Echoes of Her Past
THOK! THOK! THOK! Hammers fall.
The ropes thrum at the rapid vibration. Footsteps scurry by hurriedly. The shadows of morning stretch far across the ground as a cock crows in the distance.
THOK! THOK! THOK! The building continues.
The creak of grinding timber. A dog, startled awake, barks in the distance. The raw smacking of thrown wood bores into eardrums. The steamy breath of the horses scents the air.
THOK! THOK! THOK!
The grunting of men. “Heave!” Doors begin to open. The murmur of voices spreads. The church tower sounds in the lower section of town.
DONG! The great bell rings out its creaking cry.
THOK! THOK! THOK! The structure forms around the labored rhythms.
A procession emerges from the bowels of the church. Children scamper out of the way. The horses and empty cart pull out of the square.
DONG!
Swinging incense leads the way.
THOK! THOK! THOK!
A low chant emerges from the cloaked procession.
DONG!
Dividing, the holy column encircles the square in shuffling arcs.
THOK! And the hammers fall silent.
An ancient door is thrown open. Four men, garbed in black, drag a screaming, kicking girl among them.
DONG! The peals fight against the shrieking din.
A man dressed in a blue and white robe ascends the small, raised podium. He opens his holy book and lifts his arms. The chanting lowers.
DONG!
The crowd swells and throws a host of hatred at the naked girl fastened to the stake, tomatoes, dung, stone and a bevy of curses. The leader drops his arms and the chanting rises to a fevered pitch.
DONG!
Several moments pass, and the old figure stretches one arm toward the sky, silence falling over the crowd. A heartbeat passes. And another. The girl smiles an imp’s grin, and then piss and shit blast out all over herself as she spits at the holy man.
Gasps leap from the crowd. Men and women sign the ward against evil. The holy man quickly motions to the side of the square.
A tall man in black emerges with a blazing torch.
A moment of terror crosses the girl’s face as he approaches, and then a wild, fiery look comes over her eyes as she writhes against her bonds and searches for escape.
The chant again rises to a fevered pitch as the flames leap from one piece of wood to the next with a hunger. The young girl turns her head to the sky and releases a nightmare howl as the flames begin to consume her. The scream travels high into the night and is captured by the wind…