MARGARET

  "I have always wanted to be rain. Never anyone's son or daughter. People would yearn for me for months, and when I finally arrive, they would open their umbrellas. I would then slip past them without ever touching them."

  -from the diary of Margaret Robin

  Margaret was walking along the narrow road, holding her bags under her arm. The road was empty as the sun was about to set. No people could be seen in the houses situated on both sides of the road. The houses were simple one-BHK duplex with slanted roofs. Soon, she noticed two kids trying to light a small bonfire using some wood. As Margaret got closer to them, she saw the wind blowing out the matchsticks. The kids struggled to ignite the fire, only to have the flames extinguished by the breeze. They both looked frustrated. Margaret paused to watch them, and one of the kids, exasperated, threw the matchbox away. The other kid turned his face toward the match when they heard a noise. The wood suddenly ignited on its own. The kids eyes widened in shock as they didn’t understand how the fire had started. They glanced around to see if anyone was nearby and noticed Margaret observing the flames.

  "Witch”

  One of the kids said. As their eyes locked onto Margaret, she turned her face and started walking. The kids kept looking at her, but Margaret didn’t look back as she continued walking.

  Margaret stopped in front of a house. Two lemon plants, full of lemons, were at the front of the house, with both plants positioned opposite each other. Before entering, Margaret looked at the house. As she entered, all the lamps hanging on the wall lit up by themselves. She didn’t stop at the hall as she went straight up to her room. There were lamps hanging on the wall to illuminate the staircase as well. All of them began to light up as she approached them, almost as if the lights were welcoming her. The lamps were not ordinary; the light emanated from their flames. As soon as Margaret opened the door, she threw her bag and jumped onto her bed, hiding her face between her palms.”.

  “I just wanted to help them. Why would they call me Witch?”

  Margaret muttered

  “I am so embarrassed. Even the kids are afraid of me now.”

  Margaret opened her palm and glanced at the teddy nailed to one of her walls.

  “But I am a good witch… I am a good girl. There’s no need to call me by that title,”

  She muttered, shifting her gaze to the other teddy affixed to the opposite wall of her room.

  “Jeez, talk about embarrassment!!! What’s with that guy...?”

  As Margaret continued talking to herself, she heard noise outside. People were shouting. Unable to discern anything, she looked through the mirror. She spotted a few people, with two kids standing in the front yard of her house.

  “What do these guys want now? Always harassing a young girl.”

  Margaret descended the stairs to confront them. As soon as she opened the door,

  “What did you do in front of them, Witch? Ever since they arrived, all they talk about is you,”

  One of the men shouted.

  “Stay away from our kid, or you’ll have to leave this neighborhood for good,”

  Another man interrupted. There were a total of four people there, along with the kids from earlier, who were watching Margaret silently. Margaret folded her arms with an annoyed expression.

  “Is this what you guys do? Harass a lonely orphan girl? Is this how you show your masculinity—by ganging up on me?”

  Margaret shot back.

  “Don’t try to play innocent. We know what you are. Next time we see you near our kid; we won’t just give you a warning,”

  One man yelled angrily.

  “If anything happens, we won’t let you off, Witch,”

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  Another man shouted furiously. Margaret gave them an irritated look and said,

  “Should I call the police and tell them that you’re threatening me, a 17-year-old orphan?”

  The man stopped for a second and looked at each other. The anger in their eyes still hadn’t faded.

  “Next time, even the police won’t be able to save you. You’re only allowed to stay because of your father. He was a good man, and by keeping you here, we are not letting his soul down.”

  The men left with a clear warning. Margaret closed the door and went upstairs again. Margaret was wearing the same dress as she had been at school. She unbuttoned her shirt, took it off, and threw it aside. Just as she was about to unzip her bra, her phone rang. She checked and received a message from Lily.

  "Hey girl. Dreaming about Tyler or the new guy!!"

  A message popped up from Lily’s chat. Margaret smiled and fell onto her bed to reply to the text.

  “Jeez. I’m not thinking about either of them.”

  “Don’t lie, babe. I’m your best friend, remember?”

  “I’m not falling for your words. I don’t like either of them.”

  Margaret smiled while writing messages. She didn’t even realize that she was only wearing a skirt and a white bra.

  “Btw, the new guy smells so good. I can’t unsmell it now.”

  “Stop trying to invent new words. Unsmell? I didn’t get any smell.”

  Margaret rolled over on her bed while smiling and replying.

  “Trying to be innocent, huh? Don’t suit you, princess.”

  “Aren't you a bit too excited for the new guy? We don’t know anything about him.”

  “To learn about him, I’ll have to talk to him. I’ve decided to introduce myself tomorrow.”

  “Good luck, girl. We’re your backup if anything goes wrong.”

  “That’s why you’re my best friend, Margaret.”

  Margaret sent two heart emojis in reply to Lily’s text. Suddenly, her eyes caught one of the messages from her to Lily

  “Aren't you a bit too excited for the new guy? We don’t know anything about him.”

  A brief flashback flickered in Margaret’s mind. After a moment, she suddenly pictured the hair at the back of Liam's head and the tattoos on his neck.

  “There are slashes like wolf claw marks and no smell at all. What could he be?”

  She whistled with her fingers and sat up on the bed. A wardrobe opened, and an old book flew toward her. She caught the book as if it were meant to be land only in her hand. She flipped through the pages for clues, but found nothing. Closing the book, she rested her elbow on it as she sat there.

  “Three slashes. Could he be a wolf too? Well, if that’s the case…”

  Margaret looked determined as she talked to herself, adjusting the strap of her bra, which she wore only at that moment.

  “If he is a wolf, then I’ll have to kill him with my hands.”

  Margaret's eyes sparkled as the light from the lamps blazed brightly.

  "Liam was unboxing a large package while talking on the phone. The phone was on speaker.

  “Yes, Grandpa, the day went well. I didn’t fight anyone, didn’t make any enemies, and attended all the classes.”

  Bren, on the other end of the line, replied,

  “Well, that’s good to hear. Make some good friends, too.”

  “I actually made a friend today. I forgot his name, though, but he seemed like a good person.”

  Bren laughed heartily.

  “You made a friend, and you don’t even remember his name? That’s so typical of you, Liam.”

  “Well, I’ll ask him his name tomorrow,”

  Liam said while moving the large box.

  “By the way, Grandpa, I think I saw someone else.”

  “What! Don’t tell me you actually found that witch’s daughter and are messing with her too!”

  “Relax, Grandpa. I don’t know about her mother, but I can tell she posses something special that others don’t.”

  Liam smiled as he began arranging everything. The tattoo on his neck was clearly visible, as he was only wearing a T-shirt."

  A letter arrived at the door. A girl with black hair opened the door of the hotel and received the letter. The letter was sealed with a wolf signet. A boy was sitting on the bed, spreading one leg across the bed while the other rested on the ground.

  “We have received the instructions to kill that thing,”

  The girl said after opening the letter and reading it.