Emma

Chapter 8

     I once believed that nothing bad could happen to me when i had my family around. People would protect me at all costs no matter the circumstance. I could be sick and my sister would do whatever it takes to heal my broken body. Now standing in front of the whole town, my family watching me from the audience with tears brimming their sad eyes. My daughter at my feet, her small body on the ground reaching up to me, her mother.

"Emma Rose Montgomery, daughter of Maybel and Oscar Montgomery, Mother to Lilian Montgomery, I hereby sentence you to death by fire, for committing acts of witchery" Ray lights the wood, igniting me in hot fiery flames that burned my skin to the bones. The hot fire didn't bother me. It was my daughter screaming my name shouting at my burning body, and I couldn't do anything about it. My sister crying into her husbands shoulder and my brother trying to console each other in the manliest way possible. My father stood completely still, the fire shone into his conflicted eyes. He was never one to feel to strongly for things, but this might have actually broken through that wall. I burned for what felt like hours, my body was black but still alive. I remained still to not signal to anyone around that i was still indeed alive. Nightfall came and the rain began to pour down. The fire ceased, leaving me now on the ground the rope binds burnt off. The world felt silent, where I hoped it would remain. Still in the dark silence i heard clear as day the screams and sorrow voices of my family. My mind darkening with the sheer thought of the faces that did this to me. I never believed in revenge until now. A house lied about a mile away where I knew they kept clothes outside. It took me about half an hour, luckily the sky was dark enough you could see my body from where my clothes were burned off. It was a dark brown robe sort of clothing that draped over my head and coincidentally kept me hidden. Still my blood boiled. The fire I felt inside burnt more than my skin on that post. My feet and heart knew where they were going before my brain did and I appeared in front of my house. The huge house I grew up in. Six siblings playing along side by side and listening to whatever our parents told us to because that's, how, you became someone important. The door creaked as I went inside, up the stairs and into my room where I found nobody. ¨Lily¨ I whisper. In my mother's room laid her and my father sound asleep with my daughter in the bassinet. My steps were gentle as I placed foot by foot onto the ground. Lily now in reaching distance. The soft snores ceased and stirring began. Father opened his eyes slowly like you would when you wake up from a nap. I take Lily and stand in front of him, my figure casting shadows from the dim light in the corner of the room. ¨this is your fault¨

¨who's there?¨ he whisper shouted. ¨it's a huge mistake sneaking in here¨

¨you made me this way¨

¨.....Emma¨

¨right again¨
Wind rushes past his face as I take Lily and reach the front of the house in no time flat. The grass was tall and wet my feet as we race through the trees in the forest.

¨Mom¨

¨shhh, it's ok we're going to be safe soon" We stopped at the lake where the lily pads grew. ¨you stay right here and i'll come and get you¨

¨where will you go¨

¨I need to take care of business¨ I stroked her cheek hoping to wipe her fear away. I could tell she was trying to be brave and hold down her fort. Her hands gave away though as they trembled "I won't be long" I start back towards the town, knowing exactly where I was going. He lived in a small house with a metal fence that looked like spears in the ground. 4:37 am, he's still awake drinking alone in his house. I appear at his front door, My hands are steady, rage still afire inside. "You want a witch, i'll give you a witch" The front door was unlocked, i entered making enough noise that he notices me sitting at his small table. We make eye contact, his mouth open and silent. I come closer and whisper into his ear, his head not moving but eyes scared and looking around like he's paralyzed. "Did you miss me" everything hit at once, the fire, the rage, the hate. I saw my daughter crying, I heard my sister screaming, I felt the flames burning enveloping me into a torture no human should endure. I smash his head down into the table. The same man that tied me to that pole. I smashed him again. The man that tied the ropes, again I smashed. The man who read off my name, called me a witch and sentenced me to death.