Photo credit: Stanze
You pushed me out, spitting curses. My own neighbors, chasing me away, brandishing hay-forks and fists and worse.
Such a crime, to want to know.
The clerics tried their best to cleanse me, with tender hands, or coarse grit, or whips. Whatever it took. Still the visions lingered. Still they tempted me.
You try repelling me with prayers you think are spells, but I see through that now. I am wiser, stronger, harder. I can tell protection from hope, armor from shadows.
Your fences are useless against me. Even iron rusts.
Wake — sweating, panting, screaming. For tonight, I return.
Word count: 100. Written for this week’s Friday Fictioneers challenge, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. See the other stories here, and the original photo prompt below. Posting this very late this week; I was thinking I couldn’t do it at all. I apologize ahead of time if I don’t get to read everyone’s stories this time around. I’ll do my best!
Photo © J. Hardy Carroll
Tales from Eneana 
I enjoyed this story. It read like a monologue of an angry person.
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Thanks, glad you liked it! And yes, the narrator is definitely very angry!
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A true witch can not be quelled… I really liked this one!
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They sure did try, but nope, it looks like the attempting quelling not only didn’t work, but backfired. Thanks for reading Dale!
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Yeek. It sounds like she’s been treated so badly though being driven away and attempted “cleansings”, those people had better watch out ‘cos she’s coming back…
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You would think that if you fear that someone has magic powers, the last thing you’d want to do is anger them! But yep, they’re in trouble now. Thanks for reading, Ali!
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Such a crime to want to know. That has a very contemporary ring to it
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I hadn’t thought of it that way, but now I see it, yes. Thanks for commenting!
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Dear Joy,
I wonder what the crime might have been. I’d say these people had better watch out. Why does my mind suddenly go to the Salem Witch Trials and The Scarlet Letter? Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’ve hit it on the head with the Salem witch trials — the crime was being a witch/wizard. She must have had the “sight” that is necessary in my world for someone to do witchcraft or wizardry, and her crime was to admit it and want to know more about it. And now that she’s apparently learned more about how to use these powers, you’re right — her old neighbors had better watch out! Thanks for commenting, Rochelle!
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Wow, a voice of cold yet angry revenge. They don’t stand a chance…
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Cold and angry, indeed. And I agree, they’re in trouble now. Thanks for reading Iain!
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Witch place shall I begin my lavish praise? Fear will do that to a man…
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At the witch place, of course! Thanks for stopping by, Martin.
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The naration on this one is superb. Your first line … “You pushed me out, spitting curses” sets the tone of your story.
Super write … I loved it.
Isadora 😎
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I was trying for more of a tone piece than a plot piece this time, I’m glad it worked. Thanks for reading Isadora!
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Yes, it did. : )
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The “sweating, panting, screaming” near the end made me shiver. How scary… for whoever would have to face this irritated force.
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Thanks Magaly ! I had such a clear image in my mind of these people waking in fear, and wondering what woke them, maybe trying to tell themselves it was a dream, and then realizing the truth with horror — so I’m glad it made you shiver!
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Great atmospheric fantasy writing, Joy, but also timely. I saw it a bit like Neil did. It doesn’t matter if it’s magic or science. You can’t suppress knowledge that wants to be known.
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I like that interpretation, thanks! In Layor, they do manage to suppress the knowledge of arcane magic, at least from most people, but there are always a few who sneak behind the barriers (social and legal) and learn it anyway.
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I definitely felt this to be a witch coming back… and she will come back with vengeance…
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Right on both counts — a little crazy of a witch, too. Her former neighbors are going to be sorry they were mean to her now. Thanks for reading, Bjorn!
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Great tale Joy. And actually feels very relevant for our times. People who are scorned, put upon, oppressed, often hold a grudge and lash out later. Strong voice for the character too. Great stuff
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A strong voice, I’ll agree with, but it’s funny to me that nobody seems to think she’s as crazy as I do. You’re right, that people who are scorned can hold a grudge and seek revenge later, but I find that such a maladaptive and toxic response. It’s one thing to seek revenge on a despotic leader who terrorizes his people, but your jerk neighbors? Let it go. Don’t let the fact that other people are assholes turn you into one, that’s my philosophy. Much less into a murderer!
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All true, Joy. I was also thinking about radicalisation – a very relevant subject, especially here after last week’s attack at Westminster. We have citizens who feel marginalised, ‘bullied’ by the society they live in, that doesn’t truly accept their way of life or faith. Something twists in their heads and they commit the sort of crimes that happened last week. Probably just my brain fitting current events to your theme. Marginalise people at your peril.
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Indeed, it ends up being toxic in all directions. Less bullying and fear. More forgiveness and acceptance.
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Very true. What happened to forgiveness and acceptance? They feel in short supply at present.
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Now I’m going to be singing “What’s so funny ’bout peace love and understanding” all day. 🙂
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“Even iron rusts”…my favorite line.
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Oh thank you! I love it when someone else likes the same line I do!
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Great take.
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Thanks for commenting – and I’m glad you liked it!
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This was told with great vehemence, the narrator is very threatening and you haven’t wasted a word
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Great comment, Michael, thanks! Yes, these micro-fiction challenges force me to cut, cut, cut. Say only what I need to: no room for wasted words.
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The anger felt by the woman at being cast out of her village by her own neighbours comes across so well – as does her threat to return in the final line. Wiser and harder now, nothing they do will keep her out. Her crime, it seems, was her thirst for knowledge. How often women in the past were branded ‘Witch’ for just that. Great piece of writing, Joy.
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Thanks for the great comment, Millie, glad you liked it! Yes, in the real world, women were branded as “witch” for any manner of transgressions. Luckily for the narrator of this story (and unlucky for her tormentors), she really IS a witch, and is now powerful enough to control her own destiny.
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