Eve-Marie stared into space as she continued to dig the twig into the dirt that laid in front of her porch. She was exhausted, unable to get any sleep the last few nights.

Everytime she closed her eyes she saw those blood red orbs that haunted her in the swamp. She never ran so fast in her life, running straight to her room and taking out her Bible and clutching it the entire night as she tried her best to sleep.

She couldn't.

"Get inside and get dressed. We goin' to the market." Mama Barre stated grimly as she walked to the porch. Eve-Marie nodded swiftly and stood before looking at her mom.

"What's wrong with what I got on?" She asked as she smoothed down her beige dress.

"You best not walk behind me lookin like that, Eve-Marie. Go inside and put somethin else on. Looking like a damn rag doll in them drapes."

Eve-Marie sighed as she slipped on her sandals after buttoning her shorts before walking downstairs to meet her mom outside. She wanted nothing more than to take a warm bath and to try and sleep while the sun was still out, but knowing her mom she knew she wouldn't be able to.

So instead she strolled behind her mom and her siblings as they walked through the community market. People sold their produce and jewelry, others sold crosses and bibles along with fabric and other church goods.

Eve-Marie's ears perked up as she heard her mom and the community pastor talking swiftly about the rumors of a witch living amongst them.

"...Oui, Cherie. She talm' bout stayin out of the bayou cause that's where she saw the siren. They making a comeback, mama Barre. Watch on your kids, ma'am."

"I sure will pastor Ton-"

"I saw the witch." Eve-Marie suddenly whispered, causing her mom and Pastor Tony to look over at her swiftly.

"Stop talkin that nonsense and stay outta grown folk business!" Mama Barre scolded, causing Eve-Marie's eyes to fill with tears of embarrassment.

"No, mama. It's true, I did. I swear on it. She was evil with beading red eyes swimming in the bayou!"

"What was you doin in the bayou?!" Mama Barre shouted causing every single head to turn and stare at her eldest daughter who sniffed as the tears started to stream down her face. Pastor Tony started chanting a prayer as he held his crucifix toward Eve who looked at him in confusion. People started to crowd the young woman as she backed up, her mom glaring at her as everyone started to pray along with Pastor Tony. Her siblings laughed and jumped around her, the overwhelming feeling of claustrophobia and sensory overload filling her body.

"I done told you look onto these kids, Mama Barre. Now she was in contact with the demon! She needs prayer and isolation until the evil get away from her completely."

"Leave me alone!" Eve-Marie screamed before pushing past the crowd and running down the road. Everyone screamed for her to come back but she ran faster, sobbing and gasping for air as she tried to escape the taunting Christians.

Eve-Marie leaned against a tree as she tried to catch her breath before gagging and emptying her stomach of the contents that were inside of it.

Which was barely anything.

"You should listen to em." Eve-Marie heard from behind her, causing her to gasp and stand straight as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

The woman was almost as tall as a statue as she stared down at Eve-Marie. Her eyes were the color of gold in contrast to her skin that was darker than mud. Her body was covered in a sheer black cloak, her hair long and matted into locs as it laid down her tall body, stopping just above her calves. She was holding a large black straw basket that was covered with a matching top.

"What you talkin about? Leave that nonsense somewhere else." Eve spat before storming off. She heard the woman laugh and she stopped in her tracks, the laugh she heard in the bayou that night filling her head.

"You're just a fresh little honey. Somebody outta teach you a lesson." The woman chuckled as she swiftly glided over toward Eve, standing in front of her with her arms crossed over her chest.

"And who that outta be? You?" Eve-Marie scoffed, causing the older woman to smirk as she analyzed the young woman's face.

"It might be." She breathed before turning on her heels and swiftly walking away, leaving Eve-Marie confused as she watched the woman disappear into the distance.

"Whatever."

Eve-Marie continued her hike in the woods as she tried her best to keep her composure. She felt the air getting cooler indicating it was starting to get late and felt she should head back. Part of her was afraid to go back in fear of her mom hurting her but she knew she couldn't stay out here after dark especially with a witch on the loose.

"Shit." She mustered as she sat on top of a log and looked into the distance. She heard birds chirping and the river that was further down. Eve-Marie swallowed and looked up at the sky but jumped as she heard the loud shriek of an animal being hurt.

She stood up abruptly as she looked around, hearing the birds caw as they flew away in a flock. Her body started to tremble as she started to run, trying to find her way out of the woods.

She didn't succeed, crying hysterically as she realized she was running in circles. She took in a deep breath and started to run again, taking a different direction than she did before. She ran and ran, the sky getting darker and darker until she leaned against a tree, panting as she looked around.

It was the same tree from earlier when she met the mysterious woman that disappeared into the woods.

"Fuck." She whimpered as she tried to remember which direction she came from.

"Come."

Eve-Marie twisted around and saw a small girl with pigtails as she held her hand toward the young woman. Eve-Marie shook her head, analyzing the young girl. She had on a similar cloak to the older woman she met earlier, but something was off about her.

"It's okay. Come."

The little girl smiled and kept her hand stretched out toward Eve-Marie. She shook her head again as she realized the child had black eyes that were gleaming in the dark.

"If you don't come with me, you're going to die."