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

gold or something similar. Dull rather than shiny and dotted with tiny green flecks, it had a clasp on the side to open it. She prized it apart slowly, fearing it might explode in a puff of poisonous gas. But all she found inside was a pair of tiny photographs.

Her breath hitched in her throat, and she almost dropped the locket. “It… It’s them. It’s the children.”

Jude squinted and looked closer at the locket. He exhaled loudly and began nodding. “It’s the same kids I saw on TV. The two kids I watched get stabbed.”

“I saw them too. Rotting in the ground. Jude, who are they?”

“They must be Rose’s kids. Why else would she have their photographs around her neck? Shit, she’s going to want this back, isn’t she?”

“I don’t know. Maybe we should call the police.” She put a hand to her face and groaned. “But we still have no idea what to say. No, we shouldn’t speak to anybody until we have a story somebody is going to believe. This isn’t just a woman in the woods anymore. Lily’s dead. That’s murder – and the police aren’t going to go searching for some naked witch in the woods. They’ll pin it on somebody else.”

Jude blubbered like he was about to sob. Fortunately, he didn’t. “Y-You mean somebody like us? You reckon we could get the blame for this?”

“I just think… I think maybe we say nothing for now. Let’s see how things play out.”

Jude didn’t reply, and the two of them fell into silence. Ashley slipped the locket back in her jeans pocket and thought about the two children. When she’d seen them on her laptop, it had looked like years ago. Their clothes were old-fashioned. If the children belonged to Rose, then how old would that make her? It made no sense.

She can’t be their mother.

They walked the rest of the way without exchanging a word. When they reached Jude’s front door, they stopped to look at each other. “We’re really not going to call the police?” he said. “Lily’s family will be worried.”

“Lily’s family are psychopaths, and she’s gone whether we say anything or not, so let’s just think about us, okay?”

Jude nodded and opened the front door.

His mother was standing in the hallway, talking with somebody.

PC Riaz turned to face them. “Ah, just the two people I’ve come to see.”

Chapter Fourteen

Jude almost fell. The shock of seeing PC Riaz standing in the hallway sent a shockwave straight along his thighs. He had to grab hold of the stairway banister to keep himself upright. Ashley came up behind him and put a hand on his back.

PC Riaz raised an eyebrow. “Are you kids okay? Looks like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Jude’s mind was blank, which was why he was glad when Ashley answered.

“You startled us, that’s all. Is everything okay?”

His mum chuckled. “Of course, honey. The officer just wants to go over your story one last time.”

“Well,” said PC Riaz, “I’ll decide if everything’s okay after I hear what you kids have to say for yourselves. Why don’t we take a seat in the kitchen?”

“I’ll put the kettle on,” his mum said. “It’s almost lunchtime. Can I make you a sandwich?”

“Not for me, thank you, Ms Gowdie.”

Ashley followed PC Riaz into the kitchen while Jude remained in the hallway and took a deep breath. The plan was to keep quiet about what had happened today, but what did they say about yesterday? Did they recant their story and say they were lying all along? Lying to the police felt like a bad idea, even when the truth was awful.

His mum called out from the kitchen. He realised he was dawdling. “Sweetheart? Are you coming?”

Jude went into the kitchen and sat beside Ashley while his mum stood in the corner watching the kettle boil. Her hands were placed flat on the counter and she was tapping her fingers. PC Riaz sat completely still and said nothing. He just stared at Jude and Ashley.

Eventually, Ashley broke the silence. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I think… I think Jude and I must’ve got spooked or something. We went into that old farmhouse, and it was so dark. I thought I saw a woman, but it was probably an animal. I screamed and started running, and I didn’t stick around long enough to make sure. Jude only panicked because I was panicking. Honestly, I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. What would be the point? I thought there was a woman who needed help, but I was wrong.”

Jude glanced at her, slightly surprised by the words gushing out of her mouth.

PC Riaz remained silent. After a moment, he turned to face Jude. “Is that correct, Jude? Was this all a case of too much excitement?”

Jude swallowed and felt like he was sweating. The officer’s stare was intense. “I-I suppose so.”

“Well, did you see a woman in that farmhouse or not?”

“I… I…”

PC Riaz leant forward, his stare increasing its intensity. “Jude, I need you to be very honest with me right now. Did you see a woman in that farmhouse or did your imagination get the better of you?”

Jude flinched as something struck his shin beneath the table. In the corner of his eye, he saw Ashley glaring at him. He knew what he needed to say, but it was like standing on a cliff edge. If he took a step forward, he would fall, with no way of stopping himself if he changed his mind. As soon as he said there was no woman in the farmhouse, he would be a liar. He couldn’t take that back.

I will be lying to the police.

Can I really do that? Isn’t the truth the best option, no matter the situation? I would rather get caught telling the truth than telling a lie.

But if I lie now, everything might work out okay. It could be over.

I don’t think this will be over.

“I…”

“Kettle’s boiled,” his mum said, and she moved over to PC