Everything have gone from bad to worse. Countless numbers of innocent persons have hanged. More are to hang and I fear that the hangin' will never end. I heard from Papa that Goody Nurse and Goody Proctor have been arrested for bein' accused of witchcraft. Why would anyone even think of such kind and innocent women doin' anything harmful to anyone? I wish I could tell someone 'bout the lies that have tainted my home and taken the lives of many. My fear of Abby keeps me from sayin' a single word to anyone. I fear for my own name and well being more than I fear for the lives of others and that makes me selfish. Today, I were close to findin' the courage to speak the truth, but my fear got the better of me again.
The girls and I were called to attend another trial. There were not as many girls as before. There were only Mercy, Abby, Susanna, and me. We were asked to wait in the court till they called us in. I still feared for what others would think if I confessed my false witness, but I were intended to tell them 'bout Abby's lies, even if she would hurt me for disobeyin' her. I would not let anymore of the innocent die. Mister Cheever came in and escorted us to the vestry room. I had my head down as we walked into the room. We were told to sit down and we obeyed. I lifted my head up for a moment and I saw Mary and Mister Proctor near the front of the room and I could see Mary were cryin'. Governor Danforth told us that Mary confessed to never seein' spirits. I were a little happy for a moment that I may have not needed to confess Abby's lies, till he told us that liars are to be damned. My heart sank and my fear rose again. He claimed that what Mary had said might have been what the Devil told her to say and if we did not confess that what she said were true, she would hang.
Abby were questioned of Mary's claims and she told nothing but lies. They talked 'bout the poppet Mary made during the last trial and Abby denied seein' her make it. I knew not what the poppet had to do with witchcraft, but I listened not any further. I could bare no more lies and I feared that if I confessed, it would make no difference. Mary had confessed and yet they believed her not. They only believed Abby. I wanted to tell them that Abby were lyin', but they would not listen to me if I did. I could do nothing, so I tried listenin' to nothing else. I started to think 'bout what the Governor said. I were to be damned for lyin' when I did it against my own will and knowledge. I can only hope that God may have some pity for me.
I continued to ignore the voices of the room as I kept to my own thoughts. A few minutes later, Abby started shiverin' as if she were cold as she looked at Mary. Mercy did the same as Abby and so did Susanna. I knew then that they were claimin' Mary to be a witch. I started doin' what Abby were doin' as I have done ever since all of this started. Out of nowhere, Mister Proctor grabbed Abby and started callin' her something that I promised Mama I would not ever repeat in words nor writin'. He told the court 'bout what he and Abby did many months ago. I were horrified by what he claimed to have done. Adultery be one of the worst crimes of the Bible ever known. In that moment were when everything started to make sense. Abby were in love with Mister Proctor, but she could not be with him due to the bond of marriage between him and Goody Proctor. She believed that if Mister Proctor were to become a widow, she could have him to herself. That be how this madness started. She wanted what she could not have and it made her greedy.
The Governor told Papa to bring in Goody Proctor. After Papa left, the Governor instructed Abby and Mister Proctor to turn 'round and that none of us were to talk at all. Goody Proctor came in and the Governor asked her questions 'bout Abby and Mister Proctor. I gave not much attention to what they were speakin' of till the Governor harshly grabbed Goody Proctor's face and asked her if what Mister Proctor had said 'bout his claim of commitin' adultery were true. She denied it. I knew not if she were tellin' the truth, if she had no knowledge of Mr. Proctor's affair, or if she were lyin' for him. Goody Proctor were taken away after that.
Reverend Hale tried to defend Mister Proctor's Claim when Abby started to scream what sounded like nonsense and pointed at something on the ceiling that were not there. The other girls and I followed her. Abby claimed she were talkin' to Mary in the form of a bird and she copied whatever words came from Mary. I did as she did with the other girls. Whatever Mary said and did, we would repeat as if we were under a spell. I could not believe that we were tryin to get Mary hanged. She were more innocent than anyone. She be the kindest girl I know and a good friend to me. Abby had gone so far as to accuse one of our own friends just to make sure her plan to claim Mister Proctor as her own would not be interrupted. Abby screamed as if the imaginary bird were goin' to attack her and we screamed, as well. Mary screamed with us as if she were a victim of the bird as well. She started makin' an accusation at Mister Proctor. I knew then that she were back to doin' what Abby said. Mary went cryin' to Abby.
Mister Proctor were asked if what Mary said were true. What he said next almost made me cry. God is dead, he said. He said it with such fierce that I almost thought that it were his actual belief. After that, Mister Proctor were taken away with Mister Giles. I know not why Mister Giles were arrested. I were not listenin' to them before we came into the room. My hate for Abby have increased after that. She be responsible for the deaths of almost everyone I know. I hope God will give her a rightful punishment.