Free The Memory Witch by Heather Topham Wood

today and a swim could be just the thing to clear my head.
    I looked through my bathing suits and settled on a conservative style. The blue bikini top provided full coverage and the boy shorts gave it a sporty twist. After putting on my tunic cover-up and my sandals, I headed to the kitchen.
    The house was eerily quiet which made me guess that maybe Stella had left for the day. I packed a small lunch of a sandwich, apple, and soda. Luckily, Stella gave me free rein on what I could eat and kept her kitchen well stocked. Not much in the way of junk food, but that was probably a good thing.
    When I arrived at the pond, I dipped my foot through the reflective surface. The water felt warm and inviting. I wasn’t sure if I should be concerned about any creepy crawly things living in it, but mentally shoved the thought out of my head.
    I set my cover-up, towel, and lunch to the side of the water. A small wooden pier led to the center of the pond. I dashed over the planks and jumped feet first into the water. I descended into the depths of the water before resurfacing. I vowed to thank Mason for telling me about the pond—the water felt soothing and wonderful.
    I floated onto my back and looked at the cloudless sky. For the first time this week, I felt at peace. I’d been full of tension and ready to snap at the smallest provocation. I concentrated solely on the weightless feeling of being in the water. Anything else could go to the wayside for the time being.
    After about an hour of swimming, I climbed back onto the pier. Throwing on my tunic, I laid back onto my towel. Drowsiness set in as I sunbathed and before long, I felt myself drifting…
    I was in the woods again. This time I wasn’t running. Instead I sat sobbing as I held a piece of torn cloth in my hands. I had no idea the significance of the scarlet fabric, but it filled me with sorrow looking at it. The fabric was roughly torn and the glossy surface made me guess it had come from a jacket.
    Dark shadows were creeping towards me as I sat crying with my back against a white birch tree. I gripped the fabric in my fist as I became aware of the presence of the darkness. I stopped my tears and looked at the swirling forms moving steadfastly in my direction. Wiping off the residual moisture on my cheeks, I stood and stared down the ghastly shapes.
    I threw the fabric on the moist ground. An army of spiders, beetles, and worms emerged from the ground and began to devour the material. Once it disappeared into their greedy little mouths, they returned to ground. I was heartbroken with their hungry destruction of something that was so precious to me, but I had to find the strength to confront and embrace the darkness.
    “I welcome you.” The voice wasn’t my own. It was full of malice and power. My hands shot out before me and the dark mist came to them. They disappeared inside of my fingers and I could see the energy pulse through my body. I shut my eyes and reopened them. They were no longer my own. Blackened irises with a red rim now stood in place of my soft brown eyes…
    “Quinn! You’re going to die out here.” An urgent voice called to me.
    My lids felt weighted down and it was a struggle to open my eyes. Once I managed to pry them open, I had to close my eyes again as the harsh sun temporarily blinded me. My body felt on fire and I was barely able to move a muscle without wincing in pain.
    Mason was knelt over me with concern written over his face. With alarm, I understood I must have fallen asleep in the sun. My fair skin felt flushed with heat and I could only imagine the sunburn forming on the exposed parts of my body.
    As my head cleared, I comprehended how little clothing I wore. While I was sleeping, my tunic had ridden up to my belly. My bare legs were spread out before me while the fabric of the cover-up clung to the rest of my body. I wasn’t an exhibitionist, so I was a little uneasy about the view Mason must have gotten when he stumbled upon me.
    I