Ethan Ramirez crept along the corridor, his heart pounding beneath the navy blazer of his borrowed school uniform. His sneakers squeaked softly on the polished floor as he darted past ornate portraits of unsmiling headmistresses. In his hand, he clutched a crumpled map scrawled with rumors of secret treasures hidden within the legendary girls' academy of witches.
Ethan squeezed through the locker room door, breathless with both fear and excitement. He tiptoed past piles of spellbooks and dangling broomsticks, eyes wide at the magical artifacts carelessly left about. Suddenly, a chorus of voices interrupted his exploration, and a dozen girls in shimmering robes materialized from thin air, wands drawn and eyes blazing.
Head Witch Lila, tall and regal with silver-streaked hair, stepped forward. "Well, well, what have we here? A trespasser in our midst," she intoned, her eyes glittering dangerously. Juniper, the youngest witch, giggled and pointed her wand at Ethan's trembling knees.
"Let this lesson teach you not to invade what you don't understand," Lila declared, her voice ringing with authority. Ethan felt an odd, tingling sensation race through his body as the world spun and shrank, his limbs softening and his voice dissolving into a squeaky protest. The witches' laughter echoed around him as he landed softly on the tile floor—now a bewildered kindergarten girl in a frilly pink dress.
"Aw, isn't she adorable? Look at her little shoes!" Juniper cooed, bending low to meet her gaze. "From now on, you'll see every witch here as your mommy. Perhaps you'll learn some manners, little one," Lila added, a sly smile tugging at her lips.
Confused, shy, and unable to resist the gentle pull, Ethan found herself toddling toward the group, her cheeks flushed. The witches welcomed her with open arms, guiding her to her seat with soothing words and affectionate pats. As the afternoon wore on, the echoes of her old life faded, replaced by the strange comfort of belonging—however magical, however unintended.
