One Big Mistake

The young university student carefully eased the front door closed, not wanting to make any commotion that would break the silence that inhabited inside the Old Dutch Church. The interior was a bit dark, save for the beams of light that filtered through the tall glass windows in the main area, like spotlights beaming down upon the simple wooden pews.
Already, there seemed to be quite a few people insides; tourists more likely, Jodi observed, for this group were being led around by a man in priestly robes, apparently showing them around.
Jodi planted her hands in her pockets and waited, taking her time in her observation while she still could. It was nonetheless a small place, if a little simple. The walls and ceilings, unlike what Jodi was used to in English churches, were bare or any pictures or illustrations. Instead, all the walls had consisted of red bricks, and occasionally, white-paned windows that looked like they emerged from the Edwardian period.
However, the floors at least looked centuries old, for the wood seemed to bend inwards in random places of the building, having been stepped on by numerous feet. Another feature which had caught Jodi's eye was at the very back of the Church itself. Right over where the white stairs lead to the balcony, a large circular area of the brick wall looked darker compared to the rest.
What was up with that?, She wondered.
The group of tourists were now coming this way, consisting of a typical family with two very bored-looking kids, and an elderly couple, probably on their retirement. Jodi stepped out of the way and smiled politely as they left, and then nodded at the priest as he approached.
"Hi." She said, extending her hand.
"Good afternoon!" The priest replied, pumping her offered hand enthusiastically. "Welcome to the Old Dutch Church."
"Are you still offering tours?" She asked; truthfully, what she truly wanted to know was whether they still hold any records or death certificates, just to get some information on Philip's ancestor...and if not, direct her to any place that had. But, she supposed it wouldn't hurt to...as Philip had put it, explore while she can.
"Certainly! Do you have a group of friends coming here?"
"Oh no," Jodi shook her head, smiling bashfully despite of herself, "I came to this town alone."
"Oh, alright then." The priest turned, "Follow me and I'll show you around."
**********************************************************************************************

It turned out that the Church had no longer kept any records of its past citizens. However, despite of this, Jodi did not find this as a total loss of time. For one, she was able to get some decent shots for her friend, especially since the building has a spectacular view overlooking its graveyard. Furthermore, she had a good time having an interesting discussion with the priest on all those strange and fantastic events the Church had to live through. Jodi had found herself listening raptly with wide eyes as the priest told her of one particular incident; where 20 years after the revolution the villagers were gathering into this very church, until they've suddenly panicked when they've heard that the headless horseman was coming. Thus, they've locked themselves inside this building, but this protection did not save the well-known citizen Baltus Van Tassel, when he was speared through the window when he was standing at the balcony, and pulled back like a harpooned whale. The villagers watched in horror as he was dragged backwards towards the fences where the phantom was waiting, and was thus decapitated like all of its past victims. The villagers tried to reconstruct the window later on, but his family opposed this, and so they bricked it up instead.
Now, that was a story Jodi had never heard before, and she was surprised that it was the least known moment of the legend. How come everyone remembers Ichabod Crane getting chased by the headless horseman, and not his alleged 'victims'?
That's because it's a phony story. Jodi thought sullenly, as she walked out of the building.
The story was getting good until the priest just--HAD--to mention the horseman again, it was what she hadn't needed to have the guy get into his theatrics and drama as if she were a kid. For once, she'd like to know what really happened, especially when he told her that Thomas Lancaster was also killed in the event.
Sighing, she contented herself with looking through her photos as she headed away from the Church, now knowing that all she had to do was to go to the town center to take a look at Lambert's records. It seems that he was a respected doctor, he wouldn't be hard to find.
"This is your last chance, young lady, will you accept me as what I am or not?"
"What? Oh..."
Jodi saw that is was the old woman tailing her again. She was standing before her now, cradling a mangy-looking, black cat at the crook of one arm. The cat lolled its head drowsily against her large bosom, probably too old to even bother to doing what most cats do, like staying away from human contact.
"Listen...um." Jodi looked around, trying to find an escape route. Unable to find one, her shoulders fell in defeat, and she glanced at the awaiting woman once more.
"Look, I said I was sorry. I didn't mean to...offend you."
"Bullshit." The woman spat, rubbing the cat's head with her other hand. Jodi couldn't help but think that she'd better be careful, doing that, or else she'd smother the old guy.
"Hey, I'm not here to start a fight." Jodi exclaimed. She had calmed down from that incident during the tour, and right now she didn't want to walk away with threats hanging over her head. She had no other way out of that other that maintaining a cool head. Or try to.
The woman shook her head, tut-tutting as she did so. When she looked up again, her face held a cold smile.
"I'm not here for the kind of apology you keep giving. Everybody respects me here, the people, the tourist...I can see it in their eyes. But with you, you just see me as some old biddy, not even worth listening to. I'll bet you think me senile, talking about my craft. Because of that, I'm gonna have to teach you a lesson. You're old enough to influence the kids against me; one bad apple affects the whole barrel as they say, and I'm not having anybody do the same to me again."
Jodi stared at her incredulously, wondering what the hell had she done to give that woman that sort of idea on her. It was the most craziest, if a bit creepy, thing she had ever heard from a stranger.
"Wait a minute, I'm just a tourist staying here for a short time, I'm not a...a..a threat if that's what you're thinking."
"You just keep missing the point, don't you?" The woman taunted. That made the girl confused.
"Back in my day, you don't let anybody the chance to mock you, that takes away your reputation you know, like your self-esteem. And anyway, it's expected that if you do something wrong, you get punished."
She let out a snicker that resembled a rhythmic hiss; hearing it made Jodi feel a hot twinge of annoyance at this crazy woman's attitude. Doesn't she even have a home or life to return to? Or has her age really driven her batty?
"So? How are you going to punish me?" Jodi inquired, she was feeling really testy now, hoping to at least see a weak spot in this woman's excuse she was spinning. However, the old woman ran her tongue over her teeth in thought, looking much like a pensive little girl.
"I still hadn't thought of it yet." She admitted, giggling coyly as she did so, "I did think about making you nice and warty as a toad, but will that teach you a lesson? I didn't think so."
"So what will you do now?"
"Do what any witch will, cast a spell!"
For a moment the old woman stood there, stroking her cat contemplatively, then an idea dawned visibly on her red face.
"You know, I think I've got something. If you don't make up to me by the Witching Hour, I'll show you what's it like to live like my kind!"

She couldn't fight the smirk spreading across her face, all it did was making her face stretch painfully by the action. She really couldn't help herself. Was that woman planning to turn her old?
"Right, fine. I'm sorry to say this but, I--I have to go now!" Jodi exclaimed, ducking her head in an attempt to hide her smile.
"You will be." The old woman replied dryly, "Remember, until the Witching hour."
"Yeah, yeah. Nice talking to you." She managed, quickly turning away.
I've gotta get out of here else I'd ruin the moment! She thought, covering her mouth with a hand. She quickly walked away, grinning from ear to ear to herself. Despite of herself, she thought the woman's behavior quite funny actually. Any minute now she could expect quite a few people from some nursing home starting to dispatch some search parties for her. It seemed to fit, that woman is so childish to a fault; that could explain her infuriating behavior back in the graveyard.