Annabel

Some things are not always as they seem, Annabel was certainly one of them.

It was while she was strolling down the old cobblestone street when she carefully drew her raspberry-red lips into a big smile. It was a sultry summer morning, you could tell by the smell that the clouds overhead were on the verge of rain. Only four steps left, then she were there. She felt her baby blue dress blow in the wind.

Only three steps to go. She gazed lovingly at the four little dolls in her basket.

Two steps left. Her blond braids were split evenly behind her left and on the right shoulders.

One step left, then was she there.

Annabel found herself before a little lemon-coloured cottage. To Annabel's right there stood a small apple tree. She looked to her left and read the name of the owner. Slowly, almost in slow motion, she raised her hand and rang the doorbell.

Drrrrrrring. She rang the bell for a moment and then there was nothing. She waited, before finally somebody opened the door. A small, chubby woman stood in front of her. She smelled like the flowers of an apple tree. The woman had her black hair tied up in a bun. Annabel noticed the woman had behind her left ear a small, inconspicuous birthmark in the shape of a love heart.

"Can I offer you a little doll?" asked Annabel, smiling and she tilted her head a little.  "Well..." said the woman cagily. Annabel batted her long eyelashes. As if somebody had pressed a button the woman responded:  "Of course. I really would like to have one." Instantly Annabel began to smile. Her mouth was still in a smile, but her eyes were cold as ice.

The sky thundered and big teardrops began to fall. The woman peered into thesky, with a mixture of astonishment and concern. Annabel stood rooted to the spot.  "Do you want to come in? Just as long it is raining." asked the woman slowly, just like somebody else let her speak this words. "Of course. Thank you." Annabel replied, still smiling.

She followed the woman into the house. She did not consider it necessary to remove her shoes, instead she just walked to the living room, as if she was already familiar here. She did not leave any footprints. The woman sat down on the forest green sofa next to Annabel. They drank orange blossom tea, while the woman began reciting her life story. Annabel silently stared at the clock.

Only forty seconds to go. Annabel drank the last sip out of the fine china cup.

Thirty seconds. She slowly put the cup on the saucer.

Twenty seconds. Softly sighing, she leaned over to the woman.

Only ten seconds remaining. Annabel gently placed one of her thin, porcelain-coloured fingers on the woman's mouth. "Shhhh." she whispered. The clock struck twelve.

Annabel stood up and left, making sure to close the coppery door behind her. She plucked an apple from the tree to her left. She took a bite and showed a row of white, sharp fangs. She made her raspberry-red lips into a smile, while she was going down the street. On the arm she had a basket with five little dolls.

Some things are not as they seem and young Annabel was one of them.