﴾ stricken ﴿
take a few steps forward.
your body waivers.
your eyes are covered.
you don't know where you are.
you can smell your surroundings.
mud. water. bile. rot.
the bayou.
you stand with something along your spine.
a dagger's edge as your knees buckle.
suddenly you're aware of everything.
aware of how shaky the ground is that you stand upon.
just how close the splashes in the water sound.
"out with it."
the voice, something more familiar - something paternal.
"papa?" your voice cracks with panic and uncertainty.
"i said out with it, wench."
pressure is placed on the sharp edge that now slides gently past a few layers of skin.
blood begins a slight trickle down the curve of your spine, down the runic tattoos.
"i-i don't know what's going on, papa - please?"
there is a clear hesitation in his voice and only then are you aware of others.
you can feel dozens of eyes watching, prying, praying.
"you been brought here today to admit to your guilt of bein' a witch."
his voice carried that deep timber you remembered singing you to sleep when you'd sought him out after a bad dream.
"papa! no! that ain't the truth! you know it ain't!"
your own words strangled between tears as you felt another prod - another sting of pain that wracked through your being.
"kill'er, sarge!"
a voice barks followed by another and another.
blood has summoned the churning waters of hungry sharks.
hungry country men.
"oh lord! oh dear father in heaven, hear our prayers!"
over the growing din and howl of predators your pleas are dampened out.
drowned out.
"daddy! no! it ain't true, daddy! papa! please!"
another unforgiving press that draws another sharp slice that grazes along your spine.
"cast out the demon that has possessed this girl!"
"cast out the demon that has brought turmoil, death and betrayal onto our seas, dear lord!"
"no! papa!"
"kill her!"
"drown the witch!"
"it is all her fault!"
"oh, our heavenly father, let the waters cleanse her begotten soul!"
"let the leeches and vile blood be extruded from every deep dark void left her in soul, lord!"
"drown the witch!"
"she's ruined this town!"
pain.
numbness.
falling.
drowning.
