45. Witches

The first thing I am aware of 
is not Light, but Sound
slow and determined
building louder and louder until 
unable to bear its weight I open my eyes and scream.

And that's when I taste the dirt
that's when I wake choking
buried in the earth, remembering nothing
of who or where I am.

I am in a forest
I am cold
I am naked
I am lost

and
that's when The Terror begins.

********

She spots him as she drives the highway. The location changes slightly every time, but his eyes do not, they are wide, white and wild with terror. He is running through the trees, naked and mad and ignorant. Here she always feels a slight compassion. But not enough to break the cycle, just enough to convince herself She is Good, and He the Other. She slows as his route converges and slips into character. He begs for help, he is lost, he can't remember, he sobs and shivers and she opens the door of her car and he jumps in and sits weak and pathetic in the back seat and holds his arms around himself and she tells him, sorry, I have no blanket, no jacket and he always breaks here, always breaks and she always watches him cry in the mirror as she picks up speed and heads into town.

It's twenty miles to Town, she tells him. We'll get you sorted out. We'll get to the bottom of this. You just need some rest.

He is grateful here, there is never any danger from Him.

She often wonders how he ever managed to be dangerous.

Still, she drives fast to Town.

It's always better in Town.