My Cinderella Story. [ON HOLD]

Chapter Two.

"I don't want to hurt you. I just want to talk. Nod if you understand." His deep voice said and I nodded. "I'm going to let go now. Don't scream. Do you understand?"

I let go and he released me. I flew away from him, my hair ruffled and slightly damp from sweat. I looked at him through my veil of hair, hands grasping the railing behind me as I assessed him. It was the same man from earlier but something told me there was more to it.

Never had I been so terrified before, except during the war of course, yet in his arms I had felt safe. Protected even.

"You shouldn't be here. You'll get both of us in trouble." I hissed.

"That's why you should keep your voice down. No need to attract any attention to us."

"Why are you here?"

"I came to see you."

"Me? What ever for?"

"You're Rebecca Whitmore?"

"Who's asking?"

"I'll take that as a yes, walk with me." He said and turned to leave.

I gaped at him but soon hurried to catch up to him, not having much of a choice.

"How did you get in here? How did you get passed the guards?"

"Is that really what you want to know?"

"For now, yes."

"Does the answer to your real question scare you?"

"Maybe."

"Fear cripples the heart's desires and bars the mind's plans."

"Why did you want to see me?" I ask stopping in my tracks and he does the same as he turns to face me.

"You'll soon find out enough."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"No father! I want to stay with you!" I cried as he led me down then basement.

"No my child. It's too dangerous. I need you to stay here, for your mother and I, can you do that?"

"You promise to come back for me?"

"Yes. I'll come back for you. Just stay here, okay?"

I nodded and watched as he left after he kissed my forehead.

There was a scream and a loud bang from above me. Muffled voices and cries. Scrambling, breaking glass and furniture.

There were several loud bangs and then it all went silent.

I waited.

Till.............I couldn't take it anymore.

I walked slowly up the stairs. I found blood everywhere.

I walked out the front porch and there they all lay. I ran out to them. They were cold. Their eyes distant and beady.

"Father! Father wake up! You said you'd come back for me! You promised!" I yelled as I shook him, tears rolling down my face.

I felt strong arms grab ahold of me, pulling me away from my father's dead body.

"You promised." I chanted as whoever was holding me rocked my sobbing, shaking form.

"You're okay. I'm here." He kept saying and I felt safe. Protected.

When I finally calmed down I turned towards the person behind me.

I was met by blue stormy eyes.

I woke up to a distraught sister Joanne.

"Oh thank God! You're awake." She said.

I looked at her and the open door where a nunber of girls were standing.

"What's going on?" I asked as I sat up.

"You were having a bad dream my child. You woke up everyone."

"Oh pardon me Sister. I was clueless of my insensitivity." I said looking at my hands.

"It's quite alright my child." She said as she stood and walked towards the door. "Okay everyone, back to bed now!"

After she had dismissed them all, she turned back to me.

"Are you okay child?"

"Yes yes, I'm quite alright. Just a bit tired. That's all." I said after a yawn.

"How about you stay home tomorrow... I'm sure Mrs. Bradford wouldn't mind.

I sighed deeply and nodded my head.

"Good. I'll let Sister Grace know. Get some rest now. I'll check on you later." She said and left the room. I checked my wall clock and sighed. It was six in the morning.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The day passed by in a blur as I helped the younger girls working in the House. I dreaded nightfall but it came anyway.

Sister Joanne had stopped by my room to check on me and to pass me a note from Mrs. Bradford. It read:

In the morrow
By the Western wall
As it strikes night
Where the primrose
Opens towards the dark sky

I smiled to myself getting alittle excited for tomorrow to come. He must have left Mrs. Bradford the note. I fell asleep, note in hand, smile on my face with thoughts of tomorrow.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He'd made up his mind. He was to leave under the cover of dark.

We had walked two towns over from our own. We were exhausted, thirsty and hungry when we came across a young couple.

They had offered to take care of us till they could drop us off at the orphanage in the capital city, Hawthorne.

We had heard nothing of the initiative the government had began for the welfare of orphans like us. Citizens were being advised to take in orphaned children or to take them to the orphanage in the city.

We had covered two more towns since we met the couple. We were to spend the last night at a town right outside the city then tomorrow we would trek into the city.

But Charlie had other plans.

After dinner, Charlie had taken my hand and led us outside.

I knew he was about to say goodbye.

"I know you don't want me to go Becca. I wouldn't go unless I knew you were safe which you are. This couple have been good to us all along. I'm assured you'll get to the orphanage safely."

"I don't want to go without you Charlie. I'm scared." I cried, toying with my hands.

He took my face in his hands raising my eyes to his. He placed a kiss on my forehead. My eyes slid shut for it was more than a kiss. It held promise.

"I'll come back for you one day Becca. I promise." He whispered into my ear.

I heard a sob wreck through my chest and he pulled me to himself, combing his hands through the dark tresses of my hair.

When I had quieted down, we'd walked alittle, hand in hand under the dark sky. Two owls kept hovering over us. One black and another white. They perched on a tree just as Charlie turned to me.

"I take my leave Becca. Hold firm to my promise. I will find you. Farewell my love." He said as his hand slipped from mine.

I watched helplessly as he walked away till his form was lost in the dark shadows. I heard a flapping sound above me and watched as the black owl took flight and it too got lost in the cover of night.

"Farewell my love." I whispered as a tear rolled down my cheek.

I woke up with a single name on my lips.

Charlie!