Emma and her husband James were strolling back from a cosy restaurant in Shoreditch, where theyd just celebrated his birthday. The evening had gone off without a hitch a crowd of relatives, colleagues and a few acquaintances Emma was meeting for the first time. Since James had decided to invite them, there must have been a good reason.
Emma wasnt the sort to argue with James; she preferred to keep the peace rather than prove a point. Emma, have you seen the keys? Can you fetch them? James asked. She rummaged through her handbag, felt a sharp sting, and the bag slipped from her grasp onto the pavement.
What on earth? James exclaimed.
I think Ive nicked myself on something, Emma muttered, trying not to sound too dramatic. You could get lost in that bag of yours, so its no surprise.
She didnt argue, lifted the bag and gently pulled the keys out. Inside the flat, the throbbing in her legs reminded her of a marathon shed never run, and all she could think of was a hot shower and a proper nights sleep. By morning her hand was swollen, red and sore. Remembering the odd incident from the night before, she poked around the bag and, at the very bottom, discovered a large, rustcovered needle.
What in the world? she said, bewildered. She tossed the needle into the bin, fetched a firstaid kit and tended the wound. After bandaging, she headed to work, but by midday a fever began to rise.
She rang James: Love, Im not sure what to do. I think I caught something nasty yesterday. Ive got a fever, a pounding head, the whole body aches. Imagine my surprise when I found a ruststained needle in my bag thats what pricked me.
Maybe you should see a doctor. It could be tetanus or an infection, James replied.
Dont overreact. Ive cleaned the cut, Ill be fine, Emma said, trying to sound brave.
Each hour made her feel worse. She barely survived the workday, flagging a black cab to take her home because the Tube felt like a death march. Collapsing on the couch, she drifted off.
In her dream, her late grandmother Martha appeared the one whod passed away when Emma was a little girl. How did she know it was Martha? She didnt, but she was certain. Martha was bent and creaky, the kind of figure that could frighten anyone, yet Emma sensed shed come to help.
Martha led Emma through a meadow, pointing out which herbs to gather, insisting she brew a decoction and drink it to cleanse her body. She warned that someone was out to harm Emma, and that she must survive to fight back. Time was running short.
Emma awoke in a cold sweat. She thought shed slept for ages, but a glance at the clock showed only a few minutes had passed. The front door slammed James had returned. She slipped off the couch and shuffled to the hallway. When he saw her, he held his breath.
Whats happened? Look at yourself in the mirror.
Emma stared at her reflection. Yesterday shed seen a bright, smiling face; now her hair hung in clumps, dark circles girdled her eyes, her complexion was ashen and her stare empty.
What on earth is going on? she wondered aloud, recalling her dream.
I saw my grandmother in the dream. She told me what to do she said.
Emma, get dressed. Were going to the hospital, James urged.
I wont go. Grandmother said the doctors wont help, Emma retorted.
A fullblown argument erupted. James called her mad, accusing her of feverfueled fantasies. For the first time they truly clashed. James tried to force his way out of the flat, grabbing her wrist. If you wont go willingly, Ill make you, he snarled.
Emma broke free, lost her balance and smacked her head on a cupboard corner. Furious, James flung the bag, slammed the door and stormed out. Emma managed to text her boss that she was ill and needed a few days off.
James stalked back after midnight, apologising profusely, but Emma only said, Take me to the village where my grandmother lived tomorrow.
The next morning Emma resembled a walking corpse more than a healthy woman. James kept pleading, Come on, Emma, dont be stubborn. Lets get you to a doctor I dont want to lose you.
They drove to the village, a place Emma hadnt visited since her parents sold her grandmothers cottage after Marthas death. She slept through most of the journey. As they neared the hamlet, she woke and announced, Were here.
She hopped out of the car, collapsed onto the grass, and felt certain she was exactly where Martha had guided her in the dream. She collected the herbs, and James brewed the brew as she instructed. She sipped it in tiny gulps, feeling a little better each time.
She shuffled to the bathroom, rose, and noticed her urine was black. Instead of panic, she remembered Marthas words: Darkness will pass
That night Martha visited again, smiling, then began to speak. That rusted needle cast a spell on you. My brew will restore you, but only briefly. You must find who did this and return their wickedness. I cant see the culprit, but its linked to your husband. If you hadnt thrown away the needle, I could have told you more.
She offered a new plan: Buy a pack of needles, hold the biggest and chant, Spirits of the night, hear me! Help uncover the truth, help me find my foe Slip that needle into your husbands bag. The one who cursed you will prick themselves on it, and well learn their name, so we can return the harm.
Marthas figure faded like mist.
Emma woke still feeling poorly but convinced shed recover. She knew Martha would watch over her. James decided to stay home and look after her, surprised when Emma insisted on going to the shop alone.
Emma, youre barely on your feet. Ill come with you, James said.
James, make a soup Ive got a monstrous appetite after this illness, Emma replied.
She followed Marthas advice. By evening the enchanted needle was tucked into Jamess bag. Before bed she asked, Are you sure youll manage on your own? Should I stay?
Ill be fine, he answered.
Emma felt better, yet sensed the lingering evil. The thirdday brew acted like an antidote, weakening the darkness. She waited impatiently for Jamess return from work. When he walked in, she greeted him with, How was your day?
Fine, why do you ask? he replied.
She thought her plan had failed, but James added, Imagine this: Iwona from the next department tried to help me by reaching for the keys to my office. She stuck her hand in a bag and got pricked by a needle. How did a needle get in my bag? She glared at me as if Id killed her with a look.
What about that Iwona? Emma asked.
Emma, youre the only one that matters to me. Youre the only one I love, James said. Was she at your birthday dinner?
Yes, shes just a colleague, nothing more.
The pieces clicked for Emma. She now understood how the old needle had ended up in her bag. James headed to the kitchen where dinner waited. That night Martha showed Emma how to return the evil to Iwona, explaining that Iwona wanted to oust Emma to claim Jamess affection. If she failed, shed resort to magic again a woman who would stop at nothing.
Emma did everything Martha instructed. Soon James reported that Iwona had gone on sick leave, claiming she was gravely ill and doctors were helpless. Emma asked James to drive her back to the village for a weekend, to the graveyard she hadnt visited since her grandmothers funeral. She bought a bouquet, grabbed gloves, and trudged through overgrown grass to Marthas grave. When she reached it, a plaque bore a photo of the very woman who had visited her in dreams. Emma tidied the grave, placed the flowers in a glass of water, and sat on a bench, speaking:
Grandma, Im sorry I didnt come sooner. I thought a yearly visit was enough. I was wrong. Ill be here more often. If it werent for you, I might not be here at all.
She felt a warm hand on her shoulders, turned, and there was only a gentle breeze
The spell was broken, the village air felt lighter, and Emma finally began to feel like herself again.
