Erybelle: Stand your ground.
From Create Your Own Story
You gulp and take in a deep breath of chilly morning air but all it manages to do is make you feel even more numb. You're going to take a stand. No more scaredy cat Erybelle. You try and picture what Maple would tell you in this situation, how she would smooth your hair back and tell you there was nothing to be afraid of. A man is only a man in the eyes of God. The thought helps you a little bit, but it's quickly drowned out by the footsteps of the stranger approaching, his strides slow but deliberate.
Klonp, klonp, klonp, klonp...
"I know what you've done." Is all he says once he reaches your table, looking down on you over the bridge of his nose. He spits it out as if each syllable were wasted on you. No... You can't let him know you're afraid. For some reason though, you feel that he can already sense it.
"It is too late to repent, witch." He laughs, a harsh growl, as he leans down closer and closer until you can see your own reflection in his glassy eyes. You look so small... so vulnerable. Your eyes wide saucers, your fingers shaking as you clutch your arm. No, no, no, no!
"Maple... Maple where are you?" You whisper, inching backwards, your whole body screaming to run, hide and never look back.
"Not even Lucifer can help you now. Today is your judgement day, you must be purified with the flames from where you first came. Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. It is the only way to save our souls and earn our entrance to eternity." His words don't make sense, all noise and static. There are suddenly so many more people, everywhere you look, in every direction. Their faces are stony and cold and you can't believe you and Maple wanted to help these people. They are nothing more than monsters with human faces, a shell hiding something so much more sinister. You know there is no escape.
Rough rope is tied around your hands, stinging, burning as it chaffs your skin and you desperately try to escape their hungry hands. Torches are suddenly raised into the air, smelling of sulphur and death. Innocence has died today.
Hands carry you, their grip tight but you barely register the pain anymore. Maple... You must see her one last time. You have to know that she's safe. You'll do anything for it.
Then you see her.
Dressed in the same simple and elegant white dress as you, wearing the same crown of white carnations that you made her just the other day. It mirrors your own, made by her hands, now tied behind her back to the stake that she stands in front of. Tears and dirt are smeared across her face as you meet eyes. You stare at her, unable to look away, trying to apologize for anything and everything that had to happen to her. You want nothing more than to hold her hand and memorize her face, her smile, everything that you've come to love about her.
What should you do now?
