Witch of Elmsburry

Wearing another person's skin feels like donning a cheap, wet track suit- somehow sticky and scratchy all at once. But, beauty like this demands sacrifice, and it's always worth it in the end. I make my way to school on foot, taking my time, hoping a brisk autumn walk will make me more comfortable in this new skin.

I took care to notice how warm this town felt even in fall. Charming mom-and-pop shops strewn down the street adorning different colors and themes. Bikes and balls scattered across front yards waiting for the return of children, while older folks wave seated from their porch to anyone who passes by. This charming scene made me feel as if I was drinking a hot cup of apple cider decorated with cinnamon sticks-a sweet warmth that made me sick to my stomach.

I see a boy helping an elderly woman with her plants. She offers the boy some cash but he shakes his head "no" with his hand raised. Of course. Finally, I arrived at the school entrance and notice a young man rummaging through his handbag. “Missing something?” I ask startling him. He quickly turns around. “Oh Emily! Good morning, just trying to find my darn ID card in this maze of a handbag.” The man is pale and slender with a tired and sad face.

“Nice, found it” he says pulling out the card. I gently grab the ID card from his hand lightly brushing my fingers against his, "Let me get that for you".

“Huh, Eric Bullman... what a dull name” I think swiping the card to unlock the door.

“Appreciate it Emily but I could have just did that myself,” he says.

“I know. I just remembered how cute your ID card photo was and just had to see it again,” I tease, giving his pale face some color. He stares at me as if he couldn't believe the words that just came out of my mouth.

After a moment I smile, “So are you going to get the door for me or is chivalry dead?”

“Y-yes! Right. Apologies milady”. He pushes the door open and we walk down the hall together.

“You seem tired Eric, let me make you some coffee in the break room."

“I'm fine thanks I had some black tea this morning.”

“Well I'll just make some for myself then." I smile and place my hand lightly on his arm. "Though some company while I wait for it to brew would be much appreciated."

“Y-yeah no problem," he stammers, shooting short glances at my hand. "Just not for too long. I still need to finish up today's lesson plan”.

As we walk down the hall I notice every classroom’s door is decorated differently. At the break room, I find the coffee already brewed and the cabinet already stocked. Grabbing a mug, some sugar, and powdered cream I began making a very "interesting" cup of joe. However, I was missing a "special ingredient", I slice open my index finger with my thumbnail, a few crimson drops fall into the mug. With a slow stir I finish the potion and take a sip. “Mmm. Heavenly. You absolutely have to try this Eric.”

He accepts taking a sip only to gag immediately. “Heavenly? I've never had coffee that tasted how roadkill smells” he chokes, rushing to the sink.

I laugh softly, “Didn’t know you were such a roadkill connoisseur," I murmur. "Wait hold on, this creamer is expired,” I adding innocently, feigning surprise. Anyone with half a brain could tell it was bought recently. “So strange I didn’t taste it, I'll throw this away so it doesn’t claim any other victims.”

“Yeah, that’d be wise,” water dripping down from his shirt.

“Oh, Eric you’re absolutely drenched,” I grab some napkins, dabbing the water off his shirt. My hands start at his chest sliding upwards towards his neck. I could feel his breath falter and his beady eyes staring at my lips and down my blouse.

Knowing this pathetic worm of man could never make the first move I decided to take the matter into my own hands. I look up and meet his eyes then start to move my stare down towards his lips and begin to slowly move forward. Just as our lips are about to touch he jerks away.

“M-Mr. Henry, how long have you been standing there?” Eric stammers. I look to my right and see a stocky man with a push broom for a mustache leaning against the door frame.

“About a minute, didn’t want to interrupt whatever this was,” he says crunching on an apple.

“Wait hold on it’s n-” Eric blurts out.

“Mrs. Landry’s gonna eat this up” he picks up his mug off the counter and exits with a hearty laugh.

“Don’t worry about him Eric, let him run his mouth. How about we redeem this moment-drinks after work?”

“Sure, sounds great,” he mutters.

“Look at the time, it’s almost time for homeroom, by the way did you see how I decorated my classroom door?”

“Yeah the one with the pumpkin cutouts and pine cone reef, it’s been that way for a month. Looks great.”

“All right I was just making sure you noticed it, let's meet here after classes. See you later!”

It takes a while but I’m finally able to find my classroom door. Adjacent to it stands a trophy display, my eyes lock on a framed "MVP" picture of a familiar boy-the same boy from this morning. “Interesting” I thought, grinning to myself. I get into my classroom and prepare myself for the impending onslaught of snot nosed brats. However, the day flows smoothly; improvising a lesson plan comes is as easy to me as plucking the eyes from a baby.

Throughout the day, I noticed a quiet girl. She's smaller than her classmates, smelled like sour milk, and sits alone, silent like a mouse. During lunch break I see her with a pathetic excuse of a meal: a single piece of cheese between two slices of bread. “What a sad and tortured little soul... perfect” I thought, feeling a pulse of excitement at this sudden opportunity.

I excused myself from the class and head to the vending machine in the break room. I purchased a chocolate peanut butter bar. With bait in hand I return back to the classroom.

“Psst Jamine, come her for a sec,” I whisper.

“Yes Miss Reed?,” she replies.

“I got this just for you”, I slowly pulled out the candy bar and she stared at it as if

it were made of pure gold. She looks around nervously, “For me?” she asks.

“Of course. You are my favorite student after all-just don’t tell your classmates”. She gently took the chocolate bar out of my hand, gives a shy thank you while staring at the ground and walks back to her seat. Towards the end of the day I catch her sneaking glances at me, the kind a child would give their mother.

Finally, the end-of-day bell rings and I shepherd these booger eating gremlins out to the buses waiting outside. Once finished, I make my way to the break room and find the “man of my dreams” sitting at the table scrolling through his phone. I sneak up behind him, draping my arms around him and nestling my head in his shoulders “Miss me?” He jolts and turns in his chair to face me, “Uh, yeah. Ready for those drinks,” he manages forcing a smile.

“Born ready, we'll carpool since my car’s in the shop.”

“Oh, of course. But you could have texted me before work this morning, I would have picked you up.”

“No need, I enjoy my little morning walks, they’re so... refreshing.”

We head to the faculty parking lot talking about how hilariously unpredictable and ignorant our students are. Before long, we arrive at the local Applebee's and grab seats at the bar. We start downing drinks while recalling embarrassing stories and making crass jokes. About an hour passes and I noticed he’s pleasantly tipsy. Just the perfect state I need him in. I suggest we call it a night.

“But I’m driving, I didn’t drink as much and it would kill me if you got a DUI” I insist.

“Aye Aye Captain” he mutters.

He pays the tab, I grab his hand I lead him towards the parking lot. We get in the car and I select his home address saved on the car's console. As I drive him home he talks non-stop about how he doesn't get drunk this often and needs to be a better teacher for his students. I had half a mind to crash his car into a light pole just to shut him up. We get to his apartment and I walk him to his door.

“How are you getting home?” his gaze lowering towards my chest.

“What are you talking about, I thought I'd just crash here,” I grab him by the collar and press his lips against mine. We start to make out, falling through the front door, stumbling through the living and eventually crash landing in the bedroom. I easily remove his pants and he struggles to take off my blouse. We do the deed of darkness for an exhilarating eleven seconds. But that’s all I needed to make him mine.

He lies in the bed motionless, staring at the ceiling with wide, glassy eyes like a fish put on ice. I lean close to him and whisper what I need done by him tomorrow to make very, very happy. His head nodding as obediently as I speak. With that, I open his bedroom window and vanish into the night.

The next morning, on my way to school, I see the same boy

from yesterday.

“A boy that‘s up this early deserves a trophy,” I exclaim, grabbing his attention.

“Thanks ma‘am but I already have enough,” he boasts.

“What for?”

“I’m Elmsburry Elementary's best soccer player, even Coach Henry says so.”

“Elmsburry Elementary! That’s where I teach. Say since you’re also apart of the Elmsburry family let me help kick off your promising soccer career”

“Really!?”

“Yeah come meet after school in Room 124, I’ll get you in touch with my brother. He’s a coach at a private middle school just south of here and could get you a scholarship”

“Woah no way, are you serious?” his eyes glinting with excitement

“Deadly," I reply with a toothy grin.

Jasmine was attached to me by the hip throughout the entire day. Towards the end of the day I made her a little promise. “Hey Jasmine I have a little promise for us," I whisper. "If you give me a lock of your hair and I give you a lock of mine we’ll always be with one another even after the last bell rings.” She agrees and we carefully exchange strands of hair. The end-of-day bell rings and my class clears out with Jasmine being the last to leave.

Five minutes don't even pass from when the final bell rang and the boy from this morning comes rushing through my door.

“Ma‘am hope I‘m not too late,” he says, catching his breath.

“No you’re just in time," I smile. "I’m just about done wrapping up here, but once I’m done I can take you to meet my brother.”

“He’s here!?”

“Yeah, he’s in town crashing at my place.”

“Awesome. but before we go I’ll let my parents know what's going on.”

“No need my house is less than a mile from here and this little meet and greet shouldn’t take long, considering he just wants to ask you a few questions.”

“OK, If you say so ma’am, can't wait to surprise my mom with this scholarship!”

"Who doesn't love surprises," I smile leading him to my house.

As soon as we step inside I slam the door shut behind him.Spread across the living room table are saws, hammers, and blades all varying in sizes perfectly arranged. I felt an overpowering feeling of ecstasy wash over me. The boy stood there frozen. I could smell the fear excreting from his pores, practically tasting it. I place a cold and heavy hand on his shoulder, “I don’t think I could have waited another day”. Hours pass, his delicious screams echoing throughout the house, making for the perfect appetizer.

"MVP?" I thought, the boy made a better a pie than a soccer player. Even though I was starving I could not enjoy this meal alone. Acknowledging this, I disappeared into the night gripping a black and curly lock of hair. I slip through Jasmine's window as she, somehow, sleeps so peacefully on a twin mattress that rested on the floor. I slowly approached her.

“Psst, Jasmine. Guess who?”

“Huh? Miss Reed what are you doing here?” she ask groggily.

“I’m taking you to my special friend," I look at her lovingly. "He’s just dying to meet you.”

“Does he have candy bars?” she asks staring at me with doe eyes.

“Why yes, he has the tastiest candy bars you have ever dreamed of. All you

have to do is say "yes".”

“Okay,” she murmurs.

“Close enough,” I scoop her up into my arm-when suddenly, her door slams open.

“Jasmine whe- wait WHO THE HELL ARE YOU AND WHAT THE FUC-” Before he can cross the room, in an instant, I have his throat in my grasp. Clawing at my face gasping for air, he peels away skin revealing what lies beneath. “What... are... you?” he strains to say right before I snap his neck.

“Come Jasmine,” she was in shock but did not resist me as I went to pick her back up. Just like that we fade into the night. We arrive at the house but as soon as I close the door, I hear sirens wail from down the street. I close my eyes and encroach my will into my slaves mind, giving him new orders.

Moments later a bang shakes the door, followed by an unnecessarily loud “POLICE OPEN UP." I sighed, calling out, “Just a minute!” but about five of them pass, another bang on the door shakes the door- cut off by a deafening crash followed by the crack of gunshots. “Looks like the help has arrived Jasmine. Lets make like banana and split,” Jasmine giggles. Taking her hand I lead her out through the back and into the thick woods behind the house. I absolutely cannot wait for her to meet my very, very generous friend.