back to contents

On cool evenings, Rachel sat on the front porch swing. The slow, rhythmic movement along with the occasional creak of the rusty chains that attached the swing to the porch roof helped soothe her jangled nerves. The house was far out in the country and all she saw from the front porch were fields and open skies. The sisters had chosen the property for its isolation. Over the years, Rachel and Diana found the further away they lived from neighbors the better it was for everyone. People asked less questions if they didn’t see you on a regular basis. Out of sight, out of mind or at least that was their hope.

The closest town was ten miles away.  It consisted of a smattering of homes, a church, a hardware store and a convenience store. Not much of a town, but it had just enough of a population to earn it a name. The post office required an address, so they were lumped in with their distant neighbors. Not that they received any mail. Over the years, Diana and Rachel slowly removed themselves from the public eye. No telephone, no internet connection. They’d installed solar panels, so they had no need to pay for electricity. The well water was hooked up to a filtration system, and they grew their own food. Out of sight, out of mind.

One cool evening in early October, Rachel was enjoying the swing. A cool breeze was welcome after the heat of the day. She could hear the clinking of the dishes in the kitchen as Diana washed up after dinner. This evening, Rachel noticed a small glow in the west. The sun had set a couple hours ago, and the stars were brilliant in the night sky. Rachel called out to her sister.

“Diana, can you come out here, please?”

The kitchen was at the back of the house, and Rachel heard a muffled response. Shortly after, the screen door opened, and Diana stuck her head out of it.

“Can it wait? I’m just getting the tea.”

Without taking her eyes off the glow on the horizon, Rachel shook her head.

“It can’t. Look.”

Diana looked in the direction Rachel had pointed in.

“Fire, you suppose?”

Rachel snorted.

“No such luck. It’s not moving fast or spreading out. I guess it’s the usual.”

Diana wiped her hands in the kitchen towel tucked into the waistband of her jeans and sat down next to her sister. They both knew what it meant. People with flaming torches had chased them out of town many times over the years. They’d done their best to disappear but somehow, they were always found out. Diana sighed.

“Well, we had a good run this time though it is a little early. Halloween isn’t for three weeks. I do wonder how they discovered us. It’s a shame.” She gave the porch railing an affectionate pat. “I suppose we’d better pack.”

Rachel hadn’t taken her eyes off the distant light. She’d seen this predicted in the runes last week. Why did she ignore it? The sisters had been on the run for so long it no longer surprised her. Even if they kept their heads down, someone became too curious. It could’ve been trespassing teenagers bored with country life or a passing car they hadn’t noticed. Rachel couldn’t remember the last time they’d strengthened the protection spell. They’d gotten sloppy. Human nature was the same everywhere. If you didn’t fit in, you were targeted. In the past, the sisters had tried to live in town to try and blend in. Eventually, something went wrong. A plague, a war, a drought. It was easiest to blame the outsider. Soon whispers became shouts and before you knew it, an angry mob with torches arrived at your front door. Rachel stood up so quickly, Diana was almost thrown off the swing.

“I’m tired of running, Di. We’ve caused no harm and kept ourselves to ourselves. Why can’t they leave us alone?”

Diana stood next to her sister. She understood Rachel’s frustration, but she also knew most people were sheep. As soon as one became frightened, the rest soon followed suit. Fear was a great mobilizer. “I know, I know, but it happens. Sometimes sooner, others later. We’ve been here a long time, and it was inevitable.” She looked around. “Too bad really. I liked this place a lot.”

Diana put her arm around Rachel’s waist. She could feel her trembling and knew it had nothing to do with fear. This wasn’t good and could lead to bigger trouble. Rachel’s anger merely enhanced her powers. Past experiences have proven this to be dangerous. As the elder, it was Diana’s responsibility to get them out of there safely. Rachel shook off her sister’s arm.

“I say we wait. I say we meet our neighbors face to face. We’ve done nothing. We deserve to hear the accusations.”

Diana was worried. Short of knocking her sister out, once Rachel made her mind up, good sense had little effect. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to stop running. This was no Existence, no life. Hiding away, fearful of others. Running, always running. Diana took her sister’s hand.

“You know what, Rachel? I think you’re right. We’ll face them together.”

Rachel gasped. “Do you mean it? No more slipping away in the night?”

Diana watched as the lights got closer. “I do.”

When the townsfolk finally arrived, frightened but buoyed up by a sense of righteousness, they found themselves face to face with two women who no longer had anything to fear. Threats filled the air. Their fear was palpable and eliminating the enemy the only answer. Several people faltered but were pulled into the wake as the old farmhouse was set alight. The next day, tempers had cooled and shame-filled townsfolk pretended as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. The next day, the still smoking rubble was searched but no sign of the two sisters’ bodies were found. The guilty parties breathed sighs of relief and whispers of witchcraft and evil in the far cornfields continued for years to come.