Murder in Salem by R.B. Campbell

Murder in Salem, “Retribution”

Salem – Evening, September 21, 1692.

She knew there was no way to avoid her execution in the morning but at least she had the satisfaction of knowing that of the eight people who were being executed, she was the only ‘real’ witch, a fact that had escaped both her accusers and her executioners. She had recorded all of their names and it would be these ‘judges’ and their descendants that would pay the price till the end of time.

In the end it was the ‘judges’ who decided what would happen to them. Their decision to have them ‘all’ executed was on their heads. The ‘judges’ had not been shown any real proof or evidence of the heinous and grotesque acts that they were accused of performing, all in the name of the devil. Ridiculous. Most of these claims were false, a few were not. She would make no apologies for what she herself had done. The rituals and practices that governed her life required items that may have been ‘grotesque’ in nature to some, but they were necessary and she would make no apologies for acquiring them by any means available to her. In the end, all eight of them had been convicted based on the statements of hysterical house wives, sick children and corrupt clergy, all of whom were ‘afraid’ of anything they didn’t understand or that threatened their way of life and position in the community.

She knew the real reason behind these accusations, the one that really spawned the majority of them, was the lust for power and control over the residents of the town. Here was an opportunity for the ‘power hungry’ clergy and the ‘judges’, the ‘judges’, to capitalize on the fear of the unknown that had been nurtured in the community. The ‘judges’ were the worst and they would pay. Their families would pay. Their descendants would pay. She had left clear instructions with her followers on how this was to be done and these instructions were to be passed down to each new generation of witches who were loyal to their coven. Justice would be done, no matter how long it took. Time was not a factor for her or any real witch, in that their physical, ‘worldly’ presence was unimportant.

What mattered was the ancient spell that cascaded their essence from generation to generation across the millennia, ensuring that those who followed in their footsteps would complete the task. The first on this path would be her daughter who had been hidden securely with one of her followers. They were responsible for her education as she in turn would be responsible for the education of her off spring and other witches in her coven. She would never be allowed to forget what was about to happen to her mother the next morning and this story would be told for the rest of time.

The sound of the gallows being built outside her window were of no concern to her, she would live on, but the ‘judges’, the ‘judges’, they would pay till the last of their lines were dead.