I finally update :D To be completely honest this is the only story that I still really like. Don't get me wrong I like my other stories it just feels like a chore to write them. With this, I don't know. It just feels nice...

Anyways it always amazes me how my crappier work gets more views than my work that in my opinion is written better and has a better plot line.

The world's full of mysteries I suppose.

Chapter 2

My hands clutch at the church door and I struggle to push open the heavy metal doors, throwing all my energy into my arms as I push it once more, and the door swings open and I fall flat on my face.

I groan into the concrete flipping over onto my back to see who opened the door and am greeted with a stern scowl. It belongs to Edna, one of the caretakers, a mother of three and a wife of a lumber jack. She takes her job seriously and doesn't care for slackers or trouble makers. I am neither but she will never believe that and only sees me as a pest in the way.

"Don't just lay there get up you're blocking the entrance" She quips angrily, grabbing my arm and yanking me up. I wince at the jerk and pain I feel in my arm but say nothing. She shoves a basket with a list inside into my hands and pushes me out the door muttering, "Don't come back until you have all of these herbs," of course that's the nicer way of putting her words.

I sigh and make my way towards the field where the herbs are grown kicking at the dirt as I go. I don't expect company but a couple of youngsters skip behind me chanting witch directed rhymes at me. Though they aren't elaborate and tend to lack a real meaning, it still hurts hearing even the little kids refer to me as that.

"Witch, witch, you're a witch,

Milking cows going to burn that witch

Ashes, ashes throw her in a ditch" they chant.

I feel my shoulders sag with each word as my feet seem to lose their purpose and take smaller steps. A mother rushes out to grab her children, fear written all over her face. "I'm sorry Annabelle, they're just kids, forgive them?" she pleads as though she really believes that I'm a witch. She probably thinks that I'll make them disappear too. I don't know what to say so I throw her back a small smile but it comes out as more of a grimace and the children squeal in terror rushing into their mother's arms.

The mother gasps gathering them up in her arms and running into her house, her blouse swaying in the wind.

I clutch the basket closer to my body as I walk hoping that I'll be left alone and everyone will just forget my presence but my small hope is dashed away after I near the fields.

The men elbow each other and smirk at me. I feel embarrassed and like I've done something wrong. I blush and look down knowing they aren't staring at me because I've perked their interest but because of something that happened or some crude joke they've recently made up.

"Hey Annabelle," they call my name using a flowing tone like they would if I was their wife; I bite my lip trying not to give in a look at them only encouraging them.

"Look at us when we talk to you don't you know any respect" one of the men call angrily and I know that if I don't obey they'll come over and make me. I slowly lift my head to them and they smile cruelly at me. "You finally have someone in this town to relate to maybe you should go to him and make love" a taller man calls while the others slap him on the back and others make kissing noises. I shouldn't care but I do, it hurts and no one will ever the feel the pain, they act as though I have no feelings but I do.

I open my mouth to say something but someone beats me to it, "Shut up you mindless, wastes of space, why don't you go do your job instead of slacking off" a familiar voice calls from behind me and I turn back a worried smile on my face. Lucy stands there in all her glory, her hair blowing in the wind and her sun dress and hat. I realize how bland I feel standing beside her in my pants, my father's white blouse with its sleeves rolled up to my elbows and my hair pulled up into a bun with a white bandana wrapped around the top of it.

"Why don't you mind your own business little girly this doesn't concern you" another man calls being as polite as he can without snapping at her remark. Her left eyebrow quirks up a challenging smile playing at her lips.

"I think it does concern me seeing as you hassling my best friend and I don't that too kindly to that" she called back not even trying to hide the edge to her voice. Worrying began to set in, what was she doing? Was she trying to get us beaten? Everyone knows you don't talk back to the men of the village unless you have a death wish.

"Please excuse her we'll be going now" I say to them before they call reply, my face burning with shame. I grab her wrist and literally drag her away before she starts a scene, waiting until we get far enough away before speaking again.

"Are you crazy Lucy? You're going to get us killed" I say looking over her shoulder making sure they weren't following us just in case. She raises her eyebrows definitely and puts her hands on her hips.

"You can't let them push you around Anna or else they won't ever stop. You know you aren't a witch and I know that but unless you stand up for yourself and prove them wrong you won't ever find peace" She said rubbing her temples as walking in front of me towards the herb patch already knowing my duty I perform every Sunday.

"You want me to get burned at the stake" I yelped, eyes wide at her figure. She lets out a loud laugh and waves her hand back dismissing the idea. I rush after her not wanting to be let alone.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

I found the herbs quickly while Lucy watched me from the side rest under a tree calling them out one after another as I found them.

The basket seemed to weigh a ton as I carried it back to the church Lucy on my heels chatting about everything and anything. She never seemed to notice that my mind was elsewhere but soon started a topic I myself was curious about.

"So apparently that hot warlock is being keep in the church basement in a cell, weird that a church would have cells though" She said as she braided her hair over her shoulder. I raised my eyebrow; he's being kept in the church. How is that safe? The ill are kept here what if he carries outside diseases that make them even sicker?

"Wait did you just call him hot" I asked pulled from my thoughts as she blushed and twirled a piece of her hair grinning ear to ear.

"Oh your right shame on me, he's sexy" she purred laughing as my eyes widened. He was dangerous, how could she like such a man? He could've been responsible for these disappearances but then again she always had a flare of danger in here.

"Lucy, you know what he is" I whispered quietly looking at her worriedly. Usually when she got something stuck in her head nothing could get it out.

"Well the Elders could be wrong, I mean they were wrong about you weren't they" she said shrugging her shoulders.

"What do you mean the Elders were wrong about me?" I asked. I had never known they discussed me or taught the kids about me, how else would Lucy know what they thought of me.

"Oh right you didn't go to school then, well originally the Elder's believed you and your mother to be witches because no one else had ever left the village and survived to come back. She began to talk of stories about faraway lands with mystical creatures and fill your mind with lies. She knew of things we didn't and tried to convince of us an outside land but the Elder's just said she was a witch and was trying to taint our minds. They gave the teachers material to teach about witches and that's why everyone began to fear you" she said drawing in a breath. I felt like my word had been shattered, that everything I ever learned was wrong. The Elders started the rumor? They were the reason I couldn't walk through the town without getting scared glances or taunted? It was their fault; I was living with insults and the fear of being hated each day because of their mistake?

"I have to go" I muttered needing to mull over my thoughts alone and rushed to the church ignoring her calls. I flung the door open not even realizing how easy it was compared to this morning and darted in.

I walked to the infirmary to get the rest of my orders for Edna and drop off the herbs. The whole way I was in a daze leaving it to my feet to direct me where to go and trusting they would lead me there.

When I arrived a couple girls were swarming around Edna and she looked thoroughly aggravated. I walked over setting the herbs over on the table and contemplated just leaving without talking to her but she noticed my presence before I could make my decision.

"Annabelle get over here" she called harshly and the other young nurses seemed to glare at me as I slowly walked over. I didn't do anything wrong did I? No. All my duties were done correct. Maybe I took too long getting the herbs for someone. I hope not.

"You are to take the witch his food downstairs and make sure he's comfortable Elder's orders" she said and I narrowed my eyes when she said Elder.

"I don't see how he could be comfortable in cell" I muttered under my breath. I felt my ears go red as I realized I just talked back to someone superior to me, I've never done that before. I didn't like the feeling, I felt bad and ashamed. I waited for her to call me out or tell me to repeat myself but it never happened.

"The foods in the kitchen; bring him whatever makes him comfortable as long as it's within his boundaries" she said moving away and snatching the herbs from the table to go tend to another sick patient. I felt my heart stop beating; I had to bring him food. What if he attacked me because he thought I was trying to call myself a witch when it wasn't even me? What if he attacked me?

I found it hard to walk the steps to the kitchen. The cooks gave me apologetic glances though not voicing their opinions and set the tray in front of me. I inspected it telling myself I was only making sure it was in his boundaries when in reality I was just making an excuse of why I didn't have to go down and face him.

The tray only had an apple, a small ham sandwich and a glass of water. It wasn't a lot at all especially for a man, but I said nothing. I grabbed the tray with shaking hands and proceed to his cell in the basement.

I could feel my legs starting to buckle under the pressure; the only thing keeping me up was the small fact that if I didn't a man who could be innocent would go hungry.

I made it too his wooden cell and looked at the guard who briefly nodded at me before going up. I wanted to call him back, tell him to stop but I couldn't find my voice in time. He was gone up the steps and I was left alone with whoever this man was. I took a step forward looking at the large wooden door letting my fingers trace over the intricate metal locks.

The seemed so cold and foreign to the warm wood it lay upon. I gently touch the first of many locks, moving the metal bar off of the door. It's heavier than it seems and I drop it on the ground. I cringe as it makes a loud noise and look up the stairs waiting for the guard to come running down the stairs to see what happened but he never comes.

He's probably flirting with the young nurses' upstairs, which means if he can't hear that how will he hear my screams if something goes wrong. Fear begins to gnaw at my insides.

I pull off the last lock off and suck in a large gust of air before pushing the door into the cell open and carrying the tray in. I don't know what to expect when I come in but what I'm greeted by is darkness.

I'm tempted to leave the door open so I can have some light but by doing that it gives him the chance of escaping and then not only would I be considered a witch, everyone would think I helped him escape.

I shut the door behind me, the darkness swallowing me whole. I let my eyes slowly adjust to the dark around me and I noticed a bed against the far wall with someone chain to it. A table was next to it and a lamp on top of it.

I quickly and almost silently move towards it, fumbling around for the switch. I found it and gave a glance at the supposed sleeping man before pulling it down and watching the room flood with light.

I could finally get a good look at the room he was staying in. It was cement though the outsides were wooden. The windows were covered with little bars like in jail cells by the window giving him air without giving him light.

I turned my head and looked to the right to see a small door that went unnoticed before. I chewed on my lip my curiosity getting the best of me as I moved towards the door. I slowly pulled it open, standing to the side waiting for an animal or something to jump out but it never came.

I put my head over the side of the door peaking inside to see a normal bathroom minus the shower. The sink looked cracked and broken while the wall was crumbling itself. I wonder if I was ever convicted of being a witch would I be stuck with the same fate, same cell. Would I get the same jeers or would mothers clutch at their children as though this would be their last day to see their beloved child?

There was a small chain dangling in front of my face, I looked up to see a dirty bulb swaying from side to side.

I felt a hand land on my shoulder and I let out a loud squeal jumping back and hitting the cold stone bathroom wall. My attacker was cloaked in the darkness that seemed to engulf the whole room except the dim light that swung above my head sending light in various directions except where I needed it most.

I heard a small pad of a foot hitting the floor as they seemed to take a step forward.

I stood there petrified my arms clutching my sides as I stared wide eyed into the darkness waiting for them to reveal themselves.

They took one more step forward the light flooding over them. A small gasp escaped my lips at the sight.