Stay in Town

Why are witches always in the woods? “Heck no!” I replied. “I’m not going in there. Haven’t you ever watched movies?!” “Not about witches,” Charles told me. I felt a knot in my stomach. They were going, and I wasn’t going to let them go by themselves. “Fine, but we’re sticking together,” I mumbled defeatedly. We spent the night in a four-star hotel, packing for our trip. Charles was my friend from Junior High. He led a Witch Hunt expedition. I never believed in witches, but of course I was still shivering with fear. Apparently someone spotted a witch near town and called Charles. Charles requested

me to come with him because I was reliable. I looked over at Charles’s pack and saw a pistol. I was pretty sure a witch could do magic, so a pistol would just make her (it seems better), it, more angry. As I got in bed I thought, “This is not what I want to do with life.”

The Next Morning

“Beep, Beep, Beep!” I hit the alarm clock and went back to bed. When I woke up again, Charles and the others were waiting in a truck. I got ready and got in the truck. It took an hour to get there, but I thought it was three. We got out and started our trek through the woods. About five minutes in I heard distant howling, and then it stopped abruptly. It wasn’t my imagination, everyone heard it. From then on every sound, animal, and movement freaked me out. I knew there was nothing to be scared of, but I couldn’t help it. “Where is Jeff?!” I heard someone call from the front of the group. Jeff was supposed to be at the very back, right behind me. The knot grew bigger in my stomach, and I hurried to the middle of the group.

An Hour Later

Still no sign of Jeff. We retraced our steps, went off our path, and deeper into the woods. Nothing. Unease spread through the group. “Let’s leave!” I yelled louder than I meant to. “We can call someone to find him. But we’re leaving right now!” No response from the back of the group. I turned around. Nobody there. “Run!!” I yelled and started sprinting. I tripped, but got up and didn’t look back. I heard running. Friend or foe? I didn’t have time to look. And then I slowed down and stopped. I started walking deeper into the woods, but someone ran into me. I looked around. Why did I turn around? I got up and started sprinting for my life. I was about an hour and a half’s walk to the edge of the forest. Running like I was probably about an hour. I continued the pace, my legs aching but I didn’t care. I wanna live. I had an urge to turn around, but my will to live was stronger and I kept pushing forward.

Thirty Minutes Later

I saw light breaking through the trees far away. I was almost to the edge of the forest! My heart was pounding, “What if the witch is right behind me, what if I don’t make it?” I thought frantically. Then I felt a pain in my left thigh. I didn’t know what it was, or how serious the injury was, but my adrenaline rush silenced the pain. I was near the edge of the forest! I was practically at the parking lot when I tripped. I picked myself up but I was too late. I fell, limp, on the ground, my hand outstrethced, reaching for the light.

Ten Minutes Later, Deeper in the Woods

“Bang, bang!” Charles was shooting the gun. He had gone deeper into the woods, enraged, and searching for the witch. “Come out!” He screamed. He had an urge to go deeper into the woods and drop the gun, but he was already going deeper and too enraged to drop the gun. He saw Jeff and nudged him with his foot. He shot a quick glance at Jeff. No movement. Charles walked deeper into the woods, and he collapsed.

The Edge of the Forest, At the Same Moment

I woke up in a daze. I felt a huge pain and remembered what was happening. I quickly got up and sprinted to the edge of the forest. I emerged into sunlight and collapsed. I looked at my thigh. Nothing there, but it hurt a lot. I looked into the forest. I didn’t see or hear anyone. I couldn’t call anyone for some reason. What was I going to do? I looked in my backpack and found a lighter and match. I smiled sadly. I waited ten minutes and then stood up. I started the lighter and waited at the edge of the forest. Nothing. I dropped the lighter. I watched the fire burn the first tree. Then it flared and started burning faster. All of a sudden, I heard shouting, but all I could do was yell. “Over here!” I should’ve waited longer. It was all my fault. I looked up and saw a dead forest.The fire was out and everything was dead. I was astonished! It died in a second! How did the forest die so fast!? Wait, I saw something moving towards me. As they came closer I recognizes them as three members of the group! I wonder if any others are alive...?

Part 2

I heard a shout from the forest. More members of our gang stumbling blindly through the smoke towards the light. "Over here!" I shouted excitedly. As everybody got out of the forest, I counted them. We were missing four. Charles was one of the missing. The back of the group that disappeared were all here. We were deciding what to do when firefighters arrived. They checked the forest and questioned us. Then an ambulance arrived and the firefighters started pulling out bodies. They pulled out Jeff, Edward, and Diego. Jeff and Diego were dead, Edward was sent to the hospital, and Charles was missing. And still is. The witch hasn't bothered anyone since.

Mission Completed