Witch Hunt #Wattys2018

Chapter 1

I hopped out of my bed, my stiff white nightgown hung at my ankles. The candle on my bedside filled my room with a dim light, but it was bright enough to find my leather boots, tie them and jump out of my window. I had done it several times but it always filled me with exhilaration and fear. I had learned to love it. I hit the ground with a thud and a stifled groan. When I regained my bearings, I quickly but quietly ran through the village. I ran all the way until I reached the docks.

Standing at the end was Thomas. His arms were crossed, and his brows furrowed when he caught sight of me. 

"What took so long?" He questioned when I was close enough to hear him.

"Jane wouldn't go to bed." I explained out of breath from the running.

My baby sister, Jane, had fallen ill and now refused to sleep or eat. Needless to say, my mother was worried. My father chose to believe it was her being stubborn.

"Why can't you sneak out before they put her to bed?" He asked, putting his hand on my cheek "I want to see you as soon as I can." He pouted

"You know I can't do that." I told him, "They might hear me."

"They might not!" His brown hair fell into his face, covering his hazel eyes.

"Thomas!" I laughed "If they find out I've been sneaking out, I'd be whipped for sure!" My tone turning serious at the last part. The prospect of being whipped did not bring me any joy.

"Just make sure they don't find out!" He replied "Rose, please." He placed his hand on my cheek, I leaned into it "I want to see you as much as I can."

"I know," I nodded, "I, I'll think about it."

"That's all I ask." He smiled

Throughout the next day I did my chores quietly. Thinking about what Thomas had told me. I wanted to be with him as much as I could, but being caught would mean I could never see him again. After dinner I bid my parent goodnight, placed a kiss on Jane"s forehead, and walked up the wooden stairs to my room. I undressed, and listened for my parents to go to their own room. My father went to bed not much longer after I. My mother stayed with Jane who took exceptionally long to go to sleep.

I watched as the candle on my bedside got dimmer and dimmer. Filling my room with less and less light.

Finally I quietly got up and opened my chest at the end of my bed. In it was my dresses, and under garments.

I grabbed some, bundled them up, and placed them under my blanket. When I was satisfied with how the bed looked, I closed the chest, put on my shoes and jumped out the window.

I hurriedly ran to the dock, excited to tell Thomas what I had done.

But when I had gotten to the dock, he wasn't there.

I found this odd, since he always was waiting for me. Not once had I gotten there before him. I waited for him, and waited and waited some more. I waited until the moon was in the middle of the sky, but he never showed up.

The tips of my fingers began to feel cold, and it became harder to keep my eyes open. Eventually, as I was cold and tired, I walked back home.

I was so caught up in my own thoughts, I didn't realized that my mother was still up, until I was already in the house.

"Rose!" She gasped in shock, cradling baby Jane, who appeared to finally be nodding off.

"Mama!" I yelped

"What are you doing out this time of night!?" She questioned, keeping her voice just above a whisper.

I had to think much quicker than I would have liked "I heard something." I lied