Chapter 2: The Darkest Hour

The trapdoor beneath her creaked, and Emily's heart skipped a beat as she stood on the precipice of death. Grimstone's hands grasped her waist, and she felt a sudden jolt of fear as he began to adjust her position. But instead of placing the noose around her neck, he pulled her dress up, exposing her undergarments. Emily's eyes widened in horror as Grimstone's hands moved away from her waist, and another hand reached out, holding a small, oval-shaped object. The villagers gasped in shock and disgust, but Thorne's voice rang out, "Wait! We must be certain of her guilt. The ancient trial by ordeal must be performed." The hand holding the object, an egg, pushed it into Emily's vagina, causing her to cry out in pain and shock. The villagers gasped again, some covering their mouths in horror, while others looked on with a mix of fascination and revulsion. Thorne's voice boomed, "If the egg is clean and unbroken when it is removed, she is innocent. But if it is cracked or stained, she is guilty of witchcraft and heresy." Emily's eyes locked onto her mother's, who stood frozen in terror, her face pale and drawn. Grimstone's face twisted into a cruel grin as he slowly withdrew the egg. Emily felt a wave of relief wash over her, but it was short-lived. The egg emerged, unbroken and clean. The villagers erupted into a mixture of gasps, whispers, and murmurs. Thorne's face darkened, and he spat on the ground, "This is not possible. The devil himself must be interfering." Grimstone's grin faltered, and he took a step back, his eyes darting nervously to Thorne. The villagers began to murmur among themselves, some calling for Emily's release, while others demanded that the trial continue. Emily's heart pounded in her chest as she realized that her fate was still far from certain. The egg, now held by Grimstone, seemed to hold her destiny in its fragile, oval shape. As the chaos escalated, Emily's mother took a step forward, her voice shaking, "My daughter is innocent. Let her go." But Thorne's eyes narrowed, and he raised his hand, silencing her. The darkness closing in around her, Emily wondered if she would ever escape the clutches of the village's deadly superstition.