The Melting Pot
(This Is A Combination Of Two Of My Favorite Works: Arthur Miller's The Crucible And X-Men. It Was Written For An English Assignment The Previous Year. I Hope You Enjoy It.)
The Melting Pot
Pt. 1
North Salem, New York (Salem Center)
Narrative
It was mid-fall in the small suburb area of North Salem, New York. The moon was full, and the wind was due south as far as the residents could tell. A group of girls sat in the woods not far from Salem Center with Ororo Munroe…it was hard to decipher what exactly they were doing out at close to midnight with only a fiery pit to illuminate their faces. A standby individual could just barely understand the chants that Ororo seemed to be spilling as she waved her hands around in the air frantically, the girls repeating after her. Erik Lehnsherr made his way quietly through the woods after discovering his daughter and niece missing out of their shared bedroom. He followed the sounds of what seemed like maniacally laughing from young girls to an opening within the woods. The trees grew sparse and the fiery pit in the middle was all but burned out but he could perfectly see the improperly dressed girls sporting the nude and yelling gibberish as they ran in circles laughing and saying things that made no sense to his ears.
“What is going on here!” He yelled. The girls froze in their places and looked at the intruder before their brains processed the situation. They all began screaming, collecting their clothes and running off through the trees. Ororo stood in shock before silently disappearing behind the tree line before Erik could spot her. Erik turned his darkened eyes on his daughter and niece, Amara Aquilla and Raven Darkholme.
“I ask again,” he starts, “what in the heavens are you doing out here?” He grips the edge of his nose and closes his eyes trying to calm his anger. Amara opens her mouth to speak but before any sound could leave her lips she faints and hits her head onto the mossy ground. Erik runs over to her side shaking her, “What is wrong with her?” He questions the silent Raven that stands wide eyed behind his form. She says nothing as he picks Amara up in his arms and carries her home.
She didn’t wake at all that night and Raven didn’t sleep. Her uncle didn’t question her right then, but he would ask when the time was proper. What could she say? She couldn’t tell him the truth? The village would have her head for it, they would have all their heads. A silent timid knock crept upon the silent room and it opened to reveal the pale face of Mr. Lehnsherr. “Have you no sleep?” He mumbles to Raven whom shakes her head.
“Has she waken yet?” Again she shakes her head. “The village is a wire about this.” He cuts his eyes at her face for a second as she swallows hard.
“It was just a mistake.” She murmurs barely audible to the only occupant who could hear her at the moment.
“A mistake to be running around sprouting nudity in the woods and creating havoc!” He thunders.
“There was no nudity to be found.” She states firmly.
“Are you calling me a berk?” He sounded.
“Not at all sir’, I’m just telling you what I know.” There was no detecting a lie within her voice.
“You tell that to the town that awaits to hear the news. My Amara has never fallen sick, now this…she must awake soon. Do you know what the town is considering?” He stood moving to glare down at Raven.
“No sir’, I do not.” She said holding her ground.
“They’re thinking mutant behavior!” He bellowed.
“No way, we don’t dwell with the supernatural Uncle, it is forbidden, we would never.”
“You dare strike lies with me.” He struck a palm across her cheek.
“I do not sir’, we would never condemn that life upon ourselves. They would surely hang us for it.”
“Then what is it you done?”
“My name in the village is white sir’, I never done no wrong. I am pure.” She states fiercely leaving him no room to object.
“So is my little Amara.” He turns away and kneels back beside her bed.
“Mr. Lehnsherr, you must come quick sir.”
Raven stayed by Amara’s side as Mr. Lehnsherr rushed away with Mr. Tolanski to his home, apparently his little Amanda was just as ill. A spiking fever every so often, chills the next, eyes open but other than that nothing. She seemed so lifeless, just as his Amara was. Mr. Drake stood off to the side in the Tolanski’s small home. He’d already checked both girls and could not figure out anything that could possess them to be in such a dream-like state.
“What is wrong with my baby, Mr. Drake?” Mrs. Tolanski asked for what seemed to be the millionth time.
“Nothing I can see Mrs. Tolanski. She seems perfectly healthy in all other terms.” He turned to look at Erik, “Have any of the girls spoke of what happened in the woods.”
“I’ve only talked to Raven and she proclaims it was nothing but fun of the sorts. I do not understand it myself Bobby.” He shakes his head leaving the room with the other patrons following behind him. “Why would the girls be in the woods that late?”
“I sent my daughter.”
“What?” Erik turns to stare at Mrs. Drake.
“I sent my daughter,” she repeated, “to talk to Ororo.”
“Why?”
“I believe Ororo can help. I’ve lost a many children Mr. Lehnsherr and I don’t want to lose my Amanda.”
“How can she help?” He asked more than confused.
“I believe Ororo can speak to the dead.”
“That’s ludicrous,” he waves his hands dismissing her claim.
“What do we do?” Katherine Pryde asks. The group of girls that were once in the woods together stood in the Lehnsherr’s house in Amara’s room as she laid in silence.
“We do nothing.” Raven states looking at all the girls.
“I say we tell the truth.” Anna Marie voices.
“They’ll kill us, don’t you get it. Let them find at all what we did in the woods, we’ll be charged for it. Our names will be blooded.” She said standing and walking over to the group looking at all of them. She grips Anna’s arm tightly squeezing it as she speaks, “If you even speak of this, I will make sure you never speak again. We did nothing in the woods but sing the God’s work. We are the Lord’s people and we do not worship in any evils or mutant behavior. Understood.”
“Understood.” The girls chorused in unity.
“Byt mutantem,” they all looked over at the voice.
“Amara!” Raven exclaimed happily moving closer to her bedside. “You gave us quite the scare.” Amara didn’t look to her cousin as she shook upon the bed before standing up and moving as if she was being dragged. No emotion shone in her face, her eyes still closed. The other girls stood in fear, yet Raven pushed against her younger cousin. “Amara stop this, stop it this instant. You’re grating us all under the heat!” She yelled slapping her. Amara didn’t seem phased as she walked around her cousin.
“I can’t believe its what they’re calling it.” Charles Xavier said. He was a Professor in the town and Erik called for him first chance he got to get his highly graced opinion on the matter.
“They’re afraid for the village sir’, what this could mean for all of us.” Erik spoke just as another voice shouted over his as if wanting to be heard.
“Jestesmy rozni. Nie ma duszy…nie musi nas ukarac!” They all looked up in shock.
“Is that not your girl Mr. Lehnsherr?” Xavier asked pointing at the child in the up story window flailing her arms as other girls tried to restrain her. Was she trying to jump?
“It is I believe sir, she is awake then I must say.” He said running into the house.
“Byt mutantem!” She repeated her earlier notion before she was pulled inside by the other girls.
“Amara quit it,” Raven grinded out through clenched teeth as she pushed her back onto her bed where Amara passed into unconsciousness again.
“Amara!” Mr. Lehnsherr shouted bursting into the room. The girls moved back as he flopped to the ground beside his daughter taking her hand in his. She said nothing though. “What happened?” He asked no one in general.
“She awoke and started muttering ludicrous notions before passing out again. She’s obviously ill sir’.” Raven said curtly.
“You must be ill child, I have gave roof upon your roots and yet-”
“We mustn’t speak of this now Mr. Lehnsherr, but what is at cause now.”
“There is nothing at cause now. I want you all to go.” He doesn’t let them say anything more on the subject.
“Do you look for more Logan?”
“I am to be with you no more Raven.”
“Is it because of ‘her’?” She spat the word her in reference to Jean Gray, Logan’s wife.
“It is because what I may have had with you was just a infatuation in time.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means that I have no wish to be with you more.”
“Is it to protect your name, ‘fore your name already be blackened.” She muttered.
“My name only be blackened if you dare air voice upon this topic. But, yet you do that, do know your white name will be dust upon as well.” He slants his eyes at her.
“I’ll not speak a word of this but you mustn’t think we didn’t have anything Logan.”
“We didn’t, I’ll not try to remember me obscuring with an infant.”
“Infant!” She shouted. “How dare you Logan, that is below even you dare to shoot. I am not infant, and you mustn’t treat me as so with the things you have bared upon me. I am no infant in any way shape or form.”
“I do not mean to insult you so earnestly but merely to let you see that you and I are to never work, especially as you state these claims.”
“There is to be no claims. I know for sure there is no mutant behavior here sir’. We’d never bless it upon ourselves, we were just having fun.”
“You are only of lies, I wish to not hang within your marked presence. This is goodbye Raven.” She doesn’t move as he places a solitary second kiss upon her forehead and walks away. Raven’s eyes turned into slits as she watches him go. Her mind running thousands of miles ahead of her.
“There’s reason to this, my child doesn’t just happen to fall ill after lollygagging in the woods at night. There’s a problem here. The other parents are saying that their children are having tremors of sorts, weird things are happening.” Kurt Wagner voices as the older patrons stood gathered around the front of the Lehnsherr’s house.
“I just say the girls are going through a phase, their eggs are roasting. They’re young Mr. Lehnsherr. I tell you not to speak of dancing within the line of mutant behavior. You’ll cause a riot sir’.”
“What other possibility is there Mrs. Drake?” Mr. Lehnsherr questions rubbing his face. “He who not believe in mutant behavior say ‘I’.”
“I,” only five of the residents voiced.
“What about you Logan?” Mr. Lehnsherr asked looking at the silent man in the corner almost hidden from view.
“He believes in no mutant behavior.” Kurt stated.
“Is this true?”
“I have no view upon the topic either which way.” Logan replies.
“What does your niece have to say upon the matter Erik?” Mrs. Drake asks.
“She doesn’t say much, she says that they were only singing the God’s song and they would never have punished themselves within the Lord’s outlaws.”
“I fear I must rid myself of what I must see coming,” Mrs. Drake starts, “I will not be here to watch a child hurt if I do say so myself. I wish you all the best and myself I should add as well.”
They all watch as Mrs. Drake turns away followed closely behind by Mr. Drake.
Mr. Lehnsherr stood before Raven again, this time the anger more prominent in his features. “This is getting out of hand child. I will send you away, you’ll not lie in my home. I want to know the truth, what were you doing in those woods.”
“I told you-”
“Don’t you dare.” He interrupted.
Raven sighed and her eyes seemed to fall darker and glitter in the dawning light. “There was a fire, Ororo wanted us to learn. She was teaching us. She proclaimed she was of one with her kind now. Her hands would wave and so would the wind. She wanted us to touch this fire, magical she would have us chant.”
“I told you I wanted the truth.” His brows furrowed and he raised he palm prepared to strike her.
“It is the truth!” She shouted. “I promise you no lie at all sir’, Ororo, ask her she must tell thee truth of it.”
Erik grasps her by her arm and hauls her with him out of the room.
“Tell them.” Erik orders.
“Ororo, she has them under spell. She put upon the mutants on us.” Raven mutters wrapping her arms around herself.
“Heaven forbid I have no hold on this child, I never pressed my palms into mutant behavior.” Ororo calls out.
“She’s lying.” Raven whimpers looking up. “See it, see it with your own eyes.” They all follow her line of view to see the clouds rolling south and the wind picking up and slowing down.
“That is only a storm on the edge of brewing here.” Ororo exclaims. “What power could I have to fluctuate with Mother Nature.”
“Are there anymore?” Mr. Lehnsherr asks ignoring Ororo completely.
“Anymore?” Raven asked timidly as if afraid.
“Were there any others. Who else is pursuing in mutant behavior?”
Raven’s eyes cast around the room before landing back on her Uncle. She takes a deep breath before speaking, “There was Ms. Adler and Mrs. French as well.”
Shocked cries were heard throughout the room.
“This is ludicrous, who could possibly believe this child.” Mr. Tolanski called out.
“I swear to it Uncle, they come for us when we are sleeping. I have nightmares and wake haunted and cold; scared as they tell me things and what to do to the people here. I will not. I won’t do it!” She cries pointing at Ororo.
The news swept through Salem Center like a bomb. Things only seemed to be getting worse as the days wore on. Raven began picking out other people and saying how they coaxed her and the girls to behave so. The town was in growing uproar.
“You must do something Logan.” Jean pleaded.
“What do you want me to do?” His eyes roamed over her face searching for something.
“Tell them it is not true Logan, that Raven is lying. You know it not to be mutant behavior.” A barely heard knock sounds upon the door neither move for a second as the interrupter knocks again.
Jean moves to answer the door as Logan still stands.
“I’m sorry to come so unannounced but I have something for you.” Anna held out a small cylinder shaped paint can.
“Paint?” Jean raised an eyebrow at the young girl.
“Oh no,” Anna laughed shortly, “I noticed your garden was starting to dye out so I brought you some seeds I just didn’t have anything else to put them in.”
“Ahh, well that was sweet of you Anna. Thank-you.” Jean walks inside and sits the can on the shelf before returning to the porch.
“It was nothing really, I also felt you should be informed that there be to it 39 of them now.”
“39.” Jean gasped.
“They’re gonna hang Ms. Adler and Mrs. French was sent to jail.”
“Oh my, Logan do you hear of this. Why, why child?”
“Ms. Adler did not know of her Ten Commandments. No child of God mustn’t know that. It only leaves one option, she fell into the Devil’s work and done mattered with mutant behavior.”
“I believe no such thing, that is horrible. What of Mrs. French?”
“She confessed to it. She told the court herself that she held power and placed her hand over us to get us to join her and the rest of them. I say she done it and she did. Logan,” He stares in Anna’s eyes, “You mustn’t hide it, your wife will suffer within this midst.”
“She’ll only accuse me to play home with my husband.” Jean says less than happy. Anna frowns and shrugs as Charles Xavier appears.
“I hope you not to believe this Professor.” Jean states before he could speak.
“I’ll not have a side in these trials Jean, I only wish to warn the both of you. It doesn’t look good Logan, they’ll probably be looking to you next. You not show your face around church anymore.”
“I’ll not show my light where only a dark man seems to reside. I wish not to see Mr. Lehnsherr and my wife be sick at the time too.”
“As you say sir’, but you mustn’t allow your judgment to belittle your name and show up in church to clear any notion that you may be acting within these behaviors as well. Mrs. Drake has already been charged.”
“They are lying sir’. These notions are fake. Raven told me so herself that the girls had done nothing in mutant behavior.”
Professor was about to respond when a wagon pulled to a stop in front of them. Sam Guthrie hops off of it removing his hat and stepping towards the quad.
“I regret to inform that I must take Jean in.” Guthrie replied solemnly.
“Who accused her?” Logan thunders hopping down the stairs and closer to Sam.
“Raven Darkholme, sir’.”
“That-that-”
“It’s alright Logan,” Jean places a hand upon his shoulder. “We knew it to come, what accusation sir’?” She asks Sam.
“You’ll have blackened her roots malady. She says you to have paint here.”
“I have no paint here sir’. I’ll not have painted anything in a many years.”
“I must see for it myself.” He walks through the group and inside the small home only to come back moments later with the can Anna had just not even given Jean 25 minutes earlier.
“Oh, those are plant seeds sir’.” Jean exclaimed.
“No seeds in here Jean, just a half can of black paint.” He held the open can over towards her so she could inspect it herself.
“You said it to be seeds Anna.” Jean accused.
“Raven told me they were.” She blurted out.
“That girl will be the death of us all, she is evil and wishes to kill us all. I’d never have done a wrong and yet she accuses me of this doing. I’d murder her for it.”
Guthrie grabs Jean’s hands gently placing binds on her wrists. “Under the court and by law you mustn’t utter any word-”
“Let her go!” Logan bellows. “This is absurd, my wife have done nothing wrong. She is a pure woman, that Raven lies. They all do.”
Guthrie places Jean in the back of the wagon and gets inside and starts moving away as Logan continues to shout behind them. He starts running after the wagon before stopping.
“You must tell them the truth,” he grabs Anna’s shoulders and glares at her. “Tell the court you are all lying, there is no mutant behavior to be seen here. My wife is innocent and you know it as well. I will kill you all before you get anyone to lay a hair upon her.” He threatens.
“I will sir’, I will. I didn’t mean anything of this. I’m sorry.” She sobbed as he let her go.
“You must let my wife go sir’, we’ve been welded for 54 years and counting. My wife never placed any hands within mutant behavior as long as I’ve known her. All I see she does is write.” Kurt says.
“Write?” Jason Wyngarde asks.
“Yes, as far as the mind can see. She writes stories, solitary notes, poetry, I believe as well.”
“Have you ever read any of these writings?”
“I have not sir’, she is very secretive with her works, I wish not to push her. It is her hobby.”
“That is ignorant of you sir’, I see fault here. Your wife is obviously tampering with the art of mutants.”
“I strictly do not-”
“Mr. Wyngarde!” Mr. Drake exclaims bursting into the courtroom followed by an collected Logan and pale Anna. Everyone turns to watch them as they take quick stride down the short walk up to Jason’s podium.
“Mr. Drake, you know not to disrupt these meetings unless,” Mr. Wyngarde begins.
“It is important sir’, we have proof that these accusations these girls proclaim onto our people to be false.”
Everyone began talking at once as soon as the words left Mr. Drake’s mouth.
“Silence,” Mr. Wyngarde ordered before turning his eyes onto Bobby. “where is your source?”
“Right here,” Logan mutters pulling Anna closer and in front of the podium.
“What are you here to tell, my dear.”
“I-it-” She turns to look at Logan.
“Tell him.” He mumbles.
“It isn’t true.” She gasps out.
“What isn’t true?” Mr. Wyngarde leans forward in his chair.
“None of it, there is no mutant behavior to be found.”
“You’ve lied before the court before, why must we believe you now?”
“I’ve talked to my Lord, I’ve known truth all along, I wish not to ruin the lives of my friends.”
“Believe her, look at the proof in this. Women we’ve known the whole of our lives suddenly charged with a crime they couldn’t have done in with. In what behavior have you ever seen them possess except elegancy and warmth?” Logan speaks.
“They do not wish for us to see them, so they attack our children instead.” Jason addresses to the small crowd. “Why fight for these attackers against our own faith, your wife for one, she bears seed.”
“What? That must isn’t true.”
“But, it is. We not touch your wife till’ she birth if you drop these lies you have brought to the court.” He bargained.
“My wife not be touched regardless, I am to help fight for my friends whom have done no wrong. Others of the town agree,” Logan pulls a folded paper from the pocket of his jacket, “they have signed here for you to see that they know the women of Salem Center are of good and only good.”
“He’s openly placing a rain over the court sir’. I say we summon these individuals.”
“You will gather no one, they wish to live their lives in peace and not play linebacker for what is surely to be a death note.”
“Without salted evidence I do not wish to see your paper sir’, you could have very signed those names yourself.”
“That’s blasphemy, Logan would never, you only wish to condemn us all. You seek no truth in this matter. Kill us all will ye’!” Kurt exclaims angered.
“I say you let him get all his evidence and come back sir’. There is no hold for him now. He needs time.” Professor says to Wyngarde trying to help Logan. He didn’t know what was really happening but doubts were beginning to form in his mind of what the girls were doing.
“Not just let,” Wyngarde responds, “bring forth the other girls.” Mr. Alvers leaves out the room to gather them.
“You do say you tell the truth no lie.” He states turning to Anna, she nods moving over to Logan’s other side as the rest of the girls enter led by Raven.
“There has been a charge against you all,” Jason eyed all the girls, “ everything you speak is of lies. Is this true, that might you instead be bargaining in the hands of evil.”
“I have been only good natured as a resident here. I bring forth truth and let it only be truth. I’ve done no wrong, do you wish to tell me I lie before you. That I hinder my own name by causing this. That these happenings are only fake, do you?” Raven’s angered voice carries over the room as she stares down Wyngarde.
“I do not wish to lessen your name in town but purely to ask what has been told from source, Anna.” He gestures a hand over to the quiet, immobile girl looking anywhere but at Raven.
“She lies sir’, she sees to it herself. She knows it.” Raven says.
“No sir’, she lies. I cannot let anymore harm come to anyone. I am a good man sir’ but I have had my fair doings and I may not be a fully christened man anymore. But, this child is lying to you all. She is nothing more than a whore.” Logan speaks out.
“What are you trying to say Logan?”
“There is lechery to be found here. I’d have left my wife for some time as she lay sick to do home with Raven. Now, she wishes to continue what I have ended by killing off my wife.”
Murmurs flowed through the room as they listened to Logan. “Is this true?” Jason asks.
“I wouldn’t blacken my name with a lie sir’. You may ask my wife, she know to it as well sir’. She never lies, she only speaks truth.”
“Bring in Jean.” The court waits silently as Mr. Alvers returns again but with Jean this time. She looks around and focuses her eyes on her husband.
“Look at me,” Jason orders. Jean turns to stare at him before her eyes carry back to her husband. “I mean it, look only to me and nowhere else. Do you know of your husband?”
“My husband is a good man sir’, he’ll never intentionally do a wrong.” She says through tight lips.
“Tell me, has your husband foul played with this woman, Raven Darkholme.”
Jean’s eyes ghost over her husband. “Look at me.” Her eyes snap back to Jason.
She takes a deep breath before blowing it out. “No, sir’.”
“That is all, take her out.”
“No! I already confessed to it Jean. I confessed!” He shouts as her open eyes gaze at him and begin to water. She mumbles ‘no’ and shakes her head as she is pulled out.
“She only wished to keep my good name sir’, she didn’t want to tell on me.” Logan pleads.
“You are silent child, what do you respond to this?” Xavier asks Raven.
“It is not true. I wish not to meddle in other’s lives and disrupt relationships. There is only-” Raven’s voice cuts off as she jumps back before dropping to the ground and holding her head. “Make it stop, stop it!” She screams. The other girls fall seconds behind each other grasping their heads to as if in pain. Jason scrambles form his chair and stands before the group of yelling and crying girls.
“What is happening here?” He question no one in particular. Everyone watches on in curiosity, fear, wonder, astonishment, and anger.
“Anna, stop it!” Raven shouts. Everyone turns to stare at the shaking form of Anna as she watches wide-eyed.
“What are you doing!” Jason yells pointing his finger at her and then to the girls.
“I’m not doing anything.” She replies.
“I’m not doing anything.” The girls mock.
“Stop it!” She yells stomping her foot.
“Stop it!” They repeat.
“Stop it this instant Anna.” Jason calls.
“I can’t.” She whimpers.
“I can’t.” The girls whimper.
“Quit!”
“Quit!”
Anna screams and runs out the courtroom, the girls following behind her. Logan follows quickly and soon after the rest of the room.
“I didn’t mean to,” Anna screams.
“Don’t Anna, tell the truth. God will never accept you again. You know this is not true, they are faking.”
Anna gazed silently at Logan as if trying to communicate something for a short second. “He made me do it.” She mutters turning to Jason and the rest. “He told me to lie. They did do into mutant behavior. They had us believe it was only for fun.” She cried. “He wanted me to lie to you to save his wife, I wish not to lie. He is of mutant behavior as well. He is the devil’s man.” She raised an accusatory finger at Logan.
Logan shook his head before stepping back.
“Is this true?” Jason questions tilting his head.
Logan looks up to the sky and then back to all the people, more of the town had gathered as they heard the girls screams. “Yes, I have dug my hands where they should have never been. I am no child of the Lord’s, I only speak what the Devil wills me too. It is of all of you that will die.” He laughs.
“Arrest him and Kurt too.” Jason orders. Both men are grabbed and their hands are bonded before being tossed in the back of a wagon. “Take them to the jail.”
“This is ludicrous, I will no longer hold a part in this!” Xavier yells before turning on his heel and walking away.
The days seemed to conjugate together from then on. Life in North Salem was beginning to dissipate. The community was falling apart. Streets were bare and no one seemed to have any care for the next day. The trials wore the town under. But, things seemed to suddenly change.
“I don’t believe this,” Erik muttered to himself. He was robbed blind. Nothing left, and why, he didn’t want to believe why. He surely knew they needed it to escape but this wasn’t good, no, it wasn’t good at all in his eyes. Word was already spreading, the girls had left town. Some believed they were guilty for the deaths of people who have already been hung by their lies. Erik believes they left in fear.
There was but one individual who knew the full truth. He’d left town those weeks ago only to visit a town nearby called Lustrum. They’d gone through the same thing of sorts. But, they proved the girls to be faking and that only meant that the girls in North Salem were as well. So, the girls decided to disappear before they were caught and hung themselves.
Erik knew the town would create havoc over this. A riot would come to be, Logan and Mrs. Drake at the lead. He had to get the court to see his point before anyone else got to them.
“We are not to let this drop.” Mr. Wyngarde said running a hand over his face. He seemed older than he was at the beginning of the trials.
“But, there is proof the girls were lying all along.” Xavier replied.
“What do we do, just let everyone else in jail go after already hastily ending the lives of others. What dos that look like?” His stubborn nature showing through.
“How about we just get the ones left to confess to the nature of the incident.” Erik stood up moving forth.
“Why, we could just kill them and end this for once and all.” He pointed out.
“Those are innocent people sir’, we can’t just end their lives. Even if one of them confesses, I’m sure they all will come forth.” Xavier said.
“That’s only wasting more time my friend, they’ve teetered with the law and must pay for their doings. There will be no more stretching this.”
“They’re paying enough in jail. Logan’s tied to the wall and forced to stand for days and nights with barely anything to feast upon. The town’s falling flat sir’, its monitor will flat line soon.” Xavier explained. “I came back here to help and I will do so. Logan will confess and you will grant that. He’s being a man holding on to pride but it’ll be less of a sin to just lie and confess to these tales cast upon him.” There was no room to object.
“Bring in the wife.” Mr. Adler left again to bring back Jean. Erik was silent staring at the ground as Wyngarde and Professor seemed to glare at one another. The doors opened to reveal the sunken face of Jean as she walked forward slowly before stopping.
“Jean,” Professor began. She looked over at him. “I need you to get Logan to confess.”
“I can’t.” She replies immediately.
“You’ll be sent to hell!” Jason thunders.
After very little contemplation Jean finally agrees to talk to Logan, she promises no confession from him but at the least she could talk to him. They grant her that time leading her down to his cell and inside.
“Oh, Logan, what have they done to you?” She whispers as she moves to his side. She unbinds his arms from the wall and helps him slide to the ground.
“It’s nothing.” He mumbles barely able to talk. His mouth was dry and he hasn’t spoken a word since being sent to jail. “Just a little torturing here and there.” He waves off.
“That’s not nothing.” She insists grasping his hands. “I’m just glad you’re still alive.” She cries.
“What is it?” He questions.
“Kurt, he’s dead.”
“Kurt,”
“He wouldn’t confess, he wouldn’t say anything after they took him to jail. He was silent. They tried to force it out of him. They would put him under and bring him back up. But, yet nothing. They held him under far more than they should have, he died Logan. He died right there.” She sobbed. “You must confess Logan. Just tell them you did it so you’ll live.”
He looked away trying not to look into her eyes as she begged him to confess.
“Make sure you write down every word.” Jason says as Logan admits that he was ready to confess. “We’ll put it up on the church doors before everyone is up.”
“Why must you write it down?” Logan asks.
“So everyone believes a confession has been made.”
“Isn’t you hearing it enough.” He stated.
“The town needs to know.”
Logan sighed before diving into his lie which was pretty believable. If anyone was in doubt that he possibly did delve into the demonic arts they wouldn’t be at hearing his confession. He was pure evil, no Lord in his sight. When he finished and the pen to paper stopped moving all was a silent for a moment.
“You must sign it now.” Jason says holding out the written confession to Logan.
“No, I will not give up my name. It is all I have left. You know it is mine, I need not my friends to know.”
“You must sign this confession unless you heed to deny it.”
“I deny nothing but my name need not be taken.”
“Then this confession is false.”
“Logan,” Jean pleads.
Logan breathes hard as he grasps the paper from Jason. He looks at everyone before casting his eyes onto Jean. He mumbles a quick and quiet ‘sorry’ only meant for her ears as he rips the paper into tiny pieces.
“No!” Erik gasps and Jean cries out at the same time.
“You throw it away like that, your life just gone?” Jason mutters.
“It would not be the best life anymore. I will protect my name and what I believe. I am to reside with my rights and it was a lie. I am innocent and I will remain to be so.”
“You’ll hang for this.”
“I’ll hang as a innocent and die with the rest of them then.”
Jean doesn’t move as Logan is taken away to be hung. The room is quickly emptied leaving her alone as she walks towards the window and looks out. She closes her eyes as his life is taken away. One stray tear escapes her eye as she reopens them to look out the window. The sun begins to rise in the background. Casting a new light over the town as birds fly across the sky chirping a new tune.
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