[R1999] Short Stories' Collection

Sotheby & Forget Me Not: Mister! Tell me more about how this world operates! (4)

Mirror, mirror on the wall (2)

—--------

Receiving the absolute command from the Evil Queen, the Huntsman began chasing after the young girl who was said to be fairer than his Majesty.

To be honest, the Huntsman didn't prefer hunting a human at all.

Yet, if he couldn't finish this job, it would be off with his head.

Therefore, in exchange with his head, the maiden's heart must be taken away.

It was so easy to find her on the hill behind the castle. She always came here every afternoon, to sing, to dance and to smile among the beautiful flowers.

His shadow easily swallowed her whole, yet she still showed no guard.

Raising the dagger in his hand, the Huntsman's body shook terribly, while his innocent victim finally realized something was odd.

"Vincent, is that you?" Her pale white fingers groped for the familiar figure she used to touch, to kiss and to memorize, "Why were you so quiet today?"

The Huntsman remained silent.

His victim was already within his reach, but why couldn't he proceed to the next move?

"Vincent, did you catch a cold?"

The beautiful maiden worriedly approached him without any fear.

The poor girl whose eyes were the same pale white as her skin couldn't see the same world as normal people could.

The Huntsman had a pair of fine ears. Usually, they provided a lot of help for his hunt. But now, they were used solely to hear her voice and her heartbeat.

Oh, he must repeat that he didn't prefer hunting a human at all.

His bloody lips moved with difficulty, trying to utter a word from his last attempt of resistance.

"..R...U..N....."

"Vincent?"

"....R..UN..."

He growled like an animal in pain, with the smell of rust filling his mouth.

The girl never doubted him once. From the moment they first met till this moment, she never had a single suspicion on him.

What were they? Friends, lovers and then yet-to-be husband and wife.

In his mind, she would always be his dearest and fairest lady.

So please, my beloved Hannah, please never look back or... forgive me.

..............

The shop that sold mystical items Sotheby wanted to visit turned out to be an ordinary shop with old props and toys once used for stages. Its owner had collected those thrown-away items, fixed and decorated them with a horror and mysterious theme to attract customers who were fans of these things.

No wonder it was permitted to be opened to the public on this bustling street.

Although the little lady was a little disappointed about this, she quickly indulged herself in those fake magical objects.

"Mister Lawrence! Which one of these do you think will give Mr. Karson a bigger surprise?"

On her left hand, there was a nutcracker that had white hair, white mustache, smiling face, a sharp blade with a little red paint on its blade and an oversized eye which made people think it was about to pop out.

Meanwhile, her right hand was holding a wooden box with a dark red handprint and a protruding nose-shaped button at the center of the clown-faced lock.

Her butler gave both of them a quick look, then pointed at her.