Witch: A Horror Novel (The Cursed Manuscripts) by Iain Wright (nonfiction book recommendations TXT) 📕

moved towards Lily, putting her hands up to show that she didn’t want a fight. “It doesn’t matter if you believe us or not, Lily. Just get out of here.”

Lily stepped out of the room and approached Ashley. “You don’t tell me what to do, slag.” She pulled out her knife, waving it back and forth in front of her face. “You want me to fucking cut you again?”

Ashley felt her anger rise merely from looking at Lily’s face. She wanted to reach out and shove her thumbs into the girl’s eyes and pop them like gooey zits. But, despite the rage building up inside of her, Ashley kept quiet. She just wanted Lily to go. A fight wasn’t going to help anyone.

“I asked you a question, slag. Do you want me to cut you again?”

Ashley felt her heart beat faster. “No, I just want you to go.”

Lily smirked. She put the knife down by her side and shrugged. “Okay, I’ll go.”

In the corner of Ashley’s eye, Ricky and Jude let out relieved sighs.

Lily made a move as though she was about to walk away, but then she stopped and smirked right in Ashley’s face. “Get down on your knees and kiss my feet.”

Ashley swallowed. “What?”

Lily glanced down at her trainers, then back up at Ashley. “Get down on your knees, kiss my feet, and I’ll leave you alone. Or…” She raised the knife and held it between them. “I’ll slice your ugly fucking face again, and this time I’ll leave a scar, I promise.”

Ricky moved away from the fireplace. “Come on, Lily. It isn’t worth it.”

“Shut the fuck up, Ricky. You’re acting like a pussy and you’re pissing me off.”

Ricky folded his arms and backed off. He began tapping his foot nervously and didn’t seem at all like the tough guy he usually appeared to be. Lily, however, was committed to being a monster. She glared at Ashley, waiting for an answer.

“I’m not kissing your feet, Lily. Just go.”

“Knife it is then.” Lily grabbed the back of Ashley’s head and pressed the knife against her cheek.

The leash broke on Ashley’s anger. She swung an arm and clobbered Lily around the side of the head. “Here’s your receipt, bitch!”

Lily staggered backwards, taken by surprise. The punch had landed well, but it didn’t knock her down. Ashley’s hand was throbbing. She shook it and spat a stream of curse words.

Lily launched herself forward and headbutted Ashley right in the middle of the nose. As quickly as the fight had started, it ended, as blood gushed from her face and she suddenly found herself blinded by her own tears. She could only just make out the blurry shape of Lily standing in front of her.

“Now I’m going to make a real mess of your face. Hold still, bitch.”

“Leave her the fuck alone!”

Ashley wiped away her tears in time to see Jude launch himself across the room and tackle Lily. Perhaps it was asking too much to expect him to throw a punch, but it was still surprising to witness him show any kind of aggression. With both hands, he shoved Lily hard in the chest. She flew backwards, staggering on her heels, and toppled right through the doorway and into the next room.

Rose scooted aside to avoid being landed on. Lily crashed against the stone floor, right in the centre of the painted triangle.

Ricky, Ashley, and Jude stood in the other room, frozen. Nobody spoke. They all watched silently as Lily lay on her side in a pained heap. “Fuck!” she said in a moan and clutching her elbow. “You’re going to pay for that. Believe me, you are going to fucking pay for that.” She pushed herself up into a sitting position and pointed a finger. “Grab the little fucker, Ricky.”

But Ricky didn’t move. He stared at Rose, who had risen to her feet as Lily rose to hers. It was now abundantly obvious that Lily really didn’t see the woman. She showed zero recognition of there being anybody in the room except for her. It made no sense.

Why can’t she see Rose when the rest of us can?

Lily glared at Ricky. “I said, grab him. What the hell is wrong with—”

Rose moved like somebody had pressed the fast-forward button on reality. One instant, she was standing beside Lily, completely unmoving; the next, she was standing behind her, mouth open wide and screaming. She moved again in a blink, yanking at her chains until the fragile bones in her hands shattered and the flesh of her palms split apart. Then, like a ravenous tiger, she bit into Lily’s neck with brown, rotting teeth.

Chapter Twelve

Lily’s eyes stretched wide a half-second before her mouth did, then she was wailing at the top of her lungs. She made a screeching sound Jude likened to a motorway pileup, and she slashed the air with the knife which she’d somehow kept hold of. Rose moved in sync with her victim, continuing to bite into Lily’s pale flesh as she tried to get away. Blood spurted into her pale, freckled face.

“Lily!” Ricky broke free of his fear and raced to help his friend. Without hesitation, he launched himself into the next room and grabbed Lily’s desperately grasping hands. He pulled her away from Rose, but the woman didn’t give her up willingly. Her teeth tore away a massive chunk of Lily’s neck, opening up a gigantic, bloody hole beneath her jaw. Lily’s knees failed her, and Rose embraced her as she slumped to the ground.

Lily gasped in horror as she finally saw Rose.

She reached out a hand again to Ricky and tried to push Rose away with the other. Her fingers tangled in Rose’s necklace and the locket broke free.

Lily went limp. Her eyes fluttered halfway between dead and alive.

With a roar of effort, Ricky heaved on Lily’s outstretched arm with both hands and tried to pull her towards the open doorway. He sobbed and wailed, determined to get his friend out of