C3 Magdalena

Gwen Ferguson felt furious to the point of tears. How could her mother treat her like shit? She couldn't bear it anymore. She had to speak up unless she'd continue to get trampled upon.

"Why do you treat me this way?" She questioned her mom furiously

'Was I adopted? Or did you pick me up from somewhere? Just say it!" she yelled angrily at Imogen, her mom.

"How dare you question me Gwen? You know what? Head to the kitchen and do the dishes, then I'll forget this ever happened " said Imogen

"You think I want that?"

Tears flowed down her eyes as she let out pent up emotion towards her Mom and siblings.

"Screw you all! I'm leaving and I'll never return" Gwen said and stormed off before they had the chance to reply.

That was the last conversation she had with her mom and siblings.

She hated them! she hated them because they treated her so unfairly. she worked her ass off doing Imogen's errands and juggling part time jobs while her siblings, Ethan and Holly lazed around and enjoyed the goodness of life.

The tears didn't stop flowing even after she left the house . She knew she didn't want to spend another second with her family but what she didn't know was where she was going to spend the night.

Her fiery spirit was beginning to wane. For a moment, she thought about going back home to apologize to her mother.

Should she apologize?

She had no where to go.

As she walked on the lonely road with no destination, she saw a lady.

The lady looked in her forties. She had a green shawl wrapped around her neck. She couldn't see the woman properly because of it was dark.

"What are you doing out here alone child?" The woman asked in concern.

The day's events came flooding in again and she figured the situation she was.

Heavy tears began to cascade down her cheeks

"I ....I am doomed. I have nowhere to lay my head." she said, through tears

"I just left home. Permanently, if I can survive for long. I ditched my mom and my evil siblings." she exhaled.

"I thought it was a brave move but.... but now, I don't know...." she trailed off as she went back to crying.

The woman let her cry for some time and then said; "come and stay with me"

"what?" she didn't expect that.

"come and stay with me. You can spend the night at least" the woman offered

"really?"

"yes"

"why" she asked, puzzled.

"Because I want to help you" the woman smiled

"help me with what?"

"you'll know soon. let's go" she beckoned

If she had known better, she wouldn't have followed the lady. she had already sensed a weird vibe radiating off the woman. she knew she shouldn't follow strangers like that but wordlessly, Gwen followed her because of course, she didn't have much of a choice.

"by the way, I'm Magdalena, you're Gwen right?" the woman said

"how'd you know that?" asked Gwen, more puzzled this time.

"you'll find out " that was all she said

Gwen gulped. This was a strange woman.

She was lost in thought until they reached the woman's house.

it was a small house, concealed a little, by huge trees. it was also quiet like it was deserted.

"Just so you know, I won't harm you" the woman said as they got into the house.

Her day couldn't get any worse than this, she was just going to spend a night at this house. she had no where to spend the night after running away from home, so if someone offered her help, she had no choice but to accept.

"Won't you tell me your story?" the woman, named Magdalena asked her after a while.

"Imogen, my mother, loathes me and I couldn't stand her anymore so I ran away from home " said Gwen, as she forced a smile "total coward move " she scoffed

"that's not true. You made a brave decision " Magdalena comforted

"how can you say that, you barely know me"

"I see you " Magdalena said vaguely "I see you now"

Magdalena talked as if she knew Gwen very well. And Gwen found it strange because she had never met her before.

"you were treated unfairly by your family " Magdalena added

"They despise me" Gwen wailed " I'm so insignificant to Ethan and Holly and Imogen only notices me when she needs me to run an errand or do chores "

"I understand " Magdalena said in a soothing tone

"Do you? Do you know what it means to be insignificant to people, to be treated without love, like garbage?" she wailed further

"I feel you " Magdalena said

"I mean I just wish I was in a world where people love me, protect me, know me. I wish I'll meet people who can risk their lives for me. I wish....." she paused when she realised she was babbling

"I'm sorry " she said to Magdalena "I got really into my feelings"

"I can take you to a place like that" Magdalena suddenly said

"where? orphanage?" Gwen interjected

"I can take you to a totally different world " said Magdalena, broodingly

A loud laugh escaped from Gwen's lips

"wait! what are you? a psychic?" she joked

"yes I am" said Magdalena which made Gwen laugh all the more. Magdalena kept mute for a moment then continued

"Your father, James Ferguson died in a car accident caused by an icy road and Imogen loathes you because your father James, died while going to buy toys for you. She blames you for all her misfortunes. Ethan and Holly both have different father's and...."

Gwen suddenly felt frightened.

"wait a minute, how did you know all these things, how do you know my dad's name?" perplexed Gwen asked

"Did you do some sort of background check on me?"

"like I told you, I'm a witch, Gwen and I've always chosen to be your guardian for times like this...."

Gwen scoffed

"Seriously?" this day had turned out to be a mysteriously dramatic and eventful one.

From filling gallons with water and loading them into a pickup truck for Imogen, to ditching her family's ass after her offensive outburst then to weird Magdalena and witches and guardians. she chuckled, her crappy day just couldn't get worse than this.

"okay miss...witch, show me what you can do" Gwen challenged jokingly

"take me to this so called wonderland world" even as she said that, she couldn't stop herself from giggling

"are you ready to shoulder the responsibilities and bear the consequences of your request?" Magdalena asked solemnly

"responsibilities? consequences?" Gwen scoffed " that's thick"

"yes or no, Gwen" Magdalena said forcefully.

offhandedly, she said, "yes, yes whatever!"

That was all the lady who sat across her needed to hear, before she grabbed Gwen's hands and began to utter unintelligible words

At first, all Gwen felt was breeze, light breeze fanning her skin, then it intensified.

Suddenly a fierce wind was blowing towards her. She suddenly felt dizzy. What was Magdalena doing to her?

"Gwen! Gwen Ferguson!" Magdalena called loudly

"Be noble like the sun, let even those who resent you for it benefit from your warmth. Good luck!"

She could not wrap her head around what was suddenly happening to her, let alone what Magdalena just said. Her breath came in gasps now. Her head spun and before she knew what was going on with her, her consciousness slipped from her.