Hello! An elderly woman was standing by the side of the road.
Good afternoon, Marcy said.
Could you please help me? My old knees hurt so much. I need to get home, on top of that hill. The old lady pointed with a crooked finger.
Marcy looked down the road. She really needed to get home, her mother was waiting, but she couldn’t leave the old woman like this.
Sure, I’ll help you!
The old lady grabbed her arm and together they walked up the steep hill, all the way through the door.
Thank you so much, my dear. Please stay for some soup,
No, thank you. I appreciate it a lot, but I really have to go! My mum’s waiting for me.
Please! It gets so lonely here all by myself.
Marcy looked at the door. The old woman seemed so sad, and she really wanted to be nice to her her.
OK, just one bowl, she said.
Please have a seat, my love. I’ll go warm the pot.
The old lady lit up some candles and went into the kitchen.
Poor old woman. Marcy looked around the room. She can’t even afford electricity.
It was a very small house. More like a cottage, really. The room seemed to be both bedroom and living room. She could see a kitchen through an open door.
A strange smell reached her nose. She was hoping it wasn’t the soup.
It’s done! Come and have a taste!
Marcy went over to the kitchen. In the centre of the room there was a big pot over a fireplace. The light from the fire flickered on the walls, making the shadows alive. On the shelves there were glasses and jars with strange things in them.
A frog? And what was that other one? Eyes?
The smell was unbearable.
Come, have a taste, said the woman. Come!
Marcy hesitated. What’s that smell?
Come, it’s delicious! Marcy walked over to her. She didn’t want to be rude, but she felt uncomfortable.
Closer… The face of the old hag looked different. Her eyes had some vicious desire in them.
I’m sorry, Marcy said, politely. I think I’ll have to go.
The hag grabbed her arm. You’re not going anywhere, gorgeous! You’re the main ingredient! Her smile was no longer friendly.
What are you talking about? Let me go!
Get in there! Your beauty will be mine! She was a lot stronger than Marcy had imagined. Marcy tried to pull away.
Let go of me!
The hag held her and pushed her towards the pot. Marcy tried to get loose, but she was trapped. She put her foot against the old woman’s chest, and let her self fall backwards. The woman followed her move, went flying through the air, into the pot. The kung fu lessons had finally been useful.
Aaaaahh!!! Help me!
Marcy leaped over to help her. She was already dissolving in the strange stew. She grabbed her hand. A moment later she holding her arm. Nothing more was left. She dropped it. She moved backwards towards the door, mouth and eyes wide open, unable to scream.
Touching the door knob she stopped. The smell in the room had changed, it was no longer unpleasant. It was a smell she’d never smelled before, It was a smell of mystery, of deep knowledge. A smell of nature, of unknown forces and wisdom. She turned around and walked towards the stew. She looked into the pot, at the strange liquid where she had just seen the old woman disappear. She let the damp go into her nostrils, fill her body with a pleasure she’d never experienced. She grabbed the long dipper.
It tasted strange. Different from anything she’d ever known. Like a call from a dream, a re-encounter of lost memories. She emptied it.
The room started spinning. She sat down on a chair. She felt good, too good. The colours were stronger. The shadows deeper. Reality more real. She looked around. An open book was lying on the table. Recipes. Eternal youth. Curses and Magic spells. She didn’t want to go home any more. She wanted to stay right where she was.
https://writerishramblings.com/2017/01/29/flash-fictions-forest-fire-the-witch/
https://colombagecorner.wordpress.com/2017/05/31/the-witch-hunt/
Mwaaahahaha. Splendid Saturday entertainment.
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Thanks! Contagious whitchery. Lucky she took those kung fu lessions.
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Frogs, funky smelling soup and Kung fu lessons are never a waste of time.
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I wonder if that is how that episode where that kid that terrorized his family got started.
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Hmm… Which kid?
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Holy missing words Batman!
I was referring to the episode of Twilight Zone where the kid was using mental powers to force his family to be happy and tend to his every desire.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Good_Life_(The_Twilight_Zone)
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Think happy thoughts or I’ll make you go in the corn field?
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That would be him.
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Nooooooo don’t try the soup!
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But it smells so good… 😀
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What a story…. amazing…
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Thank you so much.
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Oh dear, the witch’s legacy has inadvertently been past along to the next generation…
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That’s it 🙂
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And so another witch was born.
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Now you know how that happens.
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Excellent little tale
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Thank you.
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Nice work. Did the brew smell like the best attributes of the ingredient (the witch), or what the girl actually most wanted? It could have been both by chance, but I’m wondering how much to blame the girl for possibly becoming corrupted.
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The brew changed when the final ingredient was added. Marcy was youth and beauty, the witch was… well, a witch. So the brew started smelling of its magic qualities, I guess. Thanks.
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Got it. Then I think Marcy corrupted herself. I enjoy thought provoking stories. Thanks for writing. Nice image too.
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Thank you.
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Brilliant piece! Such a magnificent twist on a classic tale. Well done! 🙂
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Thank you! I thought you might like it 🙂
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Wonderful story. I really like the end.
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Thank you Michael! Going through the comments I’ve missed… Sorry about that.
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Thanks! I’ll check it out 🙂
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Cool, eery story. I loved it. I’m a new follower. You might like the offbeat stories I write as well at: overthehillontheyellowbrickroad.wordpress.com
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Thanks! I do 🙂
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I’ve been on a binge of all the horror stories you have done the last few days, really fantastic. Great atmosphere and in such a short story, well done.
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Thanks a lot 🙂
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Deliciously evil!
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🙂
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This old woman didn’t live in a gingerbread cottage, perhaps?
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We won’t know until someone have a taste 🙂
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OK. You go first.
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To tell you the truth, I’d rather have a sip of the soup.
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love your stories and artwork. Thanks for sharing.
Here is the first of 40 VERY SHORT posts that make up one story. Continue through story by clicking on “next post” at top of each post.
https://adirondackmountains.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/forty-days-and-forty-nights-of-mortal-combat-an-introduction-post-1/
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Thanks! Looking interesting 🙂
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Really enjoyed this 🙂
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Great! 🙂
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This is great! Love the ending!
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Thank you 🙂
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Enjoyable creepy story. Well done!
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Thanks! Doing the best I can 🙂
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Thanks for visiting my blog… I like your site
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Thanks the same.
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Chapeau, my friend! I almost fell into the pot while reading your story!
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Be careful!
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Since it’s almost Halloween and creepiness is on the way, let me recommend you Ray Bradbury’s ” The Small Assassin” story ;). You can also find the movie adaptation on You Tube if you look for Ray Bradbury Theater-The Small Assassin . Have fun!
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Reblogged this on ReBirth: The Pursuit of Porsha.
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Imprisoned by the witches potion!
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Different ingredients, different effects 😉
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Great entertaining read😍
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Thank you 🙂 🙂
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Your BEST, FicSpa! Really enjoyed it. Thanks. ♥
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Thank you very, very much, Billy 🙂
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🙂 ♥
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🙂
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