It had all started on a dark and gloomy night. The wind howled as I stood in the lush green grass lost in the dark wilderness. I was motionless as a shiver ran down my spine. I was engulfed by an aura of fear as I looked up in the midnight sky and saw the stars glistening in the full moon.

Suddenly, I heard an odd cackle and when I gazed closely, it was a ghastly and monstrous witch! I looked up with alarm and fear as she flew to and fro, cackling with joy. I froze with terror. I felt my throat had been squeezed. I could hear blood pounding in my ears. Every muscle in my body screamed at me to flee, but I stood motionless.

I was perplexed and didn’t realise that the witch was coming right for me. In the blink of an eye, the witch grabbed my hand and I found myself in the endless dark, with nothing to see but the spilled-salt glitter of the stars. As we landed, I found straight ahead of me a dark, gloomy and treacherous hut. I was petrified.

The witch zoomed her broomstick towards the hut and in we went. Inside the hut was a bubbling cauldron and glowing potions. I was filled with horror as I looked around. Then the witch got hold of me and tied me to a chair. After that, she tied my hands and feet. Tears of panic rolled down my cheeks as I sat on the chair, filled with dismay.

The evil witch began to cook up a boiling stew. I watched her as she put in glowing fireflies, goblin teeth and blood. Then, there came a sudden glow. After that, the ghastly witch turned around and I stared at her in horror. She had skin as cold and white as a winter’s moon, a great amount of long frizzy hair, a black pointy hat and bright red lips. She had a hooked nose, crooked teeth and brambly eyebrows. I sat stuck to the chair shivering and not knowing what would happen next.

A few minutes later, the witch finally turned around. I found this the perfect opportunity to loosen the ropes around me and so I got to work. Finally, after a lot of hard work, I managed to loosen the rope on my hands.

After that, I did the same with my feet. When I was free, it was time to get my plan into action. First, I set the rope loose on my hands and feet and made it look like I was all tied up. Next, I waited for the witch until she was done with her stew. After that, I saw the witch come towards me with a bubbling potion. In the blink of an eye, I opened my hands, got up and poured the potion on the witch and with gusts of smoke, she was gone. I quickly grabbed her golden compass and then made off as fast as I could.

When I was outside the hut, it was broad daylight. I looked up with joy at the azure sky filled with clouds. I heard the birds chirping happily and could also feel the lush green grass tickling my feet. I stared at the compass in dismay not knowing what to do. All I did was made one wish that I was back home sitting in my lush green garden enjoying my day. Suddenly, big sparkles began flying around and after a lot of “whooshing” whizzing, I was back home, enjoying my day in my lush green garden. I rushed inside and went into my room and lay still. I had had quite an eventful day for now.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 20th, 2018