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Chapter Text

First day of Senior year, it was a cloudy and windy September day, typical for Massachusetts. My uncle, Principal Parris, was driving me to school alongside my cousin Betty. She turned From the front seat back to me.

“Hey Abby, are you finally gonna ask out you-know-who” Betty snarked, kissing the air to mock me.
“I don't know who you're talking about, John and I go way back, we've practically been together since middle school! You wouldn't know anything about love, you're just a freshman” I replied before being interrupted by my Uncle.
“Ladies, ladies, we haven't even gotten to the school yet, can you save your bickering for later”
“I HATE THIS SCHOOL” I shout, “it's misogynist and authoritarian, why can't we go to a public school like normal kids? I'd rather be shot then sit through another preachy predictable Cult class”
That caused Uncle Parris to slam the breaks And turn around to scold me

“This is your last year here, Abigail Grace Williams, I can't do what I did last year, you better stay out of trouble or I will let them expel you this time”
“Good! I hope they do” I retort, Betty in the front seat going “Oooooo” crescendoing, as if this was gossip to her.
My uncle continued driving, mumbling something under his breath, until we got to the school.

I look at the sign
[Puritan United Christian High School]
“Last year in hell” I say out loud To myself
“~Heck” Betty corrected me
“Shut up, Bethany”
“DADDY!”
“Abigail, be nice to your cousin! She's treated you like an older sister since I've adopted you”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever, I'll be nice to your little princess if she leaves me alone, I can't be seen with a freshman attached To my hip”

I get out of the car, and slam the door, flipping off Parris as I head off towards campus.
This school is putrid. Everyone in their tacky uniforms following the herd like sheep. The walls plastered with religious propaganda and artwork that would be embarrassing for a toddler, let alone high schoolers. I thought I might as well buckle through it, the first day is usually the easiest.

That is, of course, until I saw him! John Proctor, my crush since middle school, wearing his dazzling uniform, he looked at me and smiled from across the hallway, he started to approach me
“Hey, Abby” He said, my heart fluttered “I haven't seen you all summer, how's life been treating you?” His words were like silk, I noticed he grew a little taller from the last time I saw him, little patches of facial hair coming in, my heart pounding, I reply
“Oh, you know how life is, s..summer was alright, I'm glad to be seeing you again!” I stuttered like an idiot. “How how was your summer, John?!?”

“It was GREAT! I started dating this Catholic girl, Elizabeth Goody, we were together all summer and now she's transferring to PUCHS”
My heart dropped. How could he do something like this?!?!? Not only did he betray me, but he replaced me with some catholic bitch and didn't even tell me about it? After all I did for him, waiting for him to ask me out, he stabs me in the back.

“I’m so happy for you” I lied
“thanks! She's really pretty, I can't wait for you to meet her!” He smiled. Going on and on about how perfect she is. I bet she's hideous.
“Yeah! That'd be great” I lied through my teeth, John being too ignorant to realize how hurt I am.

The bell rings
“Welp, I ought to get to class” John grabbed his backpack and trailed off, the second I was out of his view I kicked a locker
“FUCK”

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

I made it to my assigned homeroom. And what a shock, it’s the same jerks and degenerates I’ve been going to school with my entire life.

Rebecca Nightingale. The rich bitch cheerleader who thinks she’s too good for this school and better than everyone else because her daddy owns half of Salem. She’s been dating the dumb jock Frank Nurse since freshman year. I’d be surprised if she isn’t pregnant by the time we graduate. I’d be even more surprised if Frank were the father.

Giles Corey. The smart straight A’s nerdy kid. Suck-up to all the teachers and staff, argumentative prick who thought he was smarter than everyone. Self righteous know-it-all.

Tommy Putnum. A friend of mine, He was alright but always going on and on about local politics. I can’t blame him, His father ran for mayor of Salem for the past 8 years and losses every year. I’m sure it’s all he hears about at home. He has a younger sister around the same age as Betty. Between his old man and his sister we can relate to how terrible our home lives are, I pity him, I wouldn’t want to sit next to him all year

Then I saw an open seat right between Mary Warren and Tayanna Tituba, they’ve been my friends for as long as I can remember! They’re the only ones that make all the trite school days worth the while. They were talking and snickering as if they were waiting for me.

“Hi Mary, Hi Titi, Last year of hell I suppose” I say setting my backpack and supplies between then
“Late to your first day again, Abby, were you too busy making out with” Mary says in a mocking flirty sing song-y voice “JoOoHn PrOoCtOrRr”, Titi cuts her off, “Oh I bet she wishes she was, I heard that Proctah started chatting up the Saint Vinny’s transfer girl”

“SHUT UP! That bitch is probably just using him as a summer fling. I bet now the school year started up she abandoned him for any greasy catholic guy who makes eye contact with her”

“So it’s true, Oh Abby, you're so transparent. I heard that she’s transferring to PUCHS” Titi remarked, thank god she’s my friend.
Mary joined in “Is that what you did all summer? Obsess over this boy you’re too scared to ask out? It’s sad that John Proctor is your favorite person of all people”
“NO HE’S NOT, I did VERY important things this summer, what did you even do Mary Anne”
Mary and Titi looked at each other and chuckled, not saying a word
“What?” I asked
Titi looked around the room, then back at me “If I tell you, you have to keep it a secret, okay? Especially at a Christian school like this”
I darted my eyes between Titi and Mary, knowing something frivolous was going on between them.
Mary giggled before continuing “Don’t you tell a soul about this, but we converted to Wicca together”
“WHAT!?!” I exclaim, before being shushed by both of them
Titi explained “It’s not as bad as it seems, we’ve been fed so many lies by this damn school and the church that this was just the logical alternative. Besides, Abby, If anyone would benefit from magic it’d be you”
“I…I don’t know” I’ve been a Puritan Christian my entire life. Sure, I hate the school and the church, but I’ve always put in an effort to avoid false idols and do what's right. When everyone else in my life abandoned me, God and Jesus were always there for me, the only ones who are consistent and consistently loved me. Titi saw how confused and conflicted I was and handed me a piece of paper with an address on it

“Were meeting tonight for a ritual, a cabin in the woods not far from Salem, we’re casting a love spell”
Without saying a word, I put the paper in my backpack, I don’t have the heart to tell them I have no desire to do pagan rituals in the woods.

The teacher, Mr. Hathorne, Finally started the class
“Good Morning Class, I want everyone to give a warm welcome to our new transfer from Saint Vincent’s, Elizabeth Goody”

...That BITCH!

Chapter Text

The rest of the class session was a haze, it's the first day back from summer, not like anything important was gonna happen. I felt my heart in my stomach, this woman thinks she can transfer over to MY school and steal MY MAN?!?!? She doesn't even belong here, a catholic in a Puritan school, I bet she's up to something, is she gonna force us to worship the pope? I know what this is really about, taking home field advantage with Proctor. Damn Elizabeth Goody.

The class ends and lunch starts. That's where I saw him again, John Proctor.

He's handsome, rugged, strong, a little daft but that works to my advantage. He doesn't know how obsessed I am with him.

He makes eye contact with me and comes over to sit next to me in the cafeteria.

“Hey Abbs, you look wonderful today”
God, He knows what to say to make my heart flutter, bursting with joy and sparkles. This is the perfect man, he continues

“I heard that you and Liz share homeroom together”
“Oh gosh thank you John, I…wait what? Who?” My heart goes from pounding to stopping outright. Is he comparing me to this Catholic summer fling?

“Oh here she comes right now! Hey Lizzy” He flagged her down gesturing that she sit near us ruining a perfect fine lunch.
“speak of the devil” I retort
Elizabeth sits next to John, mocking me.

“Hey Johnny, I missed you” she scorched.
Seconds later.

They kissed in front of me.
Disgusting.
What sort of voyeuristic grotesque display is this?!? The love of my life being swept away by some harlot? Not only that but having the nerve to stick his tongue down her throat in front of the entire school. Repulsive.

I made pleasant conversation, trying to get along with Proctor and his wench. Before lunch ended, I looked at the paper Titi gave me, for the ritual.

That's when I decided and thought to myself ‘John Proctor, I'm gonna put a hex on you’

The bell rings and I ready myself for class.

Chapter Text

School ends and I return home to Uncle Parris and his precious Betty. I wait until near nightfall before sneaking out of my upstairs bedroom, tying a few bed sheets together to make a rope. Immediately as I land outside and make my way to the coop in the backyard I find Betty quietly sneaking out of the house.
“Bethany? What are you doing sneaking out?”
“Shhhhhh Abby, I don't want to get caught. I’m going to a… um, a church gathering” she whispered
I can’t believe it, She not only was invited to the ritual, but is PARTICIPATING in it as well. Looks like goody two shoes Bethany Parris can be a little devious sometimes. Perhaps I’m rubbing off on her.
The both of us made our way down the block into Salem Woods Highland Park where a few of the other girls from school were arriving as well. We followed the steam and others until we found Titi in the woods sitting in front of a bubbling cauldron.

“Welcome ladies!” Titi starts smiling, everyone laughs a little, breaking the awkward tension “What did you all bring tonight?” She asks everyone
Most of the girls take out some dried herbs or crops, Naming their crushes before throwing it into the cauldron. Betty clung on to me like a leach. I walked up to Titi holding a covered live rooster.
Not saying a word, Betty sheepishly throws a frog in the cauldron. I hand Titi the rooster. She takes it from my hands and starts waving it around scaring the other girls before starting to chant Wiccan spells and foreign tongues. As she sings some girls chime in.

“Make Giles Corey love me, Titi!”
“Make Eddy Cullens my Husband”
“Abby, Who do you want? Who am I kidding, we all know it’s”
“John Proctor!!!” multiple girls said in unison.
I approach Titi again, whispering to her ‘Sacrifice Elizabeth Goody, Kill her’
“No that would be an evil thing Abby”

Pfft pathetic. Dragging all of us out here for a pagan wiccan unchristian ceremony and not even having the nerve to commit a sacrifice?!? How else are we going to get the attention from unholy Gods?
I take matters into my own hands.
I snapped the rooster’s neck, blood coating my hands. I smear it across my face and throw the rest of the body in the cauldron.
“John Proctor will LOVE me!” I exclaim, other girls screaming or cheering, we start dancing to Titi’s ritual chants. Some of us took off our clothes.
Spirits started to rise out from the cauldron, transparent ghost like streaks slowly raising up into the air and shooting north into town. Blood on my face, naked, and dancing around the fire I feel alive! How can boring old church compare to worshiping the old Gods. Mother Goddess blessing me with her presence.

Then out of the blue, Principal Parris comes out from from the woods
“Betty?!? Are you out here”

The girls start screaming, running and scattering away from the cauldron and fire, Betty faints. I quickly cover myself and run to Betty “Wake up, You conniving bitch”
“Abigail Williams? What have you been doing to my daughter”

Me and Parris pick up Betty and drag her to the car. I try to explain myself. It’s no use.

Chapter Text

“Betty, Wake up!”
I exclaimed. Betty played there limp in her bed, knowing that school was starting in an hour
“I know you're faking it, Bethany. Wake UP! You're only doing this to get out of class and it won't work”
She played there silently. I can't believe it, is this trick actually gonna work?
Uncle Parris walks into the room
“Abigail. It's time for school. Let my daughter be, your classes will start soon”

God dammit. I wish Parris would just let me drive his car. I know what this is. I walk downstairs not saying a word, and open the backseat of the car.
“No, Abigail. Sit in the passenger seat. Now.”
I wince before obliging
“Yes Uncle Parris, Of course”
He gets in the driver's seat, he starts driving silently and slowly.

“Abigail Grace Williams”
Fuck, my full name
“I saw you and your friends in the forest. Committing that disgusting pagan ritual. You weren't a part of that. Were you?”

“No, sir” I replied “Betty wanted to be a part of it, I was trying to protect her, there was no ritual, it was just dancing with the other girls in school”
I lied

“And you expect me to believe that” He pulls over to the side of the road and stops the car. Turns to me, closes his eyes, lifts his hand, and slaps me across the face. Leaving the burning shape of his hand across my face “I've been extremely gracious to you, especially after your parents died. And you repay me by involving my REAL daughter in Satanic curses. Need I remind you that practicing witchcraft could get you expelled from PUCHS, along with any chance scholarships the school provides”

“I understand Uncle Parris” I bite my tongue, stomaching the pain. Knowing that anything I say to defend myself will be used to justify more abuse. So I turn the other cheek. I’ve learned that silence and agreement makes it so I only get hit once. Anything else just delays it longer. No ‘talking back’, no showing weakness with crying, no trying to explain myself.

“Good, I’m glad we have come to an understanding.”

He starts the car and continues driving in silence, I resist rubbing my face or showing any emotion. The tension between us could be cut with a knife. I hate him. One day I’ll have the nerve to report him to CPS. It’s funny how he preaches about being a pure and good Christian. I don’t know if Hell is real, but if it is, I know that there’s a place for him in it.

“We’re here” Parris mumbled emotionlessly.

“Thank you Uncle Parris.”

I get out of the car and walk to class, waiting to get out of view. Standing by the lockers, away from everyone else, I start crying, soothing the sore skin on my cheek. The bell rings and I fumble my way to Homeroom. First period the morning announcements are interrupted.
“Hello PUCHS, This is Principal Parris. Any students found to have participated in paganism or witchcraft will be expelled immediately. Please report any signs that your classmates may be partaking in evil spellcasting rituals. Thank you”

Fucking hell. Fuck you Parris.

Homeroom continued as normal, until Titi started nervously and quietly talking to me.
“Abby, did you hear the announcement?” She asked.
“Yeah, why? It has nothing to do with us” I reply
“Meet with me and the other girls in the bathroom at the beginning of second period, I have something to give all of you” she explained. I looked around the homeroom, locking eyes with the girls in the class who were involved, before nodding in agreement. Looked over at that catholic bitch Elizabeth Goody, Ignorant to the whole thing. She has no idea what’s coming.

After homeroom, I headed to the ladies room in the back of the school, infamous for where the reefer addicted kids tend to be.

“Psst Abby” Titi said, poking her head out from behind the door.
“Yeah yeah, I see you” I replied, she gestured for me to follow her, I looked around before entering the dirty bathroom and closed the door. There’s a circle of most of the girls who were there last night, all except Betty and Ruth Putnam.

Titi sat in the middle of the circle and opened her backpack, handing everyone a long narrow box one by one.
“You will all be needing one of these”
“What's that?” Rebecca Nightingale asked
“It's getting dangerous for women like us” Titi continued
Someone hands a box to me and I open it.

It's a wand.
Long wooden stick with a handle on one end, a small crystal on the other.

“Titi, what is this?” Mary Warren questioned, looking puzzled
“It’s a wand, idiots” I exclaim “The question is how do we use it?”
“Abby is right. First we need to undo the sleeping curse on Betty Parris and Ruth Putnam”
“So wait… The curse on Betty is…real?” I’m shocked, there’s a chance Betty isn't faking being cursed, does that mean that magic is real? That’s impossible.
“Use a spell I learned back in Barbados. The reverse sleeping spell. Point your wand at the victim and chant, Reveye ak Reyalite”
The girls start practicing and chanting the spell among themselves.
“Titi, Is there a spell to use in self defense against someone threatening me?” I ask
“Of course there…Isn’t. And if there was, It’s something that never be used Abby”
Ugh, she’s not going to tell me, fine. I took my wand and headed to class.

Chapter Text

Keeping my wand hidden. I wait out the next few class periods. Waiting for lunch, well, waiting to see John Proctor for the first time since the ritual. If the magic worked on Betty and Ruth, surely it worked on the boys we hexed. Afterall, John and I kissed each other once in freshman year, I don’t think he’d forget something like that.

The bell rings and I rush to the cafeteria, to the table I know John usually sits at. Sitting there waiting…longer than usual.

After a long 17 minutes John walks to the table holding hands with that Wench Elizabeth Goody two shoes. Why is he still cozying up to her? Was the spell ineffective?!?

“Hey Proctor! How’s your day going” I mustered out
“Oh hey Abbs! Same as usual I guess” the wench interrupts “We have been doing great! Johnny has been showing me how to work his family’s farm after school”

Excuse me? WHAT? Gods I should skin her alive for saying that. John used to do that with ME! And now he’s replaced me with Miss perfect Lizzy Goody. I hate her more and more with every word that dribbles out of her mouth.

“So um…John, have you felt any different in the past few days, like had any major changes in priority and interests or anything like that” I asked, subtlety is my strong suit.
“I have, actually!” My ears perk up, The spell is working! He continued “I’ve actually been getting into making Mighty Mighty Bosstones mix tapes, they're gonna make it big one day”
What?
He puts a Walkman on the table and takes out a cassette tape “Here! Listen to it, You’ll have to give it back of course”
“Yeah yeah, of course I will” I respond, half dissociating. “Hey John, there's something I want to talk about… In private”
Goody pipes in “Anything you want to say to John, you can say it to the both of us”
“Babe, Abby’s an old friend, let her have this one” my hero, John always knows what to say
“Fine, just know that I don’t trust her.” she snarled
“Woah, I’m sorry Elizabeth, but don’t you think it’s a little controlling not to let your boyfriend talk and have friends that are women? Bit Puritan for a Catholic, don’t ya think?” She scowled at me, practically shooting daggers at me with her eyes “Fine.”
She stands up and walks away passive aggressively, storming across the room, out of earshot.

“Hey John, now that it’s just the two of us there’s something I wanted to talk about”
“Yeah, I know what this is about” he sighed, looking uncomfortable. Hell, I didn’t know he could read me that easily. He knows that I love him, He knows that I hexed him, He’s probably seconds away from telling me that he hates me and will abandon me for being an evil witch.
“I heard that your sister, Betty, is in like a coma or something” he continued
“What? First of all, she’s my cousin, NOT my sister. And second of all, no, um there’s something else I wanted to discuss” I stumbled out like a buffoon.
“Oh yeah? What’s up”
“I…” I stopped myself. Every fiber of my being wanted to tell him that I love him, that we should run away with each other, travel the world, New York and London, That I wanted to marry him. Wake up every day in his arms, make him smile and laugh and vice versa.

Then my mind flashes, painfully relieving him holding hands and kissing Elizabeth Goody. The way she makes him smile, how she replaced me as a farmhand, how she’ll replace me as his wife. I have failed. I missed my opportunity to make a move and now he’s dating her. And there’s no magic in the world that can change that. I’m a failure and I will die alone. Proctor is perfect and burdened with my existence.

“Abbs… Everything okay? You went quiet” He asked, such a sweet innocence in his eyes
“Yeah, I wanted to tell you that…that I’m not a Christian anymore” What the hell did I just say?!? Is that even true? Jesus Christ is the one person who’s never hurt or abandoned me. Who am I kidding? I practice pagan rituals, I carry a wand, I cast spells. Maybe I was never a Christian.
“Yeah, that figures, I only go to the school because I’m trying to get a scholarship to MIT. I never really bought into the Puritan propaganda bullshit either”
“Wait really? Is that why you’re okay dating a catholic? You’re one of them” I asked
“I’m not really catholic either, I don’t think I believe in God or any of it, I think I'm an Atheist” He answered. How is that possible?

“Well, I wanted to tell you that I’m…I’m a Wiccan”
Without thinking I flashed my wand, inside of my coat. FUCK. What the hell did I just do?

Chapter Text

John looks at me, a puzzled stare in his eyes before he utters the words

“Cool. makes about as much sense as anything else the people in this town peddle.”
I look back at him concerned, “So…so you don’t hate me?”
“Abbs, why would I hate you?” he looks away, over to the wench Elizabeth Goody, then back to me. He continued, “Hey, what would you say to help me on the farm later today?”
“Yes…YES! GOD YES!... I mean yeah, that would be cool” I said, trying to keep a composed demeanor.
“Alright, I'll see you around Abbs”

Holy shit oh God oh fuck!!! Take that Elizabeth Goody! The spell actually worked! John wants ME to come over! He's probably gonna dump her and marry me! This is everything that I was hoping for and more. I can picture it already, our cottage on the English countryside, him working the fields while I take care of our children. It's heaven!

The rest of the day passes with my mind racing with thoughts of me and John's future together. Him holding me in his arms and telling me that he'll never leave me. The dream.

I stare down the clock during the last hours of class, waiting patiently until the day ends. Until!
The last bell rings and school lets out! I jump out of my desk and start walking to the Proctor farm east of town. I gleefully skip and giggle thinking about the date about to happen.

As I get closer, the glorious smell of sheep cattle and corn overwhelms my senses, I know I'm at the right place. I walked past the mailbox, ‘PROCTOR’, Abigail Proctor, I think to myself.

Bypass the house and straight to the yard where I know John is waiting for me. I open the latch and there he is! Raking some dried corn like the hardworking man that he is. I love him! He pretends not to notice me before making eye contact with me.

“Abigail! It's nice to see you” he says smiling, the first time i've seen him without the wench attached to his hip.
“It's nice to see you too” I say trying to hold back just how much I missed him
“It's true that you're not Puritan anymore? Right?”
“Well, not recently but I can be if you want me to be!” I respond
He walks up to me, his lips inches away from mine.
“You agree that some of the Puritan values are well… outdated, not just them it's all of the Christian denominations”
Huh?
“Yeah! Why?” I question, he continues
“My parents have arranged me with Elizabeth Goody, thinking that she'd Be a ‘good wife’ for me, which is ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I love her, but we just aren't looking for the same thing in a relationship”
“It's because she's a catholic! I knew it! She's trying to convert you to praise her false idols and eat communion wafers, isn't she!”
“huh? Well you almost had it. Because of her Catholicism, she wants to wait until marriage before having sex. Is that something you're interested in?”
“Absolutely! John Proctor, I am completely interested!”

John Proctor DOES love me! That's what sex means, that's why married people do it. This is him proposing to me! He knows about my fantasies of marrying him in the fanciest ballroom in Boston! He knows me so well. there Is one thing though, I've never done it before.

“John…what is sex?” I asked, which is a stupid question. Of course I know what sex is, it's the difference between men and women, what I don't understand is how married couples do that differently than anyone else.

He chuckles “Oh Abigail, why don't I show you”
He walks even closer to me, his hand gently strokes my cheek before he pinches my chin between his thumb and finger. Pushes my head to look up, and kisses me.

It's as amazing as I remember! And even better, since last time he's grown some stubble that softly scratches against my face.
I love him! His hand starts running down my back until he reaches my thigh and lifts up my leg. His body moves closer to mine as he starts to kiss my neck.~

~~~

The next thing I know, John is standing above me, zipping up his pants. I look down and realize that I am completely naked, my clothes scattered in different places in the barn stable around me.
I get hit with a wave of shame and guilt, I am exposed and vulnerable. I sheepishly cover my bare breasts and vagina, trying to pick up and put on my clothes as soon as possible.

“Hey Abbs, did you finish?” he asked me as I was slipping my uniform back on
“Finish what?” I asked
“Ya know, did you come?”
“Yeah I did, that's why I'm here!” I replied.
He laughed, “that was amazing”
“Yeah!” Then I said the five words I'd regret for the rest of my life. “I love you, John Proctor”

Suddenly his smile turns into a face of shock and fear. FUCK. I played that card too soon.

“Look, I…I should help you get back to Reverend Parris's house”
“Yeah” I replied, feeling a wave of confusion and denial. Why doesn't he want me to stay the night? Did those 5 words Break the spell? What did I do wrong?

“Your…you're going to break up with Elizabeth Goody, right?” I questioned.
He stood there in silence before answering “Yeah”
Yay! Good! He's leaving the wench for me! Finally!!!
“Hey, Abigail. Well keep this between us, right? Goody doesn't need to know what happened here”
Why would I tell his ex-girlfriend that I'm dating him now? Stupid question.
“Yeah! Of course. As long as you don't tell anyone that I've been practicing Wicca”
“Yeah” he replied.

We walked back to Parris's house in dead silence. He's probably overwhelmed with love!

Chapter Text

A month passed since that wonderful night in John Proctor's barn. After about a week of faking a coma, Betty was taken to a hospital. I took this time to go to the Peabody Library with Mary and Titi to research how to use wiccan magic and memorize a handful of verbal spells. Parris and the Puritan teachers are none the wiser, overall everything is business as usual. Of course, except now I know that John Proctor loves me! I still see him hold hands with Elizabeth Goody in the hallways, but I know it's only for show. Eventually he's gonna break up with her and leave her for me, he's only still with her for his public image.

Of course, until one cold brisk October morning, a dense fog covers the Salem bay.

Something feels different, I can't quite put my finger on it. I go to the homeroom, the morning announcements are played then at the end it clicks. “All female students must attend an assembly in the gymnasium” Parris grovels out.
This is absolutely about witchcraft. Fuck. Either that or fear mongering about sex and birth control, otherwise the boys would be there too.

Some time passes and right before lunch all the girls In the school go to the gym bleachers for the stupid assembly.

There's Parris and Superintendent Hawthorne, of course. Ruth Putnam and Betty laying in hospital beds, dramatic cunts. And some old man I don't recognize chatting up Parris. Judging by his clothes he's a youth pastor. He walks over to Ruth and Betty and gives a quick blessing before turning to address the assembly.

“Hello everyone!”
The chatter simmers down, he continues “I am Jimmy Hale, Presbyterian youth pastor from Philly, how is everyone doing today?”
Ew, a Presby. At least he's protestant but they couldn't even find a Puritan? Pathetic.

The bleachers are dead silent except for one girl coughing.

“I specialize in the occult, possessions, demonic plagues, hysteria, psychosis, and of course. Baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals”
Who does this guy think he is? So full of himself. He turns to Betty and Ruth and starts rambling.
“These poor victims of the occult, Lord free these young women from the devil's grasp! In the name of the father, son, and holy spirit. Amen”
He turns back to us.
“If any one of you has information on who is responsible for this curse, you will be excused from any punishment. Even if you were a participant in paganism”

With him saying that, Betty shoots up and awakens gasping for air. Everyone gasps. She looks around and makes eye contact with me.

“Williams!” She screeched “Abigail Williams, my cousin, she put a death curse on me along with a love curse on Proctor!”

Fuck, fucking hell Bethany.
Everyone in the room turns and looks at me. Hale turns and walks up to where I'm sitting.

“Miss Williams, is that true?”
He asked with a somewhat sincere Worried look on his face.

I shot up from my spot and before I realized it, I confessed myself
“Yes, I am a witch!” The entire room gasps.
“Abi, what are you doing?” Titi asked
“I was coerced into witchcraft! I was a good Puritan girl until Tayanna Tituba forced me into it! She invited me into the woods! She gave me this wand! She tricked me into practicing witchcraft” I whipped out the wand and pointed it at her.

Titi looked at me with a horrified Shocked look on her face “Abi, how could you”

Hale joined in “Miss Tituba, is Ms. William's testimony accurate?”
“Absolutely not! She speaks lies, she's the one who turned me into a witch”
“so you admit to practicing witchcraft”
Parris looks and summons her “Tituba, stand here before the assembly for your testimony or you will be suspended”

She stands, walks down the bleachers, and stops right in front of Parris.
“Miss Tituba. Do you admit to performing satanic pagan black magic?” Parris asked,
“Is is not Satanic, it is a ritual asking favors of Mother Goddess and father God” she replied
“False Ideology, Satanic curses. Besides Tituba, are you Black or Indian?”
“Excuse me? I am Barbadian. What does that have to do with anything?”
“So you are Mexican? Your skin probably darkened my your evil practices”
Hale, concerned, is about to stop Parris before Titi retorts

“Fuck you! you racist crook” she scowls, snorts and spits on his face.
Parris Slowly wipes the spit off his face, looking at it fester in his hand before raising it and hitting Tituba. The loud slap echoes throughout Salem, She falls to the floor.

Hale pipes in “Reverend Parris, this be not necessary! Has she not confessed?”

“Fuck you all,” Titi mutters on the ground. before taking out her want, pointing it at Parris.
“LAGE MOURI STABARRA KADABARRA” she chants.

Parris is blown back in a gust of wind, he replies “She speaks tongues and attacks authority! Suspend her and contact the police immediately”

“Oh the humanity!” Hale cries.

Ruth Putnam snaps awake, looks at the assembly and Titi on the ground, then she starts yelling “I SAW BETHANY PARRIS IN THE WOODS”

“I saw Bethany Parris in the woods!” We all repeated after her
“I SAW MARY WARREN IN THE WOODS, I SAW ABIGAIL WILLIAMS IN THE WOODS, I SAW REBECCA NIGHTINGALE IN THE WOODS, I SAW MERCY LEWIS IN THE WOODS, I SAW ANNE PUTNAM IN THE WOODS, I SAW VERONICA SAWYER IN THE WOODS, I SAW HEATHER CHANDLER IN THE WOODS, I SAW MARTHA COREY IN THE WOODS” Ruth cried, all the girls in the girls in the bleachers repeating every word.

“May God be with us” Hale says, doing the sign of the cross.

Chapter Text

Tituba was suspended and expelled, obviously. I was expecting the other shoe to drop, a part of me was wanting to be expelled. Unfortunately for her she started going to some public school in Lynn. Haven't heard much from her, oh well.

Staring longingly out my bedroom window and saw John Proctor walking to my house! I giddy myself in excitement, he's probably coming over to confess his love for me! That he broke up with that Harlot Elizabeth and wants to run away with me to start a chicken and lamb farm and a family in Cambridge!

He approaches the door and rings the bell,
“ABBY! YOUR HUSBAND IS HERE” Betty belted from downstairs. Thank the Goddess Parris isn't here. I run down the stairs and open the door to see John's handsome rugged face

“Hey, Abigail” he said
“John! It's great to see you again! It's been so lonely since Titi was expelled… I'm ready for you to bed me again!” I flirted back
“Look Abs, we need to talk” he responded.
FUCK. He's going to break up with me. I knew that's why he was coming here! To rip off the bandaid And tell me that he hates me and has been planning to abandon me from the beginning.
He continued “I talked with Elizabeth and Reverend Hale, they hounded me about not showing up to church recently. The ten commandments, you know. Thou shalt keep the Sabbath holy, thou shalt not commit…Adultery.”
“Okay? So? You're finally gonna stop cheating on me with that wench Goody! That's a good thing John! We could plan out our future in Cambridge together! The educated man and homemaker farm wife”
“Williams, stop, you're being delusional”

WHAT THE FUCK?!?!? Is this what he wants for our first fight as a couple? How can he be so disrespectful? I hope he dies, Elizabeth Goody too, I hope they both get what they deserve

“Goody did this to you, didn't she? Set you up against me after we fully embraced each other. I love you, John! Please please don't leave me for that evil catholic whore” I asked confidently
John replied “Abigail, there was NOTHING between us. That night in the barn never happened. It was a lapse in judgement. We kissed once 3 years ago and nothing more, with everything happening in Salem, the witch hunt and all, I really don't need to be involved in a scandal”

I can't believe this. John betrayed me after practically proposing to me. I'm gonna kill him, I can't, that would be bad for my reputation. In a fit of justified rage I told John
“Fuck you, John Proctor. You and your wicked homewrecker girlfriend are DEAD to me!”

I gently push him out from the doorframe and slam the door in his face. I ran to the living room in a red hot rage, screaming, crying. This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me. He lied to me, manipulated me. He's EVIL! I can't believe I let myself fall in love with him. He ripped my heart out and stomped on it.

Betty heard me crying and came In to comfort me
“Abby, I heard everything, I'm so sorry” she said softly
“I hate him, he abandoned me, I hate him so gosh dang much”
“Good, you could do better anyway” she said, being reasonable for once

The doorbell rang, my tears stopped, and I ran to the door! I assumed it was John coming back to apologize to me, that he came to his senses and chose me! But no. I open the door and there are children in costumes. Pointed hats and robes, devil horns, a girl dressed up as a witch. Taunting me.
“Trick or treat!” They say in unison, what sort of worldly pagan ritual is this?
The girl dressed like an ugly witch piped “Do you have any candy?”
Disgusting. Knocking on my door, interrupting me, demanding candy from me. These children are clearly Satan worshipping Cultists who do all the things real wiccans are accused of doing.
“Be Gone! I will not fall for your cruel tricks! Treat on the fruit of Mother Goddess”
I slam the door again. The same thing happened last year. I hear through the door a child screaming
“What's your problem, lady”
I storm upstairs and lock myself in my room. Staring out the window waiting for Uncle Parris's car to pull in.
Hours pass, it starts to get dark and rain. Parris pulls into the driveway and opens the door. I ran back down the stairs.

“Uncle Parris! How have you been! You you've had a busy day, haven't you”
“What do you want, Abigail” he replied
“I have a confession to make”
He pauses “is that so?”
“I saw John Proctor and Elizabeth Goody practicing witchcraft! They were dancing in the Proctor Barn, crafting spells, wearing costumes, speaking tongues!”
Betty joined in “it's true! Proctor and Goody are both witches!”
“Dear God”

Chapter Text

A cold November wind blows through Salem. Me and Betty decide to go over to the Proctor Farm to get an understanding of what was going on, undercover of course. We bus and walk our way to the border of Danvers before seeing Parris's car, Proctor's car, and another car parked out front. This ought to be good!

We peek through the window and find John Proctor and Elizabeth studying together. What a fake act of innocence. I pull out a rag doll I made of Elizabeth Goody and start puncturing its stomach with needles I brought in my backpack.

“Abby, this is about John, not Elizabeth, he's the one who hurt you” Betty mutters

“Yeah yeah, let's just wait and they'll reveal themselves eventually” I respond “Now shush and listen!”

Elizabeth stands up from the table and grabs her stomach in pain, making a face of disgruntlement. She's finally being tortured for what she's done to me. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a part of me that enjoyed it.

“Everything okay?” John asked her
“Yeah, it's just some cramps, sorry John” the wench replied.

Before not too long, there's a knock on the door. John answers it, Uncle Parris and Reverend Hale invite themselves in.

“Ah, Principal Parris, Mr. Hale, what brings you in?” John asks
Parris says with a straight face “We're here to enquire about some of the accusations levied against you.”
“Accusations? I can assure you nothing happened between me and your niece” John, the compulsive liar, spewed out.
Parris cut him off “No, no, not that. There has been word from a reliable source that you, and Elizabeth Goody, have been practicing witchcraft”

“Heresy!” Proctor stands up from the table “I found it ludicrous when your niece Williams started spouting about witchcraft and it is even more ridiculous that it is taken seriously by the school. There is no such thing!”

“Denial of the existence of witchcraft is the first sign of witchcraft, especially from one who's missed so many hours of the weekly sermon” Parris continued

Hale stepped in “I do find this whole situation skeptical, however, there is a plague happening over Salem and we're just trying to find it to put an end to the hysteria”

Parris turned to Hale “There's no time for your talk of hysterics.” He turns back to Proctor “you have lacked any consistency in attending service, have you turned your back oh Jesus Christ, boy”

John looks at Elizabeth before swallowing his pride. “Of course not, you don't necessarily have to attend church every Sunday to be a good person. Things do get busy around the farm this time of year.” He lied, I know he's a God hating atheist, putting up a front for the pastors.

Parris continued his interrogation “Without service, how would you know the good Puritan teachings and practices of Christ, do you even know the 10 commandments, Proctor?”
“Of course I do!”
“Recite them”

Proctor pauses, thinking for a moment before speaking again
“thou shall not worship false idols,
Thou shall not take the lords name in vein,
Thou shall honor thy father and thy mother,
Thou shall not kill,
Thou shall not steal,
Thou shall not BEAR FALSE WITNESS on thy neighbor,
Thou shall not covet your neighbor's family,
Thou shall not covet your neighbor's goods”

“That's only 8, Proctor” Parris said

“Uhhhhh…. Thou Shall keep the sabbath Holy! And um…” Proctor stumbles

Elizabeth Goody chimes in “thou shall not commit adultery, John”
“Ah yes, that's right” he lies, despite sitting with the woman he cheated on me with.

Betty starts to poke me “Psst, hey Abby”
“What?”
“There's a shelf by the window over there, let's plant ‘evidence’ to get Proctor suspended” she points into the window to a shelf across the room
“Betty! That's The first time you've used your brain! That's genius, I knew bringing you here was a good idea!”
“Wait Really! You really think so?” Betty said, looking up at me with a smile and twinkle in her eye.
“Uh, sure” I look down at the ragdoll I have for Goody. I take out one needle and leave the rest in its stomach “Betty, go put this door in the house, I'll listen in”
“Okay! I have a task! Thank you Abby!”
“Shush! Be quiet” I start listening in again.

Parris starts to interrogate Elizabeth Goody. “Why transfer from an acclaimed school like Saint Vincent’s to PUCHS? Have you been deemed too demonic for an already unorthodox school”
“What? I transferred from one private Christian school to another, I did it to be closer to John” the wench lied
“Saint Vincent’s Charter High is not a Christian school, but a Catholic one. Have you been bringing your Vatican worship and fish diet to any of the other students?”
“Who do you think Catholics worship? Dumbass.” She responds

Betty opens the window, Placing the doll on the shelf, then slams the window shut.

The doll falls on the ground and everyone turns to the window. Betty you CLUMSY DITZ!!!

Before I have the chance to think about it, I start screaming at the top of my lungs. Hale picks up the doll, everyone else starts running to the door.

I thought fast and used the needle I had to stab myself in the stomach. The needle pierced my skin, my hands and clothes started to get covered in my blood. I start to feel a sharp seething pain.

“Abigail! What is happening?” Parris Asked

“ELIZABETH GOODY DID THIS TO ME! SHE WANTS ME OUT OF THE PICTURE TO HAVE PROCTOR TO HERSELF! LOOK AT THE DOLL!” I screamed, pointing to the doll.

“Samuel we need to get this child to a hospital” Hale staggered

“No need, she needs an exorcist! Abigail, get in the car”

I hobble over to the passage seat, Betty snuck her way to the trunk, and Hale stayed with Proctor and Goody.

I did it! I gotcha! I may be bloodied and bruised, but Elizabeth Goody is DEAD.

Chapter Text

The funny thing is, I don’t even care about John Proctor anymore. I don’t love him, don’t think about him, don’t fantasize about our future in Cambridge together. It’s over, I have bigger things to worry about.

Everyone is on edge. Students accusing each other of witchcraft, heresy, manipulation. It’s almost nice. I sat in the cafeteria next to Mary and Betty. It’s about half as full as it was at the beginning of the year. Quiet, if you will. I can finally finish my meal in peace.

“Abby, are you okay?” Mary asked me
“Yeah, Why wouldn’t I be?” I answered
“It’s just been so chaotic, I feel like I never see you anymore, not since the ritual and John…”

I stop eating the slop stale pizza and look at Mary

“John Proctor means NOTHING to me” I calmly tell her. Great, now my appetite is ruined.

Betty steps in for once to defend me “Elizabeth Goody actually tried to kill Abby with a Voodoo doll, I was there, I saw it happen”

Mary piped in once again “Goody used magic? Funny, I never seen her at the ritual or any of the bathroom meetings”

Betty responds "That's because she’s not like us. Goody doesn’t use pure clean magic like Titi did in the ritual, She’s using…dark catholic magic! And she has her own coven of dark catholics she meets up with”
“That tracks” Mary states. “Thank Gods we don’t have any more of those around here”

We continue with our lunch in silence, that is until Uncle Parris berates the school with an announcement broadcasted for everyone to hear.
“Abigail Williams, please report to the principal’s office immediately” embarrassing as hell.

I stand up and head to the central office, if anything this is probably a good thing. After all, I am the one single handedly purging the school of all the people who make this place a living hell. Uncle Parris should be proud of me.

I make it down the hallway, turn the corner to the office, and in the chairs right outside I see him.
John Proctor!
His face warms me up every time I see him, the smell of warm fire during a harsh winter day! I smile, he looks up, then looks away. I approach the door, right before opening it I turn to John.

“Hey John! How are you doing? I was wondering with Goody out of the way if you would want to hang out, just the two of us!”
“Williams…” That’s all he said, not even looking at me. I open the door and sit down in front of the desk.

Parris sitting in his chair, Hale standing behind him like a parrot over his shoulder.

“Miss Williams” Uncle Parris started, pretending like I don’t live under the same roof.
I feel myself tense up “Principal Parris, what…what’s going on?”

“I’ve talked to Proctor and Goody” oh hell, “And they’ve told me some things, some accusations I would need you to clear up”
“Yeah, of course”
“They have accused you of a great many things. Abandoning the word of Christ for the name of Wicca, participating in occult rituals, not only in the woods but orchestrating them at this school, Attempting to use supernatural entities to charm students, Planting a satanic doll in Proctor’s home, and worst of all…Premarital sexual relations. Is any of this true?”

Oh hell, oh fuck. It’s over, it’s all over. Everything I’ve worked for has been ruined by these two conspiring against me with lies. And for what? I’m doomed, I’m going to be expelled and homeless and it’s all my fault. I deserve this. I ruined everything.
I start sobbing uncontrollably

Hale chimes in “Parris, This is your niece! She may have questioned God’s wisdom, but most people do at this age. She's exploring, figuring herself out. With the right guidance, she’ll see God’s light again, that’s what you want, right Abigail?”
I look up, Hale looking concerned and hopeful, Parris looking strict as always. I try to compose myself through the tears
“Yes, that's what I want” I stutter “Do…do you want the truth?”
“Yes! More than anything, child” Hale answers, I look up at him wiping away the tears. I take a deep breath and swallow.
“John Proctor and Elizabeth Goody are conspiring to kill me AND Betty Parris”

Chapter Text

On a brisk cold December morning, I finish doing my makeup and put on my nice black dress I used to wear for church. I walk down the stairs to Parris, Betty berates me
“Good luck Abby!” she screeches.
“Thank you, Betty” I prepared myself for the inevitable.

I get in Parris’s car, it’s freezing, snow nearly knee high, the roads freshly scrapped. Winters were always dreadful here. Parris takes me on a long drive heading toward Boston. The further we get away from Salem, I start to realize something. Little colorful lights and decorating almost every house, it’s nice, pleasant even.

“What are those lights for? They look fun!” I asked
“Ah, a pedestrian pagan holy day, something for the Catholics and Lutherans to reward themselves for falsifying the name of Christ” he answered.
The next ritual I hold with the girls we’re definitely going to bring those lights.

We arrived in Boston, Beautiful snow covered towers, lights everywhere. I walk into the building Parris guides me to. He waits in the lobby while I head to the office. A man in a suit introduces himself.

“Giles Corey, J.D. Nice to finally meet you, Miss Williams”
“Oh, you can call me Abby”
“Well, Abby, You’ve certainly got caught in quite the mess it seems.”
“Yeah, you think”
“I’ve discussed this with your uncle, along with the police officers. There seems to be a big disconnect between each person’s account, why don’t you tell me what’s really going on between you and this Proctor”
“Well, you see, we’ve been friends for as long as I can remember, He kissed me four years ago, used his penis and proposed marriage, then abandoned me for Elizabeth, since then the both of them have worked together to destroy my legacy and kill me”
“That’s a lot of bold claims, Do you have any evidence to back it up?”

I rolled up my dress, exposing the scar I showed the police

“This is a stab wound, when Goody used black magic voodoo to maim and manipulate me”
Corey takes a deep breath, “Oh God” He says in a whisper

“Listen kid” he continues “Talks of witchcraft and sorcery might work in your close knit hick town, but it won’t work in the court of public opinion. You’re telling me that this Proctor kid didn’t stab you?”
“Not directly”
“This is what I get for agreeing to represent a teenager. This is gonna be a media circus”
“Do you think there’s a chance of winning the lawsuit?” I ask
“The evidence is flimsy, the accusation is broad, the hocus pocus is ludicrous. That being said, if we play our cards right we might walk away with a decent settlement. But it’s still a shot in the dark”
“A guided shot!” I take out my wand
Corey looks down at it “Don’t bring that stick into the courtroom. It’ll be seen as a weapon”
“Okay, you’re right, We got this, it’ll be easy”
“You’re charismatic, I’ll give you that much”

We shake hands, I head back to Paris. I told him about everything that was discussed on the car ride back to Salem.

Getting back to the dark snow covered house, seemingly dead compared to the light in Boston. Betty comes running down the stairs.
“Abby!” She yells in excitement, she wraps her arms around me, hugging me “How was it talking to a real life lawyer?”
“It was interesting…I never thought things would get this far” I reply
“Nobody did…” she looked sad, seeing Betty like that made my heart ache. I had to do something to cheer her up

I head to the kitchen, I start to make her favorite meal, peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches with macaroni and cheese. A boiling pot of macaroni, a buttered pan for the sandwiches. After about 20 minutes, I finished cooking.

“Fluffernutter! Maceechee! Abby you didn’t!” Betty cheers, I sit down and eat with her.
“You know what happens after this lawsuit, right? Either I come out rich or in prison.”
“Oh, I know”
“And you know that you're more than just my cousin, you’re my sister. No matter what happens, nothing changes that!” I tell her
“Don’t worry about it, I know what to do” she said, mouth half full of food
“Please don’t abandon me, Bethany Anne Parris. You’re the only family I have left”

Chapter Text

Chapter 13

A real life courthouse. Big stone columns, red and white complementing each other around the large windows, the archway over the door that reads ‘ESSEX COURTHOUSE’ I stood there frozen by the magnitude of the situation, that and the snow. Eventually we made it in, Parris and Betty sitting in the audience, while I was seated behind a desk close to the stand.

We all sit and stand, and sit again as this bigshot Judge comes in, Raymond McCarthy. I look around and find Proctor and his lawyer sitting across from me, half of Salem scattered about, and a jury of people I’ve never seen before, a new audience. Two idiots scribbling away, one writing and one drawing. How is this different then church? It’s a bunch of people dressed nicely, sitting around, and following orders.

The judge starts
“The court presents the matter of Williams v. Proctor, a civil suit filed by Miss Abigail Williams against the defendant, Mr. Jonathan Proctor. The charges allege sexual coercion, emotional manipulation, and conspiracy to harm the plaintiff through religious and psychological abuse. The plaintiff further contends that this occurred within a context of baseless accusations and mass hysteria”

Giles Corey steps in
“Your honor, Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, This is no ordinary trial, but the most ordinary trial there is. Now I may just be a lawyer from South Boston, but my client has been sexually coerced, victimized, and traumatized by the defendant John Proctor. If the jury has even an ounce of empathy between them, they would see that my client is the victim. Not only by the hands of Proctor but also the fundamentalist conservative accusatory society of which she presides that set the stage for an elaborate witch hunt. I rest my case”

Oh yeah! I got this in the bag! The judge talks to Proctor’s attorney before snapping back to me.
“Your honor, This case is frivolous, The Plaintiff has failed to provide any proof of her accusations. It’s Only fair to the Defendant that the case be dismissed with prejudice”

More legal jargon was thrown back and forth. Lawyers sure do have a way of turning each sentence into a paragraph. I sat and waited for anything relevant to be said.

Giles Corey stood up and walked toward the judge “Judge McCarthy, Are you a religious man?”
“Aye, I am Catholic” The judge said
“Objection! Relevance!” Proctor shouted out
“Overruled” the judge continued

Giles took a step back and faced the jury “I think everyone in this room can agree, There forces of evil tempting today’s youth into lust and villainy, Where I do believe that Proctor is undoubtedly responsible for the crimes committed, he is also a victim to the unholy virtues promoted by today’s society”
The judge raises his eyebrows, the jury murmur among themselves.

Some time passes and Corey calls in for character witnesses. Mary Warren walked down the hallway to the judge.

“Mister Judge sir” Mary Warren says “I was with Abigail the day of the incident. John Proctor has been her crush for years, he was aware of that. He used that to his advantage, He cast a spell on her and coerced her into se… um… premarital situations. You see sir, Proctor revealed to Williams that he is an atheist, who is more easily tempted to Satan’s virtues than us Christians!”
“Ojection, Relevance and character” Proctor’s lawyer cried
“Sustained”

Warren went to sit back in the audience, The wench herself Elizabeth Goody took to the stand.
“Your honor, this is a gross miscarige of justice. We are CHILDREN. We should be doing homework, playing sports, and watching movies. But instead we are dragged to court and made to defend our livelihoods. All that being said, The Plaintiff, Miss Williams, has accused me and many others of horrible crimes, leading to suspension, social ridicule, and isolation. All due to me dating her crush”
Corey interjects “Objection, Relevance and character! The past actions of the plaintiff have no bearing on the sexual misconduct the defendant is accused of”
“Sustained” the Judge ruled

The last witness takes the stand, Betty
“How old are you, Miss Parris” the judge asks
“I just turned 15 a few months ago!” betty responded
“And what do you know of the incident on September 29th, 1989?”
“I know that my cousin, Abby, went to John Proctor’s house after he told her to, they did a sex together, premarital, and in order to make it not a sin… He proposed to her!”

The courtroom ruptures in quiet murmurs and chatter

“Objection, lack of evidence,” The lawyer says
Proctor screams “That never happened! Williams is delusional!”

Betty smiles, She knows something the rest of us don’t
“Your honor, Proctor proposed to her with this ring!”

She holds up a diamond ring, Proctor never gave me anything like that, I take a closer look at it and recognise it. It’s the ring of the late Misses Parris. It’s usually placed next to her memorial picture in the dining room. Good job Betty!

The jury leaves and comes back, most of the people in the room do. Once everyone came back, the Judge ruled in favor of the plaintiff, that's me! John was escorted out of the room by the local police. I began to smile, knowing that I’m not only morally and legally in the right, but also about to be RICH!

I head outside with Giles Corey, waves of reporters come up to me and ask me questions.
“Miss Williams, How does it feel to be the youngest woman to win a civil lawsuit in Massachusetts”
“Miss Williams, What’s next for you?”
“Miss WIlliams, May I have your autograph?”

I did it! Not only did I win the lawsuit, but I am now FAMOUS!

Chapter Text

I am finally the queen of Salem. Proctor and the wench are taken out of the way. Everyone making the school a living hell have been expelled. And best of all, Uncle Parris finally respects me. He doesn’t compare me to Betty anymore, doesn’t say things like that I’m not his “real daughter”, and he hasn't laid a finger on me in months. I go to school, come home, and everything is peaceful… too peaceful.

I pick up the newspaper written about the trial, the victory, the testimonies, the courthouse drawing. I can’t help but feel like I somewhat missed the circus. Maybe even a small stupid part of me that misses Proctor.

I put down the newspaper and headed to the kitchen where the phone is, I flipped through the contact book until I found Giles Corey. I called his number.

“Mister Parris?” He answers
“Nope! It’s Miss Williams!” I respond
“Abigail! How’s my little cash starlet?” He asked
“I’m good, fine really… I think it’s time to file another lawsuit. Against the school this time. It’s a cold isolating environment that brainwashes people into the cult of puritan thought” I put out there, I barely understand what I’m saying
“Listen Williams, Last suit we caught lightning in a bottle, the right judge and jury foolish enough to believe what we were selling them” What? Does he have any idea who he’s talking to? The court LOVES me!
“Excuse me? You wouldn’t want me to turn on you and file a lawsuit. I know how corrupt you are and soon the whole world will too”
“Ugh, I’ll see what I can do” the exasperated sigh of someone who knows their place in the world.

February turns to March, March to April. The snow slowly melts and is replaced with flowers and life. I continue going to school and communicating with Corey to build a case with any evidence I can use against the school.

Eventually, the date and we head out to Boston. An even bigger courthouse, busy streets of people and cars bustling about. I'm wearing the same black church dress I wore last time. We head inside and the case begins.

New Judge, new jury, bigger audience.

“The Supreme Judicial court presents the case Williams versus Massachusetts. This civil claim lawsuit states that the private organization, Puritan United Christian High School, has failed to protect Miss Williams from physical and emotional harm”

Corey makes his opening statement, before the lawyer defending PUCHS does. I recognize him but don’t know where. Then it hits me like a truck. It’s superintendent Hathorne

“Your honors, Puritan United and the New England Puritan School District has done everything in it’s power to ensure the safety and prosperity of it’s students…you see the plaintiff is a woman who refuses to take any personal accountability for herself, and instead, decides to lash out at the systems protecting her. She is unreliable and unstable, her testimony is nothing but lies and baseless accusations”

“Objection!” I yell "Irrelevant character assassination!”
“Overruled. Miss Williams, you are not an attorney, you can not call for objection” one of the judges scolded me
“But!” I cry
“Interference” another judge ruled

What’s happening? I’m doing the same thing that happened last time, what am I doing wrong?

“Let me do the talking, okay Williams” Corey told me, before speaking to the judges
“Your honors, The school was negligent in allowing physical abuse at the hands of Mister Samuel Parris, her Uncle and adopted father, along with the school allowing John Proctor to commit crimes victimizing Miss Williams”

“Objection” Hathorne interrupts “The school is not responsible for unproven proof done outside of the school, nor the crimes committed between two parties who happen to participate in the school”

Oh shit oh fuck. This isn’t going as intended. I’m not given the opportunity to talk. Just sitting here being a damsel in distress. Why did I even come here if I was going to be embarrassed like this. I should have just been happy with the legal victory I had. If I had a time machine, I’d go back to when I never thought about filing this second suit… Oh fuck, what if I loose? I’m going to be arrested, I can never show my face in Salem again.

I start sobbing uncontrollably.
My entire life is falling apart, this is so embarrassing, but maybe the supreme court will see that the trauma is real and to be taken seriously.

Hathorne chimes in “As you can see, your honors, The plaintiff is a woman not of logical reasoning, but one of emotional paranoia. She has mood swings and lies for convenience. Likely untreated insanity that poisons her mind and those around her”

What the hell? What’s happening? I’m being called insane? They’re calling me a witch but using legal jargon to make it sound non secular. I know this game and it’s not fair!

“Bring in the character witness” one judge says

Betty skips down to the stand in her little grey court dress

“Miss Parris, have you witnessed any misconduct at the hands of your father, Mister Samuel Parris, or from the school upon Miss Williams” The judge asks, this will show them! I’ve been way better to her then Parris has been
“No, your honors. Abigail hasn’t faced any misconduct at the school”

Excuse me? Now I know how Jesus felt when Judas betrayed him. Betty was the one person in the world I considered family. Now that tie is ruined. After she was dismissed she came crawling back to me
“Sorry Abby, I’m just doing what Parris wanted me to do…”
“I have no family.” the only words I said. She left and went back into the audience.

The jury leaves and comes back. The lawyers rule in favor of the school district.

I lost.

As everyone leaves the courthouse, I stop Giles Corey.
“What…what happened?”
“Look kid, We had a good run, but you tried to get your hands into something bigger and more corrupt then we are. We lost. You were crushed under your own weight, the last thing I need is more weight”

Fuck. What now?

Chapter Text

I return to Salem defeated. The school is an empty hollow shell of what it once was. Betty and I are living together, but barely on speaking terms with each other. It’s May and there’s only one month of school before graduation. But why even bother at this point?

One day, I just can’t take it anymore. People in Salem silently judging me. Betty coldly abandoning me, Parris dismissing me as “His niece who tried to sue the school”

Fuck them, all of them.

After school one day, I packed all the clothes and cash I have into my backpack. Waited for nightfall and Parris to fall asleep. Then I snuck into his bedroom, stole his keys and stole his car.

Barely knowing how to drive, I slowly tested the different petals and managed to make my way out of the driveway. After that I started to pick it up pretty quickly, I don’t know why women aren't allowed to do this but men are, it’s easy.
I drove around aimlessly, but deep down I knew where I wanted to go. I pulled over to the side of the road near Proctor’s house and slept in the car.

The next morning, I studied the map in the glovebox, wrote down directions to the men’s prison in Middleton. When I arrived there, I was intimidated, the large stone boxed in the building with bars locking everyone in. knowing that on the other side were all the murderers and perverts who were detained.

I park and walk into the visiting area. Take a number, and wait.

After some time, Proctor walks in wearing an orange jumpsuit. Sitting behind a thick wall of glass. He picks up a phone. I make my way to the booth and pick up the phone on my side of the glass.

“I should have known that you’d be the first person to visit me here. Believe it or not, I am happy to see you Williams” He said, his voice muffled through the glass
“John Proctor, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss you. Now’s our chance! I have enough cash from the lawsuit, I can bail you out! We can start our life together in the Cambridge countryside!” I say excitedly
“You don’t get it, do you” he said looking away from me “Look at were we are, I’m in PRISON because of you, Williams. You ruined everything. My relationship, my future, my life…” He started getting mad and wrestling his shackles “You ruined my name, my reputation, it is the only name I have and I cannot have another” he cries
“Bullshit, You know you can legally change your name, divorcee lutherans do it all the time” I reply
“Even if I did change my name, even if you did bail me out, we wouldn’t have a future together. I was a fool for ever trusting you. I was fooled again thinking you were here to apologize for what you've done.” he said, now looking straight at me
“If anything, you're the one who should apologize to me. You had premarital sex with me in a town where Puritan law dictates everything.”

“I suppose, I have a question, Williams, Why’d you do it? Not the sex, but everything else, the wiccan rituals, the lawsuit, the endless accusations… Do you believe in any of it? God, magic, your own delusions?” he asked
“I did what I did and believed what I had to to survive. The Puritan Church, the Wiccan Cult ritual, all of it is bullshit. Scared desperate people trying to make sense of the broken world around them. Using their own faith as a tool to betray and abandon each other. The only thing I did was realize how the game was played and used that to my advantage. If I didn’t point the finger, the finger was going to be pointed at me, like it has for the rest of my life. I don’t know if there’s a God, but if there is, he abandoned us a long time ago” I answered

“Why me? Of all the people in Salem and the world, Why’s you choose me to be your scapegoat?” he asked, looking intently at me
“You were my favorite person, John Proctor, The first person I ever fell in love with. I don’t know if it was ever reciprocated, but what I felt for you was real. A part of me still loves you. Now, I don’t know what to do. I want you in my life but we keep hurting each other, and we both can’t live like this”

“So what? You saw that the town was a circus, so instead of shutting it down or leaving, you became the ring leader. You’re just as corrupt and power hungary as the people you claim to be better than”
“Maybe so, but I survived, didn't I? The circus never ends. I tried to do what I could, I sued the school and failed. As long as there is inequality in the world and women to blame for it, the circus lives on. Time and time again. The world is on fire, putting it out gets you burnt, so might as well sit back and watch it burn”

“I can see why you people like to believe in hell. If there was any justice in the world, the universe, You would be imprisoned, and I would be walking free”
I shrugged and hung up the phone.
I stood up and started to wave, mouthed the words ‘Goodbye John Proctor’ and got up and left, he was escorted by the prison guards, presumably back to his cell.

I got back in Parris’s car, and drove off into the distance.

Chapter Text

I drove down interstate 95 for days. stopping in motel rooms, gas stations, and restaurants until I made it to Miami. I sold Parris’s car to the shadiest dealer I could find, was paid in cash, and decided to use that money to take the train back up the coast.

Swamps, plains, mountains, the likes of which I’ve barely ever seen in Salem. It was nice not having to drive, sit back and enjoy the scenery. The sun rose over the coast and set into the mountains. It was peaceful, made me think for a fleeting moment, maybe the world isn’t burning.

Eventually after riding past the might and towers of New York, I made it back home. Not Salem, but Boston. Months have passed since the trial. Nobody recognized me, which worked to my advantage.
I used the money I had from the lawsuit and bought a condo in Roxbury. There I started working odd jobs, waiting tables, housekeeping, babysitting and such. Eventually, I did the one thing Proctor could never do, I legally changed my name to the one I’ve been using for all my documents in Boston, Ava Wilson.

I read in the Globe that eventually, PUCHS did shut down. ‘Salem Charter School Closes Doors for Good’ Too much heat from the lawsuits I presume so they decided to shut it down. Betty probably transferred to another private school, or possibly, God forbid, a public high school. Either way, I’m happy she doesn’t have to graduate in that abomination of a district.

I got a fake ID claiming that I’m 21, and faked documents showing that I graduated High School. I got a consistent job working at a bar where nobody knew my name. It was good company, and I could have a filthy Irish catholic beer now and then.

I kept reading up on different lawsuits and legal cases, and eventually enrolled into Roxbury Community College as a law major.

I applied and applied until someday, I finally got accepted. I’m going to be a real Lawyer! Take THAT Massachusetts supreme judicial court! I’ve been studying and learning ever since.

After a while, I met a guy, fell in love, and after a few months we broke up. I begged him to take me back and he rejected me.
After that, I decided to do something I’d never thought I’d do…Go to therapy.

I was starting to put my adult life together, a job, school, therapy, and for once, I felt like I was not only surviving, but thriving!

That was until one day, I got a letter in the mail I wasn't expecting. It was from Beth London.
I opened it up.

‘Dear Ava Wilson,
Everyone here assumed that you were dead, but I knew better! The second I graduate from St. Vinny’s I’m moving to Boston. I hope we can talk when I get there. I miss having my sister around! Love ya Abby!
Sincerely, Beth London, formally Betty Parris’