The Witches of Barrow Wood Read Online Free Page A

tree, realising that it had been seen. Sam started to wish he had never come into the wood, as the figure he now witnessed before him was undoubtedly a witch.
    The figure appeared to Sam as possibly female, short and stocky in build, pale green and ugly – very ugly. Her nose was crooked, her eyes bulbous and grey, and she wore a long, dirty black cloak with a large hood draped down her back. Her hair was long, black and matted, and she had large, razor-sharp looking fingernails that resembled the beak of a parrot. She hurried towards Sam.
    Sam panicked suddenly and went to turn, but he caught his foot on a root and immediately fell to the ground. He closed his eyes and started to cry, wishing his mum was there to help him. A dark shadow appeared over Sam, and he sensed a presence, and the smell was putrid. He looked up, and the witch was bent over him, staring at him, just inches away from his face.
    “Please don’t hurt me,” said Sam, tears coursing down his little face.
    In a raspy voice, the witch said, “Stupid boy! Have you not heard the stories? Do you have a death wish?”
    “I-I have, but….”
    “Cat got your tongue?” said the witch, harshly, her bloodshot eyes bulging as she spoke, and spittle spraying over Sam as he sat, fearing for his life.
    “Please don’t hurt me. I won’t tell a soul, I promise.”
    The witch coughed violently and stared into Sam’s eyes, “Stupid boy! What would I want with you anyway – there’s not enough meat on you for a proper meal.”
    “Don’t eat me, please don’t eat me.”
    “Have you not listened to a word I have said? Don’t worry, you foolish boy, I will not harm you,” said the witch, shaking her head and feeling slightly irritated at having to make conversation.
    “Thank you!” Sam paused. “Did you help me yesterday when I was sick?” said Sam, becoming curious about the horrid-looking witch.
    “Don’t you ever stop talking?” said the witch, shaking her head. “Yes, yes, I didn’t want your rotting flesh ruining my woodland.”
    “Thank you!” said Sam, his fear starting to subside a little.
    The witch felt a tiniest bit of sympathy for the boy, and said, “Whatever, are we done now, boy? Can you leave me in peace?”
    “I’m afraid I’m lost again. What is your name? My name is Sam. Are you a witch?”
    The witch started to become irritated again. “Questions, questions,” she said. “My name is Eldrin, not that I would expect you to remember it, stupid boy! And I practice magic – dark magic! So I guess that makes me a witch,” said Eldrin, with a foul smile, baring her yellowish, tombstone-like teeth.
    “I won’t forget your name – I promise!” said Sam, with a little smile.
    Eldrin snapped, “You will do well to never step into these woods again, boy! These woods are cursed with unimaginable evil, and next time I may not be there to save you.”
    “Are there more of you?”
    “I can see there is only one way to make sure you don’t enter these woods again, boy.”
    Eldrin was annoyed with herself for actually liking the boy. She couldn’t afford to be nice. People needed to fear the wood, or God knows what horrors would be unleashed. She grabbed the boy by his arm and led him at speed towards her home.
    They arrived at her home, which lay beneath a large, old tree deep in the wood. There were large roots hiding the entrance from sight. Eldrin pointed at the soft earth around her home.
    “It is there that my sisters rest – Lisbeth and Grotchin are their names. They were murderers, and evil beyond all comprehension. I hacked off their heads to put an end to them, but if their heads were reunited with the bodies, they would live again.”
    Sam stood with his mouth wide open, staring at the earth where the witches were buried. He started to become scared and looked up at Eldrin in terror.
    “Please, don’t hurt me – please!” said Sam.
    Eldrin spat on the ground, “I won’t hurt you, boy! But you must promise me