Recall

Chapter 28

Hayley’s POV

The witches of our tribe were gathered around a small fire, our faces illuminated by the flickering orange flames.

The air was thick with the scent of herbs and potions as we discussed the day's harvest. We had been struggling to find enough food lately, thanks to the increasingly aggressive behavior of the werewolves.

As we talked, I couldn't help but feel distracted. My mind kept drifting to thoughts of the wolves and what they were doing to our tribe. It seemed like every day we lost more and more of our resources, and I didn't know how much longer we could hold out.

"Hayley, you haven't been yourself lately," my aunt Viola said, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I turned to look at her, feeling a sense of guilt wash over me. "Maybe I just haven't been sleeping well recently," I offered weakly.

Viola's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Your witchcraft abilities should be enough to ensure you sleep well," she said. "Hayley, do you know what your biggest weakness is right now?"

I shook my head, not sure where she was going with this.

"You're too kind," Viola said harshly. "We need warriors, not pacifists. You are the hope of our tribe, and you should carry hatred and killing. I don't see any hatred in your eyes."

I hung my head, feeling like a failure.

Viola was right - I had always struggled with the idea of hurting others, even when it was necessary for our survival. But the thought of carrying hatred and killing made me sick to my stomach.

"Listen up, everyone," my aunt Viola said firmly, addressing the coven gathered before her. "Our supplies are running low, and we need to gather some rare orchid grasses that can only be found outside our forest. This is a dangerous mission, but one that must be undertaken if we want to survive."

I could see the worry etched on the faces of my fellow witches, and I knew that they were right to be concerned. The outside world was full of dangers, and venturing beyond our borders was always a risk.

But then Viola turned to me and said, "Hayley, I trust you to bring back these orchid grasses. You have a unique talent for survival in the wild, and I believe that you are the best person for this task."

My heart swelled with a mix of pride and fear as I accepted the challenge.

I nodded and turned to prepare myself.

I couldn't shake the feeling of despair that consumed me. Thinking of what Viola told me, I knew that we had to do something to protect our tribe, but I didn't want to turn into someone filled with hatred and violence.

The next day, I set out into the forest, my backpack heavy with supplies. The air was thick with the scent of earth and leaves, and the sound of birds chirping filled the air.

As I made my way deeper into the forest, my senses heightened, scanning the area for any signs of danger. It was quiet, too quiet, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.

Suddenly, I heard a twig snap behind me, and I spun around, sickle at the ready. But there was nothing there - just the rustling of leaves in the wind.

I kept my senses sharp as I walked, scanning the area for any signs of danger. The orchid grasses we needed were known to grow in a clearing at the base of the mountain, but getting there would be no easy feat.

"Uh oh!" I looked at the malfunctioning compass with a serious expression.

After searching around the outskirts of the forest and failing to find what I needed, I had to venture further in.

For some inexplicable reason, my body weakened as if there was an unknown force acting upon me.

Reciting spells, a fireball normally the size of an apple now only flickered like a flame. Muttering to myself, I looked at the towering trees blocking my path and sighed, "Today's efforts were futile. I'll have to head back."

But when I turned one circle after another and eventually found myself back where I started, I realized I was lost.

Feeling frustrated, I sat on the ground and played with leaves. "Not only did I fail to find orchid grass, but I am also lost. Aunt Viola will be angry when I get back. If only I could turn into orchid grass," I complained.

Suddenly, the scenery before my eyes changed, and the previously ordinary leaves transformed into the orchid grass I needed. Was it just an illusion? Astonished, I rubbed my eyes and looked around to make sure I wasn't dreaming, staring at the orchid grass in disbelief.

Is it an illusion? I rubbed my eyes in surprise, looked around to make sure I wasn't dreaming, and stared at the orchid.

Suddenly, many memories flooded my mind.

Images flashed before my eyes in a dizzying whirlwind, scenes that I had long forgotten. I saw flashes of faces and places, colors and sounds, but none of them made any sense to me.

And then, as if emerging from a deep fog, a single image came into focus. A man stood over a woman, his hand raised high above her head. The woman lay on the ground, her body covered in bruises and blood.

As the realization hit me like a ton of bricks, my heart clenched with anger and despair. It was my mother - the woman who had given birth to me, only to be beaten and abused by the man who was supposed to protect her.

I had no recollection of her face or voice, but I knew deep down in my bones that it was her. The pain and suffering etched into her features were etched into my soul forever.

But as the memories flooded back, something strange began to happen. My head started to feel light, and my legs slowly began to lose strength. Panic set in as I realized that something was terribly wrong.

I tried to turn around and evacuate, but it was too late. My consciousness began to blur, and my body fell to the ground, limp and helpless.