*Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or its characters. I do own, however, the original characters: Mayumi, Shouta, Momoko, Daisuke, Kenta, and Nanami. Using my original characters in your own stories is not permitted, unless with my consent. Thank you.

Chapter 4

Kagome, Trapped

Kagome admired the jewel shard she had just acquired.

"And I did this all by myself!" she exclaimed. "But where is everybody?"

An evil witch cackled as she looked at a frail and limp Kagome. Kagome was shackled in chains, with eyes closed and body immobile. She appeared to be talking in her sleep.

"I'm lost!"

"There is no way out," the witch snickered. "There is no way out. You're trapped inside of your own mind."

Kagome couldn't hear the witch's words. She was lost in a forest, alone. She was trapped inside of her mind. All of the forest, all of the trees, even the jewel shard, was all in her head. The witch had cast a spell on her.

The witch appeared to be quite young, with fine flowing brown hair, and thundercloud gray eyes. She wore all black clothes; soft robes that touched the ground. She lived in a run-down shack, which was protected by powerful magic.

The floors were strewn with old books and papers. The walls were cluttered with shelves and shelves of bottles. Some with skulls of animals, some with neon-bright liquids, some with types of blood, and some with various concoctions. There appeared to be no doors, as the witch wanted it well protected. Thus, she simply walked through the walls.

Although appearing to be an innocent young woman, she was a very powerful witch.

"Now that I got your jewel shards," the witch said abruptly. "I can become more powerful."

She held up Kagome's jewel shards in her hand. She then took an empty bottle from a shelf and placed them in it.

"I will become powerful at last, and finally do away with all these immoral humans."

Kagome began talking again.

"I don't get it. One second I was talking to Lady Kaede, and the next second I was in this creepy forest!"

"And you will never escape," the witch interrupted. "As for Lady Kaede, she has been taken care of. And soon, your friends will be too."

Kagome couldn't hear her, but she was well aware that she was in jeopardy.