Chapter 7

Changing History

William Shakespeare wrote, 'Fight till the last gasp.'

The two men hadn't changed position when the four jailers returned later that morning. Aaron drifted in and out of consciousness, Giles Corey held him on his lap.

"This is it, Aaron. May God be with you." Giles leaned down and touched his face against Aaron. He knew that this would likely be their last morning, unless the torture broke them and they entered a plea, then they would be allowed to live through the farce of the courts, and be executed by hanging. Giles had long ago determined what he would do. He feared for this strange man though, and he prayed that he would have the strength to stand by his convictions.

Two of the jailers lifted Aaron from Giles's lap, the other two pulled Giles to his feet. Aaron made an effort to walk, and managed a few steps before his legs buckled, and he was dragged the rest of the way to fall in front of the magistrates and churchmen that had 'heard' him on the previous day. Aaron was again on his knees in front of the cruel men. He felt Giles's hands under his arms, and he was helped to his feet. Aaron cast a grateful glance at him.

"Take courage, my good friend." Giles whispered.

Deputy Governor Thomas Danforth stood up and said, "Do you wish to enter a plea?"

Giles answered first. "I do not, as there is no case to answer."

Danforth looked at Aaron. Aaron struggled to focus with injured bleeding eyes. He wanted to see the man who was sending him to his death, but his eyes didn't work properly any more. He wondered whether it was his eyes that were injured, or if it was the beating that stopped him from seeing. When it came to it, it really didn't matter. He was soon to die anyway.

As best he could, he looked at Danforth.

"I do not plead." Aaron swayed on his feet. He struggled to remain upright, with the help of Corey, he stood before his tormentors, as he was told he was to be pressed until he either died, or agreed to enter a plea.

Corey was led, Aaron was dragged, out to a field, where a shallow pit had been dug. A crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle. Aaron staggered on the uneven ground, and looked about him at the crowd. They stood in quiet awe, watching the prisoners being stripped of their remaining clothes. Since there were women in the crowd, the magistrate decreed that they be allowed to keep wearing underclothes. The two men were then forced into the shallow ditch, side by side, and a sheet of wood was placed over their bodies.

Aaron whimpered as his back came into contact with the rough stony ground, and his broken arms forced down by his side. The pain caused unconsciousness to threaten, but water was thrown in his face to wake him up. He turned to face Corey, and caught his eye. He saw immense courage in the man lying beside him. Aaron turned away, unsure whether he had the same courage within himself.

He stared at the bright summer sky. He was going to die here, among strangers with strange customs and laws. He thought of Spencer, and how grateful he was that the man he loved was far away from this dreadful place.

The warm sun brought the words of a poem to his mind. Words that he had studied in school, and had not thought of for many years.

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Aaron began to cry silently for Spencer, he remembered his softness and his beauty, which he would not see again.

Oh Spence, please, be happy.

Aaron's heart was breaking, not because he was afraid to die. No he did not fear death, only a death without meaning. And this death was senseless. He wanted to be home with Spencer, he wanted to reach out and take Giles's hand, but his arms were pinned.

He wondered how long this would take.

Hours? Days? He had no idea. Spencer could probably tell him the average life expectancy, list names and locations. Aaron wondered if Spencer knew what was happening to him? He hoped that Spence wouldn't mourn for too long. Thinking about Spencer was going to get him through this.

It was all he could think about.

Beautiful Spencer

Loving Spencer

Safe Spencer

Air was forced out of his lungs as the first weight was dropped on his chest, and another on his stomach. He felt the blood which was soaking out of his skin into the dry ground that he was lying on. It felt wet under his body. He let out a cry as a third was added. His tears flowed, and he bit on his lip to prevent further outcries.

He thought of Spencer again, how he chewed on his lip when he was nervous or embarrassed.

Sweet Spence

"Do you plead?"

Aaron gasped, "No!"

Aaron lay and listened to the crowd. The sun was going down, and the jeering and laughing of the crowd had stopped. They had, he thought, gone home. It was getting cold. Aaron was having difficulty breathing. At each breath, broken rib ends tore into flesh. He tried to breath in short shallow breaths, but the pain still came. He tried to move but the weight held him still. His tears flowed, and blood came up into his mouth and ran down the side of his face. He guessed he wouldn't survive the night.

The ground he was lying on had become muddy with his blood, his back skinned and torn. He shifted his position slightly; the resulting shock of pain sent him to merciful oblivion.

The rest of the night he spent in a safe dark place where pain couldn't reach him, thinking of Spencer, and their home and their life together. Dreaming of him, remembering every tiny detail of him.

Foul water in his face woke him early the next day.

"Do you plead?"

Aaron shook his head. He licked some of the water from his lips, so desperate was he for a drink. He could hear the crowd return, he could hear his own rasping breaths. A sound escaped his dry cracked lips as more weights were added. He felt blood flow freely into the muddy soil beneath him. He took a shallow shuddering breath as another weight was added and he felt his lungs tear. He tried desperately to take another breath, but his lungs would not inflate. Blood streamed from his open mouth in a thick red river as his ribs tore into his lungs. He stared at the brightening sky as it darkened for him, and Aaron Hotchner died.

A/N There is a link on my Bio which will take you to an article about Giles Corey. I ask that you read it to keep the memory of this brave man alive. Thank you