Page 104 of The Neighborhood Witch

“There,” Hugo said. “Go down there.”

Galahad banked sharply to the right. Hugo leaned into the turn to maintain balance. They flew into the tunnel of barren trees. Their branches cackled at what was about to transpire within the shadowy depths. They followed the winding road until Hugo saw it up ahead—Alice’s black SUV.

They zipped past, weaving in and around the trees now standing guard over the dark ritual about to transpire. His eyes widened at the sight of Alice tied to a tree, struggling to break free. He recognized the woman standing behind her. Johanna.

“Alice!” Hugo shouted.

Johanna whipped around. Her eyes widened with the surprise of seeing Hugo approaching on a broomstick. She flicked her wrist, and a black bolt shot out of the twisting wand. It streaked across the sky, heading straight for the charging wooden steed.

Galahad pushed up to avoid the oncoming assault. The overbearing trees blocked any escape. A branch smacked Hugo in the face, causing him to fall backward and pull up on Galahad. Their momentum spun them around. The black bolt struck Galahad on its left side.

The surprise attack of the tree branch and the force of the bolt knocked Hugo off balance. His fingers released their grip of Galahad. He went tumbling through the air. The ground was hard and unforgiving. He grimaced at the impact as pain exploded through his ribs and side. He tried to gasp for air, but couldn’t. He fought for breath a few more times before air filled his lungs once again.

Galahad spun through the air and crashed into the ground head first. It flipped end over end before coming to a stop on the ground. It lay there, motionless.

Johanna smiled at her deeds. She turned back toward Alice to witness the end of her handiwork. A forceful explosion of energy lifted her up. Johanna was slammed onto the ground, and the impact momentarily stunned her.

The wand flew through the air, bouncing off a tree and landing in the underbrush. Johanna tried to get up, but she couldn’t move. She tried to squirm, but the unseen force held her in place.

Alice’s eyes focused on Johanna. Her hand raised as far as she could in the restraints. Alice clenched her fist tighter. Johanna begged for Alice to release her as the force constricted her.

“Get the wand,” Alice shouted. “Stab the necklace with it.”

Hugo sprang up. The pain along his side caused him to grimace and stumble to one knee. He picked himself up and ran over to where the wand ricocheted. A pile of discarded sticks lay at the base of the tree. He grabbed at anything that appeared to be a wand.

“Is this it?” Hugo yelled. He held up a grayish stick in the sky.

“It’s twisted and black,” Alice shouted. “Hurry.”

He searched through the brush. He discarded anything that wasn’t twisted nor black. He ventured further beyond the tree. He flipped over discarded leaves. Their damp underside did not reveal the treasure he sought. He fell to his knees, hands outstretched. He picked up anything, everything he could touch.

“I can’t find it,” Hugo said.

The sun retreated beyond the horizon. The orange jewels glowed. The yellow jewel flickered.

“Hugo! Forget the wand,” Alice shouted. “I need you to remove this necklace. I can’t hold Johanna down and remove it at the same time.”

Hugo continued his search. He brushed aside debris. He found nothing. He sat back on his feet to get a better view of the area. His eyes scanned everywhere. He lurched out with both hands to feel for the wand.

“Hugo!” Alice shouted once more.

Sticking out of the ground between a pile was the black wand.The tip was lodged into the wet ground beneath decaying leaves. Hugo crawled over. His fingers wrapped around the twisted design. He pulled the wand like he was unsheathing a sword, ready to slay a monster.

“I found it,” he said with a smile.

Hugo leapt to his feet, looking over toward Alice. Any sort of relief quickly faded. The sun disappeared beyond the horizon, and the sky turned bloodred. The amulet of witch’s fire glowed. Alice let out a primal scream. Her face contorted in torment. Tears flowed down her face as her gaze met Hugo’s.

Their eyes locked, not in longing or desire, but desperation. Her emerald green eyes begged for help. His icy blues were helpless but to witness the event unfolding before him. It felt like an eternity. The pain, the suffering, the torment. Her screams ripped through Hugo. His heart, his mind, and his soul shattered at what transpired.

Alice’s screams stopped, and her body leaned forward. Her head hung lifeless above her chest. Hugo tried to scream. He tried to produce any sort of noise. His mind raced for what to do next.

Hugo heldElizabeth’s frail hand…

He wouldn’t lethis emotions slip back into his torment.Stab the necklace. He raced through the trees toward her. Johanna writhed on the ground, gasping to catch her breath from the crushing force, as Hugo rushed past her.

He held up Alice’s head, using his thumbs to pull back on her eyelids. Her emerald green eyes were vacant and lifeless. Tears rolled down his face. His muscles tightened, and his breath was short. “Alice, can you hear me?”

Alice’s face turned a shade of blue.

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