1 *WITCHES*

She felt like she was falling, it was almost endless. No matter how hard she tried to scream, it ended up with her opening her mouth and closing it back.

What was going on? Why couldn't she stop? Where was she falling to?. These questions clouded her mind as she awaited the ground and immense pain.

Landing on a hard surface, she stayed still.

No pain. No aches. But silence.

"Poor thing." A whisper brushed passed her ears and she shivered.

She needed to get out of here. Why couldn't she move!?.

"Don't fight it." The voice was deep yet soothing. She couldn't deny it. Why was it so close? Why did it feel like the person was lying beside her?.

"Let go of me." She gritted her teeth.

Only she knew how hard it was to speak right now.

"Why?." He hummed. She could feel him playing with her hair but she had no idea who he was!.

"I don't know!" She shouted at him and she felt her hair fall to her face.

"I went to such great extent to get you here." His fingers curled around her neck and she froze. This was not happening, there was no way she was going to die here.

"Don't touch me." She trembled, her voice shaking. She could feel his fingers add a little pressure and she gulped, fear dripping down her spine.

"One second. That is all I need to snap your neck in half." Danger dripped off his tone and she shut her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks.

"I don't want to die." She whispered and heard him chuckle darkly.

"But everyone has to die at the end sweetheart." The use of endearment made her stomach churn in disgust and she visibly flinched when she felt him touch her face.

"Everyone including you."

***

Her eyes flung open and the first thing she saw was the ceiling of her home. It took her a few minutes to gather her thoughts before she sat up sluggishly and unconsciously touched her neck.

Something felt wrong.

Her neck felt sore but she couldn't remember why. She couldn't remember the dream she had.

"Aria!." She jumped out of her bed upon hearing the voice of her mother and quickly freshened up.

"Coming mother." She replied as she tied her long blonde hair into a bun and smoothened her faded gown which did little to hide her beauty.

She tried to make her light blue eyes look dull but it shined very brightly and she ended up giving up.

Aria was an out of this world beauty with long blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes and a figure which could take men's breath away.

"What took you so long?." Her mother questioned her as soon as she stepped out of the room.

"Overslept." Was all she answered and her mother shook her head tiredly, going to check the soup that she put in the furnace.

"I need you to go and get foodstuffs from the market." She informed her daughter who dreaded the idea immediately.

"You know what happens when I go out mother." She shuddered on sheer memory of what happened previously and took a seat on their wooden chair which was attached to the small round table.

"Yes honey, but if you don't, we would starve to death here and you know I can't go out." Her mother reminded and she nodded absentmindedly.

She still had no idea why her mother couldn't go to the Townsquare.

"Fine." She mumbled and stood up, wearing her coat and picking up the paper that contained the food items.

"Remember, be careful." Her mother warned and she bobbed her head, walking out of their small cottage and closing the door behind.

"Hopefully, today might actually be better." She said confidently and pulled the hood of the coat over her head and headed towards the market.

Ever since she had been born, she had never associated with anybody apart from her mother who kept her locked up in their cottage which was hidden deep in the woods.

Apparently, people didn't have better things to do than to make up false news that would ruin other people's lives.

"Witch." A woman hissed as she passed by her and aria pulled the hood closer to her face.

A sharp sound was heard and Aria gulped as she watched a butcher cut a fish head with his eyes trained totally on her.

"Witch." His gruff voice scared her and she quickly moved forward, her heart racing.

The noise that was in the market quietly died down as everyone now watched her every movement critically as she moved to the next stall.

"Please do you have tomatoes?." She asked the woman whose face scrunched in disgust as she stared at her.

Frankly, these gazes didn't affect her anymore. She was starting to get used to it.

"Yes, that'll be thirty silver coins." The woman answered and Aria couldn't help the shock that replaced her features.

That was just too high!.

"Ria, i need tomatoes." Another woman came to the stall and pushed Aria to the side without a single care and Aria stumbled, almost falling but caught herself before she could fall.

"That'll be three silver coins." The saleswoman smirked at Aria who fumed in anger.

"Witch! Everybody, they caught a witch!." Everyone mummured loudly and watched as a woman was brought to the middle of the Townsquare. She was tied by ropes and looked to be in really bad shape.

It was clear that she had been beaten.

"This woman was caught in her house today with some potions, apparently, she had poisoned her neighbour and took his money and was planning to run away with it tomorrow." The announcer informed and gasps flew around as people gathered closer to watch.

"This is the first time I'm seeing a witch."

"She looks so normal."

"She was a good woman."

Aria balled her fists as she watched them continue talking.

"Death by fire!."

Someone shouted and the crowd followed, calling different ways they wanted her to die.

Aria couldn't believe this. Just because she was a witch, they wanted to kill her? Why were they acting so inhumane?.

"Death by hanging it is."

The announcer shouted and the crowd cheered as two hefty men picked her up and tied a rope around her neck.

The woman didn't struggle and only looked down sadly.

The rope was tied up instantly and just like that. The woman's life was snuffed out publicly. Her dead body hanged loosely and dangled in the air.

Aria felt the hair on her neck stand as she watched this display.

"This should serve as a warning to all witches." He paused and stared straight at her.

"You all are wanted dead."