The Swamp Witch

I lay on my side, beaten, cut, stabbed, bruised. My long red hair trailing into the cursed swamp water that I had been left to die in.

They had taken everything from me, and slaughtered my family…. all to use my work for their own purposes.

I remembered receiving the offer to work for our government, I felt honored. Josh and I ate celebratory pizza with the kids.

Tears ran down my face as I lay there cursing my stupidity, I wasn't done yet. I felt a biting cold as the brackish water slithered up my tresses and suffused me with new life. The swamp swallowed me whole, darkness taking my mind.

When I came to, I was connected to everything, one with earth’s energetic life force.

I sat up and looked into the waters I had been left by.

They were clear, the swamp was healthy.

As I watched, the water showed me my enemies celebrating.

The vision faded until only my reflection remained, I had changed, my eyes were black, lips deep red..... everything else, stark white.

I smiled; I was reborn.

Standing up, I breathed in. Instinctively, I knew what to do.

With a thought, earthen energy wove a shield around me, stretching out for acres to look like black brambles.

My thoughts on my enemies, I stepped into the water at my feet, traveling along it to where they gathered.

I looked upon their faces frozen in horror and my heart sang. All who wronged my loved ones would pay, and then who knows what the future might hold?