A Witch's Revenge

Chaoter 1

It was mid afternoon in Amberley's small corner of the world. One of those cold, rainy, miserable afternoons that reak of must and chill you to the bone. A perfect reflection of Amberley's mood. She had just snuck out of her fathers' house after bearing witness to his drunken rage, as she often did, and was now making her way through the rain, wind, and mud to her favorite place. An old abandoned wishing well buried deep in the woods behind her fathers' house.

She had found this well four years prior when she was only eight years old. Ever since then, it had become her safe place, somewhere to go where she could escape the troubles of home. She even tried to wish her troubles away. She wished for power, so she might be able to stop her father from hurting her mother, but mostly for revenge, so she could make him pay for the damage he had already done. Though her faith in the wells' ability to grant her wish had been slowly waning, and on this day, she felt it finally die altogether.

Yet still, here she was, trudging through the mud on her way to the well, a tarnished penny in her hand, ready to try it "one more time." More out of tradition than anything, she supposed. Though she'd later find it may have been fate pulling her along.

Amberley sighed with relief when she caught sight of the well through the thick downpour of rain. She was almost there.

She always got a sense of relief and safety when she neared the well. As if there was a forcefield around it, protecting her from the darkness and pain of the real world. A spectacle that Amberley believed would be too good to be true, though she liked to imagine it was. That as long as she could see the well, she was safe.

Amberley reached the well just as the rainfall began to increase and wasted no time getting under the shelter of the wells' abnormally large roof. Most wells' roofs were small and designed only to protect their ropes from the weather, but it seemed this one was designed to also protect those using the ropes.

She stared down into the wells' murky waters, a smile spreading across her face as she began to fantasize about her wish. All the ways she'd make her father pay for his crimes. All the ways she'd make him suffer.

She tossed the penny down into the well, chuckling deviously.

It was true she no longer believed in the wells magic, but for now, she was enjoying the fantasy.

Just as the penny hit the water, Amberley was startled by a deep growl a few yards ahead of her, followed by a menacing howl. The hair on her neck stood on end, and knots of fear twisted in her gut. She strained her eyes, trying to see what the source of the bone-chilling sound was through the dense woods around her. Her heart seared inside her chest when she caught sight of it. Partially hidden by the evergreens, a large black dog stood in a threatening posture with the skin that should have been covering its head peeled back and hanging from its neck, leaving its massive skull completely exposed.

Amberley let out a shriek of terror. She wanted to run, but fear left her unable to move. So instead, she stood, trembling violently with her back pressed against the well, watching in horror as the beast inched closer.

"Stay away!" Amberley shrilled, fear turning to panic as the dog stepped into arms reach.

She knelt down to grab a nearby stone and pausing only to aim, threw it. Hard. The stone met the dogs' skull, sending it to the ground with a thud, but her reprieve lasted only a moment. The creature sprung back to its' feet and lunged for her, bearing its teeth.

It collided with Amberley, knocking her back. Her head cracked on the edge of the well as she fell, causing her to grow disoriented and dizzy. She remained conscious just long enough to witness the dog clamp its teeth down on her right shoulder. Then everything went black.

Amberley woke to an oppressive wall of heat bearing down on her in the form of several wool blankets. The uncomfortable warmth left her feeling lethargic. She felt almost too tired to move, but she willed herself to remove the suffocating heap of blankets from herself, one by one. As she lifted the third and final blanket, she felt a breeze of cold air wash over her from the open window opposite her.

She slid out of bed and made for the window, seeing an opportunity to escape this unfamiliar place. An opportunity that was lost to her upon peering out the window and seeing it. The dog. The beast which had-

Amberley looked at her shoulder. There were no marks nor blood. No sign of the attack which Amberley was sure had taken place.

Amberley began to shake, feeling confused, afraid, and trapped. She glanced out the window once more, questioning her sanity now and wondering if the dog perhaps was also just a figment of her imagination, but it was still there, walking the fence line.

Amberley spun around, not wanting to see the intimidating canine. I have to get out of, she thought to herself.

Just then, Amberley was startled by the door to the room she found herself in swinging open.

"Hello," said a tall and slender woman as she leaned in the doorway, a soft smile spreading across her aged face.

Amberley, though still shaking with fright, felt a small sliver of relief upon seeing the lady. Maybe she has some answers, she thought.

"You've been asleep for quite a while. How are you feeling?" The woman asked.

"Fine," Amberley said. "Who are you?"

"My name is Drumoria. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Amberley," the woman replied as her smile grew to a beaming grin.

"How do you know my name!?" Amberley questioned, her head c*****g in confusion.

Drumoria approached Amberley and placed a hand on either of her shoulders, giving her a slight squeeze as she spoke.

"I've waited for this moment for so long. For the day I'd finally get to meet you, but I never imagined it'd happen like this. You've lost your faith in the well, How could that be? After all these years? Has your wish not been granted?"

"What? What do you care? What's going on?" Amberley was beginning to panic, overwhelmed by the confusion of her situation.

"I apologize," Drumoria said, releasing her grip on Amberley and turning to gaze out the window as she continued to speak. "There's just so much to tell you, so much you don't know, so much we don't know. I don't know where to begin."

Amberley remained silent, unsure of how to respond. Her heart raced with fear of the unknown, and her legs began to feel like two led posts, ready to give out.

Drumoria sighed, moving her gaze from the window back to Amberley.

"Take a seat, Amberley. I'll start from the very beginning."