Witch by Jay Mirano (ebook reader with highlight function .txt) 📕

Prologue

The metallic screech of iron upon iron resounded off the dull cream walls, making the petite dark-haired beauty jump. Her eyes glistened with fresh tears as she watched the imposing green door scream closed, sealing out the light and leaving her in total darkness. She could hear the guard sniggering as she scraped the key in the lock and moved on to her next cell.
Why did Momma bring me here?

She wondered to herself, sinking to the cold stone floor and plaiting her fingers in her lap. She mulled over all the mischief she had gotten up to in the past few days, but nothing was bad enough to constitute being set to prison. She only wished she had pleaded with her Momma more, said how sorry she was for being bad.
They had had to sedate the girl to get her to release her tight grip on her mother's neck, but she still managed to kick and bite anyone that came near her for a good half hour.
"I won't talk to Bertie anymore!" The girl had cried, burying her face in her mother's neck. "I won't, I promise!"
With a look of disgust etched on her face, her mother wrenched the sobbing girl off of her and handed her over to the doctor. Without even so much as a backward glance, her mother spun on her heel and marched away from the asylum, inwardly glad that she'd finally gotten rid of the child that caused so many ill rumours to plague her family.
And so here she was, deemed mentally insane and condemned to live out a life of hazy, drug-induced calm.

Chapter I

Electricty hummed in the air as the doctors readied the shock therapy machine. Alice had gone through this many times before, but she still couldn't help but struggle just a little as she was forced into the leather stretcher and bound by her wrists and ankles in coarse restraints.
A plastic paddle was pushed into her mouth, and she bit down on it instinctively, just as she had been doing for fifteen years.
A metal arch was lowered over her head, pressing hard on each temple. She clenched her fists as she heard the doctors fiddling with the dials.
"Ready," said Doctor Bates, nodding at the other doctor.
Alice clamped her eyes shut as a surge of electricity ravaged her body, making every fibre of her being scream out in agony. She convulsed violently on the stretcher, and if it weren't for the restraints, she would have fallen off entirely.
A single tear forced its way out of her dark lashes and down her cheek, dropping onto the sweat-slicked leather beneath.
Finally the pain abated, and Alice let herself open one eye, observing the doctors.
"Again," said Doctor Bates, increasing the power on the dial.

***

Alice had eventually fallen unconscious, the pain of being electrocuted alive too much for her body to handle. When she finally came to she was in her cell, slivers of saliva still coating her chin and cheeks.
She shakily sat up in her bed, peering out the barred window behind her.
She wondered what it would be like to be free, to not have to undergo shock therapy... To not have Bertie always on her shoulder.
Oh how she wanted to see her Momma again, despite the fact the woman had never shown Alice an iota of affection in her entire life. In fact, she'd always felt somewhat shunned by her mother, who was so appalled by the visions that Bertie gave her.
She wondered what her sister, Cynthia, would look like now, how the years had aged her. She would sometimes imagine that she was

Cynthia, like she was a sane projection of herself... A mirror image. In Cynthia's mask, Alice would go to school, play hop-scotch with friends, and of course kiss boys.
But Bertie never showed her visions of Cynthia any more, or even of her mother. She supposed it was because she hadn't seen either of them in so long, but it was still something she bitterly missed.
There was a sharp knock at Alice's door, and she shuffled over to the peep-hole to see who it was.
It was one of the female guards, Miss Toohey.
"Doctor Bates would like to see you in his office," she grunted, unlocking Alice's cell and shackling her wrists.
She marched Alice along the desolate hallway, jabbing her in the ribs whenever her pace slowed.
Alice had hoped the other inmates wouldn't notice her presence, but as usual she was disappointed.
Witch, Jezebel, Satan-Worshipper.

Their hissed taunts echoed in the air around her, making her stomach lurch. They jeered at her as she passed, sticking their filthy hands out between the bars and grasping for her face. Some spat at her as she approached, but by now Bertie was pretty good at telling her when it was coming, and she always knew just when to duck. Of course, that only incensed them further.
They finally left the cell-block, and passed into an immaculate court-yard.
Alice could see the janitor working on the hedges, and she smiled at him as she walked by. But of course he didn't smile back; he didn't even lift his head. He never did, mind you. His gaze was always rooted to the ground, never daring to venture further up.
But Alice knew it wasn't because the janitor didn't like her; in fact, she was quite good friends with him. His name was Alexander, and he would spend most nights outside her cell, telling her stories of his life spent in Russia.
Doctor Bates' office backed onto the court-yard, so that he could always have a splendid view. They entered through the back entrance, as it was always open on fine days such as this one.
"Ah, Alice, how nice to see you've recovered."
Doctor Bates smiled warmly at Alice, but she merely grimaced in return. She could never feel amicable towards a man that put her through so much agony on a weekly-basis.
Doctor Bates indicated for Alice to sit, and she did so without protest. The guard dissolved into the corner, watching Alice with hawk-like eyes.
"So, have you had any visits from, 'Bertie' today, Alice?" Doctor Bates asked, his thin lips peeling away from his stained yellow teeth.
"Nothing out of the ordinary," Alice shrugged, keeping her gaze steadily locked with the plush mahogany carpet beneath her feet.
"Do elaborate."
"Bertie shows me plain things now, boring things." Alice bit her lip. "He shows me things like what we'll have for dinner, or how many doses of shock therapy I'll be getting."
"Has his appearances slowed at all?"
"No."
Doctor Bates frowned, and scribbled something on his notepad.
"I suppose that means we'll have to increase the electrical frequency," the Doctor mused, almost talking to himself.
Alice's heart sank.

Chapter II

The moon slid behind a silver slice of cloud, plunging the graveyard into inky shadow.
Alexander Petrovich picked at his fingernail idly, resting against a tombstone. Far away in the distance a lonely owl hooted, making him jump.
"Oh Alexander, you're far too flighty for your own good."
James stepped out from behind a willow tree, smirking. His abnormally white teeth glinted in the muted moon-light.
Alexander clambered to his feet, hastily smoothing out his overalls as James approached.
"What did you want to see me for?" Alexander asked, feeling uneasy about seeing his former coven member once more.
"I'm just worried about you is all," James drawled, his blonde hair falling over his eyes as he tilted his head in Alexander's direction. "Working with humans... It isn't natural."
"I like my job," Alexander protested, looking defiant.
"What, working as a janitor? Cleaning up the filth and waste of the humans you should be drinking from?"
"I like to be around humans, simple as that. As a janitor it's easier for me to disguise who I am... What

I am."
"Why should you have to disguise anything? Return to the coven, Alexander, we miss you."
"I'm not interested, James. I'm happy where I am."
James narrowed his eyes at his old friend, instantly suspicious.
"What's her name?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Alexander fought off a rush of panic.
"Don't be coy, Alexander. Tell me what her name is."
"Don't be absurd."
"Oh, don't you worry. I will

find out what's keeping you at that godforsaken asylum. Just you wait."
Alexander opened his mouth to protest, but James was already gone, the long grass swaying violently in his wake.

***

Alice woke up to the sound of hushed whispers. The air was still heavy with night, and she pulled herself out of bed, thoroughly confused.
"Who's there?" She whispered back, creeping towards the door.
"It's Alexander, of course."
Alice felt a surge of relief, and she hurried over to the door.
"I stayed up for hours waiting for you, where have you been?"
"Long story," Alexander said, his voice pained. "Here."
He opened the small latch in the middle of the door and passed Alice a soft bundle. She opened it greedily, her eyes sparkling with delight as she saw a slice of almond cake in her palm.
"Oh Alexander, this is my favourite!" She cried, breaking off a piece and putting it into her mouth.
"I know," he smiled, watching he savour every bite.
Alexander seemed to have a way of knowing all of Alice's favourites; he knew exactly which Mozart piece she loved the most, her preferred shade of purple. And yet she could never remember having telling him.
"Did you get into any trouble tonight?" Alice said, rather suddenly. Bertie was whispering in her ear, about something dangerous. Or some one

...
"No? What makes you ask that?"
"I just had a feeling," Alice said, nonchalant. But Bertie's whispering was becoming ever more insistent.
"Anyway, I better get going," Alexander said, climbing to his feet. "I can hear the guard coming."
"Bye Alexander," Alice smiled. "And thanks for the cake!"
She too climbed to her feet, and tip-toed over to the window. She hungrily ate another piece of cake, and peered out into the cold night.
For a moment she thought she saw a pale figure standing in the court-yard below, but just as she peered out to get a better look, the shape was gone.

Chapter III

Alifeless girl was sprawled at James' feet, her face contorted with the few remaining remnants of fear that had plagued her last moments. Usually James liked to seduce his victims, but he simply hadn't had the time. He'd plucked the girl off the street at random, his hunger so consuming he could barely afford to stalk her beforehand. If his carelessness had caused him to be seen, he didn't care. He wouldn't be in this godforsaken town much longer.
He took off through the forest, his movements a whispered blur across the dead leaves and twigs on the ground.
James hadn't planned on feeding that night, but as soon as he caught a whiff of that girl in the asylum, he knew he wouldn't be able to contain himself otherwise.
So that's

why Alexander was so eager to work as a janitor there; he was infatuated with this human girl. To be fair, James could see why. She was elegantly beautiful, but