Where are you, Little Witch?

The Little Witch tapped her foot restlessly as she heaved a sigh. Even if she wanted to avoid it, days like this provide her no warmth or humor since nobody was in her cottage. She was all alone. Desolate. But she couldn't blame anyone. She was living in the middle of the forest, after all. Besides, who would even want to sleep in a cold small house in the woods? Nobody—but the Witch had to, of course.

Gloomy skies and large trees that seemed to create their own world far different from the rest of it made the Little Witch not even try to leave the place. The intimidating nature—despite being beautiful—dug deep roots to the ground of her heart, even through the toughest rocks. Does the Little Witch want to leave? Yes, but she couldn't even begin.

However, creating new spells and making potions always kept her mind busy from all those fleeting emotions, and they worked every time. But strangely enough, today was the worst she ever felt. She couldn't stop furrowing her brows at the thought of being alone forever, and her stomach felt even more queasy as she arrived at the blocking fact that she had to be alone.

The girl frowned. "You're a witch, Criscella."

And witches should be isolated and left alone.

The Little Witch expelled yet another heavy sigh as she rested her head on the table, closing her eyes shut. Maybe—even if she was alone in reality, she could have some friends in her dreams. Maybe—just maybe—even if it's not real, she could enjoy a small amount of time being just a normal girl and not a witch.

Oh, how much did she yearn for that impossibility.

Dozing off, to dreamland Criscella went.

The trees remember. They still remember.

What does it take for a long-created memory to be dragged up again?

—

"Little dum, little dee. Where have you gone to, my sweet little bee?"

A woman clad in a white dress took her hands off her eyes as she began searching for her small ray of sunlight, just somewhere around her in the middle of the woods.

"Where are you~"

Lily took a peek behind an oak tree. None. She looked through the bushes. None. She even scoured the branches of the largest trees, but to her dismay, her daughter was nowhere to be found. She shook her head and started searching for her again.

None.

After a few more rounds of inspecting the leafy grounds and other towering trees, Lily's heart began to sink. She wasn't in the mood to play hide and seek anymore.

"Ella! Where are you?"

No one answered.

She took a shaky breath. "Criscella!"

"Mom..." a faint voice coming from past the river started echoing in the woman's head. The woman then disregarded the question of why her daughter was so far away as her feet started taking large steps, leading her to the deeper part of the forest, where wolves lurked.

‘Please be alright, baby. Please be alright!’

"Ella!" Lily shouted once more between heavy pants, "Where are you?"

"I'm here... I'm right here!"

Lily ran even faster as her eyes wandered around to find any signs. She couldn't find her.

"Ella!"

She then saw a familiar tree that she always used to mark where the river is. Just a bit more, then she could find her—

"Witch!"

Lily froze as she saw large men with axes—presumably hunters, just in front of her wrecked cottage.

‘Cottage?’ She thought. ‘Why am I back to where I started?’

She shook her head as she trembled with fear. "I'm not a witch."

The men began walking toward her, her feet backing away with each step.

"Aren't you going to cast magic on us, Witch?" One of the tall men said with a smug look. Dan.

She gulped. She didn't have any magic in her, but if she did, she would've used it the moment she saw them. But she didn't. Not anymore.

"I'm not a witch!"

Dan cocked his head to the side. " Who else lives in this horrible forest other than the Witch? "

She balled her hands into fists. She's going to get killed. Without even saying one last goodbye to her precious Criscella.

‘I'm sorry, Ella. I'm sorry.’

Ignoring the men, she looked up at the trees and began screaming at them angrily.

"Why?! What did I do?!"

"A pretty feisty one, huh, " Roger smiled as he caressed her cheek. Lily looked down at his level and glared daggers at him.

“Don't touch me," Lily said as she slapped Roger's hand. But before anything else, Roger had managed to hold her wrist tightly, making her whimper.

Roger glanced at the woman's hand. It had a strange symbol. He stifled a laugh.

"She's got the mark," he returned her menacing gaze as another man hit a block of wood on the back of her head. In an instant, Lily's body dropped to the ground, eyes still open.

The oldest-looking man spat on the ground just near her unconscious body. "You see this, boys? This is what a wretched woman looks like. Tie her hands. We're getting that prize money for sure."

"Yes, sir."

As Dan carried Lily's body on his back, a tear rolled down her cheek. Regretfully, the forest has turned its back on her. And maybe that's what also happened to her mother. And her mother’s mother. And her mother before that.

Huh.

‘Mother,' she thought, ‘did I have a mother?’

A wind blew across the forest, just as the voices began whispering in Lily's ears.

'Haha! Look at what's happened, Witch.'

'Now you're going to pay the price.'

'And little Ella would be next.'

'Oh, how sad it would be if she desires to leave us!’

' And she would be poisoned by the sins of humans!’

'Lily. Do you regret it?'

'Did you regret leaving the forest?'

'Why, Lily?'

'Did you hate us so much that you wanted to leave?'

—

The trees remember. They still remember.

Criscella broke into tears. Even in her dreams, she was destined to be alone. But even so, she kept answering the question as she slept, again and again.

"I'm here...I'm right here!"

But no one could hear her, as the forest continuously muffles her pleas, for the trees all know that girl is a witch.

And witches?

Witches should be isolated and left alone.