12 

Nuala managed to sleep for only a couple of hours that night. Each time she closed her eyes her mind was filled with images of her body hanging limp from a rope in front of the town house. The times that sleep did take her, she would roll onto her side to ease her breathing and her arm would fall asleep and she wake with to the agony of pins and needles. She tried propping herself in the corner and sleeping upright, but the mattress was hard and thing and her backside went to sleep. She woke once again to the uncomfortable feeling of pins and needles. Eventually she managed to get the blanket squished between her breasts and thighs with the thin pillow under her head and passed out for a couple of hours fitful sleep.

She was awoken to the clang of her cell door opening and Matthew Hopkins strutting in. As he entered the cell, Nuala saw that he was carrying a knife, she froze whilst he perched himself on the toilet seat lid.“Good morning my lovely little Witch. Did you sleep well?”

Nuala wriggled up the cot and propped up against the wall whilst he talked. 

“Not very well, the handcuffs kept me awake. Please un-cuff me at least so I can wash”

She couldn’t take her eyes of the knife as he played with it. 

Matthew looked down at her, “Hmmm seems you don’t need a wash… Did you have some visitors last night? Interesting. I on the other hand slept very well, your mayor is most accommodating.” 

Nuala eyed him as she lay there. He just sat there on the toilet twirling the knife in his fingers. 

After a few moments Nuala broke the silence and asked, “What’s the knife for? Are you going to kill me?”

“What and deny your loyal towns folk the spectacle of you dancing at the end of a rope?” Matthew replied, “No this is just to help get you ready for your swansong.”

“So I can cut myself down?” Nuala asked sarcastically

“No my dear.” Matthew replied with finality, “Now lets get you up and ready. There are already a few people gathering for their front seat views”

The Witch Finder General stood and turning, placed the knife on the toilet seat. He took a step towards Nuala and reaching behind her head fisted her hair, lifting her off the cot. Nuala Kicked her feet and scrambling to relieve the pull on her scalp. She managed to get her feed underneath her as he dragged her to stand by the cell wall. He pulled her head back sharply and, with his other hand reached up and yanked her vest top down. Leaning into her he pressed his nose into her hair whilst squeezing her full breast.

Breathed deeply his drew his breath in through her long hair then whispered, “You are simply the most delightful witch I think I have ever hung, you smell fabulous. These full breasts will bounce nicely once I pull the stool out from under your heels. And then I’ll enjoy watching the noose choke the life from you as you kick for the crowd. The memory of your death will stay with me for many years to come”

Nuala gasped at his words. She’d begun to believe that this was all a misunderstanding and that come the morning everything would be sorted out. But now; The Witch Finder General stood in her cell, abusing her body once more, preparing her for her death.  

She said, “Look, I’m sorry about all the things I said yesterday. There must be something I can offer you to spare me. I know you have the town enchanted. If you say I have sufficiently attuned for my sins they will accept it.”

“Never, you are a witch and your life is forfeit.”, replied Matthew angrily.

“I’m guessing you are demonic? What if I sell you my soul in exchange for my life?” persisted Nuala

“Never!” Bellowed The Witch Finder. With those last words he brought the hand from her hair and grabbed her by the throat whilst grabbing the knife off the toilet to point it directly at her heart.

Nuala drew in a sharp breath…. “Wait….” She screamed, “Before you plunge that into me…. You said I was to hang….” Nuala said in with fear and panic in her voice, desperate to find anyway to extend her life.

He began to squeeze her neck as he said, “Oh you will hang my sweet. You will hang beautifully.”

Still squeezing her neck choking her, he turned the knife upwards and slid it under her vest top slitting it neatly in two, barely skimming her delicate skin. Her jeans followed landing in an untidy heap on the floor. 

Releasing her, Matthew took a step back and, slipping the knife into his belt. Nuala gasped for air and coughed. He just stood watching her. After her coughing subsided she stood there in all her nakedness looking back at him with a mixture of fear confusion and embarrassment.

“Beautiful, Absolutely stunning. Your neck is so delicate and tender. I can see you will choke well. If we weren’t pushed for time I would take my pleasure with you once more.”

“We have time” Nuala said with a tremor in her voice, not wanting to make the walk to the gallows, “I will make it worth the time for you. No-one will mind if we are a little late.”

“You slut. You are nothing more than a whore witch.”

He pointed to the cell door, Nuala turned and slowly, very slowly began walking towards it. Matthew put his hand on her shoulder and added a little persuasion to her stride.