-This is my entry for Weekly Wattpad Contest #55 Contests.-

Carrie stared at the bicycle, her wide and lips puffy, before looking back at her mom. "C-Can't you put the training wheels back on? Please?"

"You're ready for two wheels," Carrie's mom said, smiling down at her little girl before squeezing her shoulders. "I know it can be a little scary, but you have to try, okay? I'll give you a treat if you do."

"Okay," Carrie agreed after a moment, more for the treat and less for the adventure. "Can you hold it while I get on?"

Her mom nodded, keeping a hand on the back wheel and one on the frame as Carrie lifted one leg up and hopped up on her other leg, landing on the seat and squeezing the handlebars tight as the bicycle wobbled from side to side.

"Don't forget this guy," her mom said, keeping one hand on the bike before placing a helmet on Carrie's head and tightening the straps. "All right, let's see what you've got Carrie." She gave the bike a small push, and the battle to resist gravity immediately began. Left, right, left, right - Carrie leaned one way and then the other, trying to stay upright as she pedaled.

"Oh, and Carrie, don't forget to watch out for-"

"I know!" Carrie yelled back, unable to turn her head for fear of falling over. Out of the neighborhood, she pedaled, taking turns randomly as the bike leaned one way or another. The houses and trees lost their familiarity, and soon, Carrie was in an area she'd never seen before.

As her bike began jumping up and down, Carrie's eyes flicked down to see that the pavement had turned to dirt. Her eyes flicked back up to catch the afterimage of a DEAD END sign. The words blurred and disappeared as tears appeared in Carrie's eyes and were immediately whisked away by the wind. The bike picked up speed, swallowing ground as the hill swallowed her.

The crash was sudden. Carrie was thrown from the bike, and she slid in the dirt, coming up a few minutes later with just a few scratches. The bike was less fortunate; the frame was crumpled, the front wheel punctured and in the process of deflating. Ruined.

Carrie moaned lightly, holding her sore arm, but before she could move towards the bike, she caught sight of someone.

Two someones.

Witches.

Down at the bottom of the hill, an older one and a younger one. A bicycle stood between them, but when the older woman touched it, it became a broom. She hopped up, showing the younger one how to ride before letting her try.

Carrie backed away slowly, scrambling up the hill on her hands and knees, keeping her eyes on the witches. She could leave them alone, pretend she'd never seen them.

But.

--

Carrie watched them burn, a larger fire and a smaller fire. Fire crackled on skin and hair. The little one stopped burning before the big one did.

Carrie grabbed the shiny bike, no longer a broom without the magic, and rode home. She didn't wobble at all.