A Collection of Stories
Hunted

Monitors hummed on the left wall – always heard whenever one entered the room. A table sat in the centre of the room and an altar of sorts was in the back-right corner.

“Still no sign of her?” Sydney asked without turning away from the monitor. She held her hands behind her back, and her long brown hair just ghosted her wrists.

Courtney bit her bottom lip. She knew the head witch wasn’t going to like her answer. “No, ma’am.”

“Well, that’s no good.” Sydney slowly spun on her heels. She marched around Courtney and grasped her coffee mug from the table. “That girl is going to ruin everything… Does no one understand that!?” She tossed her coffee mug across the room.

Before it hit the ground, another witch froze the cup midair. She sighed and grabbed the mug, but let the coffee fall to the floor. “Your mug doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment, Sydney.”

“Shut up, Amber,” Sydney snapped, turning a green-eyed glare at her.

Amber raised her hands in defence. “Alright, Syd. I’ll stay out of it, but you’re the one who’s making an ass out of yourself.”

“Get out of here!”

Amber rolled her eyes and placed the mug on the wooden table as she left. Sydney waved at the other three witches in the room, dismissing them. She was left alone in the meeting room. Sydney pulled out a chair and sat at the table. She flicked her wrist and the chandelier above her flickered to life.

She reached for a folder sitting in the middle of the table.

“Well, if we can’t replace you, then we’re going after your family.”

Sydney took a pen out of a bucket and started copying information down from the files contained within the folder. Soon she had a list of parents, siblings, and grandparents.

Sydney entered the meeting room a few days later with a grin on her face. She saw Clare, Amber, Courtney, and Heather standing around the table. She didn’t care for whatever they were discussing.

“Sit,” Sydney ordered.

One by one, they took their seats. Sydney placed two folders down on the table.

“First things first,” Sydney looked at Clare, “what is Rebecca’s progress report about that girl in the asylum?”

“Mental Health Centre,” Amber corrected.

“Whatever.”

Abby huffed and folded her arms.

Clare brushed blonde hair behind her ear then flipped through the papers on her clipboard. “Rebecca says that Michaela is doing just fine. The poor girl can hardly tell the difference between her and her curse, though. So far, the fraction of spirit attached to her hasn’t revealed any secrets. Rebecca is monitoring her. She’s been charged by the centre to take notes on Michaela’s condition, and, of course, she’s omitting any information about the Coven. Rebecca has promised to let us know if the patient becomes a danger to us.”

Sydney nodded. “That’s excellent. I want her monthly reports on my desk. I want a copy of what she’s giving to the asylum as well as her cover of coven-related events. Am I clear?”

“Yes,” Clare said, and then wrote down the instructions.

Sydney slowly glanced at each person sitting around the table. “Now, as for our traitor issue, I’ve devised a plan. You each should’ve gotten an email this morning.”

“I don’t like it,” Amber said.

“You’re not in charge here.”

Amber stood up. “But this is a council. Just because you’re the Head Witch doesn’t mean you get to make all the decisions. I insist that we vote on the matter.”

Sydney sighed and locked her eyes with Amber’s. For a second, Sydney’s eyes flashed red. “Sit down and shut up.”

“Your little mind spells don’t work on me. We’re at the same level.”

“It wasn’t a spell. It was a threat.”

Amber scoffed, “You don’t scare me.”

“Ladies!” Heather shouted. The whole table turned to her. She wasn’t known for talking. “You are both being ridiculous! Amber, quit criticizing Sydney, she is the Head Witch and therefore she’s a member of the Grand Council. She does technically have a higher rank than you.”

Amber scowled and slowly sat down.

Heather turned to Sydney. “Amber is correct, however. We are a council and therefore we vote on the matter. I, for one, am for the tracking down of the girl’s family.”

“I’m against it,” Amber said.

“We know that,” Sydney remarked. “I’m for.”

“Against,” said Clare.

All eyes turned to Courtney. “Will her parents be harmed?” she asked.

“There’s a possibility,” Sydney said.

Courtney shifted in her seat. “But the girl, Marissa, she’s definitely going to expose us? We could have another witch-hunting epidemic on our hands, and it would be our fault. The Grand Council would have us hung first before the humans even get a chance.”

Sydney slowly nodded.

Courtney sighed. “Then I’m for.”

Amber frowned her disapproval.

Clare turned to Sydney, “Alright, then. . . I guess that’s it.”

Sydney opened the folder she had placed on the table. “I’ve already planned roles for each of you. Deadlines are included. Take your paper and get to work.”

Clare took her paper off the top. Heather shifted for hers and handed out Courtney’s in the meantime. The three women stood up, shared a glance at Amber and Sydney, then left the room. Amber sighed, “You know, there was a time where you would give anything to protect the innocent. Now you’re readily getting them involved in something that could ruin their lives forever.”

Sydney reached for Amber’s paper then shoved it in her face. “That was before my brother was killed. Now get a move on.”

Amber snatched her paper and left without another word.

Sydney sat back in her chair. She used another chair as a footrest. She set her phone to buzz, and then closed her eyes to rest for a bit.

Heather’s trip to Quebec was a waste of time. The apartment was empty, and Heather was unable to replace any DNA or possessions.

Amber should be in Sudbury soon, Sydney thought. Maybe this whole thing won’t be a waste if she actually replaces something.

And with that, her phone buzzed. Sydney sat up and answered the call. “Amber? What did you replace?”

She sighed and then said, “There’s nothing here. Nothing at all. Except for a letter.”

Sydney gritted her teeth. “Tell me what the letter says!”

Dear Council of the Coven.

We have no doubt that you tracked us down using spells or curses. We congratulate you for replaceing this note.

However, as you can see, all that’s left behind is this piece of paper.

We also don’t doubt that you have run out of our DNA to burn, or you’re at the very least close to running out. Without that, you can’t replace us.

Our families are also on the run. They left none of their DNA or possessions behind so we know you won’t be able to replace them at all.

With that, we think you’ll come to the same conclusion as us. The old age of witchcraft is finished. The new age has begun.

No more hiding. No more lying. The world will know of our existence. But that’s okay. We think the world is ready to accept us. They aren’t as frightened or as in the shadows as they used to be. We can make a better world.

So, what happens next is up to you. Do you continue to track us down, like our ancestors were once hunted? Or will you allow us to challenge fate and change the future?

We hope you make the right decision.

Hilda and Marissa

Sydney growled and sat back in her chair. “Bring me the letter. We might get something off it.”

“It was typed,” Amber replied, “unless they were foolish enough to touch it-”

“Get back here now,” Sydney snapped, then hung up the phone.

“Alright, she bought it,” Amber said to Marissa with a smile. “Clear everything out of here just like you did in Quebec, and you won’t have anyone bothering you again.”

Marissa blinked, eyes red with old tears and lack of sleep. “Thank you… I honestly thought this was it for us when you arrived.”

Amber glanced around the room. There were two families gathered here. She recognized some faces from the profiles Sydney had made. “Don’t worry. And keep those files that I gave you handy. You’ll need to follow those instructions to keep ahead of the Coven. But… once you’ve left Canada, you’re out of my range. I won’t be able to help you anymore.”

Marissa nodded. “We’ve got a plan. I have an aunt in Europe who can protect us. We’re moving to another country and leaving our stuff behind at-”

“Don’t tell me,” Amber interrupted. “If my cover is broken and they try to poke through my memories, then at least you’ll be safe.”

Marissa slowly closed her mouth. She hugged the papers Amber had given to her close to her chest.

Amber slowly turned towards the door. “I have to head out. You have my secret email, contact me for emergencies. I’ll send out coded messages like we discussed. If I don’t send one out, assume my cover is broken. I’ll try to persuade Sydney to come around, but I make no promises.”

Hilda followed Amber to the door. “Don’t worry about it. Marissa convinced me… I’m sure you can change your friend’s mind.”

Amber smiled sadly. “I’ll try. Take care!”