The Shadows

It was like the gray clouds had covered up the sun entirely. The barren landscape was empty except for a looming tree whose branches had long lost their leaves. The entire area was rocky and void of anything. At one time, this part of the town might have been peaceful. However, it was apparent that this place had turned into a place of horrors.

               Then, a chilling scream cut the silence around. A girl in a long black dress was running away from something. The girl kept looking back in fear. Soon, shadows crept up behind her. Then her pretty face transferred into a look of morbid terror. She screamed again. Suddenly, the girl disappeared. She just vanished into nothingness. It seemed like there was no trace that something terrible had just happened.

               The landscape was quite yet again. It began to rain, and it seemed like even the heavens mourned....

 

His light eyes stared at me quickly and frowned. Lord Eastgate was perhaps in his early twenties. Finally he nodded and spoke to Mrs. Long,

            “Very well, I’ll allow her to work here. I do in fact need new help since Miss Grant decided to leave without warning. I will rely on you to keep her in check, Mrs. Long.”

            The elderly woman nodded and politely left his presence, then ushering me out. Mrs. Long had been my mother’s friend for much time. After her death several months ago, Mrs. Long had taken me in and promised to find me some sort of job. For that, I was indebted to her.

            When we reached outside, the cold wind hit my face and sent my dark hair flying.

            “Dear girl, I must make a quick visit to a friend. I shall return in sometime,” Mrs. Long notified.

            I told her, “Take your time, I will go to the town square to buy bread.”

            We both parted to follow opposite roads. Once at the town square I saw Elisabeth and her younger sister Emelia.

            “It wasn’t a dream,” Emelia pleaded, “I really did see Fay...”

            Elisabeth interrupted her, “Please don’t cause trouble Emelia. I have finally found work after father died. Don’t ruin this Emelia, please.”

            I frowned. Fay Grant has been gone for nearly a weak. No one knows where she is or what’s happened to her. Some say she was kidnapped. Others say that she ran away. No one knows what really happened.

            “Elisa, Emelia, how are the both of you?” I questioned.

            Emelia turned her desperate eyes to me.

            “Victoria, please convince Elisa she won’t listen to me. She thinks it was just a dream but I’m sure it was more than that,” she explained far too quickly.

            Elisa’s tired eyes met mine.

            “I am a little lost Emelia, what do you mean?” I inquired.

            She responded desperately, “I dreamt last night that Fay was running away from something. It was a shadowy figure. Then she screamed and vanished into thin air. I know it was in my dreams but it was so real. I’m sure she was murdered. I... I just don’t know how. She’s gone though, I’m sure of that.”

            Emelia’s eyes fell as I stared at her in surprise. This sounded like witchcraft. Surely now one had the ability to know such things? Elisa’s eyes looked pleadingly at me.

            “Emelia,” I started shakily, “I think you’re confused. We will find Fay soon. You’re probably so worried about her you started having nightmares.”

            Of course, I wasn’t sure at all. Just then, a cold wind blew my dark hair into my eyes and my long dress away from my legs. The ominous weather sent chills down my spine. As if, perhaps something was about to happen...