Part One: Fire
Fourteen year old Alina woke up and felt the autumn breeze flow through her window. She sighed, that meant winter soon and that was her least favorite season. At least it hadn’t come yet, and the leaves were all turning red, orange, and yellow, her favorite colors. She got out of bed and got out of her nightgown and put on a red dress and brown fur boots. She brushed her flaming red hair and then went out into the kitchen after making her bed. She was met by her dad with black hair and a off white tunic with a belt and brown pants.
“Hello sweetie, your mom is at work.” Greeted Alina’s dad.
Alina thought about her mom who was known for her bright blonde hair, she was the only person in the village that had blonde hair, and she worked as a seamstress. Lately they had more customers as usual as the shop had gotten silk and silk was a growing trend.
While Alina’s dad mixed the oatmeal in a pot Alina’s 10 year old sister, Ida, with black hair as well and a brown dress asked “Did you have any dreams?”
“No,” Said Alina, thinking about it “Not that I remember”.
Ida had a disappointed face, she had been trying to read people’s dreams but no one remembered them.
“Alina! Your turn to add in the fruit!” Reminded her dad, gesturing to the pot of hot oatmeal. “Yes!” Cheered Alina and Ida sighed.
It was always fun to pick out your favorite fruit and put it in. Alina picked out apples and she started to cut them up. When she was cutting an extra slippery apple, the knife slipped and she cut her finger deeply.
“OOOOWWWW!” Alina cried, throwing her elbow back as a reflex and knocking over the oatmeal pot, which spilled on her and she released another pained scream. All of a sudden the flames from the fire that the oatmeal had been cooking on rose high and consumed the wooden house. Alina could hear Ida screaming and her dad rushing Ida out of the house, and getting her to safety. The flames enveloped Alina but she felt nothing, all she felt was her hurt finger and her hurt side that the oatmeal splashed on. She was in a sort of trance and she felt herself losing consciousness.
The last thing she heard before she blacked-out was her dad crying “My daughters in there!” and a neighbor saying “Get the water pails!”.
Alina woke up. She kept her eyes closed and she heard her mother whispering “It must have been some sort of witch-craft, Colin!”.
“The medicine witch wouldn’t do that sort of thing, Elsa, she keeps to herself!” Whispered her father.
“But why would the fire just grow?”
“What if…”
“No…”
“Alina?”
“No…”
“There hasn’t been a new witch in 14 years, it would be possible!”
“Why OUR little girl?”
“She doesn’t have any scorch marks!”
“Ma’m? Sir?” Said a man, walking into the room.
“Yes, Luke?” Answered Alina’s dad with a worried tone.
“She… Your daughter, she may be a witch.” Alina’s parents gasped, horror-struck.
Her dad, with a stern voice said “We were thinking that may be a possibility.”
“She will be sent to the medicine witch tonight.” Said Luke with a gruff tone.
Alina could hear her mom still breathing heavily.
“What offering will we give the witch?” Asked her mom, clearly trying to make sure that they were not sacrificing her daughter’s life and just giving her to the witch as a trainee. “Hmmmm,” Said Luke, thinking “Maybe some of your clothes, maybe silk, or food.”
Alina pretended to wake up.
“Wha- What?” She mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
Her parents had a worried expression. “Alina?” Said her mom. Alina made herself have a confused look.
“We think you might be a witch.” Said her mom with a worried tone and a face to match. Alina plastered a horrified look on her face.
“Wha- Wha- What?!?!” She said, still looking horrified.
“You will go to the medicine witch’s hut tonight with offerings and your things. You may leave the hospital and go to your hut to pack”.
Alina did what she was told and was soon walking down the road to her house. She opened the door to see ash everywhere and half burnt chairs. She walked through the door to her room, miraculously not turned to ash, and gathered her things. Her room was not burnt at all, “Maybe it’s part of the MAGIC” She said, waving her hands around with a funny look on her face.
She took her dresses, her dress shoes, two pieces of parchment, a quill and ink, and a mirror. She packed it all in a leather bag she had and slung it over her shoulder. She sighed, walking out of her room. She was met at the burnt front door by her mom and dad.
“We can stay at Luke’s house and have lunch there.” Said her dad, trying not to be obvious about staying away from Alina.
“No, It’s okay, dad.” She said, putting her hands up in front of her as if to say ‘It’s okay, don’t try to change my decision’ “Okay Alina… I’m sorry.” Apologised her dad
“Oh, It’s okay,” sighed Alina “You’re not.” Alina smiled weakly, took the herbs and silk from her mother’s hands and walked toward the woods to the path to the witch’s house. She got to the path and waved to her parents and blew a kiss to Ida. Ida was obviously trying to not cry. She looked at the town and saw some of the town people pointing.
Alina took a deep breath and walked along the path.
“Here I go.”
Kids Chronicle 