“Everleigh.” A deep voice called to the little girl. She paused as two Angelic bunnies hopped around her feet, almost tripping her. “Who’s there?” She wondered aloud. The sky had become as dark as a shadow and the snow was blanketing the area.

“Everleigh” She heard it once more. She was just a few feet from her cozy house but being the curious child she was, spoke back to the void. “Who’s there?”

“I am no stranger to you. I hover over your house daily. I have been waiting for a time such as this.” She realized the voice was coming from the sky. The voice was the sky.

“How can you speak without a mouth?” She asked.

The lights in her house became brighter, glowing. The curtain, a backdrop, showing her Mother’s face pressed against the window with her hands on the glass as if something or someone held her there.

The Rabbits gracefully pounced on her feet and then with abnormal strength, pinned them there. Their squeaky little voices encouraged her to listen. “Look around you, nothing is what it seems and all things speak. You are in charge of what communicates with you.”

“I suppose you’re right.” The bunnies disappeared as she skipped towards the snowman, kicking up snow each step of the way.

She touched his forehead with her finger, it went deep into his icy skull. “Speak to me you coward. The Sky and the bunnies, they talk but you look at me as though I’m Ill.” Instantaneously the snowman melted, blending back in with the other flakes, leaving nothing but coal on the ground. Her Mother now beating on the glass managed to get Everleigh’s attention.

She moved towards her home and up the steps, paused and stuck her tongue out at her Mother while taunting her “Na-Na-Na-boo-boo.” The front door opened and the house pulled her in. “You are safer in here than out there. Use your common sense child.” Words so powerful coming from a structure.

Her Mother, struggling once again to pull her stuck hands free, grabbed Everleigh’s crucifix necklace, from the mantle. She took her only daughter and slipped the chain over her head. Everleigh let out a screech as it pulled her hair on the way down. “I have warned you not to go anywhere without this! Look at all of the unnecessary hell you have caused.”

I clearly remember the night Luther showed up at our home. We hadn’t a visitor in such a long while.

I peered out my window as an eight-year-old-girl confused at why the young lad stood outside in the freezing cold wearing only knickers and a flimsy shirt, carrying an old rugged brown suitcase. Though not the first child to come calling, he was the most poorly dressed.

That night at supper, He sat in silence until Vera put the rare cooked roast on the table. He swiftly went for it. A clearing of My Father’s throat stopped him. Luther cut his eyes over at me as his hands retreated.

Excused; I went to my room to change for bed. Startled by a noise in the hall way, I snuck a peep.

“Come here girl” Luther was there, his eyes fixated as he stared from the third floor window. I was not afraid.

“Yes, what is it that you want?” I asked.

“Do you see that?”

“See what?”

“The lady, in the white gown dancing through the trees?” 

I leaned in a little closer to get a better look. 

“There’s nothing there.” 

“My Mother will come back for me. She made a promise.”

“Indeed, but until she arrives, shall we play a game to pass the time?

“Okay, only to pass time. I don’t like it here. This place is chilling.”

“Hide n’ Seek then?”

He nodded in agreeance. I suggested he hide and I would do the seeking. He ran down the long corridor and once out of sight, I retrieved my Father from his Study.

“He’s hidden, Father. Come! Come!” I was beside myself with excitement.

“My precious daughter, why do I spoil you so?” 

I knew why. He loved me and every good girl deserves a treat.

“Oh, Daddy boy, won’t you find him and then I will feast? Please!”

He began down the hall, roaring, he turned back to me “One day you will share, won’t you?” His fangs protruded. I laughed with him, amused by the thought.

I heard the door to the shop open. I wiped my hands on the old hand-me-down apron my Grandmother had worn in this exact kitchen.

“Gloria, Gloria, darling.” Floella walked in flaunting her diamonds and fur, the one she had dyed baby blue in order to keep up with her Frozen fetish. I’m not talking about the weather.

She was obsessed with Elsa so much so, that she insisted I create a candy display for her Winter pageant. The one where the competitors must be blonde, blue eyed and as thin as a rabid squirrel.

I hated doing work for her but I needed the cash. This past year wreaked havoc on my bank account. I was willing to do anything to keep G.G.’s Sweets open.

“This is magnificent, your work surpasses all others, dear! I absolutely love the way you have dressed the table to look “Frozen”. She even formed her fingers into quotation marks as she spoke. “ I know the girls will adore the Rock Candy. I could have never come up with this!” I listened quietly. “Oh Gloria. Are you still jealous?” Her question did not deserve an answer.

With a flip of her wrist, she sent her debit card flying across my counter. “Take a little extra for keeping your mouth shut.” Her voice now ill. I once had been an object of her fascination. The work was sometimes grueling but I never regretted the ride in the gold carriages shaped as pumpkins.

I added a sedative to my sugar mix just as she instructed. It seemed rather harmless. Floella’s version of Frozen wouldn’t come to pass unless the girls were unaware of their acting. I only hope that she leaves the puppet strings off this time.

Once she was gone, I went back into the store room and popped in my old VHS tape. My Cinderella performance was astonishing and my scars were nearly unnoticeable after all these years.

“Jeffery, Jeffery, you can come back in! We were just joking when we said bird houses were only meant for birds.” They all sang the same tune.

As if it didn’t bother me enough that my own Family left me to be raised by a bunch of Bohemian Waxwings. I could hear them inside mocking me. They pushed me out on this limb with their antics.

We normally had a really good relationship at Christmas time but this year they were trying to put me on the tree as an ornament. A Christmas tree inside of a birdhouse, I can’t even make this stuff up! I will not be anyone’s decoration!

Me and my presents will just sit here on this iced limb and when Santa flies over, I will catch a ride with him to the North Pole. That’ll teach them.

Of course that was my plan until she came out. She was a stunning Cardinal not known to these parts of the world. She too was adopted. I loved her so. I had to keep it a secret though. We were best friends and I didn’t want to ruin that.

“Jeffery, just look over the others and their rude comments. They’ve had too much bird seed and you know how they act when they get full.” I could feel my face getting warm. I was blushing.

Sally’s beak lit up in kind of a smile. “ I will not let them do anything to hurt you!”

I gazed upon her beautiful feathers just as her foot slipped. I grabbed her and pulled her to safety. All of my presents quickly fell to the ground. We both got a good laugh knowing that none of the flock deserved gifts this year anyways.

“Marilyn Trudy Harris, you get in this house right now!” I yelled for my young daughter who liked to trollop around our field like one of the ponies her Grandfather purchased for her over the years. It had become quite the Birthday tradition. I blamed him for her inquisitive nature. He left no stone unturned where she was concerned. Her Father was a dead beat and only came around when it was beneficial for him. Therefore, my Dad compensated her with material items, she in turn viewed that as love.

“Marilyn!” I screamed a little louder so my voice would carry. Still no reply.

This wasn’t the first time my calls went unanswered and it wasn’t the first time I found myself out in the meadow looking for her. But, it was the only time I could not find her. I frantically called for my Father to come assist in my search.

After about twenty minutes we stumbled across a neat little setting; A picnic basket covered by a colorful throw with the most perfect pumpkin sitting on top.

My Father anxiously opened the basket and in it was a letter requesting he pay ransom for the return of my little Marilyn. He retrieved his cell phone to call the authorities. I stopped him afraid of what would come along with such a move. He easily had the 1.5 million that they demanded.

We followed the instructions. He was to go alone, make the money drop and Marilyn would be back at the farm before he returned.

I kissed him on the forehead and quickly went to the back to pack my own things. Once he was out of sight, I ran to my car, there Marilyn and her father were waiting for me.

We made our way to retrieve the money. My Father trusted me but I lost faith in him a long time ago. Nothing is ever for free; this was a lesson I didn’t want my daughter to learn but I knew the time was coming. Her Dad took his cut and Marilyn and I set off to start our new life.

“Woah. Woah….. “I halted the horses. Chase had gracefully fallen out of the sled when I increased the speed. 

“We have got to get out of here! I knew I shouldn’t have brought you along. I would’ve done well on my own!”

I instructed the Thoroughbreds to “Gitty up!” having decided to leave him behind. But Chase slippin’ and slidin’ in the snow still made it back to the sled.

“Why on Earth did you choose Rochester of all places to pull this heist? It’s snowy and it’s cold. I would rather be back in Birmingham.” He was once again whining like the child he was.

Chase was my older brother, though. He didn’t have good sense.

The broad animals were kicking up wet snow. Their speed was enormous. I held tight to the reins in order to get us back to the cabin we spent the night in. 

“You know why we’re here, Chase. You know whose house that was. You know why!” I screamed at him and had the right mind to pistol whip him right in the dome.

“Yeah, I know…. That house belongs to Dad, His new wife and kids.”

He left us years ago for Ms. Walton. He was more crooked than me or Chase could ever dream of being. 

He married her for the wealth.

We were both startled by a rustling noise coming from the trees. 

“I suggest you pull that sled over.” A rugged voice spoke.

The strange man sat upon his horse alongside three others and their rifles. 

I tried to out run them but to no avail. 

I felt the barrel of that shot gun in my back. 

“I don’t care why you came here and I don’t care what’s in that bag. But, Son there are three things you don’t mess with; My family, My money and my horses.”

What a fool was I to use another man’s property as transportation? I only wanted to pay back my old man for his dirty deeds.

On a dare from my boyfriend, I went and visited Madam Emile’s. She was a fortune teller on the west side of town.

The old rusted bell hanging on the door rang as I entered; alerting Madam Emile that she had a customer.

I almost laughed as she entered the room. She looked like a gypsy woman, all spruced up in her jewels and bright colors. A hat as tall as the ceiling sat atop her dark colored hair. She looked to be a magician. I suppose she did perform mind tricks.

“I have been expecting you.” Her voice aged.

“No, not me.” I laughed. 

“Yes, you dear.” We sat at a small round table in a dark corner.  

She looked deep into her Celestial Crystal ball and without hesitation began to speak.

“Your Grandfather whom you love so much has a message for you.”

“That’s impossible. He’s been dead for years.”

“Listen girl!”

“You don’t have to be rude.”

“He has left something for you. You can find it on the bench you and he shared numerous times in Central Park. You know the one.”

“Blasphemy!” I yelled as I slammed my payment down and ran out the door.

I cried as I walked down Main Street, kicking leaves from in front of me. Curiousity led me to the place Madam Emile spoke of.

There on the wooden bench sat a small velvet box. My body began to shake. The supernatural was not something I believed in.

“Marry me, Lucy?” I turned to see Vick down on one knee. 

I considered that he knew me well enough to pull this off. He listened to my every word and never forgot anything that I deemed important. I loved him very much.

Angrily, I said yes! He lifted me from the ground. His joyous laughter was contagious.

I got up and wiped the dirt from my skin and clothing though I couldn’t remove it all. I read an article on the internet once about such a thing but I didn’t believe it to be true.

I watched the giant foot ascend back into the clouds. The Earth darkened as it covered the sun. Did anyone see this happen? I questioned my own sanity for a moment.

I ran my hands all over my body to make sure I had not been injured in the “pressing” – That’s what the story I read called this event: “A pressing.”

The foot and all of its weight had smashed my frame into the Earth and then released me. I walked around the edge of the foot print to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

It was real.

The center of the impression was now fertilized with my DNA. There was a stench coming from the soil. It smelled like an old pasture full of manure. I nearly gagged at the scent.

There was nothing left for me to do now but sit and wait to see if I had become a victim. I took a seat over by the trees and watched as one by one the fall colored leaves fell to the ground and scattered onto the print – covering the turf completely. I bowed my head and wept – The process wouldn’t take long. When I finally looked back, it happened. They grew like Corn stalks, they grew quickly and they were exactly what I expected.

They hatched into tiny versions of myself but with more strength than one could imagine. They scattered off into the mountains. I knew they had gone to join the other “Press Releases” – to harm all of mankind and take from them their worth. The Universe was now acting upon its plan.

Miguel opened the porthole and let Sammy flee the ship. 

He and Sammy had been navigating these ice cold waters for nearly a decade, carrying passengers up and down the coast even though tourism in the area was becoming scarce.

The cold didn’t appeal to the newer generation.

Before the bird flew away, He turned back and looked at Miguel for a brief second – maybe it was disapproval.

I managed to escape Miguel’s brutal attack by hiding myself in a compartment near the ship’s bridge.

The countless hours he and I spent together were depressing and riddled with details of his wife’s infidelities. I was a good listener.

I believe he knew I was still living. Had he spared me because of the brotherly-love we shared?

His trigger came with a single phone call. His heart crushed once again by a lustful woman full of hate and spite. I could hear her through the phone, declaring her love for another as she packed her bags to leave Miguel or so she said.

I sometimes wondered if she got into character before dialing. Her attention seeking skills were phenomenal.

Our jobs kept us away from our families more than any of us would like.

But, it was too late now. Miguel’s jealous rage led him to do something that no one could have imagined. All of the emotional pain ripped through his mind, shredding any hope of a normal future.

He ravaged through the suites, taking with him each and every passenger aboard – Crushing the hearts of their loved ones just as his own had been mutilated. He stood back and marveled at his work.

With nothing left, he plunged himself into the frigid pool. The air now filled with a gentle chirp as his body; frozen and shocked, began to disappear under the surface. He looked up to see Sammy sitting high upon the icy tree limbs. There was something about the birds song that resembled freedom and justice.

“You are not going to believe this! I have this exact key at home! I mean what are the odds that this week’s picture posted on my absolute favorite Facebook page – The Fiction Writers Group – was going to be of my key? Now, I have to write a story about it.”

I was super excited as I showed the picture on the page to my best friend and told her how we ended up with such a key as this one.

“My Grandmother willed my Mother her Antique, Cherry Secretary. Mom gave it to Joseph a few years back. He didn’t care too much about it, He was a boy at the time. It sat in the corner, unopened. We actually lost the key and only came across it a couple of months ago.”

She stood there, uninterested in my story – until I told her what we found inside when we finally did open the old desk.

“What was in there, Patricia?” She sounded a lot more southern than me and I never have been able to understand why. She was a bossy little thing too.

“Well, when my son opened the front part of the desk, there was absolutely nothing in there.” I chuckled.

“I am leaving, Cindy!” She got a little ticked at me then. We had been standing on my sidewalk for nearly thirty minutes. Every time she would go to leave, I had something else to add to the conversation or vice-versa.

“Okay, Okay! It was Elvis! A picture of Elvis and don’t you know, Honey – it was dated after his death! Plain as day, it was the Ghost of Elvis – You could see him right there through the window of Momma and Daddy’s old farm house!”

She began to shake her hands with excitement. “Well, go get it then!”

I ran in the house, came back out just as fast – and put it right up to her face.

She grabbed that picture out of my hand and her body almost melted onto the concrete.

“Good gracious! I knew that man didn’t die!” We gawked at that picture for at least another thirty. “This right here, is a treasure!” She was right!