Stitches
Crisp, white snow blanketed the garden pathway leading to the family home. Delighted, Ciel ambled downstairs in search of her late grandparents devoted dog.
"Woody! Your fur will spread all over the floor you daft dog!" chuckled Ciel.
Laying by the chipped bathroom door, Woody, a loving labrador beamed beady black eyes in an attempt to win her over-it worked every time.
Sighing, Ciel trotted away -"Ouch!" she squealed. What on earth was that? Staring aggressively at the wooden floor, she poked what looked like a needle. With a look of curiosity on her face, Ciel picked up the needle-red liquid stained the point of it;blood?
Concerned, Ciel took the needle to her mother for an explanation-convinced her mother Mary knew everything. She found her stacking tattered books onto wooden shelves, "Mother, Look!" Ciel cried.
"How odd...I thought I put these all away" replied Mary.
"What do you mean-it's stained in blood, Mother?" questioned Ciel.
"Oh..no nothing dear, go back to playing with Woody or-" before Mary could finish, Ciel interrupted, "tell me why is it stained?" a look of fear plastering her pale face.
"Oh Ciel, leave me in peace! Get out child!" bellowed Mary, driving her out the door.
Mother gets so aggressive nowadays, roaring like a lion.
I wonder whether it's still snowing thought Ciel, will it stay for my birthday tomorrow?
I wish Father was still here, and that yellow letter never arrived through our door-ruining everything, turning Mother to madness.
Later that evening, moonlight shimmered between curtains, fragments of light glittered on the floor, illuminating her room. Typical, needing the toilet, grabbing her nightgown, Ciel silent as a mouse, tiptoed down the corridor. A small light shining in Mother's room, strange! Mother says, 'beauty sleep is of high importance to a lady.' Perplexed, Ciel stepped into the corner of the room, her Mother sat at a desk...stabbing some sort of doll with a sharp item. Creeping towards the desk, Ciel's legs became pieces of rope, heart pounding in her chest;looking closely at her Mother's actions...blood poured from the doll after each movement! It looked frail-as if alive yet close to death, her Mother had a manic look in her eyes, this was no ordinary doll, with features of a human, hair a perfectly shiny blonde, eyes of emerald green, just like Mother's missing friend...no! This was not possible! Horrified, Ciel darted from the room-perhaps she was dreaming?!
The next morning was Ciel's 12th birthday, after last night she felt no happiness.
Mary came trotting into the room smiling from ear to ear "Happy birthday Ciel! Quickly open your present!"
"Um, okay," replied Ciel, confused at her Mother's excitement.
Taking the brown parcel, Ciel began to tear the paper wondering what it could possibly be. Inside was a doll, without hair or eyes, strange thought Ciel. What did it mean?
Mary grinned, pointing the needle at Ciel.
"Now it's your turn."
