Do you not remember?

Lancaster, England

Early 800's

Maria Parkinson's Diary

Dates unknown

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I was walking down the cobblestone road to the church. Butterflies were swarming in my stomach as I wondered what Alecxander wanted to tell me.

My anxiety went up as I saw the church come into view. I speedily walked towards the back until I saw Alecxander. He was standing up against the church dressed in slacks and a old button up shirt. He looked very handsome in the moonlight.

He smiled when he saw me, and stood up straight.

"You came." he said.

I smiled at him, pulling him into a hug. "Of course I did."

He hugged be back for a second, before pulling away and looking into my eyes. His arms were still around my waist.

"Alecxan-" I began, before he crushed his lips onto mine. My eyes widened in shock, as I slowly kissed him back.

I could hear a voice voice deep in the back of my head saying, "This is wrong. Your not even married." But I didn't care. Something just felt, right about kissing him. Whether it was a sin or not, I could'nt't care less. Alec slowly pulled away from me, caressing my cheek softly.

"Maria, will you be mine?" he asked.

I smiled and pulled his lips back to mine.

"Forever." I said.

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I was lying in my bed listening to my father and mother as they spoke quietly in the kitchen.

"Andrew, their just children!" whispered my mother.

"I know Mary. I know. But the people will start rioting if I don't do something." spoke my father, sadness in his voice.

I heard my mother begin to weep, and I got up to comfort her. As I was getting off my bed, I heard my father begin to speak again. I sat back down.

"Mary, my love, do not cry. I will do everything in my power to stop them from being hurt. I swear on my life."

Everything was quiet after that, and I figured that father was comforting her.

As you may or may not know, I was living during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. 3 people had already been killed for being 'witches'. Little did I know, there was many more deaths to come. I wasn't sure who Father and Mother were talking about. A couple of days later, I found out.

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I was was on my way to the church with my mother, father, and two sisters, Kimmy and Louise. My father had been called for a church council meeting, and as his family, we had to come. He said the reason of the meeting must be urgent, for he didn't understand why they would call a random meeting such as this one.

Confusion was the first emotion I felt as we walked inside the church. All the pews were filled up with familiar faces of those that lived in the town. All the Church Council members sat in their own little section off to the side, and our wretched preacher sat in the very center.

This was a trial.

Father whispered something to Mother, as he made his way through a small crowd of people to sit with the Council. Mother pulled me and my sisters to a pew to sit down.

My eyes searched frantically for Alec. I saw his and Jane's family, but not them. Where are they?

Our reverand rose to his feet and cleared his throat, silencing everyone.

"I deeply apologize for calling such a meeting on such shot notice, but it seems ht this village-" he paused before continuing, "has witches living in it!"

Gasps were heard around the church.

"Witches?" said one of he council members.

"Will they hurt our children?!" shouted an anxious mother, clinging onto her two children.

"Now now, do not fear. For we have found the witches, and they are to be killed tonight!"

My father stood up. "Killed?! But Reverend, they have had no trial. The law states that the accused must have a trial!"

The council members nodded their head in agreeance.

"He is right Reverend James. You must give them a trial." someone said.

Reverend James sighed annoyed and yelled, "James! Go get them from the jail!"

A boy, who I assumed was James, nodded and ran out the back door.

We all sat there, the tension in the room high, as we all waited on James to return

My breath hitched in my throat as I saw Alec walk into the doors. He had chains around his hands and ankles, preventing him from being able to run. His once clean and fixed hair was dirty and matted. Tears began to pour from my eyes as I saw who was behind him. Poor, innocent Jane.

They were the ones being accused.

I fought back a sob, as they forced him and Jane to stand before all of us. Alec's eyes shot to mine, a sad smile came to his face. A small choking sound came from my throat as I looked into his eyes.

"Now, the accuser, step forward." said the preacher.

My eyes shot over to a young girl. She stood up and walked to the front of the church, a look of determination on her face. I recognized her from school. She was a snobby girl who got what wanted, when she wanted. Her father and mother owned our local store. Her mother was the seamstress, while her father ran the register.

"Aha, Mrs. Davenport." said Reverend.

"Reverend James." she replied.

"Tell us, if you will, why you accuse these two of being witches."

"Well , Reverend, I was walking home from church one night, when I heard someone speaking in what sounded like Latin. Knowing that Latin is the Devils language, I peered into the window, where I saw them, performing witchcraft! Not only that, but about a week before that, Jane came up to me and caused pain to me. She did not even touch me! I remember falling onto the floor, screaming in pain. And all she did is sit and stare! They are witches I tell you!" She pointed a finger at Alec and Jane.

Everyone gasped. Tears cascaded down my face. Alec was not a witch. He would never be.

Father Charles turned to Alec and Jane. "What have you to say for yourselves?!"

Alec looked over at him and said in a calm voice, "We are not witches. We cannot control what happens to people."

"That's what they all say!" yelled someone.

"He's lying!" yelled another.

People started yelling all in the church, while I just sat there staring at Alec.

"Alright, the punishment for witchcraft is death. So that's what we will do. Alecxander and Jane, must be burned at the stake tonight!"

Sobs erupted from my body , as I attempted to run to Alec and Jane. My father ran to me, locking his arms around my waist and pulling me to his chest.

"Let me go!' I screamed into his chest.

"Maria, daughter, there is nothing you can do. I am sorry." whispered my father to me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Their dead.