Witch: A Horror Novel (The Cursed Manuscripts) Page 2

  Jude searched left and right. He pointed towards the woods on their left. “Let’s try to hide in the trees.”

  “If they catch us in the woods, we’re fucked.”

  Jude didn’t give her any choice. His panic caused him to leap into the ditch that ran alongside the path and head for the trees. The woods started with thorny bushes and spindly trees, but things grew thicker after a few metres. Ashley and Jude often trudged through the lighter areas when they were looking for something to do, but she didn’t fancy getting cornered inside the woods. At least on the path, a passer-by might intervene on their behalf. Sometimes you could even find the odd community policing officer taking a stroll.

  It was a bad idea entering the woods, but Ashley had no choice but to follow her friend.

  Jude leapt up the other side of the ditch and dashed between the trees. Ashley hurried in behind him. The two of them dodged through some thick bushes and ducked past the remnants of an old fence.

  Ricky leapt into the ditch behind them. “You two are dead,” he shouted. “I don’t like having to run.”

  “I’m going to cut your fucking throats,” shouted Lily.

  Ashley put a hand on Jude’s back as they dodged through the bushes. “Keep going!”

  Jude dashed to his left. In the direction of the golf course, the woods would gradually thin out, but in the direction they were heading, things grew denser and more overgrown. Countless bushes, branches, and ancient trees intermingled to form a near-constant obstacle course.

  “We can’t go this way,” said Ashley. “We’ll break our necks if we keep going.”

  “What choice do we have? How else will we—” Jude tripped and stumbled forward, landing on his side amongst the thorny weeds. Ashley lifted him to his feet and tried to get him running again, but it was too late.

  “Got you!” Ricky moved past them and planted his feet. His gang spread out around them.

  Jude and Ashley back-pedalled to where the ground disappeared into a massive drop that the local kids all called Devil’s Ditch. Thick bushes covered the ground all around them, but the slope was a steep drop comprising thick mud and hard stone. There was nowhere to go.

  Ricky, Lily, and the twins closed in tighter like a pack of hyenas. Ricky glared at Jude, but Lily was grinning. She smirked at Ashley like a hungry serial killer. As much as people around the estate feared Ricky, Lily was the one who truly scared Ashley. The girl’s entire family was notorious for being a bunch of thugs – lunatics, really – and Lily’s dad was in prison more often than he was out. Both of her older brothers were psychos, and sometimes it seemed like Lily was determined to be even worse. While Ricky still attended school from time to time, Lily had been expelled a long time ago.

  Ricky shook his head and chuckled, almost like he was admiring their spirit. “You made me run. I really hate having to run.”

  Jude put his hands up. “Come on, man. Don’t do this.”

  “Do what? Bury you in these fucking woods? Sorry, mate, but my mind’s already made up about that.”

  Lily stepped up to Ashley, getting right in her face. “And don’t think Judy is the only one getting fucked up.” She reached into her jacket and pulled out a small length of black plastic. At first, Ashley didn’t know what it was, but then Lily pressed a button and a sharp blade flicked out the end. With a malicious grin, she brought the blade up against Ashley’s face and pressed the flat side against her cheek. “Maybe I should give you a messed-up eye like your boss-eyed boyfriend here.”

  “Y-You’re not going to use that. Why would you do something so crazy?”

  A few steps back, the twins were laughing, but one of them – possibly Danny – said, “Come on, you two. Let’s leave these losers to it and go get some beers. We can grab some from our dad’s fridge. This shit ain’t worth the trouble.”

  Ricky had moved closer to Jude, but he stepped back now. He looked at the twins. “For real? A’ight, let’s bounce and go get drunk. They’ll be plenty of time to beat on these losers later.”

  A wave of relief washed through Ashley’s stomach. Perhaps Ricky and his mates weren’t complete psychopaths. They’d had their fun, but enough was enough.

  Lily pressed the knife harder against Ashley’s cheek. “Nah, I ain’t leaving till I see some blood.”

  Ashley grunted as something bit into her cheek, and she realised Lily had turned the blade and cut her face. She hopped backwards, almost tumbling down the steep slope behind her, and fingered the wound. Her fingers came back bloody. Ashley saw red, literally and metaphorically. “You total fucking maniac. I’m gunna kill you.”

  Ashley bunched her hands into fists and took a step towards Lily, which she knew was a stupid idea, seeing as Lily still held the knife, but she couldn’t stop herself. Rage seized her muscles and mind. She wanted to destroy Lily Barnes. But before Ashley got close enough to engage, Jude tackled her and knocked her backwards.

  Then she was tumbling downwards.

  Chapter Two

  Jude tasted earth. He spat and wiped at his lips, removing the soil that had wedged between his teeth. The impact when he had hit the bottom of the ditch had rattled his bones.

  That hurt about as much as I would have expected.

  Less than a knife though.

  Shoving Ashley down the slope had been more a reaction than a conscious thought. He’d seen his best friend about to lash out at Lily Barnes, who had been holding a knife, and then, before he even knew what he was doing, he tackled Ashley and knocked her backwards.

  I could have broken our necks.

  Jude knew he was a coward – and that Ashley didn’t understand why he never fought back – but the thought of punching someone made him sick. He couldn’t bring himself to raise his fists. At least he had done something, though. He had removed Ashley from danger, even if it had required pushing her down a steep slope.

  What are friends for?

  Jude sat up and looked around. He’d landed on a weed-covered patch of ground, which had softened his fall. Two feet away was a thick, jagged rock that could have caved his skull in.

  Shit! Is Ashley okay?

  Ashley was lying ten feet away, face down in the mud. She was groaning, which was a relief. Jude realised he was groaning too. His forearms were covered in scratches, and the nerves in his left ankle jolted painfully. He peered back up the slope, estimating that the two of them had tumbled fifteen feet or more. His head was spinning.

  He managed to stand. His ribs were still aching from where Ricky had punched him, but the pain was fading.

  Ashley stood up too. She patted herself over, clearing away leaves and moss clinging to her clothes. She was clearly pissed off and was just about to say something when Ricky Dalca bellowed from the top of the slope, “You stupid fucking losers! Next time I see you, you’re dead.”

  “I’ll cut you properly next time, bitch,” Lily shouted.

  Jude peered up at his tormentors, wondering whether they would make the perilous journey down after him. When he saw them turn away and leave, he let out a relieved sigh. Lily shouted a few more threats, but her voice faded into the distance.

  Jude looked around, seeing nothing but trees, weeds, and mud. It was like they had fallen through time and landed in a prehistoric basin. He wouldn’t be surprised if a caveman leapt out at them.

  Ashley grabbed him and made him flinch. “You could’ve killed us, you nutter.”

  “Lily could’ve killed you. What were you thinking, trying to fight her? She had a knife.”

  “She needs to be taught a lesson. She cut my fucking face.” Ashley fingered the still bleeding wound on her cheek and grumbled when she saw her own blood. Kicking at the ground, she let out a furious yell. Then she swore repeatedly, using words only beginning with F, S, and C.

  Jude put a hand on her arm. “Calm down!”

  Ashley whirled on him. “Calm down? Lily’s a fucking maniac. We should call the police. She and Ricky need to be stopped. Those idiot twins as well.”


  “Don’t talk stupid, Ash. Do you remember what happened to Mikey Tanner when he called the police on Ricky last year? Ricky beat his ass so often afterwards that Mikey had to move schools. We don’t have it so bad. We just need to avoid them.”

  “Avoid them? How close to our house do we need to stay just to avoid getting messed with? That crazy bitch cut my face, Jude. I ain’t just gunna let that go. Argh!”

  Jude took a step forward and examined his friend’s face. The cut was long but not deep. “It’s not that bad. Just wipe it. It’s got dirt in it.”

  Ashley wiped her face, grunting again when she saw more blood on her hands. After a few moments, the cut stopped bleeding.

  “How are your ribs?” she asked.

  The mention of his ribs made them ache, but the pain was fleeting. “I’ll live.”

  “Good.” She calmed down a little, but when she pulled out her mobile phone, she grew angry all over again. “My fucking screen’s cracked. My dad is gunna kill me. Fuck it. Fuck, fuck, fuck it!” She went to toss her phone at the ground but stopped herself, holding on to it and instead kicking the trunk of a nearby tree. Leaves shook loose and rained down around her. There was no controlling her when she was like this.

  Jude pulled out his own mobile phone to check it for damage. He didn’t have an expensive iPhone like Ashley, so it would be no great tragedy if it broke, but he was still glad to find it intact. He considered calling his mum but didn’t see how it could help. Even if he explained where they were, she would never find it. She would probably call the police.

  And Ricky would kill us for sure.

  Ashley continued to rage, so Jude explored a little. He and Ashley had never entered Devil’s Ditch before – everyone said the place was haunted – and if Jude were honest, he’d always been too freaked out to come down here. His mind would run away with him and conjure images of werewolves and monsters dwelling in the ditch.

  “Hey, Ashley.” He looked at her and frowned. “What’s that you’ve got on you?”

  She pulled a face. “Huh?”

  He reached out behind her ear to grab something. When he pulled back his hand, Ashley was concerned. “It’s okay, I got it.”

  “Got what?”

  He opened his palm to reveal the pretend gold coin. “You’re a real treasure, Ashley.”

  She groaned. “God, is that your latest trick? It would work better if you said you always knew I was made of money.”

  He tutted. “Damn, you’re right. I’m going to use that.”

  “Just not on me, okay? That trick was lame.”

  Jude blushed, but before he could get too embarrassed, Ashley pointed back up the slope. “How are we going to get back up there? It’s almost vertical.”

  “I dunno, but we need to wait awhile first. Ricky and Lily could still be up there, hiding. Let’s take a walk and see if we can come out somewhere else.”

  He took a short stroll, glancing back and forth in wonder. While he’d always been too afraid to enter the ditch, now that he was here, the prospect of exploring it excited him.

  “Let’s head over here,” he said, pointing. “I think there’s a way through.”

  Ashley flapped her arms and sighed. While she clearly didn’t want to, she followed him, but she complained the whole time. “This sucks. I’m covered in mud. I’ve got scratches all over my arms. I’m stuck in a ditch. My T-shirt is ruined.”

  “Just come on, will you? You can take a bath when you get home.”

  “If I ever get home. We’re probably going to die out here.”

  “That’s a tad dramatic.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Well, even if we do, thanks for telling everyone I had a big dick.”

  “Don’t mention it. I’m sure you do have. Just keep it away from me.”

  They shared a giggle and then slid through a gap between two thick trees that were wrapped together like embracing lovers. Overhead, the branches were so thick that the sun barely made it to the ground. Devil’s Ditch was dark and shadowy, but with Ashley by his side, Jude didn’t get too freaked out. Her constant complaining broke the ominous spell and reminded him that life was more boredom than fantasy.

  Up ahead, something peeked out of the ivy wrapped around an old oak tree. The object appeared to be metallic, and as Jude got closer, it revealed itself to be an old sign, faded and covered in moss. Only a part of it was visible, and it contained the letters ‘RESPAS’. It only took a moment to work out.

  NO TRESPASSING.

  “What do you think this place used to be?” Jude asked.

  Ashley shrugged. “Nothing. It’s a big hole in the ground in the middle of the woods. How could it have ever been anything else?”

  “I suppose you’re right, but why put a sign out here if there’s nothing? Maybe there’s a World War Two bunker or an old burial ground like the one they found when they extended the Tesco car park. That would be well cool.”

  “The sign’s probably just to keep idiots like us from breaking their necks down here.” She shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I still can’t believe we’re down here.”

  Jude realised she was still seething after her encounter with Lily. If she didn’t calm down soon, she’d end up with one of her headaches. Once that happened, she would become unbearable.

  “Just chill out, Ash. Everything’s fine. We’re just having a mooch about, aren’t we? Another ten minutes, and we’ll try to get out of here. I just don’t want another run-in with Ricky.”

  “I don’t know how you can be so calm after he hit you.”

  “It’s not exactly the first time.”

  “That’s my point. When is enough enough?”

  Jude sighed. “Just… let it go. It’s over now.”

  But Ashley didn’t let it go. In fact, she found a rock, bent to pick it up, and flung it at the sign so hard that she almost went after it. It was an impressive shot, the rock bouncing off the metal sign and ricocheting ten feet into the air. “Now that felt better,” she said. “Just wish it was Lily’s face.”

  “The warrior princess let loose her sling and struck the evil sorcerer’s power stone. The sorcerer’s energy ran dry, and with no other option, the wicked monster fled, defeated.” He grinned, knowing how much his improvised narratives annoyed her – and yet amused her at the same time. “With her trusted mage by her side, the warrior princess continued on through the enchanted woods, knowing she could not stop until her destiny was fulfilled.”

  Ashley rolled her eyes and groaned. “Oh please, don’t start with your fantasy crap. Not now.”

  Jude chuckled. One day, he would write an awesome fantasy novel, but for now he was happy just to annoy Ashley, as she always annoyed him with her constant street dance. “The warrior princess thanked her trusted mage for his enduring spirit and unwavering positivity. Without it, she would certainly turn to the dark side.”

  Ashley grinned, despite her obvious efforts to fight it. “You’re such a dork. Perhaps Ricky was right. I can do better.” It was only a joke, but it pricked Jude’s emotions, and the sudden twinge of upset must have crossed his face because Ashley reached over and gave him a playful shove on the arm. “Hey, I’m just kidding. It’s me and you, right? It’s always me and you.”

  “Yeah, I know.” He knelt and picked up a withered old branch, whacking it against a tree like a sword and sending vibrations up his wrist. He liked the weight of it but decided not to keep hold of it.

  I’m not a ten-year-old anymore.

  “Come on, let’s see what’s over there,” said Ashley. She cut left through a gap in the bushes and hopped over a fallen tree trunk. Something scuttled nearby in the undergrowth – a rat or squirrel – and the fact they weren’t alone sent shivers along Jude’s spine. He followed Ashley, looking around and watching his step, and once again he was in awe of the undiscovered grotto. Based on the overgrown NO TRESPASSING sign, they might have been the first people here in years. The remnants of a barbwire f
ence snaked through the bushes nearby, but the posts had long ago rotted. Odd bits of concrete lay scattered and pressed into the earth – echoes of the past. It really did make Jude feel like an adventurer on some quest.

  “Hey,” said Ashley, catching his eye and pointing. “It opens up over here. We might find a way out onto the golf course.”

  “I think we headed away from the golf course, not towards it. I’m not sure what this place backs up onto.”

  They pushed their way through a few more bushes, tripping several times on hidden roots and catching their clothes on hidden thorns. Then they made it out into a clearing. What they found was unexpected.

  Jude put his hands on his hips and whistled. “Can you believe this? There’s something here, after all. How old do you think this place is?”

  Ashley moved up alongside him, and they studied the old house together. The building was made of brick, but a third of it had crumbled into dust. Wooden trusses formed its roof, yet only a handful of ancient tiles remained in place. Moss and ivy enveloped the structure, and twisted, intermingling branches made it appear as though the building had grown out of the ground itself.

  “It must have been abandoned for decades,” said Ashley. “Fifty years, maybe?”

  “Try a hundred,” said Jude. “I bet this was here before they built the housing estate. It was probably a farm or something.”

  “It’s fucking spooky. I say we get out of here before it gets dark.”

  Jude moved closer to the farmhouse, stepping through the weeds. “I thought I was the cowardly one. You’re not gunna wet yourself, are you?”

  Ashley rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Dick.”

  The old farmhouse intrigued Jude. Again he thought of how the two of them might be the first people to set foot here in years. It excited him. None of the local kids knew about this place, so in a way, it belonged to him and Ashley. It could be their secret getaway.

  He automatically took another step forward, as though he were being pulled by some invisible chain. It was only when his foot came down on something soft and yielding that he stopped. “Oh, are you kidding me? Gross!”