The Hag

Chapter I

Whilst taking in the pleasing view of the forest she was walking through, Freida noticed a black figure three-quarters of her size, but with much more width. What was odd about it wasn't its shape or size, it was the fact that there was no such object near the vicinity the few seconds ago that she looked there. She became as nervous as she was curious. One of the many drawbacks to exploring the forests alone was that you couldn't tell someone to look at what you saw. You had to keep that sinking feeling all to yourself.

Slowly, reluctantly, and against the better judgement of the Freida that had been mocking horror movie characters a week ago for their illogical and downright stupid decisions, she proceeded towards it. About 6 metres away from the object, it began to turn around, making Freida's stomach turn slightly. She was hoping it was just an odd-looking tree stump or a baby grizzly. The object faced her, enabling her to get a very vivid view of its front. Upon registering the image of its immensely contorted face, attached to what she now assumed was an undead, elderly lady of some sort, her heart plummeted into her stomach and she slowly began retracing her steps, unable to break eye contact with the creature.

As she was slowly backing away, the creature let out a sinister, high-pitched, witchy sort of laugh, causing Freida to lose what little composure she had left. She turned around to make a break for it, then unexpectedly bumped into a large and solid object. A small cottage had appeared, truly from thin air, and Freida bumped her forehead into it.

She rubbed her head then turned back around to find the hag 3 metres from her. She gasped then quickly reached for the long blade strapped diagonally to her back and held it in front of herself with both arms, ready to swing at the hag if she tried anything. She did consider the notion of becoming a murderer, but quickly shook it away with the fact that no normal elderly lady would find herself in such a suspicious situation, in such a place, wearing such clothes, bearing such a face.

"Stay back or I will swing!" The hag let out a quite audible cackle then slowly approached Freida. "Get away from me!" The hag brought out a hand and waved a short, bony finger at Freida's weapon. Freida found that the blade she had been holding onto had been replaced with rope. The rope quickly coiled itself around both of her wrists and brought them far above her head. She started kicking, flaying wildly at the hag, trying to keep her at bay.

"Woah there, feisty one." The hag finally spoke. "You need to calm down." Freida was much too afraid to do such.
"Let me out of this thing now!"
"You seem quite agitated. Here, I shall help you relax." The hag swirled a finger, causing a restrained Freida to rotate to face the opposite direction, remaining behind.
"No! Let me go! Now!" Strong vines emerged from the ground, binding Freida's feet down, with her hands bound to the cottage. "If you don't release me right now, I swear to god!"
"Hush now." Suddenly, Freida felt two relatively small objects enter her shirt from behind. Then, smaller objects, like dull claws, or nails by the feel of them, rested on her back and started gently raking up and down.
"What the hell is that?! Get off me! Get the hell... off... me... uhhhh..."
"There. Isn't that better?"
"...Oh... oh, yeah. Right there... oh... right there..." The hag had moved up and had began to gently scratch her back, surprisingly relaxing her with great effectiveness and ease. "What about here?"
"Ohoho... yeah... there's great... ooooo..."
"And here?"
"Mmmmm..."
"That's much better now, isn't it?" Freida's legs began losing strength and she soon fell to her knees. The hag continued gently scratching her back.
"O... o... o hohohohoooo..."
"Feels wonderful, doesn't it?" As the bindings loosened, Freida was unconsciously bringing her back closer to the hag for more scratching. The hag began gently kneading her middle and lower back, causing her to slowly slump onto the floor and into unconsciousness. "That's much better."

Upon awakening, Freida found herself in a lounge lit by a furnace and was sat on somewhat of a comfortable couch, not restrained at all. Opposite her was the revolting hag from earlier. She backed up in her chair, uncomfortable due to the hag's disturbing appearance. On the hag's lap lay a small, sphynx cat. She was affectionately stroking it, keeping it very relaxed.