Cinderella's Dead

Prologue

Cinderella

Eight years ago

    I run as fast as I can, only stopping to make sure that it's all clear. It takes me some time to detect where the door is, when I reach the curtain wall. As I push the door open, I make sure to avoid stepping in the mud; leaving footsteps behind me can be the only reason I might get caught. I don't know how long I stayed up there watching Anastasia, so that leaves me at the risk of Walter walking up and not finding me beside him. Rushing into the woods, I quickly detect where I left the rocks, dig out my trunk, and scatter them before taking the thread in my hand and tracing it back to where its other end is tied.

    By the time I reach the house, I'm panting and sweating. I stop a few feet behind the house to dig and hide the boots. Even though I am positive they're sleeping, I still make sure the basement's clear before I go in. It's a good thing they never put out the fire in the fireplace here. I push the wooden armchair very slowly, so no one wakes up. Then I quickly remove the tiles beneath it, taking out the gown I hid there before I left. Putting back the tiles and armchair in place, I change into the gown and my old dirty slippers. I throw all the garments to burn in the fire and leave.

    Before I go back to bed, I scatter two of the rocks I used to mark where I hid the coat with, leaving one in place. I cannot take the coat out now, nor can I hide it in the house in the presence of Walter.

    As I slide into bed, I look down at my sleeping gown, making sure it's the same one I was wearing before I left. I start to pull the covers over me but freeze at Walter's touch. Did he see me coming in? His hand brushes my shoulder. He couldn't have seen me, that's impossible. I turn on my back slowly. Very slowly, holding my breath inside. I move my gaze slightly to the left. He's sleeping.

    I let out a sigh, turn on my side again, and close my eyes.

***