• "YOU'RE A WI--?!!" I began to say, but my mouth was covered by a hand. It was my friend's. She claimed to be a witch.
    "Shh! You know what happens to wi-- I mean them," the said witch whispered sharply. Her name is Cathy Williams. "I'll explain at my house."

    The year is 1698. My name is Rose Jounes. I'm 12 years old. I will be 13 soon enough. If you'd have asked me 30 minutes ago, I'd say that witches don't exist, that it's just paranoia. Now, at this moment, I don't know what I'd say. Now my best friend was one. A witch.

    I've been here a million-if not more-times, but now everything seemed so-different. It's not my best friend's house anymore. It's a witch's. I followed Cathy upstairs to her bedroom and sat on her bed, trying to take in all the facts. She began to tell me how this whole mess started. Apparently, when she went to the library, she accidently picked the wrong book. One on witchcraft. Curious, she read it and tried it out.
    "Do you want to see?"Cathy asked.
    "uhhh..."was all I managed.
    "Okay!" she said a little too cheerfully."Here. Hold these. She smiled as she handed me her book and 'ingredients'. As she set up, read the first couple of lines on the page.
    "Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd
    Thrice and one the hedge-pig whin'd
    Harpier cries;-    "
    I heard a clang by the door. It was Cathy's mother, panic and anger spread on her face.
    "Oh! M-mother, I--"She was cut off as her mother spoke.
    "Cathy dear! Get away from that--THING!"
    "But mother! She's not--"
    "I said step back! Let trhem do to her what they did to the rest of her kind!" She shouted and ran off to inform the neighbours.

    I knew I had to escape. If the others knew, it would happen. It was a horrible punishment. Frantic, I looked for an exit.
    "Rose. I-I'm so sorry!" Cathy studdered. Was it too late? I jumped from the window, tears prickling my eyes as I knew that this was the last time I would be able to speak to her. Water flooded my eyes as I fainted.

    Days later, I was in front of th judge. I remained silent as i knew what was next. Crying, i nodded when appropriate. Soon I was led by a young man and tied to a stake. I looked at the crowd in front of me. I winced at the ropes. As I searched for familiar faces, one I recognized was crying. It was my best friend. Maybe it was because we were close, or maybe because she knew I was innocent. Whatever the reason, she was crying. Praying, I felt the oil at my feet. My eyes started to sting again as I mentally said my goodbyes. The fire sarted to rise. My final sight was the faces of my neighbours and relatives. As I slipped into death, I remembered. Today was my thirteenth birthday. Today, Cathy had promised me a surprise. I wondered---

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    My name is Cathy Williams. 14 years old. It's been exactly one year since my best friend was burned to death. That's not why I'm here however, at her grave. It read:
    Rose Margaret Jounes
    1685-1698
    RIP
    By that message I am outraged! She deserves better! What kind of a message is that?! She died protecting me! She was the kindest, most loyal person who ever lived! I calmed down and said my prayers.
    "Happy birthday, dear Rose. Here. This is my gift." I said quietly as I set a box down. Inside was a single sapphire ring. It was her favourite gemstone. I hadn't had a chance to give it to her last year. A surge went through my body, to my eyes. I hadn't cried since last year, on this day. But this time I knew Rose was crying, too, smiling down at me from heaven.
    "Until we meet again" I smiled as I patted the soil were her remains were burried.
    Tears wet the soil. No it was lightly raining. I shook off the dirt and sad thoughts. I ran for shelter.