νιη∂ι¢тινєηєѕѕ [𝚅𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜]

I

'I hear... voices? Why do I hear voices? Why can't I see anything?'

"You, Narç̴̪̰̖̥͈̇i̸̫͎̺͈̇̆̃̽͗̄̃̇̇͜s̷̱͓̿̾̿̍͝s̸͈̻͝a Cy̴̧̛̗̥̞̜̱͛̈́̓̉̈͝͝gn̵̨̛͙̓͌́͆͌͐͌us D̶̢͔̳͔̟͖͛̌̽͑͗̈́ȩ̴͖͉͚̮͔͓̈́̊̌̇̈̀͘͠m̸̢̛̳͉͔̘̖̮̜̃́̄̄̑͆̀̚ä̶̡̧̰͉̟̫̼͇̮̿̇n̶̠̥͒̎̒͗͘tos, have been accused of practicing magic outside of our laws. How do you Plead?"

'Wait, where am I?' In an attempt to understand my situation, I go to move my body, only to find my hands are restrained. 'Why am I standing? since when did I leave my bed?'  Once again I try and move my hands from behind my back

The voice snaps out after a moment of no reply "Struggling will get you nowhere." Halting my movements, it registers that the stranger is addressing me. Swallowing the lump in my throat I mutter out a single word.

"...What?"

The stranger addresses me once more, "I asked..." Suddenly the blindfold is ripped from around my head "How do you plead? I will not repeat myself a third time, so I expect a proper answer."

Blinking rapidly, my vision is able to focus on the stranger in front of me. The woman is old, white hair tied into a plaited crown, analyzing her face I see her quirk her brow in expectance. Breathing shakily I respond, my voice weak and unsure "I don't understand what's going on, I haven't committed the actions that are accused of me." I scrunch up my face in a begging gesture, silently asking for help. "Please... " I implore. "Please let me go, I haven't done anything wrong!"

Huffing out a scornful breath, the woman moves back from me. "so, you plead innocent? Very well." Realizing the request fell on deaf ears, I keep my eyes glued to her retreating form. Watching as her hands fold in front of her, she proceeds to slowly move her head left to right, scanning her surroundings. "By my rule of this coven, and in regards to the safety of coven members, you are relieved of your title as a witch." Lifting her arms towards me I take notice the movement in my peripheral vision.

Whipping my head to the side I scan the individuals surrounding me, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Eventually, my gaze falls back on the older woman continuing her speech. "you have been found guilty not only of practicing dark magic, but also of denying the evidence we have against you. " My eyes go wide as I begin to frantically shake my head. Keeping her cold gaze on my face, she speaks once more. "You will be dismissed of your powers and banished from this community, that is ... if you survive the extraction."

Her lips stretch into a taunting smile as the surrounding women initiate a chant. The volume of their voices increases, my heart rate rising in response. Tugging at my restraints I feel the skin of my wrists begin to burn, alerting me that I've rubbed them raw. The woman widens her smile joining the chants, my chest now heaving with shuddered breaths I struggle harder with desperation. But before the chant is complete, a voice calls out.