All that night, I was tortured by nightmares about witches. Witches, witches, everywhere. There were fat ones, thin ones, goofy ones – even boy ones. And they were all swooping through the house on broomsticks, cackling outside my window, and making disgusting potions in the kitchen.
Then I dreamed of a little green toad, which turned and stared at me sadly with Mary’s wide blue eyes …
When the first rays of sun peeped through my curtains, I gave up trying to sleep and got up to feed Charlie. He was starving as usual, and barged around my ankles when he saw me taking his cat food out of the cupboard.
‘Oh Charlie,’ I said, ‘why didn’t I practise more? I have no idea how to take on someone like Verbena!’
Charlie didn’t even look up from his bowl.
‘Hmph!’ I grumbled. ‘It takes more than a human child’s problem to get between you and your breakfast!’
When 8 o’clock came, I ran out to meet Mary for the walk to school.
‘What’s up with you?’ Mary said as soon as she clapped eyes on me. ‘Been up all night stirring your cauldron, have you?’
‘No,’ I said, falling into step beside her. ‘Just couldn’t sleep, that’s all.’
‘I’m not surprised,’ said Mary. ‘That little story of yours was quite scary. Which reminds me: Are we still on for a sleepover at yours?’
‘Yes! Definitely!’ I said, grabbing her by the lapels. ‘Tomorrow night? OK, Mary? OK?’
‘OK, OK,’ she said, pushing me off. ‘Keep your hair on.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I’ve a lot on my mind just now.’
We were just about to turn a corner when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted something moving.
It was a wisp of green fog.
Oh no, I thought. Not again!
The fog edged nearer.
I rubbed my eyes hard and blinked. Mary laughed.
‘You’d better not do that in class,’ she said.
The fog thickened and started to close in.
‘Come on!’ I said, grabbing her arm. ‘Get a move on!’
‘Anna!’ said Mary. ‘What’s your hurry? We have loads of time!’
I broke into a run and dragged her down the road. The fog followed us.
‘We just need to … get away!’ I whispered, panting.
‘Anna! You are destroying my blazer!’ shouted Mary. ‘Get off!’
Mary shook me away and we stopped.
I stared over Mary’s shoulder into the fog. Slowly, before my eyes, a face was forming. Two black eyes appeared first, followed by a grinning mouth with pointy teeth.
I screamed and pointed. Mary nearly jumped out of her skin.
‘Behind you!’ I shouted. ‘It’s her!’
‘What? Who?’ said Mary.
‘Verbena!’ I shouted. ‘The witch I told you about last night!’
I spun Mary around so she could catch sight of the floating foggy face – but I lost my grip and she fell head first into a bush. Above us, Verbena’s floating head laughed silently. Mary scrambled to her feet.
‘Have you totally lost your MIND?!’ she shouted, as she brushed leaves off her skirt. ‘There’s nothing there! I’m telling you, Anna, if there’s any dog poo on me, you’re in big trouble!’
Verbena stuck out her tongue and smirked. Mary would never see her if Verbena didn’t want her t o . Verbena was a witch, after all.
‘I’m really sorry, Mary,’ I whispered.
A tinkling laugh floated on the air. The green fog faded, taking Verbena’s face with it. Soon it had disappeared.
‘Are you laughing at me?’ said Mary. ‘It’s not funny, Anna! You scared the life out of me, screaming like that.’
‘You don’t understand,’ I said. ‘I’m trying to save you!’
‘By shoving me into a bush?’ said Mary.
‘That was an accident,’ I said. I hung my head. ‘Sorry.’
‘I’m not sure I want to come to your sleepover if this is what you’re going to be like!’ said Mary.
She stalked off. I ran after her.
‘Please, Mary!’ I said. ‘Please don’t back out now!’
‘You and your silly stories,’ said Mary. ‘You’ve always got to go too far, Anna!’
‘I won’t do it again,’ I said. ‘I promise!’
‘Right,’ said Mary. She gazed at me for a moment, and a dimpled smile crept across her face. ‘OK, Saturday it is, then!’
We chatted the rest of the way to school as usual, but when we walked through the huge iron gates of St Munchin’s, I stopped.
’Listen, I need to talk to someone,’ I said. ‘I’ll see you later, OK?’
I turned and hurried toward Mrs Winkle’s office.
