In the morning, I wake in darkness. I light the candle next to my bed and look around. Louisa's bed in empty, and her nightclothes are strewn on the floor. I swing around and place my bare feet on the cold stone floor. As I stand, I hear two voice coming from the kitchen. I recognise the first to be Mrs Bersham, though, the other is speaking so quietly, you can only make out the words, not the voice. "By having her here you are putting us all in danger!" Whispers the voice. "I don't care. She's nowhere to go, the poor girl's facing a death sentence." I hear Mrs Bersham say. "But-" "Lotus Bryce is a danger, yes. But with those powers, she'll be able to protect not only her, but us, too." "But, Mrs B-" "And, imagine if we were the ones to hand her in to Matthew Hopkins. We'll be bathed in riches!" Mrs Bersham was now talking so loud, that I would've woken from it. I go back to my bed and pick up my satchel. I have only about enough food for two days, maybe three if I'm careful. I sling it around my shoulder and exit through the door at the back of the scullery. Am I wanted anywhere?, I think.
I walk silently down the hill that leads up to the house, and pause slightly when I get to the wrought iron gates. I turn and look back at Boarshall house. "Thank you," I whisper. "For using me." I add. I walk slowly through the town, taking in the thick smell of warm bread. I'll never get a decent meal again. I continue down the dusty path for a while with my head down. There's something familiar about the dust on my boots, I think. I look up and see the small houses of the Yule. A small tear forms in my eye and it's all I can do to keep it back. I think of Bertha, and her seven mouths to feed every night. I think of the other starving families. Suddenly I'm thinking of Gale and Jas, and my mother. Now I think of Richard. Sweet Richard, who's been my best friend since ... well, forever. I take my satchel off my shoulder and take out the letters I addressed to Richard and my mother. I look over my shoulder and see a small post office. My feet automatically take me towards the post office. I'm distracted again as I think of the time I met Richard. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Flashback I stumble through the forest, a wad of rope slung over my shoulder. I'm trying to find flat ground between two trees, but I can't find anywhere. I see a rabbit hop past, and this is when I wish I have a bow, or a gun. I can only catch a rabbit once the trap is set, and normally I'm at home eating the one I caught the night before. Eventually, I come to a perfect flat ground, with plenty of trees nearby. I begin to tie the rope in the clever way my friend taught me, when I tear footsteps behind me. "Need any help?" I can tell the voice is male. It sounds manly, like he could be in his late twenties. I turn around and see a muscular boy, about my age, leaning against a tree. "I'm Richard Darwin." He reaches down with his hand, I take it and he pulls me up. "I'm Lotus Bryce." I say, struggling to stay on my feet in the cold weather. "Unusual name." He says. "My mother likes flowers." I reply. He takes my blond hair in his hand, then twirls it round his index finger. "Pretty hair." "Thank you." He notices my dropping temperature and takes me in his arms. I can tell he knows what happened to my father. "Are you OK?" He asks me. "Perfect." I reply.
End of flashback Once I've finished thinking about Richard, I hear the voice of the woman behind the counter in the post office. "Five shillings, goodness, how many more times?" She says, slightly agitated. I shake my head vigorously to bring myself back to reality, then hand over the money. I exit the shop and continue through the Yule, trying to ignore the dozens of eyes watching me. I must be limping, because my body wobbles slightly when I put my left foot to the floor. Before long, I'm walking along a country lane, in the blazing heat. I look in my satchel, and find an empty flask of water. My head begins to spin and suddenly I'm not walking in straight lines. I take this as a sign of lack of sleep and slump down of the side of the path. The long grass tickles my legs and I remove my boots to give my feet some room. I fall asleep very quickly. When I wake, I can hear the familiar sound of horse shoes growing louder and louder. After a few minutes of listening, I conclude that there is more than one horse coming. I look up and see six black horses about fifty yards away. "Morning, Miss Bryce. You'll have to come with us, please." I look up into the face of Matthew Hopkins, Witch Finder General.
That's right, it's getting to the interesting bit.Sorry I haven't updated in a while: writer's block.