“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!

Some things you may never know.

“Fella’s come on in.” I could hear the energetic voice coming through the loud speaker but, neither I nor Randolph could see anyone.

We both squinted our eyes looking all around the Indoor Skate Park – It was the most extravagant venue you could find anywhere in the world for this type of sport. I knew it also held many secrets.

We were so lucky to be able to participate in this year’s Skateboard exhibition. Invited by mail, we signed up online.

I had no clue that anyone was aware of our skating abilities.

We both continued to look around in pure amazement – The background was beautifully painted to match the main arena. It was so massive that the competition solely revolved around seeing who could build up enough speed to make it from one ramp to another – successfully, at least twice. Looking at it now, It seemed impossible.

The temperature in here matched the scenery. I could see my own breath.

“Over here guys, look towards the light.” It was the same voice as before. Finally, He was in our sight.

“Bring your boards and come on down. Follow the arrows against the walls.” He continued. I had to turn on my cell phone light to see them.

“Sam, Don’t you find it a little strange that no one else is in here?” Randolph asked out of true concern. I didn’t have an answer that would suffice so we kept on moving.

Without warning the light cut off and the floor gave way – Randolph and I fell through, screaming. We landed on the biggest trampoline one could imagine, much larger than an Olympic sized swimming pool. Our boards and our bodies bouncing all over the place, Bells and whistles sounded.

I kept my eyes closed. I could hear other kids cheering and wheels travelling on hard wood floors – Something we were both quite accustomed to.

I opened my eyes and looked at Randolph, who was wide-eyed and staring back at me.

Skaters everywhere, from all over, speaking different languages and with different poise and styles of skating. “Amazing.” I whispered.

The test was not above on the first level but down here. The rules were explained; Ditch the person you came with and find a new skate partner. Diversity is what won you a spot in the real game.

“She once was a great physician and healed many people with her knowledge of Science. Her faith was strong and she knew she owed it all to GOD. She gave HIM all the glory.” 

So, this is how the book about my life began – It was a prelude of the sort and it was absolutely true, though I never gave myself as much credit as others did. I figured I was only fulfilling my calling.

I pondered for a moment at the thought of someone actually writing a book about me. I sat it back down on the night stand and just laid there.

“Ms. Rinehold, wake up. It’s time for your morning medication.” I heard the nurse enter into my room and just like she did every morning, she tried to awaken me up from a sleep that I was not in.

“Only meditating on my thoughts, dear.” I told her. 

She was polite but strange. She opened my curtains to let the sun in -it was brighter than usual this morning.

I turned my head to take in the outside World but, all I could see was a man trying to enter into my room through the window. My voice froze up as I pointed towards him to get her attention. The nurse saw nothing.

He moved closer but was pulled back by some sort of force. It was the sun. The sun was preventing his entrance into my Supernatural fortress that my husband had built for me years ago, right around the time my colleague started me on the Thorazine.

Wait… I now remembered why it was I was here. I grabbed the Nurse’s arm as I tried to get up from my bed. “You have me against my will. You cannot hold me in this structure anymore!” I screamed. I was not in my fortress; I was in theirs.

I could see the man was now about to make entrance through the glass.

“Ms. Rinehold, please be still. I have your medication.” She was demanding of me, still trying to hold me here but now with a panicked look on her face.

I felt the needle enter into my arm and there I was once again in a daze of yellow confusion.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive.” Who was it that originally said that? Ah… yes, It was Sir Walter Scott. Reminds me of a man I once knew and the lessons he taught.

Tally was but a boy when Mr. Drisdale hired him on to help with the up keep of his sailboat. He lived in the poor part of town and met Mr. Drisdale by chance one sunny afternoon at the Town Market. He rarely did his own shopping. I don’t know If this was a good thing for Tally or not, even though the life he was thrown into was nothing less than turmoil – His mother was a mad alcoholic and his father was deceased, leaving him to kindly fend for himself.

“Drisdale” as the town folk called him could just about buy or sell anyone within the state, including young Tally. Even though his intentions were of a pure heart, Tally soon belonged to Drisdale.

Hungry, sad and desperate – He quickly accepted the job with the older man. He did whatever the man asked of him. He was paid with necessities; food, shelter, clothing, whatever the young lad needed.

His mother no longer concerned about Tally’s welfare would occasionally pay Mr. Drisdale a visit with the hope of financial gain. She tried on numerous occasions over the years to sell her son to the man. I guess to intoxicated to realize, Drisdale was the only parent the boy had ever really known.

The moon and stars lit up the night sky as she drunkenly moved towards the home unaware of every trade Mr. Drisdale had taught her son.

Tally and Drisdale had prepared for her arrival once they noticed her stumbling down the path moments earlier. Unsteady on her feet, she fell upon the doorsteps.

Drisdale opened the door and peered down at the woman. He turned his attention to Tally, “Now is the time we have prepared for. Take back your courage and all that this woman has caused you to lose.” He instructed the boy.

Tally looked up and into his mentors eyes once more for a second approval which he immediately received.

He lifted his mother’s head and as he pulled his fishing knife from his belt, she tried to convince her son of the love she had for him. Tally was no fool.

He slit her throat from ear to ear. The deed had been done. Drisdale and Tally sailed deep into the waters of the Ravenous Sea and as it gobbled her up like bait, the blood mixed with the water so beautifully that it brought more than life back to the duo. Death was now their biggest desire and killing was their satisfaction.

Let the Game begin

Every Hallows Eve, I returned to the Magical forest to wait for my one true love, I guess you could say. Tonight would be extra special as the moon was full and bright. Everything was perfect and would bring forth pure and great joy.

I had been waiting and practicing (if there was such a thing for something as this) for an entire year now. I could feel my hands shaking from nervousness. I almost dropped the hour glass, even though it did not represent an hour, only a tiny irreplaceable minute. A minute I could not afford to lose.

I gasped at the thought of it possibly breaking before his arrival. That would ruin the evening for sure. I imagined he was close by now. I pictured him running through the trees with sweaty palms from the anticipation and excitement that competition can sometimes cause.

He didn’t fear losing me to another but he did fear losing. That was something that I found extremely attractive. I could hear the earth under his feet, the crackling of the leaves and the rustling of all things nature.

He was fast approaching.

I, appearing to be somewhat of an angelic Princess in my costume ran and jumped into his arms. He surprised me as he rounded the corner in a Werewolf mask. “How fitting, A werewolf and a full moon.” I said. He spun me around and planted a kiss on my forehead.

“Did you bring it?” I asked. “You know I did darling.” He said as he pulled out the tiles and board.

“I still have the timer you left here last year, ya big goof.” I told him as we laughed together.

“Your winning streak ends tonight my love.” He knew I meant business.

“Shall we Scrabble then, My Lady?” He asked.

“Indeed!” I was ready!

A word game is what held us together since we were children and it could quite possibly be what tears us apart. I laughed on the inside. Oh, the excitement.