An accused witch in Salem had essentially three options during the Salem Witch Trials:

1. Confess and plead guilty: Confessing was the best way to avoid execution. Those who confessed were considered to have broken their pact with the devil and thus became "harmless" in the eyes of the court. They were not executed but were sent to jail. Confessions often led to further accusations against others. However, confession was also seen as a sin that could damn one's soul, so it was a grim choice between physical survival and spiritual salvation.
2. Plead not guilty: Many chose this to save their soul from sin, maintaining innocence before God. If convicted after trial, however, they faced execution and confiscation of their estate. Pleading not guilty was risky since the court heavily relied on spectral evidence and witness testimonies against the accused, making acquittal unlikely.
3. Flee the colony: Some accused witches tried to avoid arrest or escaped from jail. This was illegal and difficult for those with deep roots and family ties in Salem, but it was a last resort for some, particularly outsiders.

The accused faced overwhelming pressure with spectral evidence, legal coercion, and community hysteria. Confession, while sparing them from death, resulted in imprisonment and social damnation, whereas maintaining innocence risked execution. Fleeing was difficult but sometimes attempted as a desperate measure.