Verbena threw back her head and laughed so hard that her pointy hat fell off.
‘I warned you, Anna Kelly!’ she said. ‘You can’t say I didn’t!’
‘Go away!’ I shouted. ‘Get lost or I’ll call my aunties!’
‘Too late for that, nitwit!’ she said. She beckoned to something over my shoulder. I turned my head – and my blood ran cold.
Sitting in the sleeping bag where Mary had been was a little green toad. It started waddling across my bedroom floor.
‘Mary?’ I shouted, and made a lunge for it.
But I was too slow. As if in a trance, the toad climbed onto the windowsill. Verbena snatched it and placed it behind her. It crouched in the bristles of her broomstick and stared at me with sad, blue eyes, just like in my dream.
I scrambled back to the window and nearly fell out.
‘I’ve changed my mind!’ I shouted. ‘I’ll go! I’ll go with you right now! Just change her back!’
‘Too late, Anna Kelly!’ shouted Verbena. ‘You need teaching a lesson, my girl, and this is it: When I tell you to do something, you’ll do it the first time and like it!’
There was a flash like lighting and Verbena zoomed off in the direction of Coldwell Wood, carrying what used to be my best friend with her.
It took me about a second to realise I had to act – and act fast.
‘Quick, Charlie’ I shouted. ‘We can’t lose them!’
I shoved on my slippers, raced down the stairs – and smacked straight into Aunty Grizz.
‘What’s all this?’ she said, picking herself up off the floor. ‘Anna, you promised you’d be quiet, but all I can hear is cackling and screaming!’
‘Sorry, Aunty!’ I said, panting. ‘Can’t explain! Gotta go!’
Charlie shot through the front door and I raced after him. Behind me, I could hear Aunty Grizz’s voice.
‘Anna! Come back this minute!’ she shouted. ‘You’re not going out dressed like that!’
She was right. I raced back inside and grabbed the old witch’s hat that was lying on the stairs. Perhaps it would bring me luck? I slapped it on my head and darted outside again.
‘Anna!’ wailed Aunty Grizz. ‘That’s not what I meant!’
Charlie and I hurtled along Crag Road, slowing down only to cross the main road, and speeding up again toward Coldwell Wood. When we got to the edge of the wood, we staggered to a standstill.
I slumped against a twisty old tree. My heart felt like it was about to jump out of my throat and my slippers were soaking wet and dirty. I looked up and saw the jagged shapes of trees outlined against the moonlight.
Somewhere, deep inside the wood, I could hear what sounded like drums beating. Thum, thum, thum.
Charlie crouched on the path and stared into the wood, swishing his tail.
‘No turning back now, boy,’ I said. Charlie’s ears twitched. I took a deep breath and plunged into the trees.
