"Goodbye my love" Felicia called to her boyfriend Nickolas. Nickolas appeared from the side of the house. He wore blue overalls over a green plaid shirt. His hair had specks of dirt amid the golden locks. He whiped his dirty hands, of oil from fixing his family's tractor, with a white cloth and smiled.
"You are going so soon?" he asked, walking to Felicia. She brushed a brown strand of hair from her face and squinted at the sun.
"I must. Mother and Father are expecting me at home and I would not like the disappoint them" Felicia replied. Nickolas dropped his bottom lip and held her hands.
"I will miss you so" he gushed. Felicia squeezed his hand for a second.
"As will I. Yet, I fear I must go" she said, very rushed. Nickolas let go of her hands and Felicia turned and walked away down the dirt road. Nickolas watched her until she was out of sight. Then, with a long sigh, he returned to fixing the tractor.
The day past quickly and it was soon dusk. Nickolas sat in front of the fireplace, reading the local newspaper with his family. His father, Robert, read as his wife and children listened. It was a nightly ritual for the family. Suddenly, loud voices filled the room from outside. Robert stopped reading and ordered Nickolas to see what the matter was. Nickolas stood up and walked to the front door. He opened it and stepped out on to the porch. He saw his friend Howard walking by.
"Howard, what is the matter?" he asked. Howie walked over to Nickolas and pointed to the crowd.
"Witch hunt!" he exclaimed. Nickolas smiled.
"Really? I will join you then" he cried. Nickolas went inside and told his family the matter. Then, he joined Howard outside once more.
"Let us go!" he exclaimed. Howard smiled and handed Nickolas a torch. Nickolas held it far from his body to assure his safety. They joined the crowd marching down the gravel roads of the smalle town. Eventually, the crowd stopped in front of a house, and cheers began. Nickolas could not see who the house belonged to. Yet, Howard could. After finding out who the witch hunt was for, he looked at Nickolas.
"Who is the witch?" Nickolas demanded impatiently. Howard bit his lip.
"I do not think you want to know Nickolas" he said. Nickolas rolled his eyes.
"Of course I want to know!" he yelled. Howard shook his head nervously.
"You will be too upset Nickolas. I forbid myself to tell you" he said, standing his ground. Nickolas, being 6 inches taller than Howard, stood up straight, in order to intimidate Howard. This worked since Howie sighed in defeat.
"Alright. Nickolas...it's Felicia" he said. Nickolas' heart skipped a beat. He stared at Howard in disbelief. Howard nodded. Nickolas sprang forward and lunged himself through the crowd. He pushed through men and women until he saw his love standing on her porch. Nickolas had made it to the front of the crowd. Felicia spotted Nickolas in the crowd, and gave him a painful and scared look. Her hands were tied behind her back and she was helpless. Nickolas ran at her and pushed the men holding her to the ground. He picked Felicia's light body off the ground and ran into the woods. He ran and ran until he could no longer breathe. He gently placed Felicia on a rock and sat beside her, catching his breath. Felicia took Nickolas' hand.
"They are wrong, Nickolas. I am not a witch. Yet, I have no way of prooving I am not a servant of the devil" she sobbed, overcome with tears. Nickolas kissed her cheek softly.
"I will not let any harm come to you" he assured. Felicia forced a smile for him and let go of his hand. The townspeople were coming through the woods behind them. Nickolas stood up, grabbed Felicia's hand, and together, they tore through the forest. Yet, fate interfeered. Felicia tripped on an uprooted tree trunk and fell to the ground. Nickolas stopped and got Felicia to her feet. Felicia refused his help
"No Nickolas. Leave me. Save yourself" she demanded. Nickolas shook his head.
"I will not Felicia. Not unless you are with me will I save myself" he said. Nickolas pulled Felicia up and again, they ran. Suddenly, figures approached from in front of them. Nickolas and Felicia stopped in their tracks. Nickolas spun around in circles to see the two were surrounded at all sides, with no way out. Hands grabbed their shoulders and their hands were pinned behind their backs. Felicia stopped struggling and let the men guide her to the courthouse. Nickolas was also taken for not abiding the town charter by helping a witch during a witch hunt. He knew Felicia was innocent, and tried all he could during the trial to proove so. Yet, as the jury stood to read their decision, Nickolas knew it wasn't enough. A short bald man looked at the piece of paper, then at Felicia.
"We, the jury, find Felicia Anne Williams guilty of possessing evil powers as a witch, and therefore commit her to death by the hang-man's noose" he announced, with no trace of sympathy for the girl he just put to death. Felicia let out a loud sob and began weeping. Nickolas ran to his love.
"No!" he yelled. He pulled Felicia close and kissed her lips for what he knew would be their last. Nickolas was pulled from Felicia, and led away as she was guided from the courtroom.
At dawn the next day, the town met by the hang-man's noose to witness the death of Felicia. Nickolas had to see Felicia once more, so he got to the front to speak to her. She was led towards him and Nickolas stepped forward. Felicia broke from her captives and ran to Nickolas' arms.
"I love you Nickolas! Remember me always!" she cried. Nickolas took her face in his hands.
"I love you more than words and I will keep you in my heart until we finally meet again" he replied. Then, Felicia was taken away from him. She was led up to the noose and the rope was put over her head around her neck. She looked down and say where the floor would beneath her. Felicia put her hands to her side, and looked out at the crowd to find Nickolas. In the front he stood, tears running down his face as he watched her. Felicia looked over at the man who would kill her. He smiled deviously at her and put his hand on the lever. Felicia again looked at Nickolas. Yet, he was not there.
"I cannot live without you" came Nickolas' voice. Felicia turned her head to see Nickolas with a noose around his neck. She took his hand in hers and they both looked high above the crowd to the tree branches. The man pulled both the levers down as Felicia and Nickolas took their final breaths.
