Before by Keeley Smith Page A

appearing in
the room would get them killed.
    “ They are not witches!” Eli shouted, pulling at Anne whose face
was now white with fear. Her mouth was open but her screams were
silent.
    “ We have it on good authority that they are,” responded one
balding man that grinned gleefully as he pushed at Eli.
    Cora was unable to keep up with the motions. The crowd was so
big she kept losing sight of her mother amongst the heads and the
arms that were flying in every direction as they tried to grab at
the suspects. Cora caught sight of Tabitha, her long hair was being
pulled back by a man holding a rather large knife. She twisted and
expertly punched him, the force knocking his head to the side. Cora
saw the quick flash of fire in her hands and held her breath.
Tabitha wouldn’t reveal her power. She was usually the one to
enforce the law, but these were testing times.
    The fire sparked but Tabitha didn’t do anything with it. Cora
sighed and noticed her mother pushing through the crowd trying to
help Eli who was holding onto both his wife and his mother in law
as the crowds tried to drag them apart.
    Cora had lost the use of her tongue, she wanted to shout,
really she did, but if she was to utter one word they would find
her. She knew her mother wouldn’t want that. In fact, as the
thought entered Cora’s head, she watched her mother jump on the
back of a man who had ventured too close to their bubble. Jack
pulled her back and they watched as she fought like a crazed animal
to bring the man to his knees.
    He dropped to the floor and Cora gasped as her mother lifted
up her hands so she could protect her friends, her
family.
    No! No! No!
    She couldn’t reveal her element, Cora held her breath. The mob
renewed their attack leaping towards who they considered to be the
most dangerous figure.
    Her mother.
    Cora moved forward to help her mother but instantly felt like
her movement had slowed. Her head was working at the usual speed
but her limbs wouldn’t comply. Her mother had used her element on
her knowing she would do something, that she would try to help
her.
    She watched as her mother turned, assessed the situation and
then simply held up her hands for the villagers to cuff. There was
too many of them, they couldn’t fight them all without the use of
their powers. Jack and Cora were silent as their loved ones were
taken by the villagers. The last person left, leaving an eerie
silence. She held back the tears as she cast a glance around her
home. The room was ransacked; the table had been cast aside and was
smashed into small pieces around the room.
    Their possessions lay broken, like her family.
    Eli was standing at the door, he was panting as blood trickled
down his chin. He watched the crowds take his wife and mother in
law. Cora was confused as to why they hadn’t taken Eli. He had
fought and he still remained. Her mother had fought but she had
been taken. Where was Tabitha? When did she leave? Had she been
taken without Cora seeing it? Cora felt panic claw at her throat.
What could she do? What would happen next?
    The commoners would soon believe that Eli was also a witch if
he was married to one. That would lead them to look at daughters
and sons.
    “ What have you done?!” Eli cried looking at her through the
bubble.
    She shook her head, shocked by his sudden outburst. “I haven’t
done anything...” she whispered. What did Eli mean? He had seen
what had happened, she was not controlling what
happened.
    “ You brought this upon us,” Eli stormed as he made his way
towards their corner. “How else would they know who to take? They
asked for my family, not yours!”
    “ Why would we bring this upon ourselves when we were here
also?” she argued, pleading with Jack as she did so.
    Jack looked white; the shock of what had just happened was
sinking in.
    “ It’s a cover up! Alizon was only taken because she
fought!”
    “ Yes, she fought; she wanted to save them because she loves
them like her own