It's interesting that witches being burned instead of hanged is such a big plot point. This due to the fact not many popular writers stay true to the fact that no witch burnings took place on US soil.
Now let's get started reading the next chapter of The Betrayal by R.L.Stine!
Chapter 6
So the meetinghouse seems like the most lovely place ever. Well...except for the fact that two innocent women are now on trial because a father didn't like that his son was in love with someone. The innocent women know exactly what their fate is going to be as they look at the candles. Susannah knows that three women have already burned at the stake so the chances she and her mother are going to get out alive are slim.
Susannah repeats that Wickham, unlike other places, burns witches instead of hanging them. She then hopes that there is justice in the town so that she won't die.
People continue to gather into the meetinghouse and look at the Goode women as though they are the latest attraction. People dying is not something you view with anything other than horror! Well...unless said dying is fictional in which case a bag of popcorn is in order.
Susannah asks her mother why everyone is looking at them like they're guilty. Martha replies that it's because everyone thinks they are guilty but that the truth will be let out. Though the woman sure doesn't act like she will be proved innocent.
The daughter starts to wonder where Edward is. She also finally puts together that Benjamin Fier is punishing her and her mother all because Edward does truly love her. Though maybe she shouldn't be putting too much faith in him as he was unable to consider that Benjamin puts innocent women to death.
Susannah accidentally says some of her thoughts out loud and Martha is shocked. I think the mother is finally putting the pieces together. If they survive, Susie will wish that she was dead.
Before mother and daughter can have a very lengthy conversation, a bat flies in. Since everyone is already on edge I'm sure this totally innocent event won't be used to show how the two Goode women are witches. Matthew Fier orders the doors opened so that the bat will be able to fly out. After the bat flies out the doors are closed.
It turns out Matthew is here because he is the trial warden and makes sure order is kept during the witch burning trials. While he isn't as imposing a figure as Benjamin, you don't want to meet him in a public place during the day.
Everyone is silent as they know the show is about to start. And, yep, I was right. Matthew uses the bat's appearance as evidence that the Goode women are witches. There is reaching and then there is...wow...people only believe him because he's white, male, and rich.
When Susannah says that they didn't summon the bat, Matthew says the bat wouldn't come into the meetinghouse unless it was summoned. Yeah, because an animal turning up inside a building is always a divine sign.
After the 'bat is proof of witchcraft', the Goode father stands up as he shouts that his wife and daughter are innocent. Maybe if he was rich there's a small chance that people would believe him. Benjamin says that he doesn't accuse innocent women. Really? Really, Benny?
He then threatens William to sit down now. After the Goode father sits down, Benjamin sets his sights on Susannah and Martha. He's described like the Devil took human form. After that image is seared into your brain, he asks Martha to confess that she's guilty. Wow, seems like a really fair trial.
Martha refuses to confess to be guilty of a crime she didn't commit. Benjamin then turns to Susannah and asks her the same questions. The daughter answers the same as the mother. But unlike her mother, she wonders when Edward or anyone else is going to rescue them. I would put my money more on anyone else because "guy who can't admit his father accuses innocent women of witchcraft" is a bad bet.
Benjamin tells them to confess as there have been 'witnesses' that saw the women dancing somewhere only witches dance. I guess. Susannah yells that they are innocent and her mother tries to silence her. Matthew again brings up the bat as proof that the women have already tried to manipulate the trial. Benjamin then goes on to say that protesting is proof of guilt. I'm just waiting until he uses blinking and breathing as proof of guilt.
William can't take it anymore and yells that his wife and daughter are innocent. His cries fall on deaf ears and Matthew orders him to be thrown out. John Halsey, husband of Mary "I Hope She Curses the Fier Family" Halsey, says that William should speak since the Goode family is good.
William isn't taken out gently as the militia officers can't help but beat him up. Which is probably why they got those positions. I'm not saying all authority figures are bad but Benjamin and Matthew aren't likely to have kind people working for them.
As Susannah's father's unconscious body is taken outside, some wind is let in to the meetinghouse causing a flicker of lights. So, of course, the Fier brothers will use that as a sign that the Goode women are witches.
Susannah again wonders if Edward will rescue her or if he will betray her again. Well well well. I guess she's not so stupid after all.
Yep, Benjamin uses the wind as proof that Susannah and Martha are witches. He even says that the only reason the lights didn't go out was because of all the good people in the meetinghouse. Yeah, it can't be just wind it has to be proof of witchcraft. Susannah does the only thing she can think of: she cries out in terror.
Benny, dude, you and the Goode women are completely different. They are honorable and you are a horrible horrible man. I don't cuss during my Exploring series or I'd have a lot of expletives for him.
In despair Martha cries and Susannah can't react. She knows that whatever she does or say won't sway Benjamin or anyone else in the meetinghouse.
Benjamin gives a speech like he's not friends with Satan himself. He talks about it being his duty to battle evil like he isn't the worst person in Wickham. What do you mean you don't want to put women on sham trials? Of course you do. With Susannah, and possibly others, it was extremely personal. Wouldn't surprise me if he had affairs with women and girls so made the witch trials purely to cover his trail.
He ends his speech by asking Susannah and Martha to confess. Martha is crying too hard to say anything so her daughter replies. Benjamin, of course, uses their protests as clear signs that they are guilty because he's a horrible horrible man.
Benjamin has horrible breath because that's the scent of his soul. He says that they have found Susannah and Martha Goode guilty as if there was actually any proof. Susannah cries out in a feeble attempt to save herself. But Benjamin merely replies that they will burn tomorrow night. And, being a villain, half of his face is hidden in shadow.
There is a slight time jump to where Susannah is in prison. Her hands are tied behind her so that she can't do any witchcraft. As someone who does tarot, has an altar, ect. tying hands behind a person's back won't stop them from doing magic. Magic is powered by belief so restraining a person won't help you out much.
Martha is tied up on the opposite wall and is crying out for her baby. Susannah is also troubled and can't sleep because of it. She just had her entire town stand by as she and her mother were condemned to death.
To make matters worse, a spider crawls on Susannah who can't just brush it away. I'm deathly afraid of spiders so...yeah...not a pleasant part of the book. She looks outside at some hay and wonders if that's for her. She imagines the hay on fire and lets out a sob.
Susannah turns away from the window as she reminds herself that neither herself or her mother is a witch. She thinks back to the three previous women that burned and wonders if they were also innocent. That, of course, leads to the thought that no actual witches were burned in Wickham. Which, of course, means Benjamin likes killing women.
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