I do not own any of the characters except for Mary, Makura and the random little singapore veggie dude at the beginning - k?
Singapore.
A man hurried past trailing a cart of fruit and vegetables. He stopped and stared down a dark alley between the herbal remedies shop and The Inn. He put down his cart and put his thumb on his lips, closed his eyes and muttered something to himself. Mary walked cautiously up to him.
"What's down there?" Mary asked.
The man looked at her in surprise.
"Makura," he replied suddenly, "Witch."
"Witch?" said Mary sacasticly.
The man didn't understand. He stuttered.
"God be wid you," he said and he picked up his cart and scurried off.
Mary looked suspiciously down the crack in the buildings. She was filled with anger and intrigue. She wandered a little down the alley. It was dark and there were many dead trees overhanging her.
"I hate witches," she said, "Superstitious bitches. No good time wasting hags."
She continued down the alley and then came across a street. There were rows of dilapidated houses, all seemingly abandoned and invested with rats - except for one at the end of the street. It had two downstairs lights on. Mary sauntered forwards and knocked on the door.
"Enter," said a voice within before the second knock.
Mary creaked the door open and peered inside.
"Makura?" asked Mary edgily to the old lady sitting at the table.
"Yes, child," she said as she hid some papers under the desk.
There was a homely fire blazing behind her and strange objects hanging from the walls and ceiling. Makura was coloured and old and wore rags and a necklace with dangily charms such as teeth of animals, claws of birds, beads, rings etc.
"You look familiar child," said Makura, "What's your name?"
"Um... Mary," said Mary.
"And what's your purpose here... Mary?" said Makura.
"Um... Err," said Mary as she was not expecting to be so well treated, "Curiosity, I suppose."
"Really?" said Makura, "Curious about what? Witches?"
"Well," laughed Mary nervously, "Err...yes. I feel that witches are over-rated and tend to waste their time."
Makura smiled.
"You seem familiar, child," she said after a while.
Makura stared at Mary hard. Mary felt her soul being searched and her thoughts being read as if she could hide nothing from Makura. She was scared.
"No," said Mary hurriedly as she headed for the door, "I'll go now."
"Wait, I have a gift for you," said Makura sternly.
"A...a gift?" said Mary stopping at the door, "For me?"
"You don't belong here," said Makura, "Take this."
Makura took a box out from under her desk and held it out. Mary walked forward and took it carefully. She opened it.
"A compass?" said Mary.
"Follow it," said Makura knowingly.
"Where does it go?" asked Mary a little freaked out.
"I don't know, go find out!" commanded Makura.
Mary stepped aback. She took another look at the compass and then at Makura.
"It says I should go out," said Mary.
Makura showed Mary the door. Mary looked at the door and then at Makura. She turned around and went out of the door. She headed out of the street and out of the alley. Makura took out her papers again.
"Ungrateful bitch," she said, and carried on with her spells and whatnot.