Maat gripped the metal bar of the window. Gazing forlornly at the full moon. As if asking for it to help her escape.


    “Haaa…” a sigh escaped her mouth. “My last full moon.”


    She was among the many wiccans caught by the mayor of Salem. Although, until this day, he did not give a reason as to why.


    Not that Maat couldn''t guess it. The mayor was a timid man. He was always worried the wiccans would take his place as a ruler. When the wiccans began to use their power to heal the sickness, or increase the yield of the crops, he was even more convinced that the wiccans were gunning for his position.


    So he cooked up a scheme. He found a corrupt priest, and started accusing the wiccans of using ghosts to enslave the townsfolk. Little did they know, it was all the corrupt priest''s handiwork all along.


    The corrupt priest, instead of releasing the souls from their resentment, had used the souls to haunt or possess the townspeople. They become scared, and therefore, believe anything the masses told them.


    “Heh, damn ungrateful townsfolk!” Maat spat out angrily.


    All those years, the wiccans had been good to the townsfolk. When there''s a drought, the wiccans perform spells to create rain. When there''s a plague, the wiccans pooled all their resources to find a cure.


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    And now, just because of the words of a priest, they just accepted it? Is all the good they have done amounted to nothing?


    “Hahahaha.” Suddenly, Maat’s laughter broke out. “They owed me their lives. So I shall collect. With interest!”


    She stood up with conviction. Under the moonlight, she began to channel her magic.


    “Daemonium!” She chanted.


    As soon as the word left her mouth, tiny sparks coalesced on her right shoulder. The swarm of sparks turned into a rat.


    “Master!” It hugged Maat''s cheek.


    “Enough! Go and stand in front of me!” Maat ordered.


    The rat was shocked. Its master was always kind and soft spoken. Who is this cold person barking orders at it?


    Still, a blood contract ensured total obedience. No matter what, the rat had to comply.


    “Tomorrow, I shall be executed. So I summoned you to do one last bidding.”


    “Master!” Tears began to flow from the rat’s eyes. “W-we have to get you out of here!”


    “It''s no use. The priest had already blessed this prison. No magic can break these metal bars.”


    “But master…”


    “Silence! I have made my decision.”


    The rat''s tears had seemingly awakened Maat. Her gaze softened, and she picked up the rat. “Isfet, you have been a good friend to me all these years. Hence, I can only entrust my final task to you. Would you accept it?”


    The rat''s eyes burned with determination. “Anything for my master!”


    Maat smiled. “Good. I shall transfer all of my magic to you. Use it! Use it to protect the wiccans! Use it to avenge me!”


    Isfet clenched his fist. “I will do your bidding l, master!”


    Mast smiled, and kissed the rat''s head. Transferring her power along.


    ###


    That night, the people of Salem were horrified. Two unexplainable phenomena appeared in the sky. A purple orb shot up, and began to fly away. And secondly, blood rain began to pour across the town.


    The people shuddered. They could feel the hatred from each drop of the rain. Little did they know, that this blood rain was just the curtain to the dread they shall face.


    Soon their crops shall wither and die. Soon, their livestock will have fallen to the barren land. Soon, the children will have gone sick.


    Tonight, let them stew in fear. So they will be prepared for the hell that will punish their ungratefulness.