My vision is blurred and the ground won't stay horizontal. The dirt below my feet is cosplaying as the ocean and I'm getting seasick. There is nothing in my stomach left though; I haven't been fed since I got thrown down into that disgusting dirt hole to await the verdict of my trial.

It's like Alice in Wonderland; they had the sentence first, and the verdict afterward.
They had made up their minds.
They would have caused an 'accident' even if the general populace disagreed with them.

Their justice was their god, and I am Lilith.
And they were compelled to worship like monks.

***

One foot in front of the other—bare.
I'm still in my nightgown; they invaded right before I went to sleep.

I have nothing anymore, but my pride and my crimes, and the chains that will drown me in embers.

I dare it; I glance up. Make eye contact with everyone. They are shouting for my death, and I can't hear it but I almost can because of the sheer hatred in their eyes.

I am deaf, did you know?
And therefore I was shunned.

***

When I was a child, no one wanted to play with me.
So I devised plans to make them love me and to make it look effortless.
But then my parents died and I had no safety nets.
And then I saw how no one came to the funeral.

Like they would do for dead travelers or unknowns.

I saw what they cheered for, so I couldn't care less about their heckles.

***

I took over my parent's property, and with it, the library.

My father was a botanist; a medicine man, if you will.
One thing that I ended up learning was that any medicine in the wrong dosage was poisonous.

I sold the illicit plants that I grew for others' revenge.
I became a hermit.

And what they saw wasn't a relatively harmless woman, but a witch.

Someone told the men about me,
And I learned it a few days before they invaded.

So I had time to prepare.

***

My feet smacked the splintery wood at the base of the platform.
I was so docile with the entire process.

I knew I was dying today, and I was happier about it.

I even let a couple of smiles slip out.
Wasted on this ravenous crowd.

I hoped that I could unnerve as many as I could with my eustress.

I kept my eyes downcast, and my steps forceful. Ignored jostling. Ignored this suffocation.

They broke a rib or two with their rope.
They are very scared of me.

I was fixed to the pole, and I couldn't stop my giggles.

I kept them quiet though. Just gasps of air that bled with excitement escaped my lungs.

They said their spiel and lit the match.
I fixated upon its dance, and as it jumped over to feed on the wood below me.

***

I planted many things when I found out.

Many many fun things.
Deadly things.

Painful things.

I haven't slept in a while, but no one noticed.
My parents would be disappointed, but I don't care anymore.
I'm going to hell, but it won't be different from now.

***

Flames lick at my ankles. My feet have been burnt and the skin is melting off.

I feel nothing but glee. I am too tired to hide it anymore.

***

I planted everything I had along the water sources. The river and the well.

So many petite graves, pre-dug.

I sprinkled a bit into the farm animal's slop too.

I even planted ivy along the walls of all the houses.
Just to annoy them.

I had planned this for so long because it's not like they were subtle.
I could read lips and what I read was nearly imputable.
Gossip, lies, hate, fear.

Something to create conflict out of nothing, because their lives were so devoid of purpose.
They should be happy that I just solved that problem for them!

***

The flames have corrupted my dress now. My blood is running down into the wood and along the pole in little rivulets that go through droughts so quickly.

I make eye contact manically.

This is your fault.

This is all your fault.

This is what you deserve.

Unleash the pestilence.

This village has been rubricated and they can't tell yet!
My smile is melting off and it won't tamper my joy.
I lock my jaw together to stop screams from pouring out.

***

I hope they remember me as a villain.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wikiWitch_trials_in_England