The Witch's Countdown

l didn'

t the wall, watching the baby with wary eyes. The candle had nearly

praying-that it would creak open and the witch would tel

he rain outside continued to

aby remai

y time she did, something about its wide,

h

so

by. Not from th

side th

ony fingers were trailing against the w

asn't

r of the room. The darkness there seemed thicker than

th

his

t too quiet to hear

She watches...

She shrank deeper into t

he baby

eath its thin blankets-but in the eeri

back to it, watching as its

st time since she had woke

y made

breath

's blood

had laughed. But be

s in the r

lls and floor. The candle's light barely reached

r this time, but a cold, echoi

begi

ndle w

rl scr

allowed the

-

the candle wa

been

rong. Heavy. Thick. As i

. The baby was still lying on the floor, wrapped in

hing was

ng had

n she r

by was

lightly. But it

fuller. Its f

day had passed

understand. How was this possible? Babies d

door crea

oward it, expecting the wit

e open

nvit

a t

n't trust it. But she couldn

e baby into her arms. It felt heavier t

ath, she stepped

lined with old, tattered wallpaper. Shadows

allowe

by tightly, she stepp

rthest corner of the room,