Chapter 2: Heartless Townsfolk
A certain maiden in a blue gown made a turn, when the carriage that had entered her town took its leave. The smile on her lips widened, as she moved her gaze to the patch of gold coins she held.
It seems selling at the heart of the town finally paid off, she thought. The profit she had made today was a windfall that would normally take months or even a year to accumulate. But, she had earned it all in one day, perhaps the heavens had chose to bless her today.
Deciding to retreat to the quiet of her home, the maiden felt a deep sense of relief wash over her. As a merchant, she was no stranger to hard work, but today had been a rare treat. As she closed the door to her stall, her chest bubbled with joy when her eyes lingered on her empty shelves. It was a feeling she savored, a sense of satisfaction that came from a job well done.
Could this day get any better, she thought, as she took hold of her lucky basket. Normally, she would arrive before dawn and depart long after dusk, worn out from the crowds that thronged this part of town. But today was different. It had barely been three hours since she arrived, and yet, here she was, packing up her empty basket and heading home.
Far from where she was, a small murmuring crowd approached the bustling market , which gradually diverted people's attention from the attractive wares the various stalls had to offer.
"There she is" a familiar man exclaimed, his voice laced with accusation. "She is the witch!" The murmurs from the crowd escalated into a chorus of gasps and whispers.
Theresa, unlike others who noticed this, didn't stop to pry for information. She ignored what would soon be the talk of the town and instead focused on making good use of her free time. Just as she was about to walk past the crowd that seemed to increase by the minute, she was dragged and pushed to the ground with force. Her palms scraped against the rough cobblestones, stinging with a sharp pain. The crowd closed in, their faces a blur as they shouted and jeered.
"Where do you think you're running off to?" The same man from earlier spoke up, his voice dripping with malice. "You disgusting creature!"
Theresa, still stunned by what had just happened, stood up with a frown, now etched on her soft features. Like a needle, a sharp pain pierced through her skin when she regained her balance, but that didn't stop her from reaching out for her basket. Before sparing her town folks a look, Theresa took a deep breath, the cool air filling her lungs. With a glare directed at the man who had pushed her to the ground, she questioned, "What is the meaning of this, Mr. Johnson?"
Johnson, on the other hand, placed his hands on his waist, his chin tipped in a sneer. "You tell us," he sneered. "I have always known something was off about you, especially with that face of yours. Who would've thought a witch lived among us?" The crowd murmured in agreement, their voices like a low, menacing hum.
Theresa stared at the man who had, until now, been pestering her for marriage. Their last encounter wasn't something to remember, he had tried forcing himself on her, and when she declined, his exact words, spoken in anger, were, 'I will turn you into the lowest of all in a blink of an eye.' The memory of that night sent a shiver down her spine. Now, as she looked into Johnson's eyes, she saw a malevolence that made her blood run cold.
Was this what he meant by those words? For her to be disgraced in front of her fellow town's men and women. "I will not be the center of your amusement or gossip today," Theresa spoke sternly, clearly not ready to be a pushover. "If you ha_" Her words were cut short when Johnson hurled a jagged rock directly towards her, which soon alerted a few out of the crowd to follow suit. The sound of stones hitting the ground, the jeers of the crowd, and the acrid smell of sweat and anger filled the air, making Theresa's eyes flash with indignation.
Johnson, with a proud smile approached her, clearly pleased with how things turned out to be. With his hand raised, he signaled his accomplices to stop what he had started. "You should ask for forgiveness when you are caught for something wrong, instead of running your_"
SLAP!
The once proud Mr Johnson staggered backwards when Theresa's palm harshly made contact with his cheek. The sound of the slap echoed through the air, followed by a collective gasp from the crowd. His mother who was until now, watching all that was happening ran to her son's side. "You witch, how dare_"
"How dare you" Theresa retorted, her voice firm and steady. "To think you all would believe untrue rumors about someone who grew up right before your eyes. I don't have to defend myself to people who have made up their minds to believe otherwise. Report your accusations to the town head, I owe none of you an explanation" with that, Theresa dusted off her gown, ready to be far from their watchful gaze and gossiping tongues.
She looked over to the guards, who stood off to the side, slightly away from the crowd. "Please, don't mind whatever you have been told by them," she said. "If I'm indeed guilty of what they accuse me, I won't resist arrest. But first, they should lay their complaints before the town head." Saying this, Theresa made her way away from the watchful eyes of the crowd. What she didn't know, however, was that the men she had addressed were far from ordinary guards.
As Theresa tried to walk past the men believed to be guards, she was abruptly pulled back and held in place. "Release me at once! What is the meaning of this?"
One of the men, seemingly the leader stepped forward. "Unfortunately, the transaction is complete. You are coming with us."
Theresa's eyes narrowed. "Transaction...?" She echoed. It didn't take long for her to understand what was happening. "You sold me off." Her gaze locking onto the Johnsons with growing fury.
"It is only right we did, we don't need someone like you in our humble town" Mrs Johnson words cut through the air like a knife.
Theresa's face turned pale, as she stood there in disbelief. "How could you?" she glared at the Johnsons, the anger growing within her unknowingly slipping into her words. She then turned to the man who had spoken earlier. "This is not right, please let me go_"
"Don't fret," he said, cutting her off. "You will be taken care of, considering your looks"
Theresa's eyes narrowed, her skin crawling at the man's suggestive tone. "Is the magistrate court aware of this, how about the town head?" She paused, finding what was happening hard to believe. "This situation needs to be officially documented and investigated and I also have to know the reason as to why this is happening!
"It seems you know the laws well; educated ones like her bring more money." The last sentence directed to his men.
"That means we get paid more" Mr Johnson spoke up from where he stood.
It seems the slap wasn't enough to keep him quiet, thought Theresa.
"So you all plan to stand there and watch how your fellow human is being negotiated. Would you stand there if it was your daughter being humiliated"
"Our daughters aren't witches." Someone in the crowd spoke up.
"Yes, and they don't sleep with different men just for money."
"We were fools to think our sons could be married to you."
Mr Johnson harrumphed, having once spread rumors that he would marry Theresa.
"What use is a whore in our society?" One of the townsfolk spat.
"You are better off traded for money"
"I have always wondered how slaves are still bought in this modern age but then there are people like you who are meant for the job"
Theresa's heart squeezed as she heard the town folks words, each one cutting deeper than the last. She couldn't believe the people she grew up with were now turning their backs on her. The same people who had greeted her with warm smiles that morning, people she had helped and supported, now gazed at her with contempt. Some had long wished for her downfall, resentful of her rejection or refusals to obey their whims. It seemed karma had taken an unexpected turn against her.
SLAP!
Theresa felt her cheek turn numb as seconds passed, Mrs Johnson had walked up to her without her knowledge and slapped her. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, a testament to the pain their words had inflicted on her.
The guards pulled Theresa away from Mrs Johnson, her cheek still stinging while the head guard stood between them. "That is enough" he said. "Unless you want just half of the payment, we very much prefer her to be unharmed"
"I was just giving her what she deserves" she stated, raising her chin.
"Where is your evidence if I'm indeed a witch" Theresa managed to say, if anything she shouldn't breakdown in front of these heartless people.
"We saw everything in your house," a tall, burly man from the crowd replied.
"You broke into my house!" Theresa's voice rose.
"We wanted to see what you were hiding." Mrs Johnson retorted, sounding as though she needed to be applauded for her job well done. "Mrs. Smith told us how you always acted suspiciously and how you don't sleep until late at night."
Theresa scoffed at the middle-aged woman's words, realizing how intent they were on slathering her. "I wonder why Mrs. Smith was awake to even notice that."
"What are you trying to say, child?" Mrs. Smith walked towards Mrs. Johnson, her face twisted in a scowl. "You are the one acting strangely, you are the witch here"
Theresa's face contorted in a mixture of frustration and anger as she struggled to comprehend the people's baseless accusations. The morning sunlight cast long shadows across the crowd, making their accusing faces seem even more sinister. "What proof do you have? I am not a—"
Mr. Johnson didn't let her finish, with his hand still glued to his face, he chipped in. "Take her away, just the sight of her disgusts me."
The head guard nodded curtly, his expression unreadable. "We will discuss the details with the town head. Your town will be rewarded for providing what is now scarce in society." He turned to his men. "Let us leave now. We have a long journey ahead."
With the guards closing in around her, Theresa's eyes darted wildly between the accusing faces, her mind racing with questions. As she struggled against the tight grip of the guards, her gaze landed on her basket which laid on the dusty ground. Tears gathered themselves at the brink of her eyes and she felt her heart sink. She had woken up today like any other day, just for the day to end like this. It seemed the happiness she felt minutes ago was just compensation for what was to come…