The Wonky Witch and The Witching Well

Maude stood there, frozen in place. Her brown eyes darted back and forth, searching for some way to escape the wand that was being shoved into her chest. She gulped and looked at Sini Ster, the evil girl hovering in front of her, draped in an over-sized black hooded cloak. From where Maude was standing, no one could see what was happening. Her best friend, Adair Tiptoe, and their other friend, Ben Evolence, were too far away. They were at a Wizard Festival booth opposite from Maude. She would never get help in time before Sini slung a wicked spell at her.

The wand dug into Maude’s robes, causing her to take in a quick breath. Sini’s dark eyes narrowed. “You’ll never get out of this one, Maude Sinks. So don’t even try,” the girl hissed.

Maude’s expression changed from fright to confusion. “How did you do it?” she whispered through her teeth. “How did you escape again?”

“That’s for me to know, and you to never find out. I can’t reveal something like that to someone like you,” Sini spat. The wand faltered in her hand as Sini watched the passing wizards that were milling around the festival booths.

“You can’t get away with this, Sini.”

“Oh, yeah?” Sini jabbed the wand deeper. “And just how are you going to stop me? You are nothing but a worthless snoop, who once again foiled my plans.”

“I had to save my little brother,” Maude stated with a wince.

“He’s a worthless brute, just like you,” Sini snarled. “He wouldn’t have been what we needed anyway.”

“Just because my family hasn’t turned to Black Magic doesn’t mean we’re worthless.”

Sini leaned forward and got in Maude’s face. “You don’t realize where the powers lie. You could have been one of us, but you turned your back in the beginning. We all know what you truly are, Maude Sinks.”

“Oh, really?” Maude said, glaring right back at Sini. “And just what am I?”

Before the conversation could continue, Maude heard footsteps crunching on the gravel behind her. She watched Sini’s eyes fly up and exasperation spread across her face.

“Just what is going on here?” Maude recognized the voice of her Black Magic teacher, Mr. Mel Ancholy. She remained as still as she could, expecting Sini to cast a spell on her at any second. Mr. Ancholy was rushing to the booth, fumbling in his cloak pocket for his wand. “Hold on, there! What is the meaning of this?”

Sini’s eyes flicked back to Maude. “Just you wait, Maude Sinks. You haven’t seen the last of me. I will get you back for it all. Just you wait.”

Suddenly, before Mr. Ancholy could reach the festival stand, Sini pulled the wand away from Maude and whipped it around her own head. In a flash, Sini was gone. The only thing that remained was her over-sized cloak, which lay in a heap on the ground behind the booth.

“Who was that, Miss Maude? What’s going on?” Mr. Ancholy said, panting as he reached her.

Maude sighed a deep breath of relief. “It was Sini, sir.”

“What? That’s impossible. She was arrested and taken to the Secret Prison!” Mr. Ancholy leaned over the booth’s display and noticed the cloak, which was still smoking a bit.

Maude rubbed her chest and breathed slowly. “That hasn’t stopped her before, sir. I just don’t understand how she keeps escaping.”

“Come quickly. Let’s go to the Head Mistress. She’s on the other side of the festival,” Mr. Ancholy stated firmly with one last puzzled glance at the booth.

Maude agreed and followed behind her teacher. Adair and Ben came running up next to her as Maude and her teacher wound through the crowd.

“Maude! Where are you going?” Adair sputtered.

“You didn’t see her, did you?”

“See who?” Ben asked confusedly.

“Sini.”

“What?” Adair’s eyes flashed with shock as he looked to Mr. Ancholy for answers. “How could she be here? She escaped again?”

“Apparently,” Mr. Ancholy said angrily.

“She was threatening me with her wand. It hurt,” Maude said, wincing as she touched her chest and collarbone.

“Oh, no. Not again.” Adair grabbed Maude’s arm, hoping with all of his might that they could have a normal summer. Not like the last.