THIS CHAPTER DISCUSSES PREGNANCY DURING A TIME PERIOD WHERE WOMEN DID NOT HAVE AGENCY.
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Solomon Goode had never wanted this.
Watching as the townspeople were driven mad in their search for Sarah Fier, a girl he knew was innocent, he retreated. Back to his home on the edge of the woods, back to solitude. He couldn't be a part in it.
And then Sarah had shown up at his door, begging for help. He had hidden her in his home, protected her when Caleb had shown up, believed her when she said she worried someone in Union had made a deal with the devil.
He hadn't even asked her why she'd come to see the widow while being hunted.
He'd had a plan. A plan to protect Sarah, a plan to bring wealth and prosperity back to Union. Then she'd gone and ruined it by finding the Devil's book in the secret passageway.
He had a plan. It would involve losing Hannah, sure, but sacrifices were always going to be an necessity.
He could still fix this. He could go to the townspeople, he had enough goodwill, he could convince them that Sarah was innocent. Hannah was a lost cause, but Sarah could be saved.
Beatrice, Isaac, Lizzie and Abigail stood off to the side, by the well, watching everyone they had ever met be driven mad. "They can't be..." Abigail said quietly, looking at the ground. "Witches? Surely..."
Lizzie looked more hesitant. "They always would go off without us," she pointed out guiltily.
Isaac shook his head. "It was Caleb," he explained. "Hannah and Sarah embarrassed him. He wanted Hannah, she stepped in to protect her. He got up there and told tales of that night, none of them true."
Beatrice felt like she was going to throw up. This was all too much. First her brother, then her sister, now two of her best friends. She sincerely hoped whomever it was that was praying on her downfall would leave her alone.
"Sarah..." Beatrice muttered. "She loves Hannah. They would never do that." And maybe she had been correct that morning if she'd said it. But upon the realisation that nothing could prove their innocence, Sarah's plans had changed. If they wanted a witch, she would give them a witch.
As soon as she escaped the caves under Solomon's house.
"What can we do?" Abigail looked around nervously. Hannah was being dragged in chains towards them. They'd tie her to the well, maybe one of them could distract the men guarding the area and help her flee. But that would still leave the problem of Sarah.
Beatrice felt the world tilt out from under her, and she stumbled. Lizzie and Abigail, both jumpy, yelled as she faltered.
"Are you alright?" Lizzie grabbed ahold of her.
"I feel faint," she admitted. "I think I need to sit down."
Their commotion had attracted attention, at least of the few people who were nearby. Elijah Goode brandished a pitchfork at her. "What's wrong with her?"
