The Witch's Cabin

A long time ago, yet not so long as to be forgotten, there lived three brothers on a farm inherited from their late father. All three worked the land and lived in the homes they had built on it. None had yet to marry, for they were all still young and felt compelled to nurture their land before a family.

The brothers were very close and worked well together for each had their own virtue that could aid the others.

The oldest brother was wise. Having helped take care of his brothers much of his life he had learned the wisdom necessary to keep them safe.

The middle brother was sincere. Often feeling overlooked he learned to instead look into others and see them for who they truly were.

The youngest brother was brave and self-assured. The responsibility his elder brothers had did not fall on him, allowing him to explore the world at his own pace unhindered by expectations.

At the edge of their land sat a large forest. Growing up their father had always told them to stay away, for within that forest was a witch's cabin. Any that dared step on her land would be sent to hell with the witch's evil power.

One day, after the land had been tended to, the youngest brother called his siblings together.

"We should enter the witch's woods and see if she exists for ourselves," the youngest brother suggested. "Certainly it is better to know than to fear what may not be there."

The eldest brother cautioned against such needless danger, but quickly found his younger brother would not be swayed. "Fine, I will join you. The only thing more foolish than going together is letting you go alone."

The middle brother was silent, but nodded his agreement with his older brother's words. If the other two were to go into the woods it was only right that he join them.

They entered the woods and as soon as their farm was out of sight the middle brother noticed something odd. "It's faint, but there is a foul stench in the air." he noted.

"Likely a dead animal." the oldest brother explained. "Certainly there is no witch in these woods, but father warned us of the danger for a reason. Some predator must have left part of it's prey to rot."

"If by animal you mean a human corpse," the youngest brother replied. "The witch certainly must have butchered some poor soul. If so, we must take care of this threat once and for all!"

All three proceeded deeper into the woods, far more cautious as the indescribably foul odor grew stronger.

After several minutes they finally came across a small, old cabin that sat in the clearing. Its wood was clearly rotting and it looked nearly ready to collapse. In the twilight of the forest a faint flicker of candlelight could be seen through one window.

"The witch's cabin!" The youngest brother exclaimed in excitement.

"I guess there was some truth to father's stories after all." The oldest brother remarked, a bit surprised. "I'm not sure about a witch, but someone is living here."

"We should go. Now." The middle brother whispered, just loud enough for his brothers to hear. The smell was now unbearable and there was an unsettling heaviness to the air. "Whatever lives here we should stay well away from."

"Oh, don't leave so soon!" a raspy voice echoed through the forest. "I so rarely get guests, and you three brave, strong men are especially welcome."

The brothers looked every which way, but couldn't find where the voice was coming from. It was when they turned back to the cabin that the witch had appeared, only a few meters from where they stood. She was an old, frail looking woman with spots of wispy hair growing in random spots across her head. Her spine bent in three different directions in four different spots on her back, but even in her hunched form she was as tall as any of the brothers. Her face could barely be seen in the fading light, but a faint and sinister light seemed to radiate from her eyes.

The brothers stood frozen in fear. Even the eldest brother could not explain how she had gotten in front of them with no one noticing.

"I would love to invite you in for dinner now that you're here." she said with an insincere sense of welcoming. "But first I'd like to play a little game. Just a few questions I'd like you each to answer. Very simple really."

None of the brothers dared refuse.

"First you." She pointed to the oldest brother with a gnarled finger. "Do you think I am strong?"

The oldest brother looked the witch up and down. Her arms were like thin branches ready to be torn from a tree after a single gust of wind. "Certainly you must be strong." he replied. "I don't believe you would stop three grown men like us were you not capable of defending yourself."

The witch nodded, acknowledging his answer. "Do you think I am wise?" she asked.

"Yes," replied the oldest brother. "Certainly an esteemed woman such as yourself must be more wise than the greatest sages."

"Do you think I am beautiful?" asked the witch, leaning into the man with a grin. Her breath smelled of urine and spoiled meat.

The brother gave pause before nervously answering "Yes, I think you are very beautiful. Few women could match your beauty."

"Lies!" the witch screamed. "Lies drip from your lips like poison, but they will not poison this old hag!" and with a flick of her wrist the oldest brother burst into flame, disappearing before everyone's eyes; sent to the pits of hell.

The witch then turned her gaze to the youngest brother. Shocked at seeing what had just happened he was certainly afraid, but still managed to adorn a brave face in front of the witch. He was determined to not let the witch see a moment of fear.

"You," the witch began with a cackle, "do you think I am strong?"

The youngest brother also looked over the witch as his brother had done. "No, certainly you are weak. Your body is frail; you certainly must be near death. Were it not for your magic I'm certain you would be long dead by now."

The witch squinted her eyes disapprovingly, but did not seem angry. "Do you think I am wise?" she asked.

The youngest brother took a moment to consider before replying. "No. Were you wise you would certainly not be simply scaring us, but instead be using your wisdom to trick us into doing your bidding."

The witch seemed amused by the young man's answer. Once again she leaned in close so that the youngest brother could see her better. Her breath smelled of skunk and booze. "Do you think I am beautiful?"

The youngest brother recoiled in disgust. "Certainly not. Your face is wrinkled and your hands are gnarled. Your eyes are yellowed and your nose is crooked. There is no creature, let alone any woman, that could compare to your repulsive appearance."

"Fool!" the witch cried. "You see only that which is on the surface and judge based on such little knowledge. You speak too soon and think too highly of your own worth!" With a snap of her fingers the youngest brother too disappeared in a rush of flame, sent straight to the pits of hell.

The middle brother was openly terrified as the witch turned to face him. He did not feel as wise as his older brother and certainly lacked the bravery of his younger brother. He was too afraid to even look at the witch as she began her interrogation.

"Do you think I am strong?" the witch asked in a soft, mocking tone.

The middle brother took a deep breath as he decided how to answer. "Yes. Three brothers approached your cabin but now only one lives. Though I know nothing of the strength of your body, there is no doubt in my mind that you posses great strength."

The witch scowled. "Do you think I am wise?"

The middle brother shut his eyes, trying to focus on how to answer. "I can not know if you are wise, but to live as long as you have you must be crafty. Our world is not so forgiving as to suffer a fool to live. I fear my brothers may not have had a chance to realize that."

The witch clenched her fists in silent anger. After a moment of composing herself she smiled and leaned in, grinning with a bloodthirsty grin. The middle brother dared not look at her, but could smell the stench of curdled milk and feces on her breath. It took all his effort not to vomit. "Do you think I am beautiful?"

The brother shuddered and slowly shook his head. "No, if nothing else I know you are not beautiful. I don't dare look at you, but your words are filled with spite and hatred. Your actions cause only pain and suffering. To your core you are truly as vile as the breath that now invades my nostrils."

The witch screamed in anger. "How dare you! How dare you!" she chanted, stomping her feat in a tantrum. The glimmer in her eyes turned to fire. As her anger grew so did the fire until she was engulfed in its flame. The brother now could not look away. As he watched he found that as the flames spread across her body so too did they leap from the windows of her cabin. In an instant, and with one last echoing scream, both disappeared in a flash of red light.

The brother was finally safe, but as he released a sigh of relief he looked at his surroundings. Nothing remained but woods. The witch was gone. Her house was replaced by an empty clearing. His brothers were nowhere to be seen.

It took time to accept the situation, but eventually he turned to the direction of his farm and started walking back alone.