Autumn Nights
She’d always looked forward to Halloween as a child, but aside from that she grew tired of the endless festivals, craft fairs, and parties her parents insisted she go to. At the time she didn’t understand how much fun it could all be, but she did now.
Anything and everything to do with autumn, fall, or Halloween she lived for now. She had dozens of costumes, outfits, and accessories, and she did her best to wear something different every day or night from the beginning of autumn to Halloween.
She knew she was the odd friend, but she didn’t care, and she was ready to do it for the bonfire on the hill tonight. She could already taste the apple cider and marshmallows and smell the crackling fire and wood smoke.
Tonight, she was dressed as a colonial woman or witch depending on who was viewing the costume. She’d answer the affirmative to either guess, and be happy someone took the time to notice.
The first hour of the party was amazing, magical, and everything she hoped it would be until the rowdy crowd showed up.
Far too much alcohol started flowing, the music got louder, and the petty fighting started. She shrunk into a corner hoping to avoid the worst of it–she didn’t want to be scared away from something she loved.
She was gravely mistaken, and when she finally decided to leave–it was too late. A wild mob was forming by the immense fire, and they were pushing deeper into the crowd. She shrunk back against a tree, and three wild-eyed partygoers spied her. It was clear that they were under the influence of something stronger than alcohol.
“Oh, no, it’s a witch!” They yelled. “Get her!”
She scrabbled to get away, but they surrounded her. A rope appeared from nowhere and they bound her hands behind her.
She wimpered and fought against them, but they landed stunning blows to her body and face and tugged her away from the trees and toward the bonfire. The crowd parted to let them through.
The chanting started…
The loud buzzing in her ears obscurred the words, but the emotion from the crowd showed everything had built into a blind frenzy, and not a friendly face could be seen in the crowd.
Her friends had escaped from the craziness and abandoned her.
Then she saw the stake. She kicked and screamed but the swift backhand to her face made spots appear before her eyes.
“Kill the witch!”
Tears streamed down her face as they tied her to the stake and the fire began to spread from the branches at her feet.
She prayed it was all a dream, but she knew it wasn’t.
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