Peri Blake, a college student of 17 had decided to stay back home on Halloween night this year instead of going trick-or-treating.  By nature she was emotionally strong and did not believe in witches flying on broomsticks or pumpkin headed scarecrows which walked the earth in limbo.  She was known by her colleagues as “Mrs Practical” but she did not mind it.  Her parents were abroad, in USA, visiting friends so she was alone.

     It was 2. a.m and there was pin drop silence.  Peri lay on her bed reading a book on Mathematics and felt her eyes growing heavy.  She was so tired that the book slipped through her hands and down onto the floor.

    “Meeaaoowww!”  Peri grew alert.

     “A cat, here!?”  She looked around and then noticed it sitting in one corner of her bedroom.  It was a black cat with deep green eyes. 

     “Hey, how did you get in here?  All the windows are tightly shut and the doors are locked.  She made a wild guess that perhaps her friends had slipped her in earlier for a Halloween scare.  As Peri knelt down to pat it, the hairs on its back suddenly rose up and its claws retracted outwards.

    “Whehhh!!!”   The cat curled its back and was about to leap up at her.

     “Hey, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to frighten you.”   “Wait here and I’ll get you some milk.” 

     “She doesn’t drink milk, my child.”  Called out a sharp and creepy feminine voice.  Peri suddenly noticed a lady standing before her, dressed as a witch in orange get-up.  Her features were like a gypsy with fine lines that added character to her face.  She had shoulder-length orange-red hair and her eyes were large, prominant and peering.  Her face was ovular and her teeth were protruding outwards which added beauty to her smile .  whoever she was she, from head to foot, she appeared as a complete witch and she wore a peachy orange nail paint on her hands and feet.  In her left hand, she held a long broomstick.

     “Allow me to introduce myself to you, my child.  I am known as the orange witch queen, Hareena.”

     Peri’s eyes widened for the first time in terror as Hareena let out a loud laugh and began to advance towards her.

                                                                 End of Chapter 1.