made with each step, yet respectful of the traps set out by the guardians of the forest. The smell of musty, rotting leaves permeated the air as each step released their aromatic flavors into the sky. The sound of a screeching animal in the distance echoed off the dark tree trunks. Then he heard a stick snap. Hugo paused.

His heart slammed against his ribs. He gulped for air, trying to prevent it from exploding through his chest. Attentively glancing over one shoulder and then the other, Hugo surveyed his surroundings, looking for the familiar shadow of a stalking coyote. Stickinghis hand into his pants pocket to grab his phone, he pondered using the phone’s flashlight, but he let go. He buried his hands back into his jacket pockets. As far as he could tell, he was alone in the woods.

He continued along the path.

What if this is some sacrificial ritual?The thought pervaded Hugo’s head.She must really be pissed at me.A mischievous grin painted across his face. His stride grew bolder. Hugo had journeyed through these woods so many times that he knew every imperfection in the dirt path by heart. He gathered speed. He charged forth at a quickened pace, then he stopped.

A small alcove broke the ranks of the lined trees. A familiar alcove. Their alcove.

He removed his hands from their hiding spot. His right hand clutched the left. The index and thumb twisted the black onyx ring. He gazed into the small clearing. The world faded away. A spectral image of a green and white renaissance dress floating in the air burned into Hugo’s imagination. The ring spun faster. His heart pounded, and his breath came shorter.

“Hugo!” Elizabeth’s voice echoed through the forest.

Hugo released the ring and clenched his hands into fists. Squatting down, he squeezed his eyes closed and shut out the world. He wheezed at the air, desperately trying to normalize his heartbeat with every breath. He remained balled up for a moment. His eyes snapped open. The green and white apparition was gone. He rose; his legs were relieved of pressure.

He checked back down the path where he came. A fleeting thought about leaving entered his mind. He focused down the path yet traveled. He thrust his hands into his jacket’s silky lined pockets. With his eyebrows bent with determination and his chest puffed out, he continued down the path.

A white light broke through the darkness. The faint glow grew with every one of Hugo’s steps. He slowed as he approached. The twisting shadows receded into the darkness, revealing grayish-brown tree trunks that circled a large clearing. Hugo paused. Ashadowy outline of a figure stood in front of the light. The unmistakable silhouette of her rounded, pointy hat. The unmistakable curves of her body. He let the image sear into his memory.

Hugo emerged from behind the trees. His eyes adjusted to the light emanating from a rock on the ground. The shadowy outline disappeared with every step until Alice emerged in the light. Her head was tilted, and the brim of her hat obscured her emerald green eyes.

She leaned against a broomstick floating horizontally in the air with her feet crossed. Her right hand clutched the back of a padded, brown, saddle-style bicycle seat attached above the bristles. Interwoven streaks of purple and red were amongst the black broomcorn.

She leaned into her outstretched left arm; her hand stabilized her along the thick brown handle. Streaks of black markings and tan oval knots broke up the color along the smooth handle. It rose slightly toward the end and then jutted down, giving the appearance of a charging thoroughbred’s head.

Alice uncrossed her feet and raised her head. “You’re late.”

“Well…” Hugo’s voice trailed off as he removed his hands from his jacket. He rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. A sly smirk appeared on his face. “The thought did cross my mind that you brought me out here to be used in some ritual sacrifice.”

“The night’s still young,” Alice replied. The tails of her waistcoat hoodie nearly dragged along the ground as she stood up. Her Cheshire grin matched his smirk. “Besides, I would have done it in my basement. Saves time and effort on the cleanup.”

Hugo chuckled.

Alice gave two taps to the padded brown seat. “Hugo Dodds, I’d like you to meet my horse.”

“So, I’m guessing that was you,” Hugo proclaimed.

“Was me?” She played with the brim of her hat, adjusting it a few times.

“That night in the yard a couple weeks ago. I saw something flying through the sky. That was you,” Hugoexplained. “Right?”

Alice’s eyes widened. She hesitated and finally mustered, “Did it frighten you?”

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