The forever Witch.

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window.

"Shh, keep still and point your flashlight towards the ground."

"Why? What's up?"

Speaking in a low voice Tess explained, "See that light in the window of the old cabin?"

"Yes I did notice it."

"She's back,"

"Who?"

"The old witch"

"Witch?"

"Yes, she comes back here on the anniversary of her burning I've been told."

"Burning? I knew that there was something to do with an old woman once living out here but I didn't realize that she was a witch who was put to death by burning? My god, how gruesome."

Marie could feel a chill on her back as Tess continued to whisper to her.

"Over two hundred years ago there used to be a village around here near that creek back there. But everything is gone now. Only that cabin that was once her house is all that remains. They say that it's so cursed that even nature itself stays clear of it"

"I suppose that explains why it's still standing after all this time."

"Most people take a wide berth of this part of the forest. Those that don't know any better who have stumbled into this part of the forest and had messed around with that old cabin have later been found wandering around in this forest scared out of their heads. Some had even gone mad with fear. Then there were others who didn't make it out at all. But none had ever reported seeing a candle burning in the window? I have to assume it's because the old lady must have come back for some reason."

"I take it you think it's to do with the day she was put to death?"

"Exactly,"

"I'm feeling really scared Tess we need to get away from this place. It's got some really bad vibes about it"

"Yes I think so too."

The two girls crept back the way that they had come. Their flashlights made the way ahead of them seem as though they were venturing through a spooky cave in the forest. Hidden by ominous branches and ancient tree trunks all sorts of unknown creatures watching waiting ready to appear out of the darkness to unleash terrible things down upon them. Fallen hulks taking on the appearance of dead figures in the distant dimness of their lights causing the hair to stand up on the backs of their necks.

Once they felt that they had gone a safe enough distance Marie asked, "what did she do that made the people of the village consider her a witch and not just a creepy old woman?"

"Legend says that at first she was the go to woman when people of the village got sick she healed all sorts of ailments with her ancient recipes and charms. Then three wealthy strangers moved into town. Around about that time young girls of the village started going missing."

"Did they ever find them?"

"No. The villagers even went to the old woman to ask if she could aid them in someway with discovering the whereabouts of these girls. She apologetically told them that she couldn't help. The three strangers who turned out to be judges on behalf of the king and church even offered a large reward to anyone who could help discover what had happened to the girls."

Tess stopped walking, "Listen can you hear that?"

"Yes...Sounds like muffled voices." Marie mumbled under her breath.

"I think it's the sound of water? The creek must be up ahead." Tess replied, trying to lighten the situation.

Marie shivered, "Let's not go that way. Um, just in case we fall into the creek in the dark."

"Or come across spirits from the old village."

"That too." Marie agreed.

The two girls changed directions to distance themselves from the sound of the running water. After walking for what seemed like an hour or so Tess suggested that they stop to make camp and light a campfire.

"Oh no!" Marie almost screamed

"What?"

"Look! We must have circled back. There's the old cabin again!"

"And there's someone at the window watching us too this time!" Tess explained in horror.

Both girls turned and ran into the darkness of the surrounding forest.

"Marie wait for me, please don't leave me behind."

Both girls soon stopped and slid down behind the trunk of a large tree. Fear choked at their throats as they tried to catch their breath as quietly as they could.

"So, was the old woman guilty of the disappearance of the local girls?" Marie asked when she was able to speak again.

"No one is really sure, but she was the one soon accused of having something to do with it before long."

"I suppose the three strangers were the ones who put the blame on her?"

"Yes. The people believed them, after all they were judges and were experienced with handling people who tell lies to try and save themselves from getting caught."

"What if she was setup by those strangers? Maybe they themselves were behind the disappearances?"

"That is very possible. But we are talking about uneducated illiterate villagers who are prone to believe this person over that just because he dresses better."

"Come on Tess let's make a move to find somewhere safe to set up at least a camp fire. I doubt that I'll be getting much sleep tonight."

"I agree. Even during the day this part of the forest can seem dark and foreboding."

After a little while longer…

"Oh no not again?"

"What?"

"It's that bloody cabin again."

"There's someone in a long coat or robe standing outside the front door looking this way. Let's go!"

Again both girls ran off into the darkness.

"Tess wait I dropped my flashlight "

"Leave it! Let's go."

After running deeper into the forest the two girls had to stop and sat hidden behind a fallen trunk trying to catch their breath.

"I can just see the glint of your flashlight from here Marie."

"Shit. Someone has picked it up. Its moving around."

"Get down and stay hidden."

"Why did they have to burn her? Couldn't they have just imprisoned her for the rest of her life?" Marie whispered from her crouching position.

"That was the sort of thing that they did to people that they considered to be witches in those days."

"What happened to the village why isn't it still down by the creek anymore?"

"After torturing and burning the old woman things didn't change. Since the village had run out of young girls young boys started to go missing. The villagers still blamed the old woman saying that she must have left a curse on the village. Then bit by bit they began to move out."

"What happened to the three strangers? Did they move out too?"

"I assume so."

Marie was feeling drained from feeling scared for so long the tears rolled down her cheeks as she began to speak.

"What a dumb idea we had to come out here to more or less taunt the legend of the old witch. I'm sorry I forced you into bringing me here Tess. Things are so different in the safety of daylight when you have all the courage in the world."

"It's not all your fault I should have known better considering that I grew up not far from here and had heard the legend of the witch of darkness all my life."

"At least we have each other Tess we can watch each other's back."

As the two girls hugged each other for comfort Tess held her tight and whispered into her ear, "one thing I haven't mentioned, the witch of darkness was my mother."

Marie's eyes widened as she couldn't break her friends hold no matter how hard she pushed.

Pain stabbed the side of her neck as the point of a blade penetrated the skin.

"So your fear was just an act to entrap me?"

"You see my mother discovered the elixir of eternal life which requires the blood of a young person to keep its power sustained. The three strangers never left the village because I caused them to be locked to my mother's cabin for all eternity for what they did to her."

Marie's eyes drooped closed, her body relaxed as the last of her blood was sucked from her neck.

Tess still harbored the fears of a young girl, if she intended to stay alive as a young yet powerful witch she still had to be wary of other mysterious forces lurking in the darkness of the cold lonely forest...