Gretchen

By Douglas White

16 year old Gretchen Russell is student at Martin high school who spends most of time with her friends, Linda, Tara, and Debbie. The girls decide one afternoon they would take a trip to the old Martin Cemetery to visit a gravesite of witch. Gretchen at the last moment decides she does not want to go the witchs grave site, because she has a fear of the unknown. Linda and Tara insist she goes along with them. They go to the cemetery and they find the witches gravesite. The girls stand around the grave and they talk about the witch and her past and the curse written on the headstone. The girls convince Gretchen to read the curse and they tease her about the consequences for reading the curse. Gretchen begins to believe the curse is real and she is convinced the witch is coming for her. Gretchen decides to go out on her own and challenge the witch and try to rid of her. By trying to find ways to send her spirit back to her grave and trapping her there forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543447835

Douglas White

Douglas White was born in Elkins WV, He grew up in Wheeling WV, and he graduated from high school in 83, He also spent sometime living in San Diego, Ca and Seattle WA, and now resides in his hometown, In 2006, He began writing and spent the next several years writing both fiction and nonfiction stories, Diary of a 20 Something Hitchhiker is the first book that he just recently published,

Book preview

PROLOGUE

T HE JAILER OPENS the door and he orders Elisabeth Noyes to come out of her cell.

‘Come witch. He said. It’s time to go to the pole."

I will not go with thee. She said falling to the floor on her knees.

He walks over to her; he grabs her by the arm. Get up witch… lets go. He said striking her with a rope…

She screams while struggling to free herself from him. No. She said. Get away from me. Let me be free. I am innocent.

He became violent. He pulls her up to her feet and shoves her out of the cell room.

She falls to the ground and she tries, but unsuccessfully to crawl away. He walks to her and he forces her again to her feet. He held her arm tightly as they walk towards the angry crowd.

Move along witch. He yells. Striking her, It’s your day to burn at the stake.

Minister David Hetherington standing next to Constable Richard Bainbridge was watching as they were bringing Elisabeth to them.

Is everything ready? Minister David said.

Yes. Richard replied.

Tell your men to bring the pole, and some rope.

Yes Sir, right away. He answers.

The crowd was very disruptive and out of control, angry people would spit on Elisabeth or they would hit or strike at her as she walk passed them. Her face was cover with blood and bruises and her clothing was torn.

The people would chant. Kill the Witch or Burn the Witch as the execution of Elisabeth Noyes was upon them.

Abigail and Beluga was standing away from the crowd. Beulah would cry, as she watched her sister walk to her death. Abigail was quiet and tearful, because she knew that on this day, she would never see her mother again.

Beulah placed her hand on Abigail shoulder. She looks at her… We are leaving England in a few weeks… child. She said.

Where are we going? Abigail replied.

We are going to the New World.

"Why?

We can start a new life there. She said. And we can put the old ways of England behind us. There in the New World we can be free to worship our own religion without being persecuted.

Elisabeth stands before Minster Hetherington. He raises his hand, he orders the crowd to silence.

Here—we have before us…a Witch. He said. This woman has been doing work for the devil, and has been spreading evil among us, and God has spoken to me, and he has told me this witch must burn at the stake on this day July 11. 1688. Proceed with the burning. He shouts.

Elisabeth was shaking as the men were tying her to the pole. Fearing was racing through her body. She was thinking about the pain, they were just about to inflict upon her. Six men raise the pole, and they place it in a deep hole. She screams wildly as the crowd was out of control.

Constable Bainbridge took the torch from the man standing in front of the pole and he tosses it onto the pile of wood.

Flames quickly rose. Elisabeth let out piercing screams. She could feel the intense heat surge through her body.

Beulah and Abigail drop their heads as they wept. The crowd cheered as Elisabeth the witch was burning. Elisabeth body fell from the pole onto the burning wood. Abigail and Beulah walk away from the execution weeping. Elisabeth body was taken from the ashes. Constable Bainbridge orders his men to take Elisabeth body and bury her with the other witches.

Several week had passed. Beulah sold her home and most everything they had owned. Beulah and Abigail had boarded a ship and they had set off to the New World. They were nervous but hopeful the New World would accept what they have to offer.

Beulah and Abigail arrive at the New World. They settle in the village of Salem, Mass, and Abigail was reunited with her sister Dora.

Dora came to the New World several years earlier. She stayed with Beulah’s aunt Sara until she passed away last year. Dora had been living in her great aunts cottager just outside of Salem. She had moved to the New World, because she had feared that someday she would be accused of being witch, and she would burn at the pole, just as many other women did in the Old Country…

CHAPTER 1

T HE FINAL AFTERNOON bell rang. Kids began opening the doors, rushing out of the building, into the schoolyard. Tara and Debbie were standing at the bottom of the steps waiting for Linda and Gretchen to come out.

The girls were planning to go exploring that afternoon to investigate an old legend which lies at a cemetery, that was abandoned many years ago…

The sound of car engines, loud music and boom boxes had made it difficult for Debbie and Tara to hear one another.

Tara took off her sweater and she places it in her duffle bag. She combs back her dishwater blonde hair and she puts it into a ponytail.

Where’s Gretchen and Linda? she said. Aren’t they are coming with us?"

Yes there coming. Debbie replied. I saw them walking out of Miss Armstrong’s class.

I hate that class. Tara said. I can’t get any grade higher than a C in her class. A pair of large hands fell on her shoulders. She jumps, and she screams.

Jeremy was standing behind her. He lets out a big laugh.

You asshole. She yelled.

He laughs.

Hey Jeremy what are you doing?

I’m headed to practice, what are you girls doing?

She places her arms around him and she kisses him. She smiles as she steps back away from him. We are going to the cemetery. Do you want to come along with us?

Gretchen and Linda came out the door;

Tara, Debbie, and Jeremy, stop talking. They watched Linda and Gretchen walk down the steps as Gretchen was talking loudly to Linda.

Jeremy laughed again when he had seen Gretchen. What are you going to do at the cemetery? He said.

We are going to see about a witch that supposed to be buried there. Linda answered."

The Abigail Noyes witch? he replied.

Yes that’s the one. Tara said.

I heard that, she wasn’t a witch at all, according to legend. He said. That story has been told all over town. Most of these old folks say, there supposed to be a curse stamped on her stone, so who’s going with you?

Just me, Linda, Deb and Gretchen. So do you want to come with us?

No, I got practice. I will call you later.

She kissed him and he smiles as he walks away from her.

She turns her attention towards her friends. Well we need to get going. Tara said. I have to be home by six.

Gretchen stood there with her lips pressed together, with a look of uncertainty on her face. She was an above average student and she easy going and she was popular with most of the female students. But she wasn’t too popular with the boys. Because she felt, she was an unattractive girl. She thought because of her red hair and her freckles and her thick large framed glasses, her looks scared most boys away.

She was beginning to have second thoughts about going to the cemetery with her friends, and it was; she had a fear for cemeteries, ghosts, witches and horror movies.

The girls began to walk together towards the street.

Gretchen just stood there with her arms clichéd tightly around her books, watching her friends walk away. Tara had discovered when the got to the sidewalk, Gretchen was not with them.

She and the others had turned around and they saw her standing there looking at them.

Gretchen are you coming? Tara said.

No. She said softly.

What’s wrong? Tara asked.

I don’t like witches.

Nothing is going to happen to you. I promise. Linda said.

I have to be home. Momma will get worried, if I am late.

The girls began to make an effort to get Gretchen to go with them. Gretchen was being fearful and stubborn and she was making excuses as to why she did not want to go along with her friends to the cemetery.

She finally gave in after a great deal of convincing and she went with them. She was not too keen on the idea of going. But she went with them, so she would not hurt her friend’s feelings.

Gretchen and her friends had arrived at the old Martin Cemetery and they walked around the cemetery until they found Abigail’s grave.

The girls just stood there, looking at the gravesite and the old headstone placed at the foot of the grave. The headstone was worn and chipped and the writing on the stone was barley legible.

Gretchen was nervous, when she approached the gravesite. Is there really a witch buried here? she said.

Yes. Linda answered.

Tara kneeled down and she brushed the dirt away from the headstone. She stood up and she looked at the headstone.

Hey. She said. Look at the date on the headstone. She was buried here in 1692 and this is 1992, that makes it 300 years, and look at the grave next to hers. That’s Dora Noyes grave.

Who is she? Linda asked.

Dora Noyes was Abigail Noyes sister. Debbie said. She was the founder of Martin. I read something about her in school. She was originally from Salem Mass. Her sister Abigail was accused, and she was tried as a witch. She had placed a curse on the town’s people of Salem, before she died.

So, how did she die? Linda asked.

They said, she died from dog bites. Debbie replied.

Gretchen stood quietly and she looked at the grave in fear. She didn’t want to be there. She thought.

Hey, I think we have been here long enough. She said. I have to be going home. I have to start on homework.

You’re not getting scared, are you? Gretchen Russell. Tara laughed.

No, I’m not. She shouted at her. I just want to go home.

Gretchen do me a favor first, and then we will leave. Tara said.

Gretchen’s face was beginning to turn red. She was upset with Tara. What do you want me to do?

Read the curse on the stone out loud, and then we will leave.

I will not. She replied. She turned and she starts walk away.

Linda and Debbie ran up behind Gretchen, they grab her arms and they walk her over to the grave.

Gretchen stood in front of the headstone; she was scared. She was worried something was going happen, if she read the curse.

Tara kneels down, she pulls the brown grass and weeds back away from the foot of the headstone.

She stood up and she looks at Gretchen. Ok Gretchen, there’s the curse. She said pointing at the headstone. Read it, and we will leave, and I promise you nothing is going to happen. She dead, and many of the towns people have read the curse, and nothing has happened to them.

Gretchen took off her glasses and she rubs her eyes. She felt like crying, but she held back her emotions, in fear, her friends would tease her. She put her glasses back on and she looks at the headstone.

She reads the curse aloud.

The girls began to laugh at her.

She looks at her friends, as she shows an emotion of bitterness towards them. I have read the curse. She said. Now can we go home?

Yes, we can leave now, Gretchen. Tara said. But first, I want to explain the curse to you.

Tara, you had promised, that nothing would happen me.

I know. I did. She laughs. But something did happen.

What happened, She cried. Please tell me.

You have awakened Abigail’s spirit.

How do you know this Tara? I didn’t see anything.

I know this, because I read up on her myself, and it is written, that anyone who says the curse, and stands in front of a tall mirror at midnight, and says Abigail’s name. She will appear in the mirror, and she will take your soul.

I don’t believe in that junk Tara. So stop teasing me, and let’s go home. She demanded.

Tara and the girls was not about to let up on Gretchen, when they knew she was getting her worked up.

Don’t get scared Gretchen. She said. "You have nothing to worry about as long as you stay away from mirrors.

Gretchen kept quiet and she ignores their teasing… She starts walk out of the cemetery in anger as the girls follow behind her.

They had continued to tease her about Abigail’s curse and how she was going to get her before the night was over. She believed she was doomed and she felt there was nothing she could do to stop the curse. She wanted to cry, but she thought she would wait until she left her friends, and she was at home.

CHAPTER 2

G RETCHEN HAD TAKEN her time getting home, after she left her friends. She wonders in the streets, crying and thinking about the ordeal she had at the cemetery. She got home around: 7, 30. She enters the house from the rear, because she did not want her family to see her in the state she was in.

She sat at the kitchen table thinking about what Tara and Debbie had told her.

Gretchen’s mother, Ann walks in the kitchen. She sees her sitting at the table with her head down and her arms spread out a crossed the table, acting as if she did not notice her.

Gretchen you’re home. She said.

Yes—Momma. she replied,

Where have you been, I was worried. I called Tara’s mother, and she told me Tara wasn’t there either.

I was with her Momma.

She didn’t like the tone of her voice. She walks to her. She places her hand on her forehead and she tilts it back. Dear god Gretchen, what happened to you face? Did someone beat you up?

No, Momma. She said quietly What happened to you? Have you been crying?

No.

Erin, Gretchen’s older sister walks in the kitchen to see what the commotion was about. She stops and she is shocked when she sees her sisters face. She places her hand over her mouth. Ole my god, what happened? Daddy, come quickly. She screamed. Gretchen’s hurt.

He rushed into the kitchen. He saw her face and he went to her quickly.

He placed his hand on her face. Gretchen what happen to you. Did someone hurt you?

No, I’m fine daddy. I just had a bad day.

What is that stuff all over your face? He asked.

It’s my make up daddy. It ran down my face. I was sweating, when I was running with my friends. I’m ok.

Are you sure? he said.

Yes, I am fine. I would like to go to bed.

Ann walks to the sink, she gets a wet paper towel, and she washes the make up off her face. She lectures her about her coming home late and she told her about what she is to do the next time she plans to come home late.

Gretchen stood up, she kissed her parents on the cheek, she took her books off the table and she went to her room, and she got ready for bed.

She did not want to tell her parents about where she had been or what had happened at the cemetery. She knew they would be upset. She was forbidden to go around places, like the cemetery or to have anything to with horror. Because they knew, it had given her nightmares.

She climbs into bed and she pulls the covers up next to her face. She peeks out through the covers at the long mirror on other side of the room. She was curious about Abigail, and the thought if she really existed, had tormented her mind.

She got up and she walked slowly towards the mirror. She mumbles to herself in fright. She stops at the mirror, gaze into it, and she looks at her own refection. She was trying to get the courage up to say the words that would bring Abigail Noyes, into her world.

Abigail. she whispers. She puts her hand up near her mouth and she steps back from the long wooden framed mirror. A tear streamed down her face. She was frightened. She got back into bed, pulls the covers over her head, and she just lies there thinking, Abigail was coming for her.

The alarm clock rang. Gretchen turned off the alarm; she got up and she got dressed. She was not feeling too well, from the lack of sleep. She worried all night that she was not going to be there in the morning. Her mind was cloudy and her thoughts were racing a mile a minute. She slowly staggered her way down the carpeted stairs to the kitchen.

Erin and her mother were in the kitchen eating breakfast and having a conversation.

Gretchen walks in. Good Morning Momma. She said Good Morning sweetie. Do you want some breakfast? Ann asked her.

No, I’m not hungry.

She picks up her books, walks towards the door and she says goodbye.

Ann stopped her before she left. Gretchen Russell you come back here. She shouted.

What’s wrong Momma. She asked.

Come here, and let me comb your hair. I don’t what’s been bothering you Gretchen, but you haven’t been yourself, since you come home last night.

I’m all right, she answered.

Ann picks up a comb and she runs it though her hair sharply. She screams a few time’s from her pulling the roots of her hair.

She finished combing her.

There. she said. You look much better. she kissed her on the forehead. You can go now sweetie, have a nice day at school.

She smiles at her as she picks up her books off the table, and she leaves the house.

Gretchen arrived at school early.

She went to her locker, she placed her purse and jacket inside the locker, and she took out the things that she need for her first period class.

The locker door slams shut.

She walked down the hall way as if she was alone. Some of the students had said, hello to her as they walked past her. But she just ignored them as she walks to her first period class.

Tara, Linda, and Bonnie were standing near Tara’s locker. They were talking about the day that was just ahead of them while they were watching Gretchen walking up the hallway. Gretchen walks towards them. She could see them laughing as they were carrying on.

She walks near them.

Tara glances at her, while she was listening to Bonnie. She is stunned when Gretchen walks past them.

Tara turns and she screams at her as the other girls watch. Gretchen, come here. She