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Sarah Johnson sauntered down the suburban sidewalk, dressed in her finest casual wear. She absorbed the attention from her neighbors like a sponge. The woman constantly glanced to either side to ensure all eyes were upon her. The blonde smirked as she walked past the park, and everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at her for a brief moment. She liked to imagine what dirty thoughts lingered in the men’s minds, but she loved to imagine what anger and jealously she’d inspire in the women.
Sarah continued her jaunt down the street, her smirk plastered on her face all the way. That was until she realized no more eyes were upon her. The blonde’s eyes darted across the neighborhood before she spotted a large group in someone’s front yard turned away from her.
‘How dare they,’ she thought as she moved in that direction to rectify this mistake. However, as she stepped in front of the mailbox, the blonde stopped dead in her tracks. Sarah recognized the address. It was Mandy, the new girl’s house. From where she stood, Sarah could see the neighbors had gathered all around Mandy. All their attention was focused on her.
The ugliest feeling bubbled up inside Sarah, one she saw as unsuited for a woman of her stature. Sarah gritted her teeth, turned on her heel, and left. Mandy had it good for too long, and she knew exactly who could help her fix that.
~--~
At the end of the street, up on a hill with a single oak tree, was a rickety old house. Inside lived Abigal, to the rest of the town, she was a reclusive single woman, but Sarah knew her as the town’s resident witch. It was only by chance that the blonde stubbled across the witch as she practiced her spells one autumn night. Since that day, Sarah has kept the secret close to her chest, in wait for the moment she could cash it in.
“I want you to cast a spell that will humiliate Mandy,” Sarah demanded of Abigal. The two sat in the latter’s living room, a dusty place of cobwebs and gothic furniture.
“I can do no such thing,” Abigal refused. “I made an oath, and I cannot cost spell onto the unwilling unless they mean to harm me.”
“Oh, is that so?” Sarah put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “I guess I’ll just have to go and tell everyone that you’re not only a witch but a useless one.”
“Do not be so hasty,” the witch tried to assure. “I cannot cast a spell on Mandy, but I can cast one upon you.”
“Then you could make me the center of attention?” Sarah smirked. “All eyes would be on me, forever and always?” The idea of such endless attention was almost euphoric to the blonde.
“Certainly, all I ask is that you not reveal my secret or my involvement to anyone else,” Abigal offered.
“Whatever,” Sarah dismissed her, “just hurry and make me the center of attention.”
“As you wish,” Abigal nodded. “Viridi-cum-invidia,” she cast a spell. A green mist surrounded Sarah before it was absorbed into her skin.
“I don’t feel any different?” Sarah commented.
“Ah, but it is not how you feel, but how others will see you,” Abigal explained. “Give it but a moment. If you start walking now, by the time you pass Mandy’s house, the spell will be in full effect.”
“Excellent,” Sarah chuckled and walked out of the house.
“Enjoy your fun while it lasts,” Abigal said under her breath.
~--~
As Sarah sauntered down the sidewalk, dressed in her finest casual wear, she practically glowed. She never felt better in her life, and she could feel more attention than ever before. Every man, woman, and child she passed dropped what they were doing to stare. Even the dogs, cats, and squirrels of the neighborhood seemed entranced by her visage.
Finally, she made it back to Mandy’s home. The crowd from before had thinned, but a majority were still there. They just chatted away with the new girl, oblivious to Sarah’s presence. That ugly feeling from before returned, perhaps even stronger than before. Sarah briefly wondered why the spell didn’t work until one member of the group pointed her out with a gasp.
“Oh my god, Sarah,” Mandy looked on in a little more awe than even Sarah expected.
“What’s the matter, hun?” Sarah put on her best smile, but before her confidence could surge back up, she noticed the stares were not the same as before. Their eyes showed no awe or jealously. They were wide, shocked and some even turned away.
“Your skin,” Mandy’s hands went over her mouth.
“What about my skin, isn’t it-” Sarah’s words died in her throat as she took one glance at her own hand. It was a sickly green, the ugliest shade of the color she had ever seen. It didn’t just stop at her hand but traveled up her whole arm. In terror, she pulled out a mirror she kept in her pocket and confirmed the worst. Her whole body was now that horrid shade of green, and everyone could see.
“Are you okay? Are you sick? Someone, call a doctor!” Mandy exclaimed.
“No, I’m fine, I’m fine,” Sarah assured as a new sensation welled up inside her chest. The blonde had to suppress a nauseous feeling in her stomach as the stares weighed down on her like a lead blanket. This isn’t what she wanted. This wasn’t the deal.
“Oh heavens, look at her. She’s turning blue,” one of the men shouted. Sarah looked at her hand, and to her horror, it was true, she changed from a sickly green to a pale blue. Everyone began to gather around her. Some touched her forehead and checked for a fever. Others tried to support her, afraid she’d fall over.
“No, I’m fine, I’m fine,” she assured. “It’s just…it’s just,” Sarah muttered. ‘That witch,’ she realized, ‘she tricked me, well two can play at that game.’ The blonde tried to renew her smile as she opened her mouth, “There’s nothing wrong, I just…It was…It was…” However, no matter how hard she tried, she could even mention Abigal’s name. The words refused to leave her throat, which swelled up if she even thought about saying Abigal’s name.
“Sarah, you’re turning red!” Mandy pointed out.
‘That witch, no that bitch!’ Sarah thought to herself, ignorant of her changes. She was so caught up in her own mind, she failed to realize the group was taking her away.
~--~
Sarah didn’t know how long it had been since she had last been outside. The last time was the trip to a doctor’s office and a hospital to determine what was wrong with her. Alas, medical science found nothing wrong with her, and she was set loose. Since then, Sarah had refused to be seen, hid herself at home, and rejected all contact from the outside world.
The blonde took one hesitant look in the mirror; her hair was unkempt, her clothes were filthy, and her skin was sickly and pale. She had taken great pains to suppress her emotions, and she had succeeded. Now she felt nothing, and as long as she did, she’d never embarrass herself again.
Sarah was so lost in her own delirium she failed to notice Abigal sitting at the end of the bed. The witch’s expression was neutral, perhaps one of pity at the most. “A deal’s a deal,” Abigal said before vanishing into a green mist.
~~~~
Be wary of your emotions, you'll never know when you may be wearing them on your sleeves.
Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy
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