Page 53 of Straight to Hell

The first few days, I'd gotten anything I wanted with my magic, but I'd scared an old lady. She screamed at me and called me a witch. She scared me so much. I stopped using it. If she screamed loud enough, the bad people might hear her and come find me. I knew that the only thing that made her stop was the snarling hellhound my mother had left to protect me. To humans, he would look like a regular dog, but I knew better.

They'd killed my Dad and stolen my Mom and brother.

"Hello, dear."

I snarled and crouched down, ready to run. An old lady stood on the other side of the trash can. She had dark skin and a bunch of wrinkles. And she held a big blanket. "Aren't you a pretty girl," she said and smiled.

My Mom always told me how pretty I was. She said I was powerful and smart, too. But if I used magic, this old lady would scream and the other Mom and Dad, the bad ones, they'd come and hurt me, just like my Daddy said they would. I stamped my magic down, harder and harder. If I hid it deep inside, maybe she wouldn't know I had it.

"I'd love to take you for a nice warm bath and some clean clothes," she said. "Would you like that?"

I looked down at my dirty hands. Mama loved giving me long bubble baths until my fingers turned all wrinkly. "I like baths," I said.

Her eyes wrinkled up as she smiled, and her teeth were shiny and white. She seemed nice enough. And she didn't know about the magic. Besides, if she wasn't as nice as she looked, I could always run away.

"Okay," I said. "I'll go to have a bath."

She wrapped the blanket around me. I sighed. I hadn't realized how cold I was. "Do you have sweets?" I asked. "I haven't had sweets in a long time. Not since my Mama made my birthday cake."

The lady chuckled. "I have lots of sweets. I keep some in the car. Come get buckled in and I'll get them out for you, okay?"

If I hid my magic well enough, maybe this nice lady would let me stay with her until I was big enough to take care of myself. I pushed it down harder and harder.

We drove for a long time, but I didn't care, because she had all kinds of yummy food in her car. I ate cookies and chips, and she stopped and handed me back a cheeseburger.

When we drove through two big gates, I got nervous. "What does that sign say?" I asked. My Mama had been teaching me to read, but she'd driven past it too fast.

"It's the New York Home for Troubled Children," she said. "It's a place where they'll make sure you're safe and cared for. They'll give you lots of warm baths and keep your tummy full. Would that be okay?"

I considered her words. "I guess so. For now."

I'd locked up those bad people pretty tight. As long as I hid my magic, they'd never find me here.

THE END