Witch Trials

Standard disclaimers apply.

Read and Review, and thanks to all who reviewed, you've been really supportive! I just couldn't wait to write this chapter so all my other stories can wait!

Also, Kori's parents are called Maya and Luan. This is my longest chapter to date. I love it, I hope you do and I hope for at least 10 reviews : )

Chapter Twelve - Visit

The four friends took the vicar to a tall house with beautifully plastered brick walls. The vicar took a key out of his pocket and opened the oak wood door. This was where the vicar lived. It would be worth investigating later on.

"Well this is where you must leave me. Goodbye," the vicar then slammed the door on them.

The vicar stood in his own house and grinned a wide toothy grin, "I didn't know I was that good an actor!"

The friends started to walk away when Richard realised how very thirsty he felt. So thirsty that he couldn't even wait to get home, "I'm going to go get a drink of water, I'll see you guys at home later on."

Raven, Garfield and Victor left towards the house still thinking of all that had happened to them and what they were supposed to do from there.

Richard walked in the direction of the fountain. He pumped the lever and cupped his hands under the tap. Water poured out and he quickly brought it over to his face before all of the water escaped.

Unknown to him, someone was behind him. Staring right at him. "She's alive," a deep and slightly familiar voice said to Richard.

Richard was startled but did not turn around, he just listened.

"Kori is alive." Richard took a deep breath to calm himself. He was not going to be fooled into bringing up false hope. "She never died, but she might if she is not found."

"I don't believe you."

"Deserved it, to my opinion," the voice hissed to himself. Richard was about to turn his head towards the man, "I wouldn't do that if I were you. It is not yet time for you to face me." Richard looked down at the water slowly trickling from his hands.

"Why would she deserve to suffer?" asked Richard.

"For what she did, everyone suffered. And the only one that should have suffered was her," replied the voice.

"What did she do that was so bad then?" asked Richard.

"Your parents died when you were a young boy. The case was never solved."

"My parents died in an accident."

"The accident was planned. By Kori. Kori killed your parents."

"Don't you speak about my parents!" snapped Richard. He took another deep breath to steady his voice, "It was an accident. No one could have been it's fault."

"Somebody was. And not only to those deaths but also the deaths of Maya and Luan Anders. She killed them both," replied the voice.

"Why would she kill her own parents?"

"Why wouldn't she want to? They were just like her. Secretive and inconspicuous. Hatred. Hatred led her to their death. Why do you think she always went to bed so early? Don't you think it's possible- no- probable that she had secrets not worthy of you? Secrets and plans unknown to you? A devilish life that deserved a short end?"

There was a pause between the two. The voice continued, "You loved her. Once. But then the church showed you right again. Evil people deserve to die. Evil people like her. Who kill. And your parents were such good people, kind, caring, helpful."

"Who are you?" asked Richard.

"I was their friend. I want the same revenge that you are after. Your parents would want the same revenge if they lost you to her like she was planning. She was planning to put a stop to your life. But she was discovered by the vicar. She never loved you. She never cared about you. You were a pawn in her demented game of chess. And now she will starve upon the island tied to the stake. Wouldn't it be nice to say a final goodbye to her?"

Richard had enough. All of this talk of his parents was getting to his head. His emotions were tearing his up and a stray tear was tickling against his cheek. Richard wiped his eyes with the back of one hand and turned towards the voice. But no one was there.

---WT---

Raven, Garfield and Victor entered the house and agreed that they all had a long hard day and would like to finish it with a large tasty feast. Once Garfield and Victor commenced with their usual fight over which foods to prepare, Raven changed her mind and decided that she wasn't that hungry after all. She retired into her bedroom and sat at her table. With her head against her hand she tried to think things through. Nothing. Nothing came to her. She was as confused as she ever was. She couldn't resurrect Kori. But maybe she could contact her instead. Raven opened a cupboard and took out a handful of large candles and lavender incense.

---WT---

"Okay. I'm going to take it easy and stop the arguing. Someone has to be the better man!" Garfield said as he lowered the knife that he was clutching in both hands in front of Victor. The fight got a little more out of control than it usually does. Apart from the constant misery and slight insanity, the family of crazy people was back to normal. Garfield flatly refused to eat any animal but he didn't mind killing one of the lowlier creatures (as to his opinions – not mine).

"Man, you weren't really gonna stab me, were you?"

Garfield put the knife on the counter and sighed, "No," he looked down at the ground. He thought for a second. "What were we fighting about this time?"

Victor looked down at what Garfield was staring at, "I don't know. I forgot."

There was a silence between them. They always fought for any reason and only lately have they noticed that there was no reason for their behaviour. Kori normally would have come in with smiles and hugs and lectured them both about petty rivalry and irrational actions and their consequences. Neither of them listened but now that their usual battles lasted five minutes longer than usual, they stopped and realised something was wrong. Only to remember that the little voice at the back of their heads that taught them right from wrong was gone. Burned alive at the stake.

The silence continued. "Oh yeah! You sold my waffle iron!"

---WT---

(A/N – I was gonna stop it there but I feel nice!)

Kori grew more and more miserable. After her best friend's betrayal, she had no happiness within her. Her powers were inaccessible. Her inhuman strength would have come in handy now.

She groaned. Her stomach felt horrible lately. After the first few days it felt as if it had shrunk but instead of filling up quicker, it would remain unsatisfied. Kori knelt down even tighter and squeezed her knees against her body. It didn't stop the pain but it numbed it. She heard loud grumbling and squeezed her eyes together tightly. She was barely living anymore. She no longer had her health, possessions, identity. And to add to her misery, nature had stopped calling and now constipation was distressing her. She unexpectedly fell asleep or rather, fainted.

Unknown to her, a figure stood in front of her. The figure of her ex-best friend. Richard.

---WT---

Richard contemplated over what the mysterious person with the familiar voice had said to him. Kori did go to bed very early every night. At least 8pm. What could she possibly be doing in her room late at night? Richard wondered why he never thought of it before. And how did her parents die? They mysteriously disappeared one night and were found dead the next day. Richard was sure that his parents were in an accident but since he never got over his loss, he struggled to think about his parents. It caused him much grief. But one thing that made his brain go into overdrive was what the voice said first. 'She's alive'.

Richard stopped walking. She is alive? How could someone live through being burned alive at a stake? There hadn't been any witch burnings since Kori and he never saw the ashes that were her cremated body, he couldn't bare to look so he didn't. There's a slim chance that she is still there. Starving or starved. Dead or alive. Only one way to find out.

Richard turned and headed towards the island. It was already late and the matchstick girl was walking around in her cloak and scarf lighting the street lanterns. Richard wrapped his arms tighter around himself and quickened his pace. The others must be worried about him by now.

In his mind, terrible words echoed. Some which Kori said in the past which broke his heart, some said by the mysterious voice which condemned her as evil. Could it be right? Could Kori really have killed his parents? And her own? Kori may not have been a witch but maybe she did deserve to die.

---WT---

Raven set up her equipment and placed it in the centre of her wooden floor. The spell was ready. It didn't require much because the dead spirits cannot have much. As the sweet strong smell of incense seeped into the air, Raven sat cross-legged at one side of the ring of candles and hummed. She lost concentration as she realized how quiet it was. Why weren't the boys fighting anymore? She got up and walked downstairs to find Garfield and Victor cooking happily together. No fighting. And Raven was glad to see Garfield had abandoned his knife.

"Err… this is… awkward. What happened between you two?"

"We agreed on a trouse," said Victor cheerfully.

"Yeah… as long as someone buys me a new waffle iron!"

There was a short silence. Raven decided to break it seeing the boys glare at each other and refuse to comment, "I was going to try to reach Kori," that didn't sound right. Saying 'Kori' didn't sound right anymore, "Do you want to come?"

They agreed and left the kitchen towards Raven's room. Once there, Raven commenced with the humming and chanting. The candles started to flicker, and Raven's eyes remained closed. The boys looked warily at the phenomenon. The incense holder stopped smoking and the holding started to rattle.

A face materialised in the centre of the candle circle. A ghost of a face, pale and tired looking. This was not right. "Normally the face looks full and colourful. She's supposed to be in heaven, she was a strong believer in Christianity, so why does she look so … wrong?" Raven asked the boys, not expecting any answer.

The face turned towards Raven, "I am not in heaven," Kori spoke.

"Then… you're … in … you know, the other place?" asked Victor unsurely.

"No. I am not dead. But I should be."

Everyone was surprised and not sure whether to show happiness or concern. They thought it over for a moment as they watched Kori's head warily move.

"Where are you? Are you at the stake?" asked Raven. The face looked certain and serious for a moment as if deep in thought.

"Yes," she answered after a pause.

"Still? Whoa, you must be hungry, it's been a month!" shouted Garfield.

"A long time," she mouthed with her eyes shut.

"Have you seen anyone? Like maybe… the vicar? Around there?" asked Garfield.

"No," she sighed, she suddenly got a spasm of pain and winced. A single tear ran down her cheek.

Raven, seeing the pain in her friends face quickly told her, "We'll help you, we'll go and find you."

"Thank … you." She breathed and disappeared.

---WT---

Richard reached the hill. He looked around. He had not been here for a long time. He called out into the night, "Where are you?"

A small voice answered him, "I am not in heaven."

He walked down a path to find Kori strapped to the stake. She looked like she was asleep, "I thought you were dead." He said to her.

"No. I am not dead. But I should be."

"You killed my parents. And your own. Were you planning to kill me too?" Richard asked cautiously.

"Yes," came the answer. Kori's head lulled to one side.

Richard was taken aback. His heart ached at the certainty of her answer. He would never have believed it unless if it came from her own lips. "For how long?" he breathed.

"A long time," she mouthed.

"I once loved you," Richard spat at her after a while, "Did you ever feel the same way about me?"

"No," he bent down beside her. Broken-hearted and distressed he picked up her head in between two of his fingers and looked at her. A single tear ran down her cheek.

"You have done so many wrong things with your life. You must have suffered terribly from the guilt and loneliness. I was wrong to think you loved me and now that I know the truth, I regret ever meeting you," he said, spite leaking from the words, "I can put an end to your misery. But there's only one way."

"Thank… you."

Richard heard some rustling behind him. He turned to see the vicar. Holding a shining dagger, with a golden handle and encrusted gems. "The same she used to kill her own mother. Ironic. Isn't it?" He handed the knife over to Richard and walked away at a quick pace. He knew that soon he would have more visitors. He wouldn't want to be seen.

Richard held the dagger in the palm of his hand. He glanced at the unconscious Kori and drew the dagger to seal her fate.

---WT---

Raven, Garfield and Victor ran across the bridge, Kori seemed very frantic, they wouldn't want to keep her waiting. They neared the island and walked surefooted on the pebbles. The stake stood on the top of the hill. Together they climbed till they saw over the top and gasped.

There knelt down was Richard with a dagger in his hand. By him was Kori, lifeless. And down the hill trickled a fine stream of continuous blood.