The Witch's Revenge

Chapter 1
Chapter One: Unseen Eyes

Chapter One: Unseen Eyes

The small daycare center nestled at the edge of town was a bright and bustling place by day. Inside, cheerful murals of animals and rainbows covered the walls, the air filled with the sounds of children's laughter, their playful shrieks echoing off the ceiling. It was a place meant to comfort and delight, a place where parents left their little ones with a sense of peace and security.

But not every parent felt that sense of calm.

In the shadow of the old oak tree outside, a figure watched. She stood there quietly, almost hidden by the thick, gnarled branches and the shadows they cast over her. The woman was tall, her black cloak draping over her like a dark wave. Her eyes, sharp and green like shards of emerald, narrowed with suspicion as she observed the goings-on within the daycare.

Her name was Elara, and she was no ordinary woman; she was a witch. A mother first, and her daughter, a sweet little infant named Lila, had been enrolled in this very daycare just a few weeks ago.

Elara hadn’t wanted to leave Lila in the hands of others, but her recent duties called for it. She had chosen this place because it seemed perfect — safe, loving, attentive. Or so she had hoped.

But now, standing here, unseen, she had begun to notice things. Things that made her blood run cold.

Inside the Daycare

Hannah and Todd were the two daycare workers in charge that day. Hannah, a young woman with long blonde hair always tied in a careless bun, seemed more interested in scrolling through her phone than engaging with the children. Her expression often betrayed her impatience, especially when she heard the faintest sound of a child crying. She sighed and muttered under her breath every time she had to deal with the “dirty work” — diapers, bottles, and the general chaos of baby care. She hated it.

Todd, a lanky young man with shaggy brown hair and a perpetual slouch, was not much better. He would rather stack blocks or play video games on his phone than attend to the needs of the little ones. His distaste for diaper duty was even more apparent. Every time the scent of a dirty diaper hit his nose, his face would contort in disgust. He often left the dirty tasks to Hannah, grumbling all the while.

The two of them thought they were unnoticed, that their careless whispers and grimaces went unnoticed by the innocent eyes around them. But they were wrong. Unseen eyes were always watching.

Hannah noticed Lila beginning to fuss in her crib and sighed. "Oh, come on, not again," she muttered. "I swear, that kid always has something going on." She approached the crib, gingerly checking Lila's diaper with a quick, rough poke and a huff. "Great. Another mess," she groaned, rolling her eyes. "This one's worse than yesterday's. I can't believe this kid’s mother brings her in every day like this."

Todd chuckled from across the room, not bothering to help. "Maybe she should take some responsibility. It's not our job to deal with this every time."

Hannah scoffed, tossing the soiled diaper into the bin with disdain. "I don't get paid enough for this."

The two laughed, their careless words slipping through the cracks in the walls and reaching Elara’s ears. Her eyes darkened with anger. She could feel her heart pounding with a deep, slow fury, and the air around her seemed to grow colder. Her mind began to churn, thoughts weaving a tapestry of vengeance. They had neglected her daughter. They had spoken with contempt, dared to mistreat the child she loved more than anything in the world.

Unseen and unheard, Elara whispered a single word, a curse that danced on the wind.

"Patience," she said softly to herself. "Soon."

She turned away, blending into the shadows. Tonight, she would prepare. Tomorrow, she would act.

In the silent darkness of the night, a storm was beginning to brew, and no one inside the daycare had any idea that their lives were about to change forever.