The Halloween Witch-hunt (M+F+/F+) (Part 5 added/Complete)

[Beaumains]

Kara road hesitantly over the driveway of the villa and placed her bike in the shed behind it. Wistfully, she stared at the enormous carved pumpkins that surrounded her. As a poor college student, she needed money. So her friend Rachel had recommended spending Halloween here. This would be fast money. Especially since she had won the 800-meter track on the junior state championship earlier in the year. Kara was also aware her appearance would help her tonight. Her sea-green eyes, a freckled face, and curly, flaming red hair were uncommon. Thus, it was popular.

But Kara now felt she used her looks to be a prostitute. The hostess, Mrs. Sheppard, had promised nothing improper would happen. Everything would be all fun and games. She would only be tied up. Tied up! Of everything she could think of, this was one of the most horrendous positions to be in front of strangers. Her ex-boyfriend had bound her to her bed once. That had been fun, but this was different. Was she going this low for money?

Kara entered the villa, where Mrs. Sheppard welcomed her hospitably. Her black hair and dress stood in sharp contrast with her pale skin and red lipstick. Someway, she resembled Morticia Adams. Kara didn’t dare to ask whether this was a costume or not. Mrs. Sheppard had detected her nerves and urged her to stop worrying. A couple other girls smiled at her while repeating she would be okay. They were already dressed as witches with a healthy jogging obsession. Kara noted their clothes weren’t skimpy at all. Their skin was covered, and their figures weren’t amplified.

Mrs. Sheppard gave Kara a bag and briefed her to change in the dressing rooms. It contained saddle brown running shoes, black tights, and a matching dark green skirt and sweatshirt combo. She put everything on while noting the clothes were uniformly colored. There were no brand names or reflective stripes left behind. Everything was, as promised, comfortable. Kara judged she could shamelessly jog over the campus in this. It didn’t resemble the trend to make every female Halloween costume sexy. This eased her a bit.

Kara returned to Mrs. Sheppard to finish her transformation. First, she received a necklace with a large pentagram pendant. Large, fabric spiders were stitched to her shoulder and skirt. Fake spider webs were draped over her upper body such that they wouldn’t interfere with her movement. Finally, Mrs. Sheppard fastened a smoky black cloak to Kara’s neck and laid the pointy cap over her head. A couple of her long, red locks were draped over her chest.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Sheppard re-explained what would happen to soothe Kara. “During dinner, you’ll stay bound and gagged. At that moment, the guests are introduced to you, their prey. Since you aren’t allowed to see them yet, you’re blindfolded. They will also examine and taunt you a bit. This might seem appalling, but they’re only allowed to touch your legs, arms, shoulders, and head. But not your face or private parts. They are also unallowed to hurt you in any way. Our team will moderate this, so nothing inappropriate occurs. Since you seem intimidated by this, I will inform them to watch you extra well. Nothing will happen to you. Taking pictures is also forbidden all night.” This calmed Kara. It would still be an embarrassing night, but at least she wouldn’t be assaulted.

Mrs. Sheppard also shared the remaining activities of the night. “After dinner, you will be released in the forest. Not much later, the guests will open the hunt. Try evading them as long as possible. When they catch you, they tie you up and return you to the villa. Then you will be their prize, and they can play with you. Often you’re interrogated whether you are a witch or not. Again, you will be guarded. The night ends with a trial to determine who of you are witches. Afterward, we will put some mattresses here for the night. The following morning, there is a breakfast where you’re supposed to blend in with our guests. Afterward, you’re free to go your own way. That’s all. Oh, and don’t forget to leave an impression. Our guests love it when you give everything. So struggle against them. If you stay uncaptured the longest, you receive a bonus. And some guests leave tips for their favorite witches. So prove to them how tough you are.”

That was the sole reason Kara participated. The cash. This would be an easy 250 bucks for her. She could almost buy two textbooks with that money. But, if she did well, she could earn a lot more in a single night. Rachel had introduced her to this side-hustle since she was an excellent runner. The hunters enjoyed a challenge. So Kara’s experience as a mid-distance runner was helpful. Upfront, Kara had told this hunt scared her. She had sent Mrs. Sheppard one Facebook photo together with her personal records. Mrs. Sheppard had insisted she had to partake. It would be fun. Hence, she had accepted.

Mrs. Sheppard requested Rachel to do Kara’s make-up. There was no need to hide Kara’s freckles since they were charming. So she only got fiery red lipstick, black mascara, and green eye-shadow that matched her eyes.

“Kara, I know this is your first time, but try to calm down. Mrs. Sheppard selects the guests herself, and there are no horny bastards among them. You aren’t going to be raped. Although they like to startle you, they prefer you to live a little. It’s a game. Try to relax and enjoy the night.”

Kara nodded and walked to a mirror to examine herself. She noted her identity wasn’t concealed well under the minimal make-up. But she loved her appearance. The cloak made her mysterious while remaining youthful and natural. In a bar, she would attract many boys. This wasn’t so terrible after all, she thought.

More girls walked in and were transformed into witches as well. In total, there would be thirteen witches. Each girl was slim and athletic. There was no easy prey tonight. All wore different clothing, but the tints were dark. Finding them was a crucial part of the game. Some witches wore long, flared sleeves. Others had short sleeves combined with satin opera gloves. Most wore leggings, but tights and bare legs were also prevalent. Some outfits included leather components, making the costumes look much more professional. But there were no long dresses or high heels. Their ability to run came first. Their appearance was less important. Kara noticed, there was only one other participant who didn’t have a pointy hat clipped to her head. This girl had a plush raven on her shoulder, and many spiders were fumbled in her hair. Kara knew she stood out. But she loved her cloak.

The thirteen witches had an early dinner because they would be bound and gagged during the actual dinner. There was a large amount of macaroni for them since they required fibers and energy. It would be an exhausting night. Kara heard two other girls were participating for the first time too. Because they were also nervous, she could pinpoint them effortlessly. The others knew each other well and were discussing possible tactics. Each of them was excited and motivated. Kara felt her hope of winning plummeting. More strategy seemed to be involved than running fast.

After dinner, their make-up was redone while Mrs. Sheppard greeted the guests elsewhere. The witches were brought to the room where they would be bounded. Here, Kara was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of rope and restraints. Her nerves returned. For each of them, there was a device with a paper with their name. This document also stated how they should be restrained. These devices, except for the giant hamster ball, stood on wheels. So they could be bound here and then driven into the dining room.

Like their outfits, every device was unique. The simplest was a vertical pole, but it was a bit flexible. You couldn’t apply force to it without bouncing the other way. The St. Andrews cross had a pivot in its center, so it could rotate.

The other constructions were even more bizarre. For the girl with the spiders in her hair, there was a gigantic spiderweb. She would be bound to it with white rope. Since the web was somewhat elastic, every movement caused it to vibrate. Like a mosquito, Kara thought. Rachel had to sit on a broom that hung in a frame. It looked excruciating, but she would sit on a hidden cushion. Two girls, who Kara had suspected to be sisters, each had to lie on one side of a pendulum. If one moved, both shifted. Since it was self-correcting, it would return to its equilibrium. There also were a life-size rocking horse, torture rack, and a glass coffin. For whatever reason, all devices enabled some sort of motion. But all were inescapable.

There was some sort of pillory swing for Kara. A steel frame on wheels held a platform she had to kneel on with chains. Her head and arms would be held between two planks at the top of the T-shape that stood on this platform. The broad planks were padded with leather. So it could have been more uncomfortable. But the part that frightened her was the hinge connecting the T-shape to the platform. Hence, Kara couldn’t exert force with her head without altering her center of gravity. As a result, she would start swinging. In essence, she needed to kneel motionless.

Kara was briefed the dinner would start in half an hour. She would be the third to be introduced. Hence, she had about twenty minutes before being confined. The more experienced girls had gained their fans and would be shown last. Kara would be tied for about ninety minutes, so she went to the toilet and brushed her teeth.

The other girls were thrilled with their restraints, but Kara feared them. This place looked like a medieval torturer’s dream. So she wanted to wait outside the room. But Rachel halted her and pressured her to test her olive green ball-gag. Kara had seen pictures of gags before but had never seen them in real life. Let alone worn one. Kara opened her mouth, and Rachel fastened it behind her head. At first, Kara feared she couldn’t breathe. But, it was a lot more pleasant than she had expected. Breathing wasn’t an issue. Only the taste was horrible. Rachel removed the gag after a minute and inquired if she was okay. Kara nodded. She could endure this.

“To be honest, Mrs. Sheppard is going light on you. This is only a small ball-gag. So you won’t be as muffled as us. You might be understood when trying to talk. So don’t try saying anything. It has to look like you’re gagged properly.” Kara appreciated the advice from Rachel. A bigger gag was undesirable.

“Kara, it’s your turn. Please come over here.” one of the staff members shouted. Kara stepped nervously toward the man who would tie her up. Kara guessed he was in his early fifties due to his baldness. Rachel followed Kara as she had promised. In some sense, Kara felt a lot safer this way. The man introduced himself as Sean, and they shook hands. To her delight, Rachel seemed to know him. He requested Kara to remove her shoes, which she did. The guests preferred tights over running shoes.

“I have heard this is only your second time in bondage. So I won’t go all out. But the guests don’t know this. I’ll tie you first lightly and tighten the ropes later. In this way, we can see how far we will go. Please sit down, so we can start.” Sean pointed at the two black leather cushions that were meant for her knees. Kara sighed and assumed her position. The pads were soft. Otherwise, Kara thought, they would hurt her knees. Sean opened the pillory, and she entered it. Since Rachel was here, she thought she could trust him. Sean closed it and secured it with a padlock. Kara knew she was stuck and turned her head. This already caused the pillory to swing a little.

Sean wasn’t much of a talker, and Kara appreciated that. But he described every step of the process. First, he and Rachel bound her ankles and lower legs with bright red rope to the platform. This wasn’t necessary, it was for aesthetic reasons. Her feet dangled over the edge of the platform. Kara had noted earlier two poles between her legs that formed a triangle. She had been anxious, her private parts had to rest on this triangle, but this wasn’t the case. Sean attached her upper legs to them. He explained he would fasten her tightly to these poles because they would support her. Then there would be less pressure on her knees.

There weren’t many ropes, and they around didn’t irritate Kara. So she informed Sean he could tighten them. Sean obliged and cinched all knots again. Now it pressed into her skin. Then Sean draped her cloak, skirt, and pendant in their precise position. Rachel had brought a mirror, so Kara could observe herself. “Wow, this is peculiar. Almost sexy. But weird. Can I see myself with the gag?” Sean and Rachel complied. Now Kara could barely recognize herself. But she admired what she saw: helplessness. She had never felt this way before.

After asking one last time if Kara was all right, Sean blindfolded her and drove her away. Kara had been correct, she had to keep still. Every movement created more motion. But it didn’t matter at the moment. The ride caused her to swing no matter what she did. Kara noted she was being driven to an enthusiastic group, judging by their laughter. The sound of utensils also entered her ears. She recognized Mrs. Sheppard, but all other voices were unfamiliar to her. Her frame was halted abruptly, causing a significant swing. Kara felt her throat being pressed against the bottom plank. This hurt. After she had recovered, she noted she was between the dining guests. She would be introduced next.

“This is Kara Redblood from Blacklunans in the Scottish Highlands. She burned down the house of a rival in love. In the fire, five innocent farmers lost their lives, including two little boys. Today we’re gathered to speak justice. We’ll determine whether Kara committed this despicable crime. So hear me, while I state the facts.” Mrs. Sheppard spoke these words, and Kara relaxed. It was a show. Redblood wasn’t her last name, and she was from Maine. Not the Scottish Highlands. Mrs. Sheppard scraped her throat while Kara could feel the eyes pinned at her.

[damsel]

I would play this game, ha ha

[Beaumains]

“During the night of July 11th this year, the cabin of the Mac Neachtain family burned down. They perished since their door handle didn’t budge. They couldn’t flee the flames. The cause of this fire is unknown. It was a rainy night, so this inferno didn’t form spontaneously. All had gone to sleep early, as is custom in these lands. So someone did this intentionally. No petrol or other flammable chemicals were found. How could the burning survive the rain? How did a fire form when it wasn’t lit by a human?”

“The sole explanation is witchcraft. Kara Redblood was seen dancing around the fire and was definitely involved in this atrocity and also had a motive. She was in love with Lachlan Mccreery. But Morven Mac Neachtain, the oldest daughter of this family, was already engaged to him. Thus she had to die. Since Morven slept with Lachlan that night, she survived the flames. The next day, Morven’s mother found her dead in a river. Her body was carbonized. Almost burned beyond recognition. Her death wasn’t due to a human. Morven was mummified by many ropes. She was tied before her death, but the flames didn’t harm the ropes. No-one could untie them. This was sorcery. Kara Redblood has a motive for these murders and was near the fire. Thus, she’s guilty and a witch!”


The guests cheered while demanded her to be burned alive. Although Kara felt threatened, this tale was unlikely. Even if this family had existed, she hadn’t known them. She had never left the States, let alone lived in a remote Scottish village. But the guests loved the story, and that was what mattered most.

Kara was pleased Mrs. Sheppard hadn’t stated this was her second time in bondage. No word about her nerves or requesting to go easy on her. This meant she wasn’t Kara Kehrberg anymore; her name was Kara Redblood tonight. Kara was a witch, not a college student wanting to make quick money.

Although the restraints annoyed Kara, she wasn’t scared. The “Burn the Witch!” scants weren’t serious. But Kara reckoned she had to look frightened. But conveying this emotion was hard due to her blindfold and gag. Body language was also not an option because she had to sit motionlessly. She was unable to defend herself against these accusations. Her faith was sealed in this unfair trial. Her introduction was over, and Mrs. Sheppard introduced another girl.


The witch was Maria of Ostrograd. She also stood trial for a far-fetched barbarity. Maria would have hexed a Latvian politician and forced him to rough bondage for more than a year. He fled to Estonia after breaking the spell. Maria tracked him and threatened to slaughter his family if she couldn’t tie him up. He didn’t comply, so she carried out her thread. The youngest child had been three.

Mrs. Sheppard announced the remaining witches while Kara stayed bound in the dining hall. She cited their crimes in roughly five minutes each. So this took a while. Kara wasn’t bothered by this. The restraints were uncomfortable, but the ridiculous tales were a perfect distraction. She had thought her story had been outlandish. But while Mrs. Sheppard discussed the third witch, Kara concluded her tale had been tame.

This witch would have cursed and poisoned all racing horses of an Arabic prince. A princess, his sister, paid her to do this, so her horses would win the upcoming derby. They could replace these horses because they had more money than they could ever spend. The animals didn’t matter since they could be replaced. This was their idea of a prank in the family. Kara assumed this witch sat on the gigantic rocking horse. More tales followed.

Rachel would have flown on her broom through small Appalachian towns. She had peered through the windows of every child. If they weren’t asleep by midnight, she would kidnap them and keep them tied up under her broom for the rest of the night. This gave rise to an FBI manhunt. But Rachel had bound and gagged every agent who dared to approach her. So the FBI had given up, and the witch went free. Now she had to pay.

The girl in the spiderweb would have used her mutated spiders to bite innocent teenagers. Some died, some would develop superpowers. For her entertainment, she would let them fight each other while telling both they were the hero. Frequently they would perish. Otherwise, she restrained them in her spiderwebs to torture them until they died.

The sisters on the pendulum were presented last. They would have altered time itself by adjusting adjust the speed of time locally. As freelancers for multinationals, they kept employees in the office for long periods. But they were paid the actual hours. So they worked eras for the same pay. In this way, enterprises earned massive amounts of money.

After each introduction, the guests roared louder. The crimes enraged them, so they demanded justice. This meant the witch had to be executed in a way fitting the crime. Due to the bizarre villainies, Kara often detected chuckles from the guests. Mrs. Sheppard narrated animated and remained earnest. But the lies were too grotesque to be frightening. The only scary part of these Halloween stories was being tied.


“These thirteen witches stand trial tonight. Now you can examine them. Aid us to determine whether they’re guilty or not!” Mrs. Sheppard said.

In the next half an hour, the guests could inspect their prey. Kara feared this part the most because strangers would touch her while she couldn’t move. She wouldn’t call herself prudent, but this felt immoral. It was too late to quit, so she decided to accept whatever would happen to her. If it went wrong, others would interfere. And if she hummed the imperial march, Sean would release her. But she had to rely on others. She had lost control of the situation.

“Ah, look. Kara Redblood, the lass who burned an entire family. Young love. How cute.” An unknown feminine voice spoke to her and caressed her head without bothering to ask. “Are you here due to your looks? Your bondage isn’t tight, and your gag barely works. I will give you a harder time when I’ve caught you. This ain’t scout camp anymore.”

“I like her.” a masculine voice replied. “This is her first time, but she might be more dangerous than you expect.” Kara felt the man squeezed her upper legs. “She’s fit. These muscles are enormous, so she could end in the top five. But that would be a risky bet.”

“I doubt that. Experience is more important. This girl doesn’t know the forest.” the woman continued. “And have you seen everyone look. She’s the first redhead to take part in the hunt. Everyone wants her. Many will go after her, so she won’t survive for long.” The man acknowledged his mistake, and they abandoned her. Kara didn’t know whether he had complimented her, but being judged so harshly hadn’t occurred since middle school. She felt humiliated.

Not much later, Kara felt someone stroked her elbows. “Hello there.” a young masculine whispered in her ear. She was crept out. “It’s always good to see unfamiliar faces. I wish you good luck. Otherwise, it will be too easy for me.” He pushed Kara’s swing a little, causing her to scream in her gag. He laughed while walking away.

Her swing was stopped, and someone clasped her hand. Out of desperation, Kara decided to play a little and grabbed it tightly. She felt she had to prove her strength. It tried escaping her grip, and Kara let it go during its third attempt. “She grabbed me!” a girly voice said.

“That won’t go unpunished.” another feminine voice added. The two girls grabbed her ankles and started tickling her unprotected feet. Kara screamed in her gag while her throat was slammed against the pillory. “Ticklish? We will remember that. But next time, wear a real gag. This one is a bit silly.”

Never before Kara had felt this vulnerable. The judgments of the guests were cruel: Her bondage was sub-par, and she could only take part due to her appearance. The hunters pointed out each aspect of her body and examined her muscles to determine how fast she was. They teased her and swung her swing back and forth. It wasn’t painful, except around her throat. To Kara’s delight, all respected the rules. No-one touched a banned body part. The guests acted as creeps, but somehow Kara suspected this was their intention. She had to be intimidated physically and emotionally. She had to fear them, and they succeeded in that.

Betting was an aspect she hadn’t considered before. A couple of guests were affluent, older patrons uninterested in hunting themselves. They would bet among each other how well each witch would perform. Often, they would discuss their expectations in front of Kara. On average, they expected her to be caught fourth. There wasn’t much faith in her. But one dared to bet she would end among the best three. At least someone had confidence in her, Kara thought.


While two men tickled Kara, a horn blasted. They instantly left her alone. Playtime was over. Not much later, a swing indicated Kara was driven back to the binding room. Her blindfold and gag were removed. Sean stood before her and asked if she was alright while releasing her. Kara nodded while a tear rolled over her cheek. “You sure about that?” Kara felt Sean was genuinely concerned.

“You did well. But I could see you weren’t enjoying it. This was way too rough for you, considering this was only your second time tied up. Some of our guests also noted your stoic attitude. It is your call if you want to do this hunt. Dozens are ready to help you through this night. Don’t take those comments too personal. It is part of the game, and all the girls got them. I know we should have prepared you better. They recognize the voices, so it’s a lot milder for them. I understand you’re startled right now. Do you want to continue with this? I would understand if you want to quit.”

Kara thought for a couple of seconds. “Thanks. But I can handle the rest since this was the worst part. It was a burst from all the emotions. I know I will regret it when I quit now, just before the exciting part.” Kara was free and stretched herself while Sean observed her. “I want you to know you will be bound again after the hunt. That is also rough. If you can’t handle it, stop struggling and hum your safety tune. Then we will make sure it stays fun for you. But if you want to play their game, struggle and give them a show.”

The other two new girls had been introduced before Kara stood next to them. They were already involved in the bondage scene, so their restraints didn’t bother them as much. But they shared they disliked the remarks as well. Kara wasn’t the only one who had taken them personally. This relieved her since it meant it had been severe. She wasn’t too frail for this game.

The more experienced girls didn’t worry about this. Instead, they laughed. They knew most threats were unrealistic. Most guests would never catch any witch since they were too nimble. Since they were favorites, they got an ego-boost from the inspection.


The witches received fifteen minutes to prepare for the hunt. Kara went to the toilet, devoured a granola bar, and put her running shoes on. Rachel fixed her make-up, and Kara was ready. She waited with the other girls, who were much more excited. This seemed to be another way to overcome the nerves. They were expected to do well, so being captured meant a decent loss in income. Large bets depended on their performance. If they won, they would receive a percentage from this. Much money was on the line for them.

An older guy called all witches since it was time for the hunt. Each received a band that they put around their wrists that tracked their location and vital functions. The hunters would wear them as well. In this way, any collaboration between hunters and witches was impossible. It was a competition, after all. The bands were tested, and the guy recited the rules of the hunt once more. All witches had to confirm they grasped them before continuing.

The witches climbed in their wooden boxes. These were about two and a half feet in each dimension and made of thick, four-inch-wide planks. They were spaced such that they could be studied by the hunters before their release. Kara noticed they resembled those used to release animals in the wild. Staff members applied thick padlocks to each box and pressed two poles through the holes. Two of them together carried a girl to the forest behind the villa.

Kara was among the last to be carried away, so she didn’t have much time to examine her environment. There were about sixty guests who wore black pants, dark leather jackets, and white skeleton masks. Ropes and nets of various kinds hung on their belts, and most held torches or pitchforks. Kara felt threatened, but weapons weren’t allowed. They could only carry stuff to tie her. Kara kept telling herself they were ordinary people behind these masks. On a track, she could outrun them. Here this was also possible if she won the mental game.

Behind them stood the staff members who wore red masks. Kara searched for Sean, but couldn’t identify him. She reckoned she had to concentrate. This was a race like on the track. The sole difference was the starting position. The goal was the same: outrun her opponents.

[TamatoaShiny123]

This is great so far!!!

[slackywacky]

Great story, as usual (although that doesn't do your writing skills justice). Will Kara outrun the others? I will patiently wait for the next chapter.

[Beaumains]

Thanks for the comments!

I actually wanted to finish this by Halloween, but I am not going to make it. Mostly because I don't want to rush this story. It is a lot longer than I initially predicted, the writing takes longer than usual, and I have less time to work it than I expected. So in the upcoming weeks, I'll stay uploading a Halloween story.

[Beaumains]

Mrs. Sheppard removed the padlocks while summarizing each crime. On each box stood a hunter ready to release their prey. Kara put the cap of her cloak over her head while listening to Mrs. Sheppard.

“Welcome, friends of justice! We’re gathered here to complete our judgment. These women have one last chance to prove their innocence. I urge them to run as a human and be taken. You’ll burn when you practice your magic. Show us you’re human in this stressful situation. Then you’ll go free. I wish you the best of luck. The hunting season is open!”

An alphorn was sounded while the selected guests lifted the doors of the boxes. The witches jumped out and ran away without looking back. Like seals to the sea, Kara thought. They spurted away from their saviors who hoped to give them a long and prosperous life in freedom. But these hunters granted her a brief, exhausting attempt at surviving. But Kara had no time to consider this; she had to run. The head-start was thirty seconds. This was a hunt, not hide-and-seek.


Kara knew better than sprinting. She had to spare herself. So she assumed the pace of the others with their jiggling pointy hats. They had to know what they were doing.

The forest wasn’t dense. The trees stood four to ten yards apart. A bit like an orchard of deciduous trees. Real woods would cause many injuries. So this was ideal, although it was still hazardous at full speed. All fallen branches were removed, and tiny yellow glow sticks hung on every tree trunk. Now you could run flat out without crashing. It also gave the forest a magical glow. Thirdly, it was visible when someone passed a tree. When all ran, the lights flickered. One could guess their position and speed, but not whose team they were on. So hunters went after everyone while witches kept their distance.


After thirty seconds, the horn sounded again. All the girls were behind the 30-foot hill in the middle. They had to disappear, and their dark clothing aided them. But hiding wasn’t an approved tactic. They could rest for two minutes before their wristband told them to move on. Climbing in trees was also banned. It was a hunt. They had to run.

Kara decided to stop under a random tree. Most other girls continued. The glow sticks hung on hip height, so she was invisible if she lay down. Kara was in the middle, behind the big hill. The glow sticks at the top flashed, and a wave of hunters ran down while yelling warcries. In front of her, there was no movement anymore. All hags had hidden, and the hunters stormed past Kara. The closest had been nearly 25 yards away. Kara’s wristband indicated she had sat for ninety seconds. She had to move and crept to an adjacent tree.

Kara waited here, while lights flickered in all directions. Hunters were everywhere. So it didn’t make sense to go away. She would likely be spotted. So she chose to stay in this area for a while.

Now Kara knew the playing field, she devised a strategy. The hunters ran to fluctuations in the background. Then the witch had to run away. The forest was about thirty acres, so other hunters would likely sight her too. It was hard to keep track of many pursuers at once, so this scenario had to be avoided. The witch could escape since they were usually nimbler and fitter. That was the game. Numbers versus agility. But their targets always had to succeed. Since the playing field was sloping, you couldn’t see far. Escaping after being detected was plausible, but you better stayed unseen. So you had to move as little as possible. With this strategy, you would save energy too.

Kara spent the next fifteen minutes in this way. Twice hunters came close without noting her. First, one tried to sneak, hoping to catch her off-guard. But he failed horribly. A duo ran past her, and Kara wondered if they were even searching for her. She heard yells coming from every direction. Most were meant to frighten the witches, but thrice they found one. Once, the horn indicated a witch was returned. So Kara hadn’t finished last.


Another duo strolled down the hill to Kara in a straight line. She had to leave their path. If they found her only several yards away, it would be over. She couldn’t sneak away since the cracks of twigs and leaves would reveal her location. So Kara chose to run when they were forty yards apart.

While Kara took her first steps, the horn sounded again. These two simultaneous events confused the couple. Nevertheless, they began the pursuit. Kara heard screaming behind her, and more hunters entered the chase. She crossed a slight hill while adrenaline rushed through her body. Next, she abruptly ran twenty yards to the left and laid down between two trees. No hunters were in her sight.

Five seconds later, the duo passed the hill. They hoped Kara was hiding around here. But the small glow sticks weren’t enough to find a girl dressed in black. They could try tracing her steps in the leaves, but others had crossed the area too. It would be futile in the darkness. Fifteen yards away from Kara, they stood still and began seeking. Two other hunters joined them. They assembled in a row five yards apart from each other and walked forward, clearing the area. Since they walked in the other direction, Kara dashed away over the slight hill. They hadn’t heard her. Their prey had escaped.

The hunters gave up their search and left in another direction. Kara found a new hiding spot, and she was in the same situation: she could wait here until others visited her area. This happened frequently. Once more, she had been forced to run away. Her previous encounter had been closer, so there was no noteworthy trouble.


Kara enjoyed this. The tension and adrenaline flushed through her body. She always had been competitive, and this was no game to quit. The ever-existing danger and never-ending flashes of light made her paranoid. But in a healthy amount. It was the fight-or-flight response her ancestors had passed to her. Vicious predators hounded her, and she wasn’t allowed to error. Just like them. But for Kara, it was only a game.

In total, four witches were caught already. First, Kara assumed she had been lucky. In reality, this part of the forest was safe. From the yelling, Kara deduced that many had run much farther from the start. Most hunters had gone hereto since they had detected their prey there. It was risky to leave for the girl, so they were trapped. Kara was alone in the middle, so few hunters explored her surroundings. Even after being spotted twice, there was plenty of space to hide. By sheer luck, she found a sound strategy. Kara deduced this in surprise. Most prey animals lived in herds that offered protection. But here it was safer to be alone. This was likely due to the unnatural ratio of predators and prey.

After this revelation, Kara decided to move farther to the start. Slowly, she walked around the big hill. None saw her. The only remarkable event was a convoy of hunters passing by in the distance. From their joy, she deduced they had captured one of the swiftest witches. It seemed they carried her, so she was bound already. Due to the lack of her yelling, Kara assumed she was gagged as well.


After spending five minutes at the front of the hill, Kara heard the horn thrice. The hunt entered its second stage because only seven witches remained. Hunters could collect cheap flashlights at the start. Fewer witches remained, so the time between captures stayed roughly the same. It would be tenser since hiding would be harder. Kara recognized her mistake. All hunters would cross her first to get a flashlight. Then they surpassed her again on their return. Kara couldn’t flee, so she hoped they wouldn’t see her.

About twelve hunters walked past her without inspecting the area properly. They wanted flashlights. But when one of the last hunters passed her, it went wrong. He got too close, and Kara had almost spent her two minutes under this tree. She got anxious. So she jumped up and ran away. About eight hunters turned around to chase her. Kara had to sprint since they surrounded her. She dashed out of nowhere in a straight line, so their reactions weren’t rapid. They ran after her, but couldn’t reach her.

Kara ran as if her life depended on it. Somehow, it actually did. She was fast, and her pursuers saw this was hopeless. They would get her later. On the left side of the forest, Kara sat down and panted for a second. In front of her was one of the twenty trees with blue glow sticks. Here lay granola bars and sports drinks. She sneaked toward it and consumed them before any hunters appeared. Hydration and energy would be helpful, but this was an excellent place for a trap. Kara turned around and saw the faint flashlights creeping forward.


From now on, it would be more fatiguing. Kara lay on the ground during her last peaceful minute. This stage meant more running, and hunters could focus on their favored prey. Kara feared what she had heard earlier tonight. Would she be among the favorite victims?

The hunters spread throughout the forest, and Kara heard a shriek. It wasn’t far off. Fortunately, the witch didn’t run toward her. But Kara could observe the plan of the hunters. They took turns pursuing their target. Eventually, she had to collapse from her effort. Kara assumed this was in her advantage since she supposed to be the swiftest. It also reminded her of her history classes. Prehistoric humans killed much faster prey this way, so no-one would be safe.


Kara was still hidden, and just one hunter was in her neighborhood. Quickly, he had forced her to show herself and entered the chase. He was alone and not very agile, so Kara jogged small circles in this area. Sprinting away would cost more energy.

He realized this himself, so he quit the chase. Kara jogged on. From nowhere, a faster chaser entered the pursuit. He carried a sizeable net and was ready to entrap her. Now Kara could rush, but that would play in the hunters’ hands. This was his tactic, even when he was right behind her.

So Kara made an unexpected move. She turned around, bent, and tackled her opponent before stepping aside. According to her plan, her stalker fell face-first on the ground. He cursed and grunted while Kara grasped two sides of his net and bound them on his back. She knew her one knot wouldn’t hold him for long. But it was enough to lose him.

It occurred to Kara she would later pay for this stunt. But it had been worth it. She ran away while the other hunter freed his companion. All other hunters were elsewhere. They knew they couldn’t catch her, so they left. Kara had time to relax in her own corner of the forest.

In the twenty minutes, Kara sat there, three witches were captured. Slowly, it dawned on her she might win. But she didn’t know if another witch had such an easy hunt so far.

It wouldn’t stay this way. The hunters received better flashlights. Although many were occupied with the captured witches, a group formed to locate Kara. They rapidly found her and drove her through the forest.

The pace wasn’t impossible to maintain for a long time, but she couldn’t lose six of them. But Kara tried to devise a new strategy. When the horn sounded again, she came up with a plan. If she found the other witches, she could follow them. Kara hoped to be fresher and faster. If she could outrun them, she would win.

Kara ran toward the back of the forest, where she had heard voices. The hunters seemed amazed to see her and didn’t know what to do. Here were the other witches as well. It didn’t take Kara long to find them as they were loudly pursued. They embraced the same strategy and desired Kara to join them.

The three girls blended and were chased together. One of the sisters and the girl with the spiders in her hair were Kara’s remaining rivals. Kara was relieved they were united. If one of them was hiding, she could wait until they were captured.

The hunters endorsed this approach since few had to run at a time. The witches would exhaust themselves without much of their effort. Part of the strategy of the witches was to stay close to the hunters. If one of them departed their group, she was caught. So the strongest would remain. The pursuers were replaced often and kept the pressure on them. They knew this wouldn’t take long.

Kara’s competitors were more tired already. She could take the lead and show her energy, but they would dash aside. Then the hunters would chase her. Kara had to bluff and got in the rear position. But after a couple of minutes, she started getting anxious. They ran like slugs, and she would be captured first if their pursuers reached them. The other girls could walk into a group of hunters in a final hope to win. Her victory wasn’t guaranteed.

Kara took the lead and maintained the same stagnant pace. By accelerating gradually, she would hide her strength. The gasps behind confirmed her thoughts. She could win! Incidentally, she passed a tree a hunter had hidden behind. He jumped, gripped her cloak, and fumbled. She had tied it such that it would come loose when grabbed. This had been her plan but reminded her she wasn’t there yet. She had been so close to losing. This game had more factors than a track race.

She accelerated, and the girl with the spiders in her hair dropped away. The hunters screamed in delight. Two witches remained. Kara went for another lap through the forest while her rival abandoned her. The hunters split up, and Kara went her own way. She hoped her pursuers weren’t much faster. Pursuing the other girl would be risky. Kara trusted in herself.

After a minute, only two hunters remained on her tail. They didn’t have any back-up but were fast, and Kara had to assume her race speed. It hurt. Then she heard a big scream followed roaring. Her rival had been seized. Pride and satisfaction entered her body; she had won the hunt.

She had to make a choice. Would she surrender? But she decided not too. If they wanted to capture her, they had to work for it.

[Caesar73]

Very good Idea! The description of the hunt? Just perfect!

[Beaumains]

Very good Idea! The description of the hunt? Just perfect!

Thanks! I had a slow day, so here is the next part.
-----------------------------------------
Kara’s pursuers were ten yards behind and had trouble keeping up. Less than thirty hunters were left in the forest. The rest was playing with the captured witches near the villa. Most of those in the forest were busy tying their latest victim. So there was no back-up for Kara’s pursuers who invested all their energy in this pursuit. They knew they would either succeed or would be too weak to run anymore.

The hunters took their chance and adopted their old strategy. They held their distance until she collapsed. Except, they were unaware they dealt with a junior state champion on the 1500 meter. Kara played their game, knowing all three would go all in. She had won the hunt already, so she could only lose further glory.

After a few minutes, a victor emerged. Unsurprisingly, it was Kara. The leaves stopped cracking behind her, so she looked over her shoulder. Both puffed on the ground. Kara searched another hiding spot while waiting on new contenders. She knew she couldn’t do this all night. She lacked the energy, and hiding would be troublesome without her cloak. Her face and hair didn’t blend in well in the darkness.


It took some time for the hunters to arrive, and they forced Kara away. During this chase, she decided to move to a hunter-free part of the forest. But she couldn’t find such an area. The hunters had spread out. If one dropped out, another would resume the hunt. None were more athletic than Kara. But if she couldn’t rest, they would get Kara Redblood eventually.

Kara wouldn’t give up. She knew her evening wouldn’t end with her capture. An interrogation would follow, and surrendering showed weakness. After fifteen minutes of constant jogging, it started to ache. Her body burned from her endeavors. Quitting was appealing. This was as demotivating as the PACER test in high school. There was no reason to continue, except you had to resign.


Thus, Kara chose to go to a part of the forest with fresher hunters. Here she would be taken without losing face. The second hunter in this area caught up with her, and Kara slowed down a bit. She jumped on Kara’s back, causing Kara to plummet face-first on the forest floor. Kara tried to turn around, but the huntress pressed her chest down in the leaves. Kara knew she would try to bind her herself.

Then Kara recalled Rachel’s words: they prefer you to struggle. With all her force, she pushed herself up. Her pursuer fell onto the ground while grabbing her ankle. Kara kicked her hand away and stood up. She tried running away, but many hunters had come already. One knocked Kara down.

This hunter took Kara’s legs without attempting to bind her. It would be useless if she tried wrestling her way out. Within seconds, four others had arrived to help him. Kara kicked herself loose while her wrists were grabbed. She had to keep her limbs free.

This reminded her about Sharks and Minnows, a game she used to play in athletic training. In their variant, you lost when you lost contact with the ground. The usual strategy was that four players each took an arm or leg to lift you up. Kara’s favorite counter-technique was grasping one attacker to pin them to herself. Then she was twice as heavy and hid her limbs under them.


Kara selected the girl who had jumped on her as her victim. She stood too close and wasn’t paying attention while Kara took her hostage. Kara climbed on her while the rest joined the wrestling. It was a chaotic mess involving much grasping, kicking, and shouting.

Kara was weary, lightweight, and in the minority. She defended herself well, but her right leg was pinned to the ground. A knot was made around it. The hunters dragged her ten yards by this rope, but Kara didn’t let the huntress go.

Someone placed a rope around Kara’s other leg. She was lifted up, freeing the huntress. Kara reckoned she had disliked her trick. Kara’s ankles were tied together, and she was pressed on the ground while men sat on her arms. It was over.

The hunters cuffed Kara’s hands and pushed a ball-gag in her mouth. It was bigger than the previous one. Then they winded her in a net and fastened it around her. Two strong men took her and carried her away. Fifteen hunters followed them and celebrated they caught the red-haired witch.


When they arrived at the villa, Kara saw the other witches bound to twelve stakes in a row. Kara assumed they had to stay there after being interrogated. To her amazement, there was no thirteenth stake for her. So she would receive another treatment as the winner.

The field was lit by torches and fire baskets, making the torture devices look even scarier. Kara was placed before a pleased Mrs. Sheppard, who stood in front of the stakes. Two staff members untied Kara, who knew she wasn’t allowed to escape anymore. All guests watched her from their white masks.


“Kara Redblood. What a delight to see you here. You did well tonight, but I doubt you played fair. The other girls turned out to be innocent. It’s time for your interrogation. Please take your seat.” Mrs. Sheppard pointed to an ordinary wooden chair stood next to Kara.

Kara sat down, shivering in fear. Four staff members walked toward her with ropes in their hands and started binding her to the chair.

“Squeeze my hand tightly if you want to proceed.” Sean murmured from behind his mask. Kara did so, sealing her fate. This was a part of the game, and she had to deal with it. She couldn’t merely do the fun part.

“You look dreadful, please confirm it once more.” Then Kara saw her arms. Her sweatshirt was torn, and small scratches covered her arms. She knew her legs would look similar. The tights had offered less protection. Due to the adrenaline, she had missed how rough she had wrestled. Still, she squeezed Sean’s hand.

“One last advice. Do not confess.” Kara squeezed Sean’s hand again while her bondage was being finished. Her legs and upper body were tightly pressed to the chair while her arms were fastened to the armrests. But she could shift her feet, hands, and head.


The staff members lifted Kara up and brought her to a six feet high, ten feet wide cylindrical water basin. They removed her running shoes and gag while hanging her chair below a massive lever. She realized it was a ducking stool while being positioned above the water. Her questioning wouldn’t be fair.

“Kara Redblood from Blacklunans in the Scottish Highlands can you confirm your identity?” Mrs. Sheppard said. Kara nodded.

“I can’t hear you.”

“Yes, my name is Kara Redblood. I am born and raised there.” Kara replied nervously. She had considered using a Scottish accent, but it wouldn’t be convincing. Especially after a forced bath.

“Good. As you know, you’re being charged for the murder of the Mac Neachtain family. This crime is horrendous, so let’s make a deal. If you confess now, you’ll burn swiftly. We’ll expose the truth no matter what. So it depends on whether you want to die slow and painful.”

“I am not guilty of the murder of the Mac Neachtain family. To tell the truth, I’ve nothing to do with the fire. I am not a witch.” Kara spoke slowly while putting emphasis on her words. Her confidence shocked the audience.

Kara was lowered in the cold water, and her head was submerged for about fifteen seconds. When she got up, she shivered. The water wasn’t heated, and the October wind wasn’t helping.

“That’s a curious claim. Please explain yourself.” Mrs. Sheppard didn’t bother torturing Kara. During the hunt, she had had much time to come up with a defense.

“It’s true Morven and Lachlan were engaged, and I liked Lachlan. The three of us had been friends since our early childhood. Never would I hurt any of them. The Mac Neachtain family was my second home. Morven’s parents cared for me as if I was their own daughter. I would never even consider doing something like this.”

“That’s an entertaining tale, Kara.” Mrs. Sheppard was sarcastic and ordered to dunk Kara again. It was chilly. Since she was down for longer this time, she had to gasp for air.

“Kara, lass, you were seen dancing around the fire. How do you explain that?”

“That’s another lie. I was out there that night, like most of the village. Foolishly, I ran to the burning house to save them. I tried kicking the door open. It didn’t bulge. The flames grabbed my nightdress, and I rolled on the grass to extinguish them. It’s possible, someone thought I was dancing. But I would never play the fiddle like Nero in Rome. They were my friends.” Kara tried to pack as much emotion in this as possible. She started weeping. The sudden absence of death threats indicated the guests were on her hand.

“Mrs. There’s something you should know. Long ago, Morven was promised to another boy. His family was furious when the Mac Neachtains broke their promise. If you want a motive, you start there.” The audience gasped while Kara was sunk once more.

“Kara, please stop lying. You’re wasting my time.” Kara entered the water once more. How long would this continue?

“Perhaps your little tales are true. But that doesn’t change what you’ve done tonight. You’ve bound a hunter, disappeared under your cloak, and fought a dozen men at once. And above all, you outran the Warby brothers. That is unprecedented. How can you explain that? What magic have you used?” For some reason, these acts made Kara feel proud.

“I don’t have used any sorcery. I am human and don’t know any magic. As you said, I have been raised in the Scottish Highlands. As a little girl, I learned to be strong. So I am used to running. That’s what I have shown tonight. Nothing supernatural was involved.”

“Kara, this sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? If you had lied less, you might have been believable. But you’re a witch. Tomorrow you’ll burn.” Kara screamed while she was dunked. The guests roared in anger.


Kara’s chair was lowered to the ground. Because she yelled and cursed, staff members gagged her. They untied her legs before binding them together around her ankles and knees. Then her hands were freed and secured behind her. Two staff members hauled the wooden box they had released her from toward her. Then they shoved her in it. They closed it before securing it with a padlock.

Kara was carried away. It wasn’t a long trip, but she felt miserable. She shivered from her soaking clothes. The weather had been ideal for running. Not for being cold, wet, and bound in the air. Kara was carried in the villa, and the nature of the staff members turned. They released her from the box and her ropes. Together with a big towel, Sean escorted her to a luxurious bathroom.


Under the warm water of the shower, Kara realized it was over. The questioning had been short since it was unresponsible to stay in the cold any longer. It had been intense, and Kara thought she had done a decent job defending herself. All other witches were interrogated on the other machines. The dunking chair was the grant finale meant for the winner.

When Kara left the shower, she found a set of red satin pajamas. A note was attached saying they were for the winner. She put them on together with the fresh underwear and matching socks that lay underneath. The long-sleeved pajamas contained cursive, sparkling gold lettering saying: “I am the witch.”. This was much better than her dirty, wet, and torn clothes. She left the bathroom and found Sean and a female staff member waiting on her.


“Eh, Kara. Congratulations on winning. You were phenomenal. You left an impression. Now I recognize why Mrs. Sheppard let a newbie to bondage enter.” Kara smiled. She knew she had won, but it was nice someone else acknowledged it.

“I am sorry to say this, but we didn’t tell you everything. The winner receives a bonus but is in return the focus of attention. That’s the reason you were convicted while the other girls went free. Traditionally, only the victor gets sentenced. Part of this tradition is you sleep elsewhere. This might be appalling, but it’s a cage. You’ll also be tied. This sounds unpleasant, but it’s snug. I know you’re not used to this, but do you mind trying? The guests would love it.”

Kara was dumbfounded. By winning, she had hoped to avoid being bound for long. Now Sean tried guilting her to stay tied for an entire night.

“Hi, I am Elisa. I’ll stay with you for the first hour. If you want to get out by then, I’ll release you.” Sean’s companion said. “Trying wouldn’t hurt, would it? And believe me, that cage is comfortable. I decorated it myself this year.”

This convinced Kara. Sean and Elisa bound her legs together with much rope. It wasn’t tight, but the sheer number of windings made them inescapable. Her hands were cuffed in front of her with half a foot slack. The cage was a couple of rooms away, and Elisa and Sean supported Kara toward it.

[Amberbound]

Love this!!!

[rafeylovesbonds]

Very entertaining and an original story too.

Rafey

[Beaumains]

Here is the last part. I will end this story here. Perhaps I will write a sequel with these characters, but that won’t happen soon. Sorry, this is a bit later than Halloween, but I grossly underestimated the number of words I needed for this tale.

Very entertaining and an original story too.

Rafey

Love this!!!

Thanks a lot! These comments really motivate me!
---------------------------------------
Sean and Elisa carried Kara into the dimly lit hallway. Her cage stood a few yards from the main staircase. It was 8 feet high, 8 feet long, and 6 feet wide. Its thick, black bars stood four inches apart, making escape impossible. Kara grasped what Elisa meant by decorating the cage. It was in the Halloween theme.

Bed sheets with a spiderweb pattern covered the mattress. Instead of a blanket, there were three fake animal hides. The satin pillowcase was red like Kara’s pajama. A plush black cat, raven, and six rats laid in the cage as well. The edges were decorated with spiderwebs and cloth spiders. Snakes in various colors were woven between the bars. Beneath the roof hung a dozen rubber bats.

Kara was speechless. Despite the decorations, the cage didn’t look jumbled. A witches’ lair had to be chaotic. She smiled; this was how Halloween decorations had to look. It was in the theme, but they weren’t scary. She would have loved to sleep her unbound.


Elisa opened the cage’s tiny door and helped Kara in. Kara lay down while Elisa secured the door with a padlock. She was stuck, but her mattress was soft. It would be survivable for a single night.

“Kara, I hope you know the guests will see you. They have drinks now. But in the next half an hour, they may pass you on the way to their beds. They walk here when heading to breakfast tomorrow too. They can’t talk or wait here while you try to sleep. We’ll check this. Sleep well! If there’s anything, call me. I’ll release you if you want. Do you want to give it a shot?”

Kara confirmed she wanted to try. This day had been exhausting. Strangers watching her while sleeping scared her. But she was too tired to care.

Elisa and Sean walked away, leaving Kara alone. She took the sheepskin and draped it around her body. Then she grabbed the black cat and clamped her arms around it. She was gone within minutes. Even the ropes didn’t bother her. Thus, she missed the guests who adored her image. The vicious hag slept peacefully tied in her cage. The way she clung to her stuffed animal, enhanced this picture.

Kara’s thoughts were elsewhere. She enjoyed a deep sleep and had forgotten her college stress. She had expected nightmares from the ropes and water but slept dreamlessly. The villa was heated, and the skins and pajama kept her warm.


The tippling of shoes woke Kara the following day. She opened her eyes and saw a couple in their late thirties. Kara assumed they were guests when they apologized profoundly for arising her. Kara was drowsy and rejected the excuses without further thought.

Then Kara was thrown back into reality. Her hands were cuffed, her legs were bound, and she was locked in a cage. Waking up like this was surreal. The duo approached her while praising her for winning. They told Kara it was only 8:00. She had to stay here for another hour and wasn’t allowed to untie herself.


The word Kara had woken spread fast. Within no time, ten guests surrounded her cage. Her unexpected victory had impressed them. So they wanted to learn more about her. Never before a witch had won in her first year. The guests were dressed casually while the staff members wore red polo shirts. Kara felt like a foreigner with marvelous tales. But also like a zoo animal, despite the informal atmosphere. Everyone stared at her while she was bound, caged, and in pajamas.

Kara described the whole hunt from her perspective. She explained her strategy and her near misses. Two guests involved in her capture were there and praised her efforts struggling. They had enjoyed hunting her since it had been such a challenge.

The other witches mingled among the crowd while wearing azure shirts saying: “I am not a witch!”. They narrated their own stories. Kara loved to hear her strategy had been correct. Last year, all witches stayed in the middle. So the same problem emerged, and a girl won who had hidden in the back.


Not much later, the guests were ordered to the dining room for breakfast. Sean unlocked Kara’s cage. She crept out and was released from her restraints. Then she visited the bathroom. She wasn’t allowed to shower, apply make-up, or change. Sean said it wouldn’t matter since she was seen like this before. It was part of the show.

In the dining room, Kara stood still for a moment. The witches, guests, and guest members had mixed. For the first time, Kara could see their faces. It was a diverse bunch that had an almost fifty-fifty male-female ratio. The oldest was in his early sixties while the youngest guests seemed around Kara’s age. They looked normal. She would never suspect them to love hunting and torturing girls.


Most of the round tables had saved a spot for her. So she had to choose. Kara disliked making this decision but ultimately selected Rachel’s table. She desired a familiar face around her. The six guests around this table introduced themselves while Kara ate a croissant. They questioned her about yesterday, and she repeated much of her story. She also mentioned her limited bondage experience this time. This surprised the guests. Most newly recruited witches had been in the scene for longer. This explained Kara’s nerves and gag during the inspection, according to an older woman.

Kara expected to be embarrassed between these fetish freaks. But they were friendly and didn’t judge her limited experience. Instead, they praised her for daring to take part.

Kara wasn’t expected to win a staff member said. A less extreme device was prepared for interrogation. A more seasoned witch was supposed to be dunked in the basin. Rachel said she had tested it a couple of weeks ago in warmer weather. It had been terrifying and cold. But Kara’s answers had shown she could handle it. So she was submerged for longer than planned.

It was a pleasant conversation, but Kara saw the stares from other tables. So she decided to move on.


With a cup of tea in her hand, Kara sat down at the adjacent table. She was greeted heartedly and had to retell her tales. Two brothers introduced themselves as the Warby’s. Kara recalled she had outrun them in the final. Since they were so swift, they could only run when two witches remained. Otherwise, it would be dull for the other hunters. After Kara had revealed she was a trained athlete, they wanted to know her personal records. Kara hesitantly gave them, awing the siblings. The guests weren’t given her full name, and she was still afraid anything would leak. With her first name and records, they might trace her.

At the third table, Kara met the girl she had pulled under her during her capture. Kara excused herself, but this was refused. Despite a few bruises, nothing had gone wrong. The girl admitted it was her fault and hoped Kara would do it again next year. It had been fun since most witches faked their struggles. No-one was mad at her for doing it.


Kara felt like a celebrity. Everyone wanted to meet her. Near the end of the breakfast, Mrs. Sheppard called Kara to her. They discussed what Mrs. Sheppard could tell about her. The rest also wanted to know who the mysterious redhead was.

They walked to the middle of the room, and Mrs. Sheppard asked for everyone’s attention. She taught them that Kara was a superb mid-distance runner without a bondage history. It was also revealed how often she could have quit but always continued. The guests applauded loudly. They respected Kara more than the previous time she was here. Then Mrs. Sheppard gave Kara a trophy featuring a witch on a broomstick. Another applause followed.


This marked the end of the official program. Kara was led to the dressing room to get back in her own clothes. She had been afraid she would be burned somehow, but that wasn’t the case. Kara Redblood was no more. Her name was Kehrberg again. Her time as a witch was over.

Mrs. Sheppard gave Kara a thick envelope with her earnings. It felt heavy, but she was informed it contained some other things too. Mrs. Sheppard also gave her a list of the future events of her team. Kara browsed it, and it included some obscene, exciting ideas.

Kara collected her belongings and biked back to her dorm room. There she counted the 1130 dollars she made this weekend. 250 for participating, 500 for winning, and the rest were tips. She on top got eight telephone numbers, four business cards, and five letters. All letters requested a tie-up session with her. This grossed her out, but she didn’t rule it out. It frightened her to react to these letters. If she wanted more bondage, she would go to Mrs. Sheppard first. Kara trusted her and her team.

[Caesar73]

A beautiful story. From start to finish. Especially Kara´s sight of things were well told! But the overall scenario was very good!

[damsel]

Pretty cool story. though I haven't finished it yet. Yep, wondering how it'll turn out

[Beaumains]

A beautiful story. From start to finish. Especially Kara´s sight of things were well told! But the overall scenario was very good!

Thanks for your kind words! Especially good to hear you enjoyed the scenario since it is a bit unconventional. So I will keep experimenting with these kinds of ideas.

Pretty cool story. though I haven't finished it yet. Yep, wondering how it'll turn out

Thanks! I look forward to your judgment.

[GreyLord]

I am a recent addition to tugstories and just came across The Halloween Witch-hunt. This was a delightful story and I am looking forward to reading more of your work.

[Beaumains]

I am a recent addition to tugstories and just came across The Halloween Witch-hunt. This was a delightful story and I am looking forward to reading more of your work.

Thanks a lot! I hope you have a good time here as there are tons of amazing stories!