Nightfall

A New Life

A NEW LIFE

 

At first, Violet enjoyed her new lie at mister Whitmore’s house. He certainly treated her like a grand-daughter. This was a new kind of happiness that Violet experienced while living with mister Whitmore as she had never known any family but her parents.

              Occasionally, a family member came to visit- always from the village- but these people already knew Violet and were always very welcoming. However, that was until his only grandson came to stay. Richard was 17 with scruffy, unkempt, brown hair, golden-coloured eyes and a pale face (though Violet did notice that it wasn’t quite deathly pale). He seemed to view Violet as an unwelcome guest who was intruding in his personal life since the day they met.

               One of the main problems was that the two were so alike in looks but so different in personalities. While Violet liked to logically think things through in a quiet and serious matter, Richie was more inclined to leap into things head on with his happy-go-lucky attitude to life, just going along with whatever came up in life, always the joker of every occasion. Despite all of mister Whitmore’s efforts to create a friendly atmosphere between them, the two remained firmly hostile. 

          Throughout her visit, Violet remembered one of the best things to be learning to fish and battle the elements of nature in her will to survive. Before, she could only watch the rows of citizens gazing at their rods, singled out as a result of gender and her inability. Now however, Violet could finally join them, learning to fish with her makeshift rod which consisted of a long wooden pole and a hook on string. Due to practice, Violet could now successfully catch a couple of fish per hour making her better than some of the males.

            It was while fishing one day that she saw them both. One seemed normal; the other didn’t. Number One was a young ginger-haired girl crouching behind a tree close to the river. Number Two wasn’t visible yet but the girl could clearly see it as, with a horrified yelp of fear, she ran. Following her lead, and hearing a sudden noise of screaming and splashing, Violet leaped up and ran for the nearest oak tree. It was a very good job she did take action then, as barely seconds after, a group of terrified people changed upstream like a herd of sheep.

          Moments later, Violet heard another set of splashing. To gain a better view, Violet scrambled and hoisted herself up the tree and almost fell back again. To her right, the ginger was doing the same. Downstream, Violet could easily view the disturbing sight that had made those poor people run. There was the female that she had seen earlier on the hill, and a dead body hanging limply in her arms. Blood was dripping out of her mouth and her eyes were gleaming red with triumph. With the body pale and drained of blood, the female dropped the carcass on the pebbles ad sniffed the heavy air.

          By now, Violet could hear her heart frantically pumping her blood around the body so fast and strong, pounding in her head with every beat. Slowly, carefully, Violet saw the blood-drinking monster creep towards where she lay concealed amongst the branches of a sturdy oak. The monster crept right on past her and Violet allowed herself a deep, thankful breath. She blessed God, for indeed she did not wish to let go of her invariable faith in this time of despair, and allowed herself to ponder why she was spared when a little girl could be lost. Little girl? What little girl? She cursed under her breath. The ginger.