At the Stake

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi there.

This piece takes place in the 16th-17th Century of England, when witch trials took place. I consider this story having a bit of gore, blood, and disturbing moments. Please be aware.

I do hope you enjoy this piece, and feel free to leave thoughts and comments below at the end of the story!

Thank you,

-Blur*

(STORY BEGINS AFTER THIS DASHED LINE)

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I rubbed my face as tears and soot ran together. Agnes had her beautiful black hair chopped in a disarray of clumps and she wore a filthy sheet to cover her frail body. 

She was shaking, unable to fight back the poor thing so malnourished and weak. 

My best friend had been accused of being a witch and was going to be burned at the stake. 

I tried to press through the crowd, to reassure her everything would be okay, but I found myself still and unmoving. 

Was it guilt I was feeling? Or a sense of security knowing my life wouldn’t end today. 

Her face was wet with tears and sweat, her voice hoarse as she continued to plead against her charge. She shook and cried as they tied her to the stake. 

This couldn’t be happening. 

The men placed stacks of wood at her feet and sloshed oil to make the flames rise. Pieces of straw were thrown across the wood like my thoughts of what to do. 

Perhaps there was a spell I could cast to shield her from the sparks? Or maybe one to propel me away from this nightmare where I would be safe? I felt trapped in a ball of guilt and pride while I watched her skin grow red and raw as she pressed against the thick rope. 

I had escaped my own burning at the expense of Agnes’. 

What should I do?

I looked around at the gathered crowd, jeering and yelling for her to burn. 

Would anyone have pity? Why couldn’t someone else save her?

Do I come clean and confess so they might let her go? She was innocent after all, it was me who had performed magic, though not witchcraft. Or would my confession only get both of us burned? 

I felt the urge to remain selfish and flee while I still could tug at my body, but I still remained frozen on the cobblestones. 

Agnes’ screams increased despite the fact that her long wails that were ruining her once beautiful singing voice as a torch came into view. My heart stopped. It was now or never. 

…

Come on Agatha you can do it!

…

The torch traveled closer and closer to my friend and the crowd's cheers became a mindless chanting, inhumane and horrifying. The flames were waved in Agnes’ face as she screamed out my name while choking on the smoke. I pulled my hood deeper over my head, I couldn’t watch. I heard the fire crackle and snap as the flames touched the straw and wood. Agnes’ voice went quiet and I could see her pale face in my mind, accepting her fate as she bowed her head in defeat. I slowly stepped away from the crowd, trying to get her out of my mind-

A roar shrieked across the town and the crowd screamed. I whipped around, pulling off my hood to see Agnes held by a beast. I had never seen such a creature. It stood amidst the flames, holding an unconscious Agnes safely away from the fire. Horns protruded from its skull and wings loomed over its curled back. Its tail flickered in anger and its eyes glowed a thousand shades brighter than the now desperate attempt of a fire beneath its talons. Bones protruded through its flesh as the beast hissed and panted. It was beautiful. The beast roared again, taking to the sky by using its large wings. 

“Wait!” I called out, running towards the fire burning stake. Its wings beat against the fire, shooting the flames through the mossy cracks of the cobblestone, off the stake, and towards the town. The power in this being was so strong and pure, I felt excitement course through my veins. Finally! Another magical being I could befriend! I didn;t have to blend in as a human anymore! 

“Wait for me!” I shrieked, summoning a spell. 

“WITCH!” A man cried out as I leaped beyond human ability towards the beast. I grabbed a hold of the beast’s tail and glared down at the crowd. 

“I’M A SORCERESS!!!” I bitterly corrected the man as he ran away screaming from the flames. I slowly began climbing the tail towards the back, then the beast began to shake its tail and I found myself losing grip. 

“WHAT ARE YOU DOINGGG??!!” I screamed as I slid closer and closer to the end of the scaly tail. Was the beast mad? How could it save Agnes and leave me? I was the one with magic, not her. The beast lowered its head and stared into my eyes glaring. Its teeth were bared, needle like and thin. It was beautiful, and a thundering voice echoed through my head. 

You abandoned your only friend in your own selfish desire, my heart stopped abruptly and my eyes grew wide. The beast blew a breath of smoke into my face. You never even realized who she truly was. I stared at the beast in disbelief, what had it meant? Agnes?? Something else??? Impossible, why wouldn’t this beast let her go and save me?? The voice snarled in my mind with a time stopping hiss, You deserve to burn. 

I screamed as the beast flicked me off of its tail and fell towards the ground. I quickly began murmuring a spell before gasping in pain as fire erupted around my body. 

The dragon had lit its breath ablaze, and breathed its ignited puff of air onto my body. 

The flames burned as my spell was broken and I fell into the stake. My ribs crunched against the wood and ground while my skin bubbled and burned. I screamed in agony, watching the dragon fly away with my friend. 

It should have been me who was saved. I cursed after the dragon as I screamed. I reached out to passing villagers in pain only to be met with screams and fleeing feet. I felt blood trickle and catch ablaze as the fires grew higher around me. A few thoughts entered my brain as the world blurred and my eyes leaked a pool of tears and blood. 

What was Agnes really? 

Who was the scaled beast who had saved her? 

Who would save me?