Disclaimer: Do not own CG beside the merchandise that I bought.
A bit of fair warning...this chapter took me forever to write mainly cause I got lazy...a lot. The story at first was suppose to be funny then romantic then sad and finally depressing. Not what I had originally planned but I really like how it ended all thanks to a certain drama soundtrack I've been listening to I was able to zip past through this long chapter within 2 days. Another warning...this chapter is not beta-ed. I have 2 betas but I refused to beta this one for some forgotten reason. Now...enjoy this depressing chapter :D
Witch Trial
Era: 1400-1700
Year: 1577
Autumn's Witch Trial
The rush of footsteps can be heard in the dense forest; one, belonging to a girl barely past seventeen while the other belongs to a group of men armed with rakes, knives, bow and arrows, torches and ropes. The girl clad only in her nightgown ran for her life as the mob closed in on her. Tree branches would pull on her gown and some would make a large tear but she continue to run. Her two feet were covered in blood as she ran barefoot on the twig filled forest. She fell on the fallen tree branch and wince in pain as her palm scratch the surface of a nearby rock.
"There she is!"
"Get her"
"Don't let her get away"
"WITCH!"
Picking herself up, she resume running. All of a sudden a sharp object zipped past her and impaled into a tree; a knife, she grabbed onto it and pulled it out with all her might and ran.
Men, they're all the same. If they can't get what they want they'll chase you 'til you die. Women, such jealous creatures they'll think up of anything to get rid of their competitor. This world is full of rotten people.
"Don't think. Just keep running. Keep running." She told herself.
Unfortunately, she had reached the end of the road. A steep slope about 20 or 30 feet down lay before her. A river flowed rapidly down the stream slapping against all the rocks in its way smoothing off the surface. Taking a quick look behind her she spotted the flickering torches.
"Great. Look what you got yourself into. Tease some men and tricked some jealous wives for fun and where did it get me? At the top of a rushing river. Smart. Real smart."
ZIP
"OW!" She clutched onto her left shoulder that the arrow had pierced. "Watch where you're shooting will you?" she yelled, whipping around angrily. Being chased was already exhausting and being fired at with knives and arrow wasn't helping much. Looking at the crowed group of men she could feel a specific atmosphere.
Fear. They think I'm a witch here to curse them. Well, so be it.
Her light green locks stood as curtains when she dropped her head. Taking a deep breath she lifted her head back up sharply letting out a loud laugh. The fearful men took a step back but still held up their weapons not trusting what she'll do next.
"HAHHAHHAHAHHA, you got me now. What are you going to do now? Stare are me? Throw rocks or that flashy knife of yours, again?" pointing at the man, who is holding a blade in his right hand, with the knife she grabbed hold of earlier. "Stab me with your rakes or send another of those arrows at my other shoulder?"
"Just kill her" someone shouted at the back hoping not to be seen otherwise he'll be cursed.
"Kill me?" she chuckled and then pulled out the arrow stuck in her shoulder. Using it she pointed at the cowardly man in the back. "How are you going to do that? I'm a witch after all."
Don't get too ahead of yourself. One mistake and it can get you thrown off this cliff.
"I've already cursed you and your family."
IDIOT!
"You all are going to burn in OW!…" A knife was thrown at her chest. Looking at it in disbelief she lightly tapped on it and shot a glare at the culprit.
"Do you mind? I'm talking here." She yelled, using her hands to emphasize the blade in her chest. Then an idea struck her; she brought her hands up to her forehead pretending to lose consciousness. "Ohhhh. My heart." Staggering she walked closer to the edge and then pointed at them. "You all are going to burn in OW!" A rock hit her head and tipped her off the cliff.
What a bunch of rude men. Can't even let a lady finish her sentence…That rock does not look invit…
At the top the mob stretched across the edge looking at the fallen corpse. Crimson blood splattered across several rocks while some were washed away by the rushing river. The fallen corpse was dragged away by the powerful current leaving a trail of oozing blood.
Clear sky…
So many rocks…
Water….nose….
Light headed…
Amethyst eyes…
"Is she dead, brother?"
Dead? Sorry can't die that easily.
"She's alright."
Alright? You call being chased by an angry mob, flying knives, impaling arrows and being pushed off a cliff alright?
"I'll carry her in while you set the bed."
…comfy bed…
The smell of roasted chicken and mushroom soup finally woke the injured girl. As she slowly rises from her make-shift bed her eyes scanned her surroundings. The room was small consisting of an oven, a table fit for two and a wash room several feet away with a bedroom next to it. Although the room was cramped it was well maintained and smelled like Irish spring.
Staggering, she made her way to the oven and pulled the chicken out of the fire. Lightly she poked at the cooked animal to test if it was cooked properly and then eagerly she bit into it chewing quickly. Then, walking over to the pot she took the ladle and scooped a large chunk of mushroom. Ignoring the burning sensation she gulped done the whole ladle and turned back to the chicken in her other hand.
"Looks like you're awake." Said the mysterious man.
In her own little world she pulled on the chicken ripping a piece of meat off and chewed viciously.
"And it looks like you can't hear me."
Still chewing she scooped another spoonful of the soup and gulped it down causing her to choke. Quickly, the man ran to her side and began to slap her back; with his other hand he grabbed the chicken away from her only to have the choking girl to reach for it.
"For heaven sake you're choking! Breathe first then eat!" he lectured while trying to pull himself away from the clawing lady.
"Food first then breathe." She retorted and then jumped at his outstretched arm successfully grabbing hold of the meat. Yanking it away from the man she continued to devour the chicken as if she hasn't eaten for days.
Sighing, the man made his way behind the hungry girl and brushed his hand through her scalp looking to see if her injuries were healed properly. Seeing as all her wounds have healed he commented, "I'm amazed of how fast you heal. Just yesterday you round up in a river bend with a large gash in your head and now it's all healed."
"mmhmm." She murmured, still focusing on her food.
Then with his thumb he applied some pressure on her shoulder where the arrow had pierced hoping for some sort of response.
"mmm. A bit to the right" she mumbled through her stuff mouth.
"Here?" he asked doing as she said.
"Further to the right."
"This is nowhere near your wound."
"I know."
Understanding her motives he gave her a pinch, causing her to yelp in pain, before he sat up and walked over to the stove. Squatting in front of the fire he began stuffing more wood in then taking a bowl he scooped a spoon full of steaming mushroom soup. Taking a seat across from the girl he began eating his meal.
"May I have your name?" he asked.
"It's not polite to ask a person's name without tell your own first, boy." She retorted.
"Don't call me boy."
"Why shouldn't I, boy?" she said smirking at his twitching brows.
"…"
"Boya."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'll call you Boya from now on."
"…"
Finishing up her meal she stood up, dusted off her gown and walked over to the main entrance.
"You're not going to clean after yourself?" he said as his eyes follow her.
"I'm wounded. Clean it for me" and she makes her escape.
"Wounded my arse." He mumbled.
3 weeks later
"Our house seems more lively than before, brother." Said the young goldilocks as she brought in her basket of vegetation.
"Too lively I'd say." The elder boy mumbled as he skillfully chop the vegetable into cubes and then scoop it into the pot.
Just then the guest walked in yawning with a disheveled head, "What's for lunch?"
"Chicken Potato soup with steam carrots!" the youngest chimed pulling the female guest near the pot.
"Looks appetizing OUCH!" rubbing her right hand where the boy had hit.
"No food for freeloaders."
WHACK
"OW!"
"No food for men who hits a woman, brother"
"How could you hit your own brother?"
WHACK
"OW! What was that for?"
"For hitting me, Boya."
"My name isn't Boya!"
WHACK
"Why are you hitting your brother again?
"You didn't apologize!"
WHACK
"God damnit! What is your problem now?"
Taking a sip of the soup the green haired guest sighed satisfied, "I just felt like it."
4 Days later
"Have you heard?"
"There's a witch nearby"
"A Witch?"
"Apparently, a girl with green hair came to a nearby village a month ago; something about bewitching all the men in the village."
"Sounds like a normal whore to me."
"Here's where it gets interesting. Later, they tried to catch her but they chased her off the cliff and her body was never found."
"Didn't the boy who lives near the river picked up someone at the river a month ago?"
"A female"
"A strange one."
"She talks as if she herself is an elder"
"She's not that bad. My daughter Molly loves playing with her."
"Speaking of Molly, how is she? Still sick?"
"Getting sicker every day…I'm afraid she won't…."
"Hush now. Don't talk like that. She'll be alright."
His eyes never left her. Wherever she goes his amethyst orbs follows. Her green locks cascading down her back while her hips sway from side to side. Those luscious curves…
"Like what you see, Boya?"
"Pardon?" His eyes refocused and he finally noticed the person he's been eyeing was standing right in front of him.
"Smitten?"
"Unlikely" he scoffed.
"That's too bad", she said uncaringly and continued to hang the white cloth for drying.
1 Week Later
Their faces inches away, while her legs between his. Time stopped as they lay on the ground. His hands unknowingly held her thin waist. He forced himself to not stare at the cleavage that dances before him.
"Brother?" the sound of a door closed. Both heads turn to the bewildered child at the entrance.
"It's not what you think!" he said pushing the girl off roughly; he stood up and dusted himself clean and then walked over and grabbed the loaf of bread his sister had brought.
"You have some shifty eyes Boya"
His face grew redder by the second while his sister could only giggle at his embarrassment.
"There's a witch in town."
"I told you to not bother with the town gossips. Remember what they said about us?" his face contorted into a frown.
"I know but this is different. Apparently they said the witch has been here for a month already. The neighboring town threw her off the cliff but her body was never found."
A week later
"How is Molly holding up?"
"Better. The doctor medicine hasn't helped at all but the drink that "Greeny" made helped a lot."
"My heavens! Wasn't Molly on her death bed a few days ago?"
"Exactly! It's a miracle!"
"Doctors couldn't save her yet a mere girl who stumbled to this village was able to…"
"…You…You don't suppose…"
2 Days Later
"Have you notice the town has gotten quiet lately?"
"I suppose…" they mysterious green lock whispered as she continue to chop the vegetations.
Her companion, Boya's sister, dashed from one side of the house to another to find whatever utensils she needed. "Brother never takes this long to get some herbs."
"…"
"I'm home. Sorry for being late." The boy walked in with a strained face. Beaded sweat pouring from his body as he made his way to the dining table and placed the bag of herbs down, he made no eye contact to either girls. That's when she spotted something red on his sleeves. His sister, too busy with the night's dinner, paid no attention to him but grabbed the herbs and quickly dumped them into the porridge.
The other female had stopped chopping once she laid eyes on him. She knew yet hoped it was her imagination. "What happened to you? "
Making his way to the wash room he answered, "I was running and tripped; didn't want to be scowled by you two."
Lair
"You looked at if a gang of townspeople beat you."
"I tripped that's all."
5 Days Later
"We got to do something!"
"But what can we do; especially to a witch?"
"She fallen off the cliff up stream and still survive. What do you think we can do?"
"You suppose we let her live?"
"She hasn't done anything wrong."
"Have you forgotten? She used witchcraft on Molly! Next thing you know Molly will march down into the forest and perform them rituals."
"I saw her walk into the forest just the other day!"
"Now you see?
Murmurs
"It's best to strike now while it's early. If we wait too long all of us might be cursed."
"What do we do?"
"We'll get the boy to help."
"What if he doesn't like last time?"
"Smithy here can do the job."
"…When?"
"Tonight."
"I'll be leaving soon."
The two siblings froze midway before taking a sip of the steaming stew. They turned to her surprised hoping they heard incorrectly. The house has been brighter since she had arrived; there was more laughter than before.
"Don't bother with that the townspeople say. They did the same with us and eventually it stopped." The younger sibling said forcing a smile.
"I have overstayed my welcome."
"No you haven't. You're welcome to move in here with us. Stay as long as you like. You're like a family to us." She responded with the same smile she had on but her eyes were beginning to water.
The two ladies continue to talk; one persuading the other to stay while the other calmly dismiss them. All the while the young man said nothing but continue to stare at her. Although he has complained about her immature behavior and her lack of responsibility she was the only person who could make his sister laugh joyfully beside himself. Without her Nunnally would be hurt.
A pang in his heart.
No, it won't just be Nunnally who'll be affected but him as well.
"When?" he finally spoke.
The two ladies turned their head to him.
"Tonight." She answered, picking up her spoon and took a scoop chunk of stew beef.
"That's a bit sudden don't you think?" the younger girl exclaimed nearly dropping her utensil. "Why not stay a few more days to get your things ready?"
"I don't have any belongings and there's not much time"
"Couldn't you just ignore the others like we did? They'll leave you alone for-"
She gently placed a hand over the younger ones trembling hands. The boy continued to look forward fighting to keep his emotions from erupting; his hands clench the hem of his shirt under the table.
"These days everywhere you go townspeople are dressed in fear" she squeezed the child hand telling the child to look straight into her eyes, "And do you know what they fear?"
The youngest nodded, "But you aren't one of them!" her voice shook. A sad smile appeared on the other, "Then how do you explain me healing from a fall up the river?"
"Perhaps God did not want you to leave. Perhaps he saved y-"
"They do not think that" the boy interjected. His eyes were no longer bright and enthusiastic, now they have darkened as if putting up a wall. Sighing deeply he finally looked at both girls and finally to the eldest, "Take the back route. My sister will take you straight into the forest."
"What will you do?"
He finally showed a hint of sadness and forced a smile, "Let's clean up since all this serious talking has killed our appetite."
"Don't harm the child; she doesn't know any better darling" the wife of the leader said.
The man finished cleaning his rifle and pistol began loading them, "If she doesn't aid that witch" he sneered when saying the word, "then I won't. But, if she does then I will have no choice. That thing may have already brainwashed them. It's better to be rid of them now then seeing any more of them rise in the future."
"She's only a child!"
"A child that may be helping a witch escape! Do you want her to use her magic on our child?" he did not wait for an answer and stormed out of the house into the thick crowd of armed men.
"I'll go check the back route. You two ladies get ready." The young man ordered as he walked past them and into his sister bedroom.
They stood there in silence looking at the direction he had taken, waiting.
"You know, my brother really likes you." The younger sibling said breaking the silence and placing a bag on her shoulder.
The older one turned and smiled, "I know"
"Then why don't you stay?"
"Because I can only bring sadness"
"Not with us. We were so happy like a real family. You don't have to do this."
"I've made my mind" patting the child's head.
The young girl then pulled out something from her bag, "In that case my brother and I want you to have this. S-so that you won't forget us." It was a piece of paper folded intricately into a bird. "It's said that while folding one you make a wish and in the future it will come true."
The eldest reached out for the bird while holding back her tears, "And what did you two wished for?"
"We wished to-"
"You girls ready?" the boy asked as he walked out from the room.
Both girls straightened themselves and gave him a nod.
"Then it's best to leave now undetec-"
BAM BAM BAM
There were loud knocks at the front door. The young man hurriedly pushed the girls away from the door, "Go now."
The child nodded while putting the bird back into her bag and rushed into her room leaving only the two eldest behind.
"You never answered me" she spoke to him as he walked towards the door.
"About what?" he took a kitchen knife and hid it behind his back.
"What will you do?"
…
BAM BAM BAM
"Coming!" he yelled at the door and hurriedly back to her and stared down into her golden orbs.
"Please don't do this. I don't deserve thi-"
Their lips meshed together and automatically her hands comb through his hair deepening the kiss. It was an intense kiss; a kiss that would be engraved to their very soul. Unfortunately, how sudden the kiss began it quickly ended with him pulling away.
BAM BAM BAM
"I'm coming!" his voice croaked. "Go" he whispered and gently pushed her into the room and hurried over to the door. She strode over to a small entrance behind a handmade shelf. She crouch down and crawled into the tunnel hesitant in closing the already widen gap between her and him.
BAM BAM BAM
"Hold your horses!" he yelled opening the door, "Can't a man have a few minutes to urinate?"
"Where is it?" the ringleader demanded staggering back as if afraid of a spell might creep up to them.
"Where is what?" said the boy, feigning ignorance.
"The Witch!" the crowd shouted raising their rifles.
Angered by their accusation he shouted, "She is not a witch!"
"She got to him. Smithy!"
Out of nowhere a greasy bald bearded man appeared stormed into the house.
"What the hell are you doing?" the boy yelled trying to pull the intruder back but to no avail.
"She's here"
She quickly slid the ply wood back in order as if there is no entrance and began crawling away; away from all the pain screaming. She had stayed there hoping he would come but instead, the men out front had barged their way into the house demanding for her; he had pretended not to understand. Impatient the leader beat him and dragged the boy into his sister room and dumped him in front of the makeshift entrance. Their eyes met; his eyes begged her to go and don't look back.
"Start with the fingers" was what the leader said. She gave him one last lingering look.
I'm sorry
And crawled away.
He had seen her in the entrance. Her eyes had begun to tear up. He begged her to leave not wanting her to see what was going to happen and she did.
I'm sorry
Was what her eyes had said before she left. He smiled then and held in a scream when he felt the cold metal sliced off his pinky. He didn't want her to falter from his screaming. Until the leader pressed his foot over the missing finger did he started screaming in pain. It felt as if lighting was being struck at his body. Then Smithy cut the second and third finger.
"Where is she?"
He was panting with beads of sweat dripping from his forehead.
Crack Crack
He held in another scream when they cut off his remaining two fingers and when he looked up he smiled.
"You left me with no choice son" the man pulled out his pistol and pulled back the cock.
I wished for-
His sister was trembling when she reached the exited the tunnel. A rush of guilt transpired in her heart. They had welcomed her into their life and treated her as one of them. She knew she shouldn't stay that's why she always never stayed in one spot very long. When she found herself awaken in the little house and the warm greetings she couldn't help but remember what she had longed for all those forgotten years ago.
I brought this upon them
The young girl straightened herself and pulled her friend to her feet, "W-we have to go. Brother will be f-f-" her tears came falling down.
The older female held onto her tightly comforting the child. Quickly the child brushed away her tears and tightly grasped the older one hands and made way to the forest. The uphill journey was difficult since they had no torch to see where they ran; twigs and large branches scattered all over the places scratching and tripping them.
A gunshot echoed from behind them making them stop in their tracks. They turned around and looked down from above. The men single file stepped out of the house; one of them threw their torch into the house letting it burn to the ground. The rest began walking around the house branching out towards the forest.
The child silently cried as she watched the house they lived in burn to the ground along with her deceased brother. They stood stricken by what had just happened.
"There they are!" someone yelled.
Both awaken from their trance and began running.
"We have to split up. They won't be able to tell who's who" the child explained.
"No. Not you too"
"We have no choice" the child plastered a sad smile, "beside, I already made up my mind" with that she split.
The trip uphill was agonizing. They boy had died stupidly for aiding a witch. There was no time for guilt. In his mind the boy was bewitched and he had the honor of saving the child.
No guilt he reminded himself.
Up the hill he spotted two silhouette squirming.
"There they are!" someone yelled.
Great. Now they know we spotted them.
The two figures started running. Cursing under his breath he soon followed never taking his eyes off of them. To his dismay they split.
She probably split so the other wouldn't get hurt.
His eyes followed the figure that split; unfortunately, they both zig-zag through the forest causing him to lose focus on which was which. The two figures have almost reached the top; any moment he'll lose them to the thick forest.
"Damn it" giving up he got down on his knees and draw up his rifle. He took aim at a single point waiting for a silhouette.
"Don't harm the child; she doesn't know any better darling"
Remembering his wife's words he hesitated for a split second.
She's helping it. Do not falter. No guilt.
Resolve harden, he pulled the trigger.
Both shadow collapsed; one over the hill top and another a few feet away. The body was drenched in blood; a whole through the head.
She saw the outline of the other scrambling towards her. Hot tears landed on her hands but she couldn't summon the strength to wipe the tears away. Her body began to jerk and the other pulled her into an embrace crying all the more.
"Al…right" she whispered.
"I'm so sorry"
"Heal"
The other still cried.
"Go" she finally managed.
Reluctantly the other laid her back down and once more apologized and then ran.
She laid there, her eyes blackening until her eyes focused on a crumpled paper.
"In that case my brother and I want you to have this. S-so that you won't forget us." -
"It's said that while folding one you make a wish and in the future it will come true."
"And what did you two wished for?"
She smiled at the memory.
I wished for-
When he reached the top he pushed his way through the men. The body was soaked in crimson red but he could still recognize who it was under all the smeared blood on the face.
No guilt
"The other?" he asked, panting.
"Gone"
"Branch out and find the other"
The men split and raced through the forest leaving him behind. Kneeling he placed his fingers over the eyelids and brought them down. Quickly, he stood up and ran in the same direction his men went.
"Brother?"
"Yes?" his eyes were focused on a parchment in front of him.
"What are you doing?"
"Folding" like he said he folded the squared paper diagonally.
"What are you folding?"
He looked up and smiled, "A bird."
Surprised the child sat down across from him and intently watched his hands as he folded the paper into a bird.
"It's said that while folding you make a wish and it'll come true."
"Really?" she asked, her eyes were wide with wonder.
"mhmm" finally finished with the bird and smiled triumphantly.
"I want to make one!"
"Why don't we make one together and give it to her?" he pulled out another parchment.
"Sure! …but…What do we wish for?"
"Why don't we wish to meet each other again in the future all three of us and live happily together?"
A/N: I'm sorry for the loooooooong update ;-; Had planned on posting this up in mid Jan but issues came up and it got pushed back for weeks. As always thank you for your support. BTW the next chapter is already done and beta-ed. So wait a few more weeks. We're half way done with this fic :3
