You’ve just arrived in a swampy, dim town. As you look around, your gaze is met with shacks and cabins. It smells of rotted wood and wet moss. You duck and step into a tattered tent, illuminated by a series of candles suspended in the air. At the back of the tent, an old hag raises her head, “What brings you to this dingy town? she begins, then pauses to study your face—”Ah, it’s you. I’ve been expecting you. Sit,” she gestures at a cushion, “Tell me your story.”
"Oh, I am sorry...maybe this was a mistake." Opeline says, her voice quivering. She turns quickly towards the entrance of the tent, grabbing the tattered material a pit forming in her stomach.
"Child, you have come all this way, why turn around now? Come on now, what can I do for you?" the hag speaks in a way that stops Opeline in dead in her tracks. Opeline turns the tattered material loose and turns quickly on her heel to face the hag who is now standing with a wicked grin spread across her face.
Opeline swallows the lump of nervousness down and takes a step closer to hag. "It is my sister. I have a feeling the man she is marrying in two days time is going through with this for nefarious reasons. Please, I need to know if I need to stop this."
"My dear, of course I will help you," the hag croaks, "But you will owe me a favor that I can collect at any time. Do we have a deal?" The hag snickers, which sends a cold chill to Opeline's core.
Feeling as if she has no other options she settles with her decision and looks at the hag, her face illuminated by the candles above her. "Anything to protect my family. They are all I have."
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