Witchfinder: Old Matsdotter Rock

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. The cabin lay not far from Old Matsdotter Rock. The rock was named after a Witch in Sweden who was burned alive at the stake. My grandmother Borgildha, always told me stories about the day they burned the Witch, Malin Matsdotter, she had seen it with her own eyes.

It was the end of July 1676 when they found Witch Matsdotter after a massive year-long hunt. They held her captive to try to get her to spill the secrets of where all the children were at. With no luck, her execution took place a week later in August. She was accused of abducting children, taking them to a satanic ritual in the woods in which they would be used for sacrifices and their virgin blood used to bathe in for youth. One of the children taken was my sister. I decided that day forth I would devote my life to being a Witchfinder.

The townspeople of Stockholm filled the streets with chants to burn the Witch. They had piled entire pine trees 100 feet high to ensure she would be turned to ash for good. Once the fire was roaring and growing closer to Witch Matsdotter who was pinned to a wooden beam at the center of the pile, her throat wrapped with gunpowder to ensure she would be no more, they heard cries from the Witch. These cries were not cries of pain but of laughter. The thick black smoke soon billowed through the town, almost forming fists and grabbing at the townspeople.

Grandmother Borghilda recalls the flames licking the Witch like a horse's tongue gulping water, but the flames grew so high and the smoke so thick, she was not able to see if the Witch actually burned for herself. Grandmother Borghilda insists that the Witch must still be alive because no one was able to see the witch after the flames rose so high, other townspeople believe there is no way she could still be alive. Some say she escaped in the smoke and still walks among the town.

I have searched all over these woods for witches, flipping every stone and branch. I have passed this abandoned cabin many times and it layed empty. The candle in the window has been flickering but casting no shadows. The flame is moving as to beckon me over, almost hypnotizing. Something is off.

As I make my way closer, down the side of the mountain, I can hear voices. It sounds like there are many but I can't quite make out how many. I am now about 200 feet from the cabin and the voices are chanting. It feels like the voices are drumming inside of my chest.

It is a full moon tonight. If the witch is here, she is up to no good. I am hiding behind trees and trying to make no noise. I need to catch whoever it is by surprise. The closer to the cabin I get the more things feel blurry. I feel warm but goosebumps still cover my arms. The voices now seem to come from all directions and not just the cabin. The tall trees shadows seem to dance under the moonlight morphing into people. The wind is picking up and rattle the limbs against each other. A group of leaves start to drift into the air. Circling around me, I feel the air in my lungs grow heavier. Its as if the air is drugging me.

The Witch knows I am here. I gather my bearings. There is no more hiding if she has casted a spell on these woods circling the cabin. The chants grow louder and I can now see there are people wearing all black cloaks dancing around a small fire behind the cabin. I count them, for a total of 7. I put my hand on my musket and run to the front door of the cabin. The wood beneath my boots creaks. The chanting stops and it now completely quiet.

The sound of my own breathing could probably be heard for miles. My heart feels like it is beating out of my own chest. I feel light headed and sweaty. I want to run back but it is too late now. I reach the window where the candle is.

I can hear footsteps in the cabin and whispering. The candle burns red. Its giving off so much heat it feels like a bonfire. I know that I must blow this candle out to end what must be a ritual. The Witches are circled inside the cabin. Swaying back and forth rhythmically, but not facing me. I see something covered in fur lying on the floor, the smell is grotesque. The Witches giggle, it seems to echo inside my skull. "The Devil is here my fellow sisters." one of them say.

I gasp and stumble back, making too much noise. The witches have de-cloaked and all turn towards the window. I can now see their faces. It is not their own faces, but of those children they kidnapped, they are wearing their faces like a mask. The last thing I hear is a loud CRACK. Followed by laughter "Stupid Brother, you should not have looked for me."