Deep in the woods, there lived a witch who was rumored to give wishes to those who visited her. She has granted untold riches, perfect beauty, and dreams people thought were unobtainable. She granted everything that was asked of her…But every wish came at a cost. Her twisted punishments deterred people from coming unless at their most desperate times.
Though it seemed like another desperate victim came crawling to her. A rat scurried into the witch’s cabin. The sweet smell of the cauldron was the first thing that caught the rat’s attention—a fragrance that was so alluring that it overshadowed the sight of demonic runes and symbols that littered the interior. The rat carefully crawled toward the cauldron and took sniffs of the sweet scent.
“Be careful, you wouldn’t want to drown yourself in there.” The witch’s voice came from right above the rat. The startled rat looked up to see the large woman in the air. The woman’s
“AH! Sorry!!” The rat leaped away from the cauldron. The rat scampered across the rug before he sat down, hoping he didn’t touch anything else that he wasn’t supposed to.
“Well, you’re in my house. Can’t be too sorry if you came in uninvited,” The witch shrugged, “What do you want?”
The rat’s ears folded down and his head shrunk down before he whimpered out a response, “Um…I don’t have anywhere to go and no food…And I heard you grant wishes…”
“Of course…” The witch sighs, “So what? Infinite food? Do you want like a big mouse mansion and a family or something?”
“Well…No…Just a place to stay and some cheese to eat when I want it,” the rat’s voice squeaked.
The witch raised an eyebrow, “Is that it?...” She asked as she lowered herself to meet the rat’s eyes. “You have so many options for wishes or can just have your wildest dreams and imagination come true and that’s all you want?”
The rat nodded his head.
“Huh…” The witch snapped her fingers and a plate of cheese appeared in front of the rat.
The rat looked around at the cheese and sniffed it. He poked at the cheese blocks a few times before the witch spoke again.
“I think I have some little rat holes around in here somewhere, you can stay there if you want. It’s been a while since I’ve had someone around to talk to,” the witch said, her voice trailing off as she started to float aimlessly in the air.
“…Like for free? The cheese isn’t poisoned or anything?” The rat asked.
“…You do know how a wish works right?” The witch asked.
“Yea! I’m not dumb! I’m just…Surprised there’s no tricks.” The rat says. He ate a piece a cheese, it was clear to see from the rat’s hum that it was absolutely delicious.
“Why would I trick you? If you want something then I don’t care to give it to you as long as it lets me live peacefully.” The witch said, summoning a plate of cheese for herself and ate some for herself.
“You tricked others before…They had a lot of bad luck and everything!” The rat blurted out. “Or well…I mean I’ve heard a rat that came to you and asked for infinite cheese and it poisoned him!”
The witch laughed, “Ohhhhh that, I mean that’s not my fault, if you wish for something big then there’s gonna be others that will want something bad to happen.” She ate another piece of cheese, “Or in his case, eat too much cheese.”
“Oh, so this cheese won’t kill me?”
The witch laughed even harder, “Not unless you eat like 200 pieces of cheese in one sitting,” she floated a little closer to the rat, “I think I’ll like having you stick around,” she giggled, “but did people stop visiting me because they thought I tricked some other creatures?”
The rat nodded.
“Oh, well don’t worry, you can trust me, but tell me about some of those rumors! They sound like some fun stories!”
About the Creator
AJ
Just an unknown writer that likes to entertain.
I mostly write whatever themes that my brain conjures up for the day. But if you like horror and action, that’s likely what I’ll post most.
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Excellent storytelling
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Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Do You Remember?
”Do you remember?” “Remember, what?” “Do you remember how we met?” “Of course I remember when we met.” “But do you remember HOW we met?” “How? How. Well, yes.. what exactly are you goin’ on about, Vera?” “It’s been decades since I’ve thought about it” “Go on.” “Well, don’t you remember, Oscar? We were two very lost souls. So lost in the rubble we couldn’t find our own feet. “Ah, yes.” “Our hearts were shredded into the finest confetti, it’s a miracle they could even hold a beat!” “Mm, It’s coming back to me.” “Meddling on lonesome blues and cheap whiskey.” “Merely kids, we were.” “Down by that old river, some nights so misty!” “Oh, yes. That sure was a mighty beautiful river.” “and the bands would play until sunrise for all our lonesome souls to vanquish into spiritless nothingness.” “They knew we needed sleep at some point, just to wake up the next evening to do it all over again.” “A small light in the darkness.” “Hm, I am still not understanding why this faint memory has arised in you, Vera, are you okay?” “Do you remember when you looked at me? From across the dock?” “Well, yes. I saw a sad girl sitting on shore, digging her toes in the sand, curly dark locks drifting with the wind.” “Yes, and I looked up at that exact moment.” “A picturesque moment, a sight to be seen.” “That was the first time I smiled in months.” “Truly?” “Truly.” “Hm. Why is that?” “Well, I saw a handsome young man staring right back at me, with a hungered look in his eyes, a look I couldn’t quite read.” “and that made you smile?” “No one had ever looked at me like that in all my young years, if they ever even looked at me..” “You were… dauntingly beautiful, Vera. I couldn’t look away.” “I was not!” “You were! I saw a lost soul, like mine, toes so deep in the sand you couldn’t see them. An aching heart so shredded it was like fire works going off around you.” “and that made me beautiful?” “It made you real. It meant you could feel, deeply. And when you can feel, deeply - well, that’s the purest of beauty.” “and you saw all that just by looking at me?” “I felt you in my soul, and it made me feel.. not so lost anymore.” “Oh… Oscar.” “What is this all about, Vera?” “Well, to be honest, I was beginning to feel a little bit lost again.” “Oh, Vera..” “When you looked at me from that rickety ol’ dock, something in my soul ignited.” “You felt it too?” “Very much so.” “Hm, you never made a mention of that.” “Well, growing up crushed by the weight of endless trauma, you learn to hide such feelings.” “Fair.” “I just… I just needed that reminder, of what ignited my soul in the first place.” “You mean.. by giving you this look?” “Yes! Oh.. Yes, that look!” “You will always be the girl of my wildest imagination, Vera. Without you, there would only be darkness.”
By Kendra J. Anthony4 days ago in Fiction
Comments (2)
This story is really fun! The witch has this cool, mysterious vibe but also a playful side, making her seem more approachable than you'd expect. The rat is cute and cautious, but also a bit brave for speaking up. Their dynamic makes the story feel so real and enjoyable! ❤
This is such a whimsical and fresh take on the classic "deal with a witch" tale! The playful banter between the witch and the rat adds charm, and the twist—where the witch isn't malicious, just misunderstood—makes it feel heartwarmingly unique. It’s delightful and full of personality!