Anna Johnston braces herself up against a narrow beam at the end of her room. The heavy velvet drapes are drawn back away from the windows, letting the pale sunlight of winter shine through the frost-covered windows. The old black woman behind her is pulling the strings on her corset tight. She whimpers in a breathless voice, "A little tighter Renee, I need to look gorgeous tonight." Renee replies, "M'lady, you are always gorgeous. Why, that young Sandy Riedulch can span your waist with his hands, he can." Anna's face lights up with a soft smile, her eyes twinkling with gaiety. Her hair is swept up in a small bun, tendrils of a deep auburn falling gently around her face, and a glorious set of dragonfly combs that were passed down from her great-grandmother decorate the top. Renee finishes her duty and sets to work rubbing a small amount of bear's oil into her mistress's hands to make them silky smooth. Anna then steps into a magnificent dress of a deep emerald green that matches her eyes to perfection. The bodice fits her snugly, showing off her hourglass figure, and the sleeves fall just off of her shoulders, revealing the milky white skin that traces her collarbone. The skirt of her gown bells out from her hips, small diamonds decorating the hem of the skirt which trains out slightly behind her, making her seem as if she is floating as she walks. She walks to her wardrobe, her skirt making the sounds of an autumn breeze flowing through the trees on her journey. She opens the heavy door and retrieves the petite emerald slippers from the shelf. She turns to Renee. "Would you mind helping me with these Renee? I can barely sit with my corset this tight, let alone struggle into these shoes." Renee responds with a polite nod, and kneels before Anna. She slides the shoes onto Anna's dainty feet, before pulling her up softly, admiring the beauty of the child she raised from just a babe. "You look wonderful, child." She immediately noticed her slip-up of sliding back to the childhood informality and began to correct herself. "Miss, I--" Anna hushed her with the wave of a hand. "It's alright Renee, I prefer it that way. Just don't slip in front of Momma and Pop." Renee nodded. "Well child, I dare say you are ready for the ball." A smile lit up Anna's face and she checked her hair once more before exiting the room. Her posture immediately improves, and she carries herself as a lady does. She approaches the top of the wide, glamorous staircase and begins a slow decent, her smile immediately noticed by someone from across the room . . .
She stood for naught but a minute before she was approached shyly by a young man of her father's company. He stumbled over an invitation, and she gracefully accepted, politely obliging the young man. They twirled and spun throughout the room, following the intoxicating notes of the sweet music of the orchestra. His somber gray eyes watched her in interest from across the room. The dragonfly combs adorning her hair twinkle in the soft light of the room. She smiled and replied cordially to the young man when the music ended and he said that it was very nice dancing with her. For the first time that night, she stood alone. He saw his chance and snuck through the shadows.
Anna felt someone grip her tightly around the waist and pull her into the shadows. "My aren't you a lovely girl," he chuckled darkly. She grimaced at the hiss in the under-tone of his voice. She tried to pull away. "Please good sir, I must get back." He smiled mischieviously. "Oh, but you have that wrong, my dear. You have a prior engagement to attend." She flustered. "I know not what you speak of sir, and I really must get back." He stared into her eyes. His eyes glowed a bright red. Her voice was torn from her. He led her, seemingly willingly throughout the room, and out the door.
The night air pushed into her lungs, causing her to gasp slightly. A mist was rising from the ground. He led her deep into the woods. She knew not what was happening and didn't know how to react having been rendered speechless. They approached a small clearing. In the middle, there lay a circle drawn in the dirt that was surrounded by candles. The cold, dim light of the flames flickered off of her gown and the dragonfly combs upon her hair.
He demanded she lay in the circle, and when she refused to comply, he looked as if he'd been slapped. He roughly took her arm and pushed her down. She looked up at him with tears sliding down her cheeks like lonely pearls. She didn't know how this could be happening. She closed her eyes and faced the ground. She did not want to know what fate would befall her. He looked down at her on the ground. She was so lovely, so pure, so young. . . the epitome of perfection.
Back at the party, Renee was looking over the railing at the stairway. She was glancing around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the beautiful girl swirling in time to the music. Yet, she couldn't see her anywhere. She shrugged it off without a second glance, figuring she must be out of sight in the kitchen, or off with some young man. She couldn't help but notice the gnawing feeling in her stomach that told her something was wrong. . . very wrong. Servants weren't allowed at parties though, not even one in so respected a position as herself. . . "Renee you ol' worrier, calm down n let the child have a good time," she muttered, trying to ease her fears. Little did she know, what was happening not even a mile and a half away.
He pulled a blade from his belt slowly, admiring the craftsmanship as he watched it withdraw. The candlelight flickered off of it, the reflection of the flames causing the steel to glow bright. He smiled down to the weeping child before him, for that was what she had become again, such as a child.
He pulled the scarf from his pocket and proceeded to gag her with it, drowning out any and all sounds she might make. He drove two stakes into the ground, tying her wrists to them tightly. He heard her whimper and slapped her across the face, causing her eyes to go wide. He leaned down to her ear to whisper, "Hush sweetie, this won't hurt a bit." He saw the fear in her eyes. It made him even hungrier for it.
Renee couldn't ignore the feeling any longer. She rushed down the stairs and found Anna's father. "Renee, what are you doing down here?" he demanded, looking utterly embarrassed. "Massah, I can't find Miss Anna anywhere and I have a bad feeling about it." He smiled at her and chuckled. "Renee, my dear, I'm sure she just found a young man to sneak off with and steal the heart of. I wouldn't worry too much, she'll turn up." He turned back to his friends and left Renee, wringing her hands and furrowing her brows. Where could young Anna be?
He stared into her enchanting eyes as he traced the blade across the soft flesh of her left wrist. A line of crimson soon appeared in the dim light, dripping to the side. He got up and practically skipped to her other side, leaning down again to give her a kiss on her damp cheek and to repeat the same torture to her other wrist. The essence of her life began to stain the ground.
Renee grabbed her cloak and snuck out the back door. If no one would listen to her, she would go out and look for Anna herself. She only hoped that she was okay, and not in any immediate danger. She flung her cloak about her shoulders and tore off into some unknown direction. She was going the wrong way . . .
She could feel her life draining out of her. She began to get very weak. Even her whimpers had subsided, though the pain was still fresh and unbearable. His blade had cut deep and true. He sat back and watched her. The candlelight, which was dimming even more, reflecting on her cloudy eyes. Her breathing had become shallow and uneven. Her tears seeped out of the corner of her emerald eyes. Her dress was rumpled and dirty. She was beautiful. The kiss of death was inches from her lips. She looked so innocent.
Renee began to run. She had to find her. What was happening??
He took one last look at Anna, and pressed the blade against her throat softly. He kissed her lips and began to press down. . .
Renee had been out looking for almost an hour. She tore through the woods without stopping. Her breath almost exploded from her chest. Her heart was beating so rapidly she thought she might faint. She stumbled upon a sight that made her heart stop, and her blood run cold.
A circle of candles, long since burned out... The ground stained rust... In the midst of the circle lay two dragonfly combs . . .
Copyright ©2002: Megan E. Dickerson
October 15, 2002