Page 2 of Fangs & Freaks
I’ll find out what's going on later. Bishop Hale steps to the front of the room, moving behind the podium, clearing his throat before pounding his gavel on the wood.
“Good afternoon, fine citizens. I hope all is well on this glorious day. The birds are singing and the leaves are falling. Before we begin, are there any town announcements that need to be shared at this time?” I follow his eyes, finding where they land on the door as William steps in, his father’s arm on his shoulder.
“My son has something to say,” he announces boldly.
“Go ahead, William.” Bishop Hale extends his arm, gesturing for him to come forward.
“Be strong, son. Tell them everything.” His father steps back, turning his glare in my direction.
“As you all know, I’ve announced my intention to wed. Rebecca Parris has had my eye since we were ten. I headed to her home last night to obtain her father’s blessings.”
“Why, that’s wonderful news. The two of you will make a fine match.” The bishop’s gleeful voice rises.
“There’s more,” William adds, pausing for a moment, swallowing, his Adam’s apple rising and falling with the movement. “As I was making my way to her home, I ran into Bellonna Thorne. She began to chant ungodly words, and my mind became fuzzy as I followed her in a trance. She placed a spell on me. I could see everything, but I had no control of my limbs. She guided me to her barn, had me remove all my clothes,then lay down in the hay. She removed her clothing and then climbed on me, forcing me to have sex with her.”
The meeting hall erupts with angry cries from everyone.
I stand, shouting over all the voices. “W-What are you saying?” I stammer, my hands gripping my chest in shock. “That I— that I used some form of magic on you? How can you say such a thing? Tell such slanderous lies? I never saw you last night!”
“Witch!” My three friends stand and scream before they drop to the floor, bodies convulsing.
“She’s a witch,” more people scream, before heavy hands grip my arms and pull me from the building.
“Lies, they’re all lying,” I cry, tears streaming from my face. Why would my friends betray me with such lies?
“Oh, but we know they aren’t, Bellonna," the bishop interjects as he steps up beside me. “You used your wiles to bewitch William when you discovered he planned to court Rebecca and not you. You are a witch, and it’s time for you to meet your end.”
“That’s a lie. You must let me go. Let me defend my honor against these allegations.”
We come to a stop in the center of town, at the stone block. As I look back over my shoulder, I see the entire town behind me. Standing in the front is my accuser with Rebecca hanging off his arm, and Mary and Eloise standing sentinel at her sides.
“Bellonna Thorn, you have been accused of being a witch. You have demonstrated ungodly behavior, improper use of position and stature, and have used magic for your benefit. Four witnesses have been brave enough to step forward. For your heinous crimes, you are getting the most extreme of punishments. You shall die by pressing.” He waves his arms toward the stone and the two men begin to pull me over to it, lying me on top of it, holding my body in place as large stones areplaced on top of me. Only when I’m unable to move do they let go of the hold they have on me.
“Lies, this is all lies. What kind of trial is this? I’m condemned and I haven’t been able to defend myself!” I shout as I gasp for breath.
“Thomas, you and Samuel shall stand guard tonight. Each hour, place a new stone on top of her. We shall meet back here at the first crack of light tomorrow. Be strong, my fine gentlemen, as she will attempt to use any source of black magic she can call on.”
“We will be diligent in our task, Bishop. We shall not fail you. We will rid our town of her evil witchery.”
I lay there, vulnerable to the world as the weight presses against my ribs, pushing them down, forcing my lungs to work harder. I tune out everyone as my body adjusts, and for a moment, I think I can get through this, that it will get easier and the town will realize they are wrong and come release me from this torture.
But then more stones are added — one, two, three. Each one is heavier and larger than the last. The stones press into the flesh of my chest, their cold surfaces digging into me, pushing against the bones of my ribcage, crushing my chest inward.
With each stone added, the pressure grows unbearable. I try to shift, to alleviate some of the weight, but the stones hold me still, pinning me down. My ribs feel as though they might crack, and the air feels thinner. It's harder to breathe now, and each rise and fall of my chest becomes more labored. Each breath I take is shallow, desperate. My lungs scream for air, but there’s no response.
All those accused of witchery end up dead. My only hope is that the bishop sees reason. If I were truly a witch, I would have freed myself and fled this town in the dark hours of the night.
Time stretches and becomes elastic — the minutes feel like hours. Every second is filled with a sense of crushing inevitability. Every shift of my body becomes more painful, the stones refusing to yield. I can’t escape, can’t move my arms, can’t even manage a deep breath.
Eventually, the pain becomes a kind of numbness. My body no longer feels like it belongs to me. It is just something beneath the stones, helpless and immobile. The strength to resist slips away as the crushing weight overwhelms me, the darkness closes in, and all that remains is the deep, eternal pressure that has taken everything from me.
I feel as if I’m pulled from my body, drifting through time and space until I’m kneeling at a throne. Sitting upon it is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She’s wearing flowing dark robes, and her long, dark wild hair lays in waves against her body. She’s surrounded by shadows, and a hellish monster lies at her feet.
“Where am I?” I ask.
“You’re in my home, sweet child. Your pain called to me; it’s unlike any I’ve ever felt before. You’ve experienced a grave betrayal and I’m here to offer you the chance to avenge yourself, to make all those who’ve wronged you pay with their blood.”
“And what will it cost me?”
