A Witch's Destiny

Warning! This book contains mature content and is not recommended for young readers.

The road before her snaked off into the darkness, the inky asphalt cold as the night air. It was flanked by towering trees, their branches creating a luminous canopy that sparkled with starlight. Some stars were dull, flickering briefly into existence before winking out, but there were enough to illuminate the moonless night. From a distance came the thrum of an ancient Peugeot 501, its engine protesting like an ageing beast. The car had seen better days, but its owner clearly loved it too much to let it go. It was as hoary as the owner, though the difference between them was life itself. Even as the soft rock music blared from its stereo, the driver wasn't trapped in the car's antediluvian world.

She was young, with blonde hair and thin lips, her blue eyes a piercing contrast against her striking features. An outgoing youth with an inconsistent personality, Divina sang loudly along with the song.

'...I'm saying right now, right now, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free. This is my big hello, if you're hearing now let me know, I can finally see, it's not just a dream when you said I'm free, I'm free, I'm free...'

Her voice melded seamlessly with the music from the radio, a testament to her passion for rock and roll and her disinterest in boredom. But all good things must come to an end, and the ancient junk on four wheels finally gave up the ghost, breaking down on the side of the road. Divina hit the steering wheel in frustration, blaming her dad for insisting she spends her holidays with her Pa. Her stay had been nothing but frustrating, and now, more than ever, she wished she had refused her father's request.

“He wants to see you, I bet you don’t understand that because you’re still young” her father had said.

But he had neglected to mention his broken-down car, and she had forgotten that his house was situated within a sprawling, walled estate, making sneaking out a Herculean task without the aid of a vehicle or a bicycle. The town was lively and spirited, but her elderly grandfather left much to be desired in terms of excitement. Stepping out of the ramshackle automobile, she attempted to pop the hood. However, the engine was a labyrinth of twisted wires, more perplexing than any puzzle she had encountered before. The prospect of using the car was lost, and she resigned herself to walking home. Now on foot, she opted to take a shortcut through the woods, pausing to retrieve a torch she had noted in the trunk earlier.

Divina should have heeded her instincts, which had never led her astray. They had alerted her to the fact that the vehicle was long past its prime and destined for the scrap heap.

Moments later, she was enveloped in the musky fragrance of the forest, surrounded by ancient trees that seemed to stand guard like sentinels. Creaking branches stretched out across the forest floor, and for the first few minutes of the walk, all she could hear was the rustle of leaves beneath her feet. The path was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the torchlight, which cast eerie shadows among the tall, mossy pines on each side. The furtive shadows sent shivers down her spine, and she couldn't shake the feeling that someone or something was watching her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, alerting her to possible danger.

As she trudged further into the woods, she noticed a thick mist beginning to rise around her legs, growing denser by the moment. The sight was unnatural, and her mind immediately went into panic mode. She was certain that she was being watched, and the feeling that she was not alone sent chills down her spine.

As she journeyed down the desolate path, visions of every horror movie she had ever seen flickered through her mind, unsettling her senses. But, with cautious steps, she proceeded forward, ever-aware of her surroundings as she scanned the empty darkness behind her.

The sensation of being pursued was unshakeable, making her body tremble with fear. Suddenly, she heard faint footsteps, causing her heart to skip a beat as she whipped around to face the unknown presence. Her eyes darted back and forth, searching for any sign of danger.

Without warning, the entity bolted past her at an alarming speed, causing a nearby branch to crack and shatter. Her heart pounding in her chest, she knew she had to flee.

"Run!" she shouted to her legs, the wind rushing past her ears as she sprinted through the woods, desperate to escape the creature that pursued her. Its heavy footsteps grew louder, and she could hear its breath—heavy and wild, unlike anything human.

At last, she burst through into a clearing, her breath ragged and her heart pounding. For a moment, everything was still, and she paused to listen for any sign of danger.

But then, as her torch flickered in the darkness, she caught a glimpse of a face—not human, but with the terrifying fangs of a sabre-toothed wolf. And with that, everything faded to black.