Chapter 1 – Salem 2005
"And finally, if I may call you attention over here," The low, emotionless voice of the tour guide droned. He reminded the small,
brunette, young woman in the group of students distinctly of the 'Clear Eyes Guy'. Inwardly sighing, she forced herself to pay attention to
what he was telling the class, knowing full well that this 'would be on the test'. "This walk way…" He continued, paying absolutely no
mind to the fact that a majority of young people surrounding him were lost in there own little worlds. "… is actually a memorial created in
the late 1980's. If you look down, you will see the names of the people killed during the madness of the 1692 Witch Trials. Some, as you
already know, met there end at the gallows, while others died of clod, starvation, and disease while they awaited trial. One such victim
was a baby girl, chained beside her mother, because the 'afflicted' girls claimed to have been tormented by an infant specter."
The young woman winced at this. 'What kind of people would accuse a baby of being a witch? Let alone leave her to die in a cold,
damp, dirty jail cell!" She fumed to herself. 'You already know the answer to that.' A small voice in the back of her mind reminded her.
'Yeah…? Shut up…" For a small voice in the back of her head, it could be amazingly loud.
Looking around at the few of her fellow class mates who were also silently enduring the torture of the tour guides endless rambling;
she noted that she was not the only one who seemed to have been disturbed by such a concept. This announcement had even caught the
attention of several of the daydreamers. Raising her hand, a tall, dirty-blonde girl in the back asked the question that seemed to be on
everyone's minds. "Um… Excuse me, Sir! Why would they do that? Like… why would they accuse a baby?"
At this… their professor took charge. "That, Miss Gelding, is actually a very good question. Can anyone answer it? Miss
Anders…?" The young brunette inwardly sighed. She should have known this would happen. Yet another chance to prove to the world
that she actually DID have nothing better to do on date night than homework. Taking a deep breath, she raised her head, smiled, and
answered.
"Would it be because at the time of the Witch Trials, people believed children, including infants, to simply be miniaturized versions of
adults? This includes knowing the difference between right and wrong, being capable of logical reasoning, and making the decision the sell
their soul to Satan. Also, if the infant's mother was a witch, it would only make sense that her child might be one as well." The professor
beamed at her with pride. "Correct. Well done, Miss Anders! It's obvious SOMEONE in this class has been doing there homework."
The professor added pointedly. She blushed slightly at the compliment, but mostly at the scathing looks several of her classmates were
sending her. She decided that now would be a very good time to study the design of the memorial walkway.
That was until she sensed someone come up both beside and behind her and felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she
came face to face with one of her best friends in the whole wide world. Who just happened to be the very girl who had asked the
question she had just finished answering a few moments before. "Thanks Stepho." She said softly, smiling at her friend.
Stephanie Gelding could be described in two words. The first which came to mind was 'Sporty'. This, of course was no surprise
considering the fact that she was on the volley ball team and co-captain of the freshman cheerleading squad, a position that had earned
her immense popularity and insured that she was never home on date night. The second word which came to mind when one thought of
Steph was 'Pretty'.
"For what?" Sheph asked the other girl, winking. It was then that the brunette noticed that the other students around them seemed,
for some reason, to be shying away from them. Rolling her eyes, she turned to her other side, only to see a girl, dressed in mostly black,
sending very pointed death glares at every single person in the crowd on students. She had blood red streaks died into her raven hair and
wore almost no make-up. Save for thick, purple eyeliner and a dark purplish-red shade of lipstick. Needless to say, this girl was
intimidating and down right scary when she wanted to be, but the small brunette knew full well of the heart of gold that lay deep within
her.
Laughing, the brunette chastised her other best friend in the whole wide world. "Kaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrriiiiiiiiiii! Stop that!" Karen
Elmsten turned towards her small friend, cocking an eyebrow, but doing as she was told none the less. "Ah… You, Kathryn Anders, are
no fun what so ever." She replied, smirking. "Maybe… but somehow I have a feeling that it might be best if you DON'T scar the entirety
of our American Culture and History 1101 class for the rest of their lives. Therapy costs a lot these days." Karen laughed.
The crisp voice of their professor cut her laughter short, however. "Alright, students, we have three hours until we are scheduled to
have dinner at the inn. Until then, you are free to do as you like. However, be sure that you assemble outside the inn promptly at 6
o'clock. Do NOT be late. Thank you." The small girl turned to her companions, smiling and excited. "Okay, I vote we go check out
some of the graves and memorials in the cemetery and get our assignment done. Then hit the town for a little souvenir shopping and
homemade fudge!"
Stephanie giggled and Karen smirked at their friend's excited emphasis on the words 'homemade fudge', both knowing full well of
her insatiable appetite for anything sweet. "What?" The small girl asked, thoroughly confused. Shaking her head, Karen replied. "You
know, for someone so smart… you sure can be an idiot at times." Turning on her heels, Kathryn glared at her friend. "Thanks a lot Kari.
Humph…" She then turned and walked swiftly away. Then turning around about twenty feet away, she called back to them. "Hey
slowpokes! What you waiting for?" Giggling, she turned back around and ran. "Slowpokes? Oh! I'm going to get you for that one!"
Karen yelled, as she and Stephanie chased after their friend. "Only if you can catch me!"
The three girls were quite a sight to see. Running thru the cemetery, one a few feet ahead of the others, all of them giggling and
panting. Eventually, the small brunette stopped, panting and gasping for breathe. "Okay… I surrender. Just don't make me run anymore."
She said, holding her hands up in defeat. "Okay," Stephanie answered. "We'll just tickle you to death! The two taller girls advanced on
the smaller one. "No!" Kathryn cried, as she took a step back. "Anything but – Aaaah!" She finished with a scream, as he foot landed on
a grave and fell thru the ground, sending her tumbling into a cavern below.