The Bayou

"Eve Marie! Get yo blanche self over here, NAW!" The red-haired older woman screamed from the hot porch. It was a hot day in Louisiana, the heat withering the plants that were already dead as they surrounded the older woman's lawn.

"I'm coming, ma!" Eve-Marie yelled as she dropped her bike into the grass and sprinted toward the house, the long wheat leaves pricking her skin, but she didn't mind. She knew she had to get back into the house for prayer and supper. She was already late, the sweltering sun starting to set as her foot hit the entrance of the house, her face immediately getting struck by the older woman's hot hand.

"You outta be a fool to embarrass me like this again! Get in the living room and join em. Hurry on!" Mama Barre exclaimed before storming off into the kitchen, leaving her eldest daughter glaring at the floor out of anger.

"Sòsyè estipid." She hissed under her breath before storming into the living room with her siblings and grabbing her Bible.

(Stupid witch.)

"Alright, foos! Get on your knees and get to Leviticus chapter three verse thirteen." Eve-Marie growled before plopping herself on the ground.

"God ain't seeming too pleasant with your attitude, Eva." Eve-Marie's little sister, Jasmine, chuckled causing the eldest girl to roll her eyes.

"If you don't shut up!"

"Eve-Marie! You best pe bouch ou! Talkin like that at your big ol age! You best go to bed without supper or prayer. Go redeem yourself somewhea else with allat attitude." Mama Barre yelled at Eve-Marie as she pointed out the door.

(Shut your mouth.)

"Whateva. Bon nwi." Eve spat before storming out the house and slamming the door shut. She grabbed her bike from the grass and sped down the field. The sky went dark by the time she reached the bayou, her tears of frustration streaming down her face as she threw her bike to the ground and slumped down on the ground next to the swampy lake.

She hated her life in New Orleans. She wanted nothing more than to run away from home and never come back. She hated the way her mother constantly degraded her but praised her younger siblings. She did everything she was supposed to do.

Eve-Marie was the eldest of five children. They were all fatherless, every single one of the kids having different fathers. Her mother took her anger out on Eve-Marie, making her obligated to take care of her siblings and be nothing but a good role model. She went to school, now going to the community college that was in town for her associates degree. When she wasn't in school, she was working or at home taking care of the kids.

Which included cooking, cleaning, homework help and Bible study, and even through all of that her mother still thinks she's unworthy of respect and making her own adult decisions.

"Stupid lady..tryna pin me down like her mans did to her....ion have no obligations here. Not like those rat bastards are grateful for what I do anyway. I spend all my money on them fools just for them to treat me like fatra...forget em.." Eve-Marie mumbled to herself as she stomped across the swamp, pulling on twigs and hitting the branches out of frustration.

She walked and walked, the sound of crickets and branches snapping filling her ears when the sound of water splashing caused them to perk up.

"What in the..." Eve-Marie whispered as she looked over to see a figure swimming in the swampy green water.

"That best ain't be no siren.." She gasped quietly as she saw the figure a little closer, it's long black hair trailing behind them as they swam across the bayou, coming closer to Eve-Marie.

Eve took a step back, but gasped as she fell to the ground when the figure swam closer toward the edge of the lake. The water bubbled for a second causing her to squint her eyes, but gasp loudly and trail back as red, piercing eyes met hers as it's head popped from under the water.

"Oh..no no no, what the...." Eve-Marie gasped as she stood to her feet and started to run, hearing the water that surrounded her move as the figure swam faster to catch up to Eve.

Eve was crying as she ran, the fear of God striking her as she started to pray away whatever demon was following her. She promised to never speak badly about her family again, but to make it out of the bayou alive.

"He won't save you, honey." She heard a voice whisper in her ear, causing her to gasp as she looked around trying to figure out where it came from. It continued to echo around her and she started to cry harder and continued to chant her prayer as she clung to her rosary necklace.

A loud, haunting laugh filled her ears and Eve-Marie searched around for her bike, crying harder as she saw it had been tossed into the swamp water. It sank and she looked around as she tried to figure out what was happening to her.

"Who are you?!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Leave me alone!" She yelled before sobbing.

"You'll see...you're exactly where you're supposed to be."

Eve-Marie stared into space as she continued to dig the twig into the dirt that laid in front of her porch. She was exhausted, unable to get any sleep the last few nights. Every time she closed her eyes she saw those blood red orbs that haunted her in the swamp. She never ran so fast in her life, running straight to her room and taking out her Bible and clutching it the entire night as she tried her best to sleep.

She couldn't.

"Get inside and get dressed. We goin' to the market." Mama Barre stated grimly as she walked to the porch. Eve-Marie nodded swiftly and stood before looking at her mom.

"What's wrong with what I got on?" She asked as she smoothed down her beige dress.

"You best not walk behind me lookin like that, Eve-Marie. Go inside and put somethin else on. Looking like a damn rag doll in them drapes."

Eve-Marie sighed as she slipped on her sandals after buttoning her shorts before walking downstairs to meet her mom outside. She wanted nothing more than to take a warm bath and to try and sleep while the sun was still out, but knowing her mom she knew she wouldn't be able to.

So instead she strolled behind her mom and her siblings as they walked through the community market. People sold their produce and jewelry, others sold crosses and bibles along with fabric and other church goods.

Eve-Marie's ears perked up as she heard her mom and the community pastor talking swiftly about the rumors of a witch living amongst them.

"...Oui, Cherie. She talm' bout stayin out of the bayou cause that's where she saw the siren. They are making a comeback, mama Barre. Watch your kids, ma'am."

"I sure will pastor Ton-"

"I saw the witch." Eve-Marie suddenly whispered, causing her mom and Pastor Tony to look over at her swiftly.

"Stop talkin that nonsense and stay outta grown folk business!" Mama Barre scolded, causing Eve-Marie's eyes to fill with tears of embarrassment.

"No, mama. It's true, I did. I swear on it. She was evil with beading red eyes swimming in the bayou!"

"What was you doin in the bayou?!" Mama Barre shouted, causing every single head to turn and stare at her eldest daughter who sniffed as the tears started to stream down her face. Pastor Tony started chanting a prayer as he held his crucifix toward Eve who looked at him in confusion. People started to crowd the young woman as she backed up, her mom glaring at her as everyone started to pray along with Pastor Tony. Her siblings laughed and jumped around her, the overwhelming feeling of claustrophobia and sensory overload filling her body.

"I done told you look onto these kids, Mama Barre. Now she was in contact with the demon! She needs prayer and isolation until evil gets away from her completely."

"Leave me alone!" Eve-Marie screamed before pushing past the crowd and running down the road. Everyone screamed for her to come back but she ran faster, sobbing and gasping for air as she tried to escape the taunting Christians.

Eve-Marie leaned against a tree as she tried to catch her breath before gagging and emptying her stomach of the contents that were inside of it.

Which was barely anything.

"You should listen to em." Eve-Marie heard from behind her, causing her to gasp and stand straight as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

The woman was almost as tall as a statue as she stared down at Eve-Marie. Her eyes were the color of gold in contrast to her skin that was darker than mud. Her body was covered in a sheer black cloak, her hair long and matted into locs as it laid down her tall body, stopping just above her calves. She was holding a large black straw basket that was covered with a matching top.

"What are you talkin about? Leave that nonsense somewhere else." Eve spat before storming off. She heard the woman laugh and she stopped in her tracks, the laugh she heard in the bayou that night filling her head.

"You're just a fresh little honey. Somebody oughta teach you a lesson." The woman chuckled as she swiftly glided over toward Eve, standing in front of her with her arms crossed over her chest.

"And who that oughta be? You?" Eve-Marie scoffed, causing the older woman to smirk as she analyzed the young woman's face.

"It might be." She breathed before turning on her heels and swiftly walking away, leaving Eve-Marie confused as she watched the woman disappear into the distance.

"Whatever."

Eve-Marie continued her hike in the woods as she tried her best to keep her composure. She felt the air getting cooler indicating it was starting to get late and felt she should head back. Part of her was afraid to go back in fear of her mom hurting her but she knew she couldn't stay out here after dark especially with a witch on the loose.

"Shit." She mustered as she sat on top of a log and looked into the distance. She heard birds chirping and the river that was further down. Eve-Marie swallowed and looked up at the sky but jumped as she heard the loud shriek of an animal being hurt.

She stood up abruptly as she looked around, hearing the birds caw as they flew away in a flock. Her body started to tremble as she started to run, trying to find her way out of the woods.

She didn't succeed, crying hysterically as she realized she was running in circles. She took in a deep breath and started to run again, taking a different direction than she did before. She ran and ran, the sky getting darker and darker until she leaned against a tree, panting as she looked around.

It was the same tree from earlier when she met the mysterious woman that disappeared into the woods.

"Crap." She whimpered as she tried to remember which direction she came from.

"Come."

Eve-Marie twisted around and saw a small girl with pigtails as she held her hand toward the young woman. Eve-Marie shook her head, analyzing the young girl. She had on a similar cloak to the older woman she met earlier, but something was off about her.

"It's okay. Come."

The little girl smiled and kept her hand stretched out toward Eve-Marie. She shook her head again as she realized the child had black eyes that were gleaming in the dark.

"If you don't come with me, you're going to die."

Eve-Marie walked through the dark woods as the little girl pulled her arm. She looked around as she swallowed, the fear traveling up her throat.

"Come on, she's waiting."

"Who?" Eve asked shakily. The little girl turned around and smiled, before continuing to walk. Eve-Marie gulped as she saw the bayou, gasping as she pulled her hand away from the little girl.

"I am not going there! I knew you were a trap!" Eve yelled as she started to run, but gasping as she bumped right into a large figure and falling onto the ground.

The older woman stared down at Eve-Marie with a large smirk, her gold eyes beaming down at her. The little girl stood next to her, before her clothes fell to the ground as her figure disappeared completely, causing Eve to gasp and back away.

Under the little girl's cloak scattered rats, causing her to scream in fear as they swarmed away from both women. The older woman chuckled darkly before letting out a pleased sigh.

"Let's go." She demanded as she watched Eve-Marie scramble to her feet.

"You're the siren." Eve hissed as she glared up at the older woman who just smiled wider as her eyes turned bright red.

"How'd you guess?" She moaned seductively, her voice sounding morphed as if she had multiple voices speaking through her. Eve-Marie stared up at the woman with wide eyes as she chuckled.

"I said let's go." The woman growled deeply, her voice sending chills through Eve's body. Eve hesitantly walked in front of the woman, watching as a boat floated toward them.

"Inside."

Eve obeyed, slipping into the wooden boat and sitting on the bench, watching as the woman took off her cloak, exposing her naked body causing Eve to gasp lowly. Her face heated up and she looked away bashfully as she covered her mouth slightly with her hand.

Oh my..what a lady..or something..

"Like what you see?" Eve heard from behind her causing her to yelp and scurry to the other side of the boat, the older woman laughing loudly as she exposed her sharp teeth.

"It's okay..I don't bite.." She taunted as she moved closer to Eve, the young woman whimpering as she took a sharp finger and ran it across her cheek.

"You're so pretty..and smell so delicious. I could just eat you."

Eve whimpered as the woman finished her sentence, her voice deep and haunting before laughing again.

"Are you hungry?" She asked suddenly. Eve nodded slowly, still shrunk away from the older woman who just nodded and smiled.

"I'll make you supper. Hold on tight."

The woman disappeared under the water and Eve gasped loudly as the boat suddenly started to move across the water, rocking back and forth. Eve held onto the sides of the boat as they traveled across the swamp water.

They passed through willow trees and clouds of fog that hovered over the water. Eve started to drift asleep from the soothing ride, but woke up when she heard the soft sound of someone singing a tune. The voice echoed through the swamp and she watched as the boat came to a halt in front of a piece of land that connected to the other side of the woods.

The cabin was large as it sat in between the trees. The outside was covered in pink salt and large crystals that glistened under the moonlight. Eve gasped as she watched the older woman step onto the land and looked back at Eve over her shoulder with her smirk.

"Well..Are you coming?" She asked before striding with her long legs into the cabin as she flipped her hair over her shoulder. Eve couldn't help but watch the woman walk elegantly into the cabin, her long legs falling in front of the other. Eve swallowed hard and climbed from the boat, walking into the cabin and gasping.

There were mirrors everywhere, the house being larger than it looked on the inside. She looked up at the ceiling to see her reflection staring back, watching as the naked older woman stood behind her swiftly, causing her to jump.

"Relax..I don't bite.." She whispered before kissing the back of Eve's ear, causing her to gasp lowly. She couldn't understand what the woman wanted from her, but felt butterflies swarm in the pit of her stomach as the woman continued to kiss her ear, before kissing down to her shoulder.

"What do you want?" Eve asked quietly, her eyes staring straight into the mirror and meeting the red orbs that looked over her shoulder.

"You'll see.."

"Will I be going home?" The young woman asked, gasping as she felt the woman's sharp nails dig into her hips.

"This is your home."

Eve-Marie shook her head but shuddered as the older woman stood in front of her with her hand wrapped around the young woman's pale neck, her thumb rubbing against her plump bottom lip as she smirked down at her. She slipped her finger in between Eve's lips and nodded as she opened her mouth slightly, taking the older woman's finger into her mouth.

"Good girl.." She whispered as Eve sucked on her thumb while looking into her red orbs, suddenly feeling hypnotized by the woman. She wanted nothing more than to submit to her. To serve her in all the ways she needed it.

The older woman watched in amazement as Eve's eyes slowly morphed, black fluid filling her emerald eyes until they were pitch black, the drool dripping from her mouth as she moaned while the older woman moved her thumb inside of her mouth, causing her head to twist and turn, before clutching her neck again.

"This is your home now."