Disclaimer: All recognisable characters belong to HiT Entertainment. All OCs belong to me.

Chapter 9

It's at times like this when I wish I could have a guard dog, I thought as I walked along the Newtown Road in the dark. Ah! There's the wishing well.

After I'd climbed over the stile, I wandered over to the wishing well, which was just off the side of the road. By the light of my torch, I peered down into the well. I could see a pile of pennies at the bottom, but it also looked rather damp.

Oh well. I guess it's time for me to head on home. I hope mum, dad and granddad have finished arguing by the time I get back.

At that moment, I heard something rustling a bush nearby. Curious, I aimed my torchlight at the bush. It's bound to be a fox or a feral cat. There aren't any carnivores bigger than that in this part of Wales.

I heard a low growl coming from the bush. It didn't sound like any animal I'd ever seen around Pontypandy.

That sounds like a…

Something dark and hairy leapt out of the bush. Startled, I gasped, and I fell over backwards, dropping my torch. It landed on a rock. The light instantly went out.

Oh no! I tried to keep my panicked breathing under control. Looking around in the moonlight, I couldn't see the animal, but I was sure it had been a wolf. That's impossible, I thought as I scrambled to my feet. There aren't any wolves around here. Unless one escaped from a zoo…

I heard a strange 'hissing' sound off to my left. Turning, I saw a small white light floating in mid-air over near the well.

That's strange. I stepped closer to the light, but it vanished into thin air. Seconds later, it appeared again on the other side of the well. I backed away. I don't like this… I could feel my fight or flight instinct starting to take over my senses.

A brilliant white light lit up the area behind me. Turning slowly, I saw a grotesque human figure holding one of the little globes of light in its hands. The figure had sunken eyes, wrinkled features, and only two visible teeth. A hooded cloak covered the rest of it, including its hair. The overall appearance resembled that of a hag.

For a moment, I stood as frozen as ice. In fact, I was too terrified to even breathe. The creature held the ball of light out towards me, and it started to cackle.

The strangled cry that escaped from my lips did not sound human. The creature continued to laugh. I finally gathered myself together, and I started to run. However, I'd been blinded by the bright lights, and now I was unable to see anything in the dark, despite the full moon. Seconds later, I ran straight into the stile, splintering one of the wooden boards. I was so terrified that I barely even noticed what I'd done. Instead, I scrambled over what remained of the stile in one swift motion. I hit the ground running, not even daring to glance back to see if the creature was following me. I was like a bolting horse; too panicked to care where I was going, and not daring to stop for any reason.

It seemed like an eternity before I burst inside the house. My parents and granddad were still arguing, but they stopped when they heard the backdoor slam closed. I bolted upstairs, taking them two at a time. Unfortunately, I misjudged one of the last ones near the top, and I twisted my left ankle. Ignoring the pain, I ran into my bedroom, and I dived under my bed.

I pulled myself into the foetal position with my back against the wall while I tried to get my breath back. My breath was coming in sobs, and I shivered violently from the fear.

Mum, dad, granddad and Charlie burst into my room.

"Sam?" mum called anxiously.

Dad peeked under my bed. He smiled when he saw me. "Sam? It's okay. Look, sometimes adults fight, but that doesn't mean we don't love each other."

I didn't move. My heart was pounding away in my chest. I was sure everyone could hear it. They could certainly hear my sobbing breaths. Granddad crouched down to see me for himself. He looked at me for a moment, but then he stood up.

"Something's happened to him," I heard him say quietly. "He's so pale, he looks as though he's seen a ghost! This is more than just a child getting upset over a fight. He's genuinely terrified about something."

"Where was he?" dad asked.

"I think he went for a walk," Charlie said. "I don't know where though."

"I'll try and coax him out," granddad decided. "Mary, I think you'd better send for Dr Roberts. We might need him. David, could you please get some warm blankets? And Charlie… Could you please fetch a cup of water, and a straw?"

Everyone left to fetch whatever granddad had requested. Once we were alone, granddad knelt down and he looked at me again. "It's okay, Sam. You can come out now. Nobody's going to hurt you." He reached out towards me.

I was too frightened to move, and I think granddad realised this. After a moment, he grabbed hold of my left ankle, and he dragged me out from under my bed. I cried out in pain because he'd grabbed my sprained ankle, but I let him drag me out. Granddad pulled me into his arms, and he lifted me onto my bed. I clutched onto his shirt with my right hand, refusing to let go.

"Shh… It's okay," granddad soothed. "What happened?"

I couldn't speak. I knew I was safe, but my adrenalin levels were nearly off the scale, and I was ready to run again if I had to. Granddad gently prised my hand away from his shirt.

"Sam? You didn't go near that stone circle again, did you?"

I managed to shake my head. Charlie and dad returned then with the water and blankets. Dad gently wrapped one of the blankets around me. Then, granddad offered me a drink of water. I was quite thirsty, but I found I was too scared to even open my mouth. My jaw had clenched shut.

After granddad had set the cup down on my bedside table, he sat down on the edge of my bed. He gently stroked my hair. "Can you tell us what happened, Sam?"

I tried to speak, but all I could do was whimper pitifully. Mum returned then.

"Dr Roberts wasn't answering his phone, so I paged him. He phoned me, and he's on his way. How's Sam now?"

"Well, he seems to be getting his breath back at last," dad replied. "But he's still too afraid to move."

Mum swapped places with granddad, and she placed her fingers against my neck to feel my pulse. She frowned with concern.

"His pulse is racing! Does anyone know what happened to him?"

"He doesn't seem to be able to talk," granddad explained. "And he won't drink."

At that moment, we heard the sound of an approaching siren. Granddad looked out of the window.

"Do you know where Dr Roberts was when you paged him?" he asked mum.

"No, why?"

"Because I suspect he was at the fire station."

Sure enough, a moment later, Jupiter parked in our driveway. I managed to sit up when I heard mum escorting Dr Roberts, and two others upstairs.

"Just take it easy, Sam," granddad soothed. "Would you like some water now?"

I nodded. Granddad held out the cup of water, and I clamped my lips around the straw. I'd just started sipping on the water when mum entered the room followed by Dr Roberts, Station Officer Boyce and Fireman Steele.

"Oh, I'm glad to see that Sam's drinking at last," mum said with relief.

Dr Roberts set his Gladstone bag down on my bedside table, and he also felt my neck for my pulse. He looked up at mum. "How long ago did this happen?"

"About ten minutes," mum replied. "He just came bursting inside like the devil was on his tail."

"Well, he should've calmed down by now," Dr Roberts said. "When did you last check his pulse?"

"Just before you arrived. It was racing then."

Dr Roberts frowned. "It's still racing. He's quite pale too. Sam, can you tell us exactly what happened?"

I tried to speak, but my lips wouldn't work.

"Did you see something that frightened you?" dad asked. "Or someone?"

I nodded slightly.

"Perhaps he could draw what he saw?" Charlie suggested.

"Good idea!" Fireman Steele agreed.

Charlie handed over my sketch pad and a pencil. Even though my hands were trembling badly, I managed to draw an image of the figure I'd seen.

"What is that?" mum asked once I'd finished.

"It looks like an old lady," dad said. "Or a hag. But what's that she's holding?"

"Tân tylwyth teg!" I exclaimed as I finally found my voice.

Granddad gasped. "Oh, no!"

"What? What did he see?" mum demanded to know.

Granddad placed a hand protectively on my shoulder. "Sam saw a pwca."

"A what?" Station Officer Boyce asked.

"It's a shape-shifting goblin," granddad explained. "The light it was holding is called 'fairy fire', better known as a 'will-o-the-wisp'. The fairy fire means that there will be a funeral in this area soon."

I must have fainted upon hearing that, because the next thing I knew, Dr Roberts was gently dabbing cold water all over my face.

"That is absolute poppycock!" I heard Fireman Steele say from the doorway. "Pwcas don't exist! They're just myths. I'm sure this must be another one of Sam's practical jokes!"

"If it is, he's doing a very good acting job," Dr Roberts said over his shoulder. "He's worked himself up into a fever, his nerves are in tatters, and he really did faint. I don't believe he's lying about being frightened."

"Well, in that case, he must've seen a wild animal, or a homeless person," Fireman Steele replied. "And to prove it, Station Officer Boyce and I will go and have a look for it ourselves right now. Where did you see this creature, Sam?"

"Near the old wishing well," I whispered. After Station Officer Boyce and Fireman Steele had gone, I pushed Dr Roberts hands away from my face. "Granddad?"

"Yes, Sam?"

"I'm not going to die, am I?"

"No, Sam. I don't know of anyone who's died after seeing fairy fire. Usually, the person who sees it is the one chosen to warn others of a coming disaster."

"But Fireman Steele didn't believe me!"

"Not everyone believes in our folklore, Sam," granddad soothed. "Your parents don't."

Mum glowered at granddad. "See, this is exactly why I don't want you teaching Sam all those myths and legends, Tomos! Look at what it's done to him!"

Granddad sighed. "Sightings of pwca are rare. I never expected Sam to actually see one."

"BUT HE DIDN'T SEE ONE!" mum shouted.

"You don't know that!" granddad retorted fiercely. "You weren't there!"

That did it. I burst into tears. Dr Roberts stood up.

"All right. That's enough. I want everyone out of here! Now!"

My family reluctantly left my room. Dr Roberts waited until I'd stopped crying before he spoke.

"I don't know what you saw, Sam, but whatever it was, it has upset you badly. I'm going to go and talk to your parents now. Try and rest. I'll be back in a few minutes."

As soon as Dr Roberts had left the room, I sat up. Then, I got up, and I looked out of my bedroom window. I had one of the best views in the entire house. I could see all the way out to the ocean, and off to my left was Pontypandy.

I hope Fireman Steele sees the pwca too. Then he'll have to believe me.

Dr Roberts re-entered my room, followed by mum and dad. Dad closed the door behind him. I sat back down on my bed.

"I'm sorry I shouted, Sam," mum apologised. "But you mustn't take your granddad's stories too seriously. Most of them are just made up."

I'd heard enough arguments for one night, so I didn't reply. With a weary sigh, I lay back down on my bed.

"Sam, your parents have given their permission for me to sedate you," Dr Roberts told me. I saw him starting to prepare an injection.

"Why?" I asked in a hoarse whisper.

"You've had a tremendous shock, that's why," Dr Roberts explained. "I'm just going to give you enough sedative to calm you down. It shouldn't make you too drowsy, but don't worry if you start feeling sleepy. Just don't try to fight it."

I reluctantly let Dr Roberts inject me with the sedative. It started to work after a couple of minutes.

"That's better," Dr Roberts said when he saw me starting to relax. He felt my neck for my pulse again. He nodded with satisfaction. "Now, did you injure yourself at all?"

I nodded. "My ankle and my side. I think I ran into something."

"Okay, let's take a look."

Mum helped me take off my shirt. I heard her gasp when she saw my right-hand side. I looked too. It was badly grazed from my collision with the wooden board.

"I'd better put some ice on that to stop it bruising," mum decided. "I'll be back in a minute."

After mum had gone, Dr Roberts gently removed my shoes. "Which ankle hurts?"

"My left one. Ow!"

Dr Roberts carefully moved my ankle around. "It's not broken. Just sprained. Try not to walk on it too much for a day or two. I'll wrap it in a bandage to give it some support."

"Thanks." I closed my eyes. The sedative was working too well. I ended up drifting off to sleep before mum returned. I have a vague memory of flinching when she gently pressed the ice against my side, but then I slipped back into blissful unconsciousness.

I just have to say that I gave myself some pretty scary nightmares while I was planning and writing this chapter, lol! I hope you find it as creepy as I envisioned it.