Despite being scared, Rati was not ready to stop. But with every step, her fear kept increasing. The shadows of the trees along the roadside sent shivers through her body. Still, when the cool breeze touched her face, it felt strangely pleasant.
After walking like this for a while, her steps slowly turned into a run. She lifted her head and started running. When the moon peeked through the trees, it felt like a sweet dream to her. For a few moments, all her fear disappeared, and she didn't even realize when she had reached close to her destination.
When she finally stopped, she saw a narrow path leading from the main road into the middle of the forest. That was the path she had to take, where barely any moonlight could reach.
Rati switched on the torch of her mother's phone and, gathering courage, started walking along the forest path.
After walking some distance, she saw torches burning ahead. When she reached there, she saw a woman tied to a tree in a badly injured condition. Her whole body was smeared with honey, and ants had gathered around her, biting her. Yet, instead of screaming, the woman sat there silently.
Rati went up to her and said,
"My name is Rati. Who are you?"
Hearing her voice, the woman lifted her head and said,
"What are you doing here?!"
"I came to meet you."
"Why?"
"Because you are a witch, right?"
"So what?"
"Nothing… it's just that Rama thinks witches don't exist, but I knew they do. When she denied it, I had to prove that I'm not wrong."
"Can I ask you something? You won't get angry, right?"
"Ask."
"Even though you're a witch, why couldn't you fight the villagers? Have you lost your powers?"
"Who told you that?"
"My grandmother. She knows everything."
"Oh really? Didn't she also tell you that I eat children?"
"Yes, she did."
"Even then you came here to meet me? What if I eat you?"
"Oh, I have a very good idea for you so you won't need to eat anyone."
"And what is that?"
"See, you eat children to gain power, and then use that power to trap men, right? So why don't you just buy a net? Maybe you don't know, but the potter's shop sells all kinds of nets. You can just buy one and use it."
"But I'm tied up."
"That's okay. Look, I have a knife. I'll cut the ropes. Then you can go by that path, because ghosts live there, so no human uses it. You can eat those ghosts and increase your power. Okay?"
Hearing such innocent words, the woman just kept staring at Rati.
Rati quickly took out the knife from her pocket and cut all the ropes. Then she said,
"See, now you're not tied anymore. Come on, get up and go."
The woman couldn't hold back her laughter and smiled.
But Rati didn't understand, so she asked innocently,
"What happened? Why aren't you going? Don't you have any power at all?"
"If that's the case, then do one thing—eat one of my hands. Then you'll get your power back."
"You won't feel pain?"
"To be honest, it will hurt a lot… but it's okay, I'll bear it."
Hearing this, the woman stood up and gently placed her hand on Rati's head.
"I pray that people never turn you into a witch… because you ask too many questions, just like me."
Rati didn't understand what she meant. She just kept staring at the woman as she walked away.
The woman's legs and body were covered in wounds, yet she kept limping forward somehow.
Just as she was about to disappear from Rati's sight, she turned back once. There were tears in her eyes, but a peaceful smile on her face.
Rati kept watching her for a long time, until she completely disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
After that, Rati starts walking back toward her house. But now, she isn't afraid anymore. Instead, she feels proud of herself. As she walks, she keeps looking up at the moon, feeling as if it is moving along with her.