The Sacrifice by Kathleen Benner Duble

they refuse, they are condemned.”
    “Then you must accuse someone else, aunt,” Abigail said.
    In the dark, Abigail could sense Aunt Elizabeth smiling.
    “And condemn another innocent to this most horrid of places?” her aunt asked. “Come, Abigail. Surely you do not mean me to do this?”
    Abigail knew it was not right, but if her aunt was not freed from here, Abby knew death would be a possibility. But then, her aunt must realize it too.
    “Nay, Aunt Elizabeth,” she finally said, steadying her voice. “Nay, I would not have you lie.”
    “Good child,” Aunt Elizabeth said. “Let me say just one more thing, then. Though release for me seems unlikely, I cannot believe that the magistrateswill hold two such as Dorothy and you. Your young age will surely convince them of your innocence. As for me, in spite of what has happened to the others, I am still determined to survive, if for no other reason then to hold my dear Daniel in my arms once more. This desire, I believe, will give me strength to find an answer as to how to effect my freedom, Abigail. Now let us both turn our minds to sleep.”
    Abigail did as her aunt asked and fell silent. But sleep would not come for her. That night she listened to the rats and her aunt’s cough and prayed for an answer to save them all.
    The food brought them in the morning was no better than the evenings meal. But Dorothy, on waking hungry, was quick to beg forgiveness of the jailer. Though he grumbled and complained, at last he gave in and handed her a bowl of the awful grub. Still, Dorothy could not resist making a face before eating the horrible mush. Abigail was glad to see her sister eat, and gladder still to see that Aunt Elizabeth’s cough had stopped.
    When the meal was finished and removed, they were left again in the dim light with nothing to dofor the rest of the day. The other women sat on their beds or on the floor and stared into the darkness. Abigail, too, sat in silence, and the longer she sat, the more she was certain she would not survive this place. She longed to cry out, to beat on someone, to wake up and find she had only been dreaming this nightmare. And though it seemed impossible to believe, she longed to have chores to do: mending, sewing, baking, weeding. She would have welcomed these things now to make the time go faster.
    Just when she thought she would go mad from it all, a light appeared above, and the jailer descended with Mama behind him. Mama moved slowly, her belly large with the baby.
    Relief flooded through Abigail at the sight of her mother. She would have a plan and news of what was being done to get them all released. Abby ran her fingers through her hair and tried to press down her dress. She wanted to look good for Mama.
    “’Tis Mama,” Dorothy said. “Let us move to the front of the cell so that she may not be aware of the chains on our feet.”
    “’Tis a good suggestion, Dorothy,” Aunt Elizabeth said as she rose to greet her sister.
    “Abigail and Dorothy Faulkner,” the jailer said, “you have a visitor.”
    Abby smiled brightly. From the corner of her eye, she could see that Dorothy was doing the same, but Mama was not deceived. Her eyes fell on the chains, and she began to cry.
    “Dear God,” she whispered. “’Tis a far more horrid place than I had even imagined.”
    “We are fine, Mama,” Dorothy said.
    “We have eaten and slept well, Hannah. You mustn’t worry,” Aunt Elizabeth added.
    Mama began pacing outside their cell, shaking her head back and forth. Abigail watched, her concern rising. This was not like Mama.
    “How can I not worry?” Mama cried. “The house seems empty without you girls. We all miss you. You will understand when you have children of your own. If I do not free you soon, I will be destroyed. It is truly unbearable for me to see you like this.”
    Abigail had never heard her mother speak like this, as if she was out of control.
    “How fares Papa?” Abigail asked, hoping to focus