Chapter 10: Eric's struggle
Alphi stood there in tears, she wanted to walk up to her father and comfort him. She wanted to chase after her mother and question her, but she could only watch helplessly.
Eric was broken, he didn't know what to do or how to explain that he had been living with a witch for years without ever noticing.
"Is that why she always wore long sleeves?" he said to himself.
He wished this was all a bad dream and he would wake up soon. He moved over to the crying child.
"You won, Anna, it's a girl. Now could you come back?" he cried, holding the baby to his chest.
"I'll listen to you for as long as you want, I'll do whatever you ask. Just stop this game and come back. How am I supposed to raise Alphi alone? We had so many plans. You don't get to just leave, that's not how it works."
At this point, Alphi was shattered. She felt useless.
She's watching the whole thing unfold. She knows how it turns out in the future. She finally knows her dad's past—but she still can't do anything.
"All I do is cry," Alphi said to herself. "I've been trying to find out what happened in Dad's past, and I'm right here—it's happening in my presence—and all I can do is watch?"
She hit the wall as hard as she could, helplessly watching everything unfold.
Everything that had happened attracted so much attention from the neighbors, and unlike Leniva, humans weren't ruled by kings or queens. The humans had a government that was in charge; they had certain punishments for certain behaviors, and they had a council that foresaw the conduct of each community.
Soon, night came, but Sarina never returned. She was just gone. Eric still had hope. She would never abandon me like that, he thought. She has to explain herself and why she did what she did. I know she is not evil—she had to have a reason. And just saying 'I'm sorry' isn't going to work, he said to himself as he tried to feed little Alphi.
"Just come back, Anna. I don't care if you're a witch, you're still my Anna, and I love you," he muttered to himself.
As baby Alphi began crying again, he tried to comfort her.
"It's okay, Alphi. It's okay. Daddy's here, and soon Mommy will be too."
The news spread like wildfire. Some people even exaggerated the whole situation, making the matter worse. Eric was too mentally drained to care about what everyone was saying. To make things worse, Stephen had traveled out for a business trip and wasn't going to be around for a while—and Eric desperately needed someone to talk to. He didn't go to work; he just stayed home, looking after Alphi, since all the nurses had quit. They didn't want to be involved in the whole situation.
The news reached the council in Eric's community, and after just two days since the event took place at his home, Eric received a letter summoning him to the council house. He knew what was coming for him, but there was no way out—at least none that he knew of.
It was much like a court case, except Eric had no lawyer and no one to speak in his favor. But there were a lot of people ready to speak against him.
He got to the council house with Alphi in his arms; he couldn't leave her alone at home, so he took her along. As he arrived, he was greeted with stares of rejection and disapproval; some even went as far as calling him a traitor. It was so hard to believe that the community he had loved so much, worked for, and cherished had all turned against him in just two days. It was truly heartbreaking and saddening. The council members were all seated on the high table, with the chairman in charge of judging Eric seated in the center. The place was packed with people who desired to witness Eric's judgment. Eric stood in the center of the people and the council members, still holding little Alphi in his hands, as the judgment began.
"Eric Briggs," the chairman called.
"Yes, my lord," Eric answered.
"I believe you are aware of the reason for which you were summoned here?" the chairman asked.
"Yes, my lord," Eric answered.
"Now, without further delay, your questioning will begin," the chairman announced.
"Yes, my lord," Eric answered.
"Is it true that you were married to a witch?" the chairman asked.
"Yes, my lord," Eric answered.
"Not only that, you also had a child with her?" the chairman asked.
"Yes, my lord."
"As a member of the Briggs family, who are renowned witch hunters, I'm sure you are aware that it is an abomination for any human to associate with a witch or wizard," the chairman declared.
Murmurs could be heard in the crowd, people saying different things and criticizing him.
"Yes, my lord," Eric answered.
"What do you have to say in your defense?" the chairman asked.
"I didn't know," Eric replied.
"You didn't know? How long have you lived with this witch we speak of?" the chairman asked.
"About four years," Eric replied.
"Four years—four whole years—and you expect me to believe you didn't know? Do I look like a child to you?" the chairman asked.
"I know it might seem like I'm lying, but it's the truth. And no one is more disappointed in me than me. Since you know that I'm from the Briggs family, you should also know I left that family. I'm not a witch hunter," Eric responded.
"Is that why you did this? To dishonor your family name?" the chairman asked.
"No! How many times do I have to tell you? I didn't know Anna was a witch," Eric replied.
"Sure you didn't. Okay, be honest—who's going to believe that?" the chairman asked.
Eric was silent for a while, then he responded, "I don't know, but it's the truth."
The chairman stared at him for a while before asking, "And what do you plan to do with the child?"
"Well, what do people do with their children?" Eric replied.
"Your question session is now over, and your judgment will be passed out in a while."
People in the crowd were shouting, "He's guilty!" while others just watched silently, but their gazes said it all. Women were already gossiping, and Eric could only wonder what he had done to deserve this.
In a few minutes, the chairman and the others returned to determine Eric's fate.
The chairman spoke, "After the questioning of Eric Briggs, and as the law demands hearing what he has to say—Eric Briggs, you have been found guilty."
Alphi was fuming with anger, but her powers couldn't activate in this world. She was screaming, "He's telling the truth! Why don't you believe him? After everything he's done for all of you? You all ate at his wedding, he has helped each of you—and this is how you repay him?" She broke down in tears. Nobody could hear her.
"No wonder he changed so much. Who wouldn't after this? Useless... I'm so useless. Once again I'm right here, but I can't do a thing."
Eric knew this was going to happen. The questioning was just a formality—his fate had already been decided long ago. But hearing the words, he just went blank. He couldn't say a word; he just stared in despair, confusion, helplessness, anger.
"As punishment, you have been banished to the Forbidden Forest, and you must never return to this community. Your pictures have been sent to other communities, so don't try to go to anyone. In an hour, your house will be destroyed, and you will be executed along with the child if you are still here by that time. Case closed," the chairman announced.
Eric stood up, not saying a word, and headed out like a zombie. People threw things at him, spat at him, but he didn't react. He got in his car, drove home, put some supplies in the car, and headed out to the forest. He and little Alphi lived in the car. He did his best to take care of her, even though most times he didn't want to.
He blamed it all on Sarina, and he developed a strong hate for witches. His house was burnt down along with his factory. When Stephen returned and heard of it all, he was pissed, but there was nothing he could do. He went to search for his best friend. When he finally found Eric, they both broke down in tears. Eric told him everything. He couldn't believe it—the same Anna he laughed with, that was always so kind to everyone, was a witch.
He helped Eric build a small house, and they had a secret meeting place where he stacked drinks for Eric. Eric took care of Alphi like his life depended on it, but when Anissa came back, he changed. He had an emotional breakdown and started to maltreat Alphi.
Alphi remembered. That's right, he used to take care of me. How did I forget? After everything, he still kept me.
Alphi's time in her father's memories came to an end, and she was quickly pulled back to reality.