The Writer’s Corner features poetry, essays, short stories, satire and various fiction and non-fiction from SCAD Atlanta students. To submit your own work for the Writer’s Corner, email features@scadconnector.com
“Forsaken” by Matthew Andino
Crows screeched to the sour melodies of harsh cold winds and approaching dark clouds. These dark clouds were no ordinary clouds, as they had a purpose, a location to settle down at. That place was none other than the town of Woodbury, Massachusetts. A flourishing settlement surrounded by an abundance of trees and mountains on one side. On the other, a cliff with a view of the ocean as far as the eye can see. The little town was full of wooden buildings that covered the earth and wooden pikes that reached for the skies. The people were always expanding with a pep in their step and a goal in mind.
“Purification,” one screamed out loud, followed by the agreeing shouts of the crowd. “She must burn!” “The demon must be cleansed,” WHERE IS SHE!” Were yelled throughout the crowd, as they looked towards the child in the center. She was short and had blond hair peaking behind the white bonnet that caressed her head. Tears flowed from her eyes as she looked towards the far hill that rivaled the town.
“Child, where… where is this slave?” Asked the man looming over the child. He was adorned in robes and jewelry that resembled a cross. He looked into the weeping child’s eyes awaiting her plea.
“Sh…she’s up there!” She cried as she raised her arm, long sleeves too big for her trailing down as her sobbing eyes looked up to the hill where a small wooden shack sat. The shack was shrouded by bare trees and the slowly approaching darkness. Lightning struck and shook the earth as a dark figure emerged into a darkened home. The remaining light from the sky lit her figure. A woman covered in rags and old clothes entered the small wooden shack with a harsh slam of the door as the light vanished from the room. The only light was peeking from the one window of the home.
“Waaaah waaanh!” echoed from the corner of the home as the woman shuffled through the darkness to the emerging sound. Her scared hands found themselves wrapping around the weeping child. A smile radiated from her face as the light touched her ebony skin and caressed her child’s skin. The two shared a moment of almost silence as their heads touched one another. The baby found joy in his hands logged within the woman’s never-ending Afro as she let out a laugh.
“I’m sorry babe, momma had to work in da fields but I am home.” She whispered as she bounced the child in her arms and wandered the dark room. The room was warm, that warmth only increasing as she lit the little fireplace in the opposite corner of the shack. The small house was rough and worn down, but filled with love and hard work. The two found themselves by the windowsill overlooking the tall hill that flowed into the town. Although on most days the view was beautiful, today was different. The dark clouds crept closer covering the blueish gray sky with its infectious disease. Another sound of thunder roared throughout the angry skies and shook the little shack.
“Waaah waah!” Cried the baby as the sound shook him to his core.
“Hush babe, it’s just thunda, do not fear as the skies are preparing,” said the woman as she held her child closer to her chest. Her hands caressed her child as she found her head resting on the glass. The sounds of approaching thunder erupted again, however, this time it sounded different. It was repetitive, loud, and increased in volume with each passing second. The roaring thunder had a voice that was no longer of Mother Nature but of man. The woman’s eyes opened immediately with the greeting of pitchforks and torches climbing the drop off of the hill. Her pupils shrunk as fear began to seep in through the cold air of the window. The sounds of the approaching pilgrims clawed at the small shack as fists began to collide with the door.
“OPEN UP WITCH! OPEN UP!” Screamed a voice from behind the door as the chanting grew louder in the crowd. Within her arms, the child began weeping once again as the sounds grew exponentially.
“HAGAR WE KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE! OPEN UP, YOU SLAVE! WITCH WITCH WITCH!” It hit the door along with the pounding of the villagers eager to get their hands upon Hagar.
“I…I HAVE DONE NOTHIN WRONG! PLEASE I’M INNOCENT!” Pleaded Hagar as she clutched her child tighter. Her bare feet met the splintered wooden floor as she slowly backed into the corner. The wooden door that kept the two from the outside forces began to cave in and bits of wood splintered and flew out into the room. With a kick or two more, the door fell as a man found himself at the entrance of the door frame. In his hands was a pitchfork and upon his face was a look of malice. Lightning struck behind him as his shadow crept into the room.
“Hagar you’re coming with us, you Witch!” He yelled as he spat upon her floors. His eyes locked with hers as she sunk closer into the corner. Fear struck her face as she pleaded, “Witch… I am no Witch I am just a low-life slave… there must be some confusion!” The increased crying from her child pierced the ears of those who entered. The looming shadows of pilgrims filled the room as more figures approached. A smaller shadow joined the others as Hagar’s eyes met with a child peeking in the room.
“Missy…is this the slave that cursed you?” Said the man with blonde hair and black breeches and tall stockings. There was a pause as Missy met eyes with the fearful Hagar. “Missy you know I’d never do anything to you… I treat you like my own kid. Please don’t do this child.” Hagar pleaded as she knew she had done nothing wrong to the child. She was innocent and her eyes told the whole story. However, Missy had another story to tell. Her face grinned with evil as she extended her hand towards the corner, right towards Hagar.
“Yes daddy…she is the witch who hurt me.” It was as if all the sound in the world faded as the floorboards creaked and leaped with the charging footsteps.
“Please I HAVE A…” screamed Hagar before she was immediately cut off. Her face was met with a fist of a pilgrim and she found herself lifted off the ground. The wailing of the baby grew louder as the men screamed.
“TAKE THE DEMON CHILD, NOW!” Yelled one of the men as the hands of pilgrims met and coiled around the body of the baby. Hagar opposed the forces of the men, giving her all
to fight for her child.
“DON’T PLEASE THAT’S MY BABE PLEASE LET GOOO DON’T HURT HER!” Screamed Hagar as she fought and pulled back nearly equalling the strength of the men. She didn’t let go and held on as long as she could until the back of her head was greeted by a fist. Then her side felt a blow that took the air out of her body. One more punch collided with her face as she fell to her knees and watched her strength fail. Her treasure, her pride and joy was snatched from her hands. Colors faded from the world as she was dragged away from her child. Each moment the color faded more and more as her throat rippled and exclaimed words that reached to the heavens. The clouds cried for her as with her fading vision witnessed a fist. This fist collided with her babe’s face.
“GEAAAHHHHHHAAAAAAAH!” She yelled as a parade of lightning fought and struck the earth. With her increasing screams, the lightning strikes multiplied, but before she could let out another peep she was met with one more fist. Darkness was all she saw as she felt her body being manipulated in ways she couldn’t control. She found herself returning to an upright position as her hands were tied up together alongside her feet. Her back met with a cold wooden stake and although she tried initially, there was nothing she could do. The sounds of chanting began to fill her ears as she heard a multitude of the pilgrims she once cared for, pleading for her demise.
“PURIFICATION, SHE MUST BE CLEANSED, BURN HER!” Was only a glimpse of what was stated. The darkness was removed from Hagar as the covering upon her face was taken off. Her bloodied face met the close-up face of the high priest. He was adorned in robes and jewelry of crosses.
“Slave, you have committed high sin amongst the people here influencing them with your…devil powers! For that, you must be cleansed.” He stated as he approached even closer to Hagar. He was so close his inhalation was nearly taking all the air before Hagar could catch a breath.
“What say you witch… any final words?” He asked as he looked into her sunken eyes. She looked like a corpse as she lay tied to the stake. Her head sunk to the ground, swollen from the beatings. She used the last bit of her strength to look up. To the side of the priest was Missy holding up her bloodied child.
“Forsaken…” she said as she closed her eyes.
“For what you need to speak up the lord won’t hear your pleads!” Said the high priest as he began to laugh with the other. Hagar took in one last breath that rippled through her body and soul. The dark clouds near as black as her skin rumbled as she opened her mouth.
“FORSAKEN!” she yelled as lighting fell from the heavens. It struck the people below and set fire to the creations of the men. The wails and fear of the people echoed as bodies began to fall from the assault from the skies. The lightning was relentless and found those running away first. Hagar’s eyes met with those running away and lightning descending upon them. Left and right more bodies began to fall as the people ran away. Soon there was no one left but the quivering priest upon the floors cowering in fear. Tears filled his eyes as he looked at her.
“Please…have mercy, Hagar.” He pleaded as he covered his face. One more bolt of lightning struck the pole and disintegrated her bondage. Her feet met the ground and she took three steps toward the man. Her body loomed over him as thunder erupted and she pointed her hand towards the man.
“I thought I was a witch… and witches have no mercy priest.” She said as lightning struck her body and flowed through her into the man. His body melted and burned in excruciating pain as he disintegrated into ashes. In the distance, the crying sounds of a child remained. Her feet burned the ground with each step. She found herself hovering above the fallen body of the blond child. Next to her laid her own baby clinging to life.
“Let’s go home, Babe.” She said as she touched heads with her baby. The whining stopped as the sky began to clear and the setting sun began to emerge.
