HUNGRY
A Salem fanfiction by Millie55.
"A hungry hunter, is the most dangerous kind." – John Alden. After years at war, Captain John Alden returns home to Salem. Empty. Starving. Hungry for justice, forgiveness and the love of a young heart.
Pairings: John Alden/OC, Mary Sibley/Isaac Walden, Gloria/Cotton Mathers/OC, Anne Hale/OC.
Rated M.
Warning: The following will contain acts of violent and sexual natures – as the show Salem displays on a regular. This includes and is no limited to nudity, prostitution, incest, homosexual and heterosexual sexual relations, cussing, relations with an under aged partner, and fornication. Religious views of the Puritans will rise and will be challenged as it is also a common obstacle in the WGN show. Don't like, don't read.
Prologue
September 21, 1985.
Salem.
Boots trampled through the mud in great pursuit. Slipping and gliding on occasion, the once solid ground wet from the late night rain fall. The great chase was on one of persecution, the evader had done nothing wrong with one exception. She had defied her father's orders. "Stay clear of Salem center today Katherine as sights young eyes should not see be occurring." This however only sparked the young girl's curiosity. Her hand had slipped from her brother's at the market and she had taken off. Pushing through the crowd on the way to the stocks, leaving nothing but a trail of fading footsteps and the sway of golden curled tendrils for her brother to follow.
Young Master Edmund Quinn was left to tend to his little sister as her father was to watch the ongoing events at the center of Salem. A boy only breaking the age of sixteen six months prior was to look after his sister that evening until he was to leave in the darkness of night. He was to join many of the brave men in Salem to leave for war, promised to last no more than a year fighting the savages while settlements moved west. Tall for his age he was eligible for enlistment though his troop was not satisfied in hearing that the son of a highly respected men in Salem would be joining them. The last thing they wanted to do was watch over a child and now he knew why. Children were a pain in the ass.
Coming to the stocks, Edmund's bright eyes failed to find his sister lost in the crowd. Instead they fell on the lovers caught in the stocks, standing bent over bloody and pale from their never ending punishments. Taking steps into the crowd, Edmund's curiosity too took over pulling him into the show of humiliation. Stopping at the center of the crowd he glanced to the brunette that stood at his side, her hands visibly shaking though she did not dare removed her vision from the man in the stocks. Her features were sharp and were dressed in horror at the sight. "Ms. you be alright?" He questioned her in a low tone, addressing her with the respect he gave to all who deserved it.
Looking up at the young man who towered her with warm brown eyes and young woman known to the people of Salem as Ms. Mary Walcott nodded. "Alright I am," She spoke but it was not entirely the truth. The man in the stocks, facing the punishment for his crimes was her half-brother. Only few in Salem know of this secret. He was her mother's bastard child, born eleven years before she and forced to be raised as an orphan when her mother did not dare give up the father's name. Watching him made her stomach twist into knots, he was facing the fate his own father failed to attend to. Justice was being served.
"I Isaac Walton have gazed upon the nakedness of Abigail Cook and did kiss her…" The man in the stocks spoke his words strangled from the confinement of the wood.
Reverend George Sibley stood to his right, the toad of a man dressed in his black robes as he preached his Puritan values. "And?" His voice erupted from his through in a croak of dissatisfaction. Huffing out when the man failed to respond, his voice raised to overtake the audience that had gathered, "And have committed the sin of self-pollution."
"And have committed the sin of self-pollution," Isaac repeated his voice growing weak in anticipation in what was to come. Ten hard lashes from the whip, across the bare skin of his back. Pain filled screams erupted from his mouth as the whip met his back over and over in a series of loud cracks. As much as it was craved, Edmund did not dare look away, instead he listened to George preach; "On this glorious day, our brave boys muster to face the devil's shock troops French and Indians savages massing in the woods right outside our doors. And what are we going off to defend? Not Sondom, but Salem! We cannot expect God to be on our side if we tolerate abominations or those who commit them." The sights of war would be much more unbearable.
Cries of a young girl for the madness of the whipping to stop soon joined the cries of Isaac. Edmund then remembered his purpose of being there. To find his little sister. "Katherine!" His voice young and innocent sounded as he pushed his way forward to find the girl of only ten years standing toe to toe with Sibley, red in the face from crying. He wasn't sure if the tears being shed were of fear or one of her desperate attempts of getting her way. Whichever they were, Sibley was not going to stop because of a little girl. Giving the Reverend a crooked apologetic smile he lifted his sister up into his arms and began to walk off. "What did father say about coming to the stocks? He is going to hide us both for being in attendance." His words intended to be stern, yet he could never be angry at the young girl.
"FORNICATOR!"
He felt her round face bury in his neck as the sound of sizzling flesh as Isaac was branded with an 'F'. Forever it will remain above his brow as a reminder of his sins. His screams continued to ring at the molten heat burning his flesh, its foul smell soon tainting the autumn breeze.
"I be sorry brother," Katherine choked out, "I dare not run off again."
Placing a kiss to her temple, Edmund carried her off towards their home only to stop in his tracks when one brave soul spoke loud over the crowd raising controversy with his words; "Judge not, lest ye be judged." The voice like smoke belonged to John Alden his dark hair unkempt unlike Edmunds who's was pulled back out of his face. His age was evident on his face that failed to be concealed by his growing beard. His apparent nobility reassured Edmund as the two would be heading off to war in the same troop.
"Who said that?" George rumbled, growing angry under the circumstance of being challenged.
"Jesus. Might have heard of him."
Humored by the response of the older man, Edmund cracked a large grin and began to approach the man at the show at the stocks ended. "John Alden," Edmund spoke drawing the man's attention, "Edmund Quinn," He introduced though the majority of the town knew of him well.
"Yes, Daniel Quinn's boy," John nodded removing his eyes from young Ms. Walcott and let them fall on the young man who carried his young sister in his arms, "and his daughter," He added as her glassy blue eyes peered through her curly tendrils and over at him.
"I want to go home Eddie," Katherine whined, a fist rising to rub her face.
"Just a moment Katherine," He assured and returned his attention to John, "I look forward to serving with you against the savages in the coming war. It will be a great honor as my father had fought alongside your own." Reaching his hand forward to give the opposing man's a firm shake.
Returning the shake, John gave the young boy a nod, "Let's hope the reputation be not hard to uphold." John spoke his voice rough.
"Hope we shall," Edmund let off a happy laugh, "Good day, tomorrow let us meet again."
Parting ways the men spent their last days with the ones that they loved. Edmund with his naive sister who begged and pleaded that he stay and his father who knew his mind was set and could not be changed. John rested in the arms of his lover, vowing his return in one years' time and that one day they could be together. Then in the light of the rising sun of a new day the two men joined again, leaving behind their family and friends for the dangers of war. Unaware that if they returned, the town they knew would change; and vows would be broken.
