"Good morning ! Time to awaken now, Annelyn." Said a rather groggy-voiced William. Annie sat up , and walked over to her trunk. William politely shut the door and went off to awaken everybody else in the household. Annie thought back to yesterday, and remembered how charming Jeremy had been. She pulled on her favourite dress, a fashionable blue lace dress that cascading into elegant pleats at the waist. Annie popped a pretty matching hat on and marched out the door. Jeremy stood at the door , and opened it for her. The two of them walked around to the stables, and hopped on their already saddled horses. "So, you don't ride side saddle?" Asked Jeremy. " Why should I ?" Replied Annie. The pair rode onto the gravel road and up towards Annie's manor.
Annie and Jeremy turned up Lemondale Road, growing closer to the peculiar house. Suddenly, Annie let out a cry. Jeremy looked across a set of paddocks to see a pile of burnt wood and bricks. "My home! That's my home, No*5 Lemondale Road!" Exclaimed Annie. Jeremy and Annelyn gave their horses a nudge, and sped over to the former manor. "Lavender . She was there last night !" Realised Annie. Annelyn quickly leapt off her horse and over to the glowing pile of embers . "Rrrrrrrrr" .Annie turned around to find Lavender sitting down on a burnt part of the grass. Lavender bounded into Annie's arms, and the two shared a warm embrace. Jeremy stayed silent on his horse as Lavender and Annie trotted over . Annelyn mounted her horse and Lavender jumped onto the horse's rump. "Are you alright?" Jeremy asked Annie. Annie nodded and so the pair continued down the road to No*3 Lemondale Road.
The humble cottage stood alone in it's paddock, rather gloomy. "Rather eery , isn't it." Remarked Jeremy. "Yes, very . I don't particularly want to go in, do you?" Replied Annie with a question.
" Not at all. But we have to find out a little more about about this place, so we had better go in."
"I suppose you are right."
Annie and Jeremy dismounted their horse, with Lavender right beside them. The trio walked up 3 Lemondale Road's pathway and onto the cottage's porch. Jeremy opened the door and in went Annelyn, Lavender amd himself.Cobwebs hung from the ceiling , and the floors were dusty. Annie lead Lavender and Jeremy into a bedroom. A mirror sat above a dusty dressing table, and a lace covered bed was situated in the centre of the room. Annie and Jeremy walked over to the mirror, and suddenly Jeremy gave a jump. Standing behind them was a hooded figure, carving knife in hand. "Run!" Instructed Annelyn, but the pair were stopped by the hooded figure. Annie screamed at the top of her lungs, and Jeremy shook with fear. The figure stroked the blade of the knife then brought it down on the wooden dressing table. Annie and Jeremy backed up in the corner, watching in fear. " Help!Help! Somebody help us! HELP! " yelled Annie. A series of loud footsteps were heard coming down the hall, and a man burst through the bedroom door. In his hand was a thick piece of wood , perhaps from the old manor. "Annie!" Cried the man, who Annelyn realised was Theodorus, her father. Annie covered her face with her hands and ushered Jeremy out of the room. "Run! Get help Jeremy! " exclaimed Annelyn . She turned towards Lavender ,who was bounding towards the hooded figure. Lavender latched her jaws to the figure's buttocks , and the figure let out a cry of pain then fell to the ground. " Not so powerful after all , mm? Unmask yourself now!" Instructed Annelyn. The hooded figure slipped its hood off to reveal a bearded male face." And you are?" Questioned Annie. "Lucius. Lucius Duft." Answered the man.
YOU ARE READING
The Felon
Historical FictionWhen 14 year old Annelyn Smith moves to a small countryside cottage, she instantly falls in love with her new home. On a walk through the neighbouring woods, she comes across a sack of clothes. Will Annelyn be able to save her loved ones before it...
