The Witch Doll: Scratch & Scream, #1

By D.L. Post

School is supposed to be the best time of your life, right? But what if you are constantly teased because your name is unusual?

If you think having a unique name would be enough to get you bullied, try having disorganized limbs. Cherry runs like a newborn gazelle, with too long wobbly legs and arms flapping in the air like a goose trying to take flight. Let's be honest here. If she was trying to run away from a lion, it would catch her in like three seconds.

Cherry has a whole lot more worries as a shadow monster is now hunting her. She doesn't know why, but suspects it wants to eat her. After all, isn't that what all monsters do to children?

Will Cherry find the strength to face her demon? With the help of her two best friends, and a strange witch doll things may just be looking up for her, or will they?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scratch & Scream
• Release date: Mar 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9781739285203

D.L. Post

D.L. Post is a passionate author with a deep love for nature, animals, and cooking.  Before embarking on her writing career, DL worked as a learning support teacher in helping children who struggled with dyscalculia, dyslexia, and processing issues. Through her work, she developed a strong sense of empathy and understanding of young minds, this shines through in her writing. As a mother of two DL draws inspiration from her own experiences, the joys and challenges of raising children. In her free time, DL can often be found curled up with a good book, delving into different genres, and discovering new literary treasures. She strongly believes that reading is not only a source of entertainment but also a gateway to knowledge, empathy, and personal growth. Through her writing, DL seeks to entertain, educate and inspire readers of all ages. With her rich imagination and genuine passion for storytelling, she invites readers to embark on unforgettable journeys and discover the magic that lies within the pages of her books.

Book preview

THE WITCH DOLL

D.L. POST

Copyright © 2024 by D.L. POST

2nd edition published 2024

ISBN: 978-1-7392852-7-2

First published in 2022

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or the author.

This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

To my husband Dean, thank you for always being there and for your support.

To my beautiful children; I love you guys very much.

I want to say thank you to these folks who helped

The Witch Doll become a reality.

Erin P. for her creative input and for making the book trailer.

Lynda Ward, who is an incredibly talented artist and illustrator.

A very special acknowledgement to Tayana Pastukhova who made the Witch Doll that inspired me to write the book.

Nicole Tetreault-Ely a special education teacher.

Chapter 1

PART 1

What kind of name is Cherry, you may ask? Well, it is the kind that your parents choose because they think it will be cute, can you guess what my mom craved when she was pregnant with me? I am sure they thought they were being original like some movie stars are with their kids' names. Only it is not cute for me. I have been teased so badly. If you think having a unique name would be enough to get you bullied, try having disorganized limbs. I run like a newborn gazelle, with too long wobbly legs and arms flapping in the air. Let's be honest here, if I was trying to run away from a lion it would catch me in like three seconds.

But wait there's more, I have a hate relationship with math, there is no love involved here, none at all. Its official name is Dyscalculia. There are days I can add and subtract with absolutely no problem, and then there are days my brain goes, huh? Things don't look so good for me, right? You would be correct in that I have another problem; a big problem and I don't know if I will get out of this situation alive. In order for you to understand what is going on, I have to go back to the beginning, no not my birth, back to when I was eight almost nine.

While walking with my mom in the playground, I caught a glimpse of a mysterious shadow from the corner of my eye. Peering at me through slitted eyes that shone like bright red traffic lights, a mysterious black figure squatted in the tree. What first caught my attention was those piercing red eyes. What shadow has eyes that glimmer with a fiery red hue? It was bigger than a cat but smaller than a dog. It felt like it was analyzing my every move. I also knew that if you stared into its eyes, something terrible would happen. It was an instinct like a predator and prey situation. And I was the prey.

I kept my eyes trained on the playground, intentionally avoiding any contact with the eerie shadow. The déjà vu hit me as soon as I realized I had seen it before. In fact, I was seeing more of it, and the sight of it began to invade my dreams. This shadow moved in unpredictable ways, defying the behavior of normal shadows. It did not move with a person.

There was also the feeling of major danger. Sometimes, it appeared as a massive, slimy blob, while other times it transformed into indiscernible, peculiar forms. It would alternate between appearing as a complete entity and resembling a cluster of shadows. It was an unusual day when the shadow seemed to be part man and part dog came into view. It was a constant, silent observer, always there and always waiting.

I was sure this shadow behaved much like the game ‘red light - green light’, a popular game played at my elementary school, and I am absolutely rubbish at it. Co-ord remember. This game, however, has a slightly different set of rules.

First rule: Look at them, and the game begins. It signaled acceptance of the challenge.

Second rule: Look away and it advances toward you.

Third rule: Look at them again and they stop.

I do not think there is any way to win. You will eventually have to look away, and then it will pounce on you and probably gobble you up. While you are still alive!

Don’t look, I said to myself. It will go away if I ignore it, I thought.

The park's playgrounds had an incredible castle, but it was too small inside for more than two children. The paint was fading due to sun exposure, and it smelt like hot plastic. Once a child enters, they never leave. It is the most