Return From The Big Apple

Chapter X: Bad Man

Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the beast
(Celine Dion & Peabo Bryson – "Beauty & the Beast")

Annabelle found herself back at the entrance to her grandmother's gardens, the smell of fresh anemone blossoms filling the air. Beyond the archway, she could see the beginnings of a hedge maze and made her way inside. Though it was late at night, the breeze was refreshingly warm... and getting warmer with every step she took.

She froze as a shadowy figure stepped into her view on the path ahead of her. It stared at her with dark, soulless eyes as flames engulfed its form. She tried to back away and found she was unable to move. The figure was charging toward her at an alarming pace. Her eyes widened as she tried to scream, but no sound came out. Somebody, help me!

Suddenly, a bright light flooded the area. The shadowy figure emitted a strangled hiss as it sprang away. It paced back and forth along the dark edge of the path, snarling and spitting burning embers in her direction. The light flashed again, surrounding it, and the figure slowly disappeared with a piercing screech.

"Bad man..." she heard a voice whisper through the light. It wrapped around her like a soothing embrace. Actually, it felt like someone really was wrapping their arms around her. She jumped away, startled, and turned to face the glowing figure behind her.

The light emitting from it was so bright, she was forced to shield her eyes. "Hello?" she called out fearfully. "Who are you?"

As if in answer, the light began to fade, slowly revealing the woman behind it. She seemed familiar, though Annabelle couldn't place where she'd seen her before. She smiled softly and reached a hand out to her. "Hello, Annabelle... welcome home."

She stared at her in confusion for a moment before her eyes widened in recognition. "Grandmother?!"

She gasped as her eyes shot open, and she sat straight up, shoving the blankets off of her and startling a sleeping Onyx in the process. He jumped away, cooing quietly in confusion before hopping back towards her. "Onyx..." she whispered, as he nudged his beak against her fingers. She picked him up, perching him on her shoulder. "I'm sorry... bad dream."

Bad man... The strange words echoed in her mind once again. What was that thing she saw?

"Kraaaa..." Onyx suddenly puffed up next to her, spreading out his wings.

"Onyx, what is it?" She followed his very focused gaze to the dim light at the bottom of her door and became unnerved as she clearly saw the shadow of someone standing just outside of it. She felt her heart drop to her stomach as her ears caught the faint sound of the doorknob clicking. Thank god she had locked it before she went to bed! She reached for her phone on the side table, and, trying to keep her shaking hands steady, shot off a quick text.

Annabelle: Uncle Daniel, I need you!
Daniel: You okay, Bella?
Annabelle: There's someone outside my room. They tried to open my door!
Daniel: On our way!

Barely a minute later, she heard a pounding on the door. "Bella? You there? It's us." After settling Onyx down onto the blankets, she rushed over to the door to let them in. "Bella!" Daniel wrapped her in a huge hug. "Are you all right?"

"I am now..." She held onto him tightly.

"I'm not sure who was out here, but whoever they are, they're gone now." Lawrence glanced up and down the hallway before joining them inside the room and shutting the door behind him. "They must have heard us coming." He frowned. "Where's Mara? Isn't she supposed to be looking out for you?"