Cinderella's Dead

Chapter 6 - Part 2

Cinderella

Eight years ago

    I go around the castle in an attempt to find that door the prince had told me about. I remember he said something about it being hidden with trees at the very left of the castle's curtain wall. There are the trees. I tiptoe to the door, careful not to make a single noise, even though no one will hear me from the rain.

    Note to self: When I have a secret door to my house, I shouldn't tell anyone about it.

    I push the door slowly, peeking inside to make sure no one's there. Who would be out here past midnight, anyway. When I'm sure that the garden's empty, I run quietly to the castle. If I remember right, the door should be hidden somewhere here. I run both hands over the wall pushing at it slightly till I find the door. When I do, I open it carefully, and peek inside again to check if someone's in there. Clear. I take the muddy boots off and hide them behind a bush.

    I tiptoe through the hallways and go upstairs. Anastasia should be in the third room on the right. Or left?

    I place my hand on the door's handle and I can sense the coldness through the gloves. I grip the handle. I take in a breath. I open the door. Slowly. Third room on the right!

    I go in quickly and lock the door behind me. To my right, there's the biggest closet I've ever seen in my life. Beside the closet, there's the wedding gown hanging on a wooden manikin. It's very dark, I have to walk to the gown to recognize the things scattered on the floor around it. There are scissors, silver thread spools, and a measuring cloth. Great. I put down the broken slipper carefully and pick up the scissors quietly, cutting off the gown's train, then divide it into four strips of equal widths. I also tear off both sleeves and lay them on the dressing table. I look around for candles to light them. When I do, I walk to the bed.

    Anastasia lies peacefully on the spacious bed, I have to get on the bed with my knees to reach her. I should've been sleeping here instead of old Walter's bed. "Anastasia," I whisper her name, shaking her with my left hand while my right hand's hidden behind my back. "Anastasia," This time, she starts to open her eyes slowly.

    "Cinderella?" Her eyes are not wide open yet, but confusion is very visible on her face, "What- how did you come in here?"

    "Shh. Get up."

    "No. Get out or I'm screaming and getting everyone here!" She demands. If she only knew that I make demands now.

    I push the scissors to her neck. She arches her head back at my sudden move and her breathing quickens, "One word, and those scissors go in your throat." She swallows hard and removes the silk covers. When she gets up, I walk her to the chair in front of the dressing table, pointing the scissors at her neck the whole time.

    "I have nothing to lose, Anastasia. One word and you're dead." I take the gown's sleeves and a strip from its train. "In your mouth, now." I throw the sleeves at her and she uses her shaking hands to put the sleeves in her mouth.

    I walk behind her and hold the scissors between my teeth. I push the cloth further in her mouth, then I tie the strip of cloth around her head, forcing it between her teeth to keep the sleeves in her mouth. I get the other three cloth strips with my gaze fixed on Anastasia and the scissors pointed at her. I put the scissors back between my teeth and tie Anastasia's waist to the chair. She keeps fidgeting in the chair, so I hit her mouth with the finger bows of the scissor. Pointing the scissors at her neck, I throw the cloth strip in her lap and tell her to tie her left arm to the chair's handle. She picks the cloth strip and I take its other end, helping her to tie her wrist. When both her wrists are tied to the chair, I take a hair brush and brush her hair.