Short Story Requests (Closed)

Stay Inside

** This is a project I had to do for my English class. She gave us a picture, the picture above, and we had to create a story out of it. I haven't gotten any requests lately so I thought I would put it in here lol. Hope you enjoy**

        "Our beautiful home was built over 100 years ago, in 1436. Our ancestors wanted the castle to look as if it were floating on water, so they constructed parts or the castle underwater. It was difficult, I'll say that. But in the end, we have the beautiful home we have today!" King Victor smiled down at his young daughter. Aliana stared up at him, "Father, may I ask you something?" Her little voice chirped. Kneeling down, Victor smiled warmly. "Of course my dear! What is it?"

     "Why can't we ever go outside? I always see children down in the village playing and I wish to play with them!! Why doesn't anyone come to our castle? Can I invite them?! Can I go play?! Oh father please!!" Aliana pleaded, excitement I'm her eyes. Victor, on the other hand, went pale. Standing with a cold scowl, he narrowed his eyes, "Don't ever ask that again and if you do, I'll put you to kitchen duty cleaning the soot from the fire pit!!" And with that, marched off.

     Aliana watched him, tears filling her six year old eyes. Spinning on her heels, Aliana raced up the darkened stairwell up to her tower room. Throwing the locking board over her door, Aliana flung herself onto her satin bed and wept furiously. Sniffling, she stared up at the painting on her wall.

   Dressed in a velvet dress the color of the sky, golden earrings, light chestnut hair cascading around her shoulders, and the red pendent she had given Aliana a year before, on the day she died. "You would let me go outside wouldn't you mother?" She whispered to the painting with a choked sob. Sighing, she turned over and fell into a dreamless sleep.

                     Seven years later

     Aliana twirled her chocolate hair between her fingers, her emerald eyes twinkling as she stared at the crystal blue water below. She swung her feet back and forth as she sat on the balcony's edge. If Father saw what she was doing he would put her to kitchen duty for sure, as was his favorite punishment for her.

     "Aliana? Aliana where are you?!!" Beatrice called. Aliana groaned at the sound of her chambermaid's voice. A few years ago her father had stopped teaching Aliana and appointed Beatrice to instead. He's grown more and more distant ever since her mother died of some sickness, he never told her what it was called but said it was deadly. Hopping off her balcony and back into her room, Aliana watched the waters splash against the castle walls, as if it was calling for her to come down and swim."Tonight, Father won't stop me. I'm going." Aliana plotted with a smirk

                        That night

Aliana slowly let her door close, wincing as the sound echoed into the night. Dressed in nothing more than a thin night gown and velvet slippers, she crept down the dark abyss of the tower stairs. The whole castle was dead silent, no sound except for the occasional snore. Aliana smiles in triumph as she skidded to a halt. The grand oak doors lie just ahead, practically waiting for her to open them. Not caring if anyone heard her now, Aliana creaked open the door and bolted outside onto the bridge. She stared in awe at it all.

     She pulled off her slippers and wriggled her toes over the soft wood of the bridge. Sitting down on the edge, she smiled as she could see her reflection in the darkened waters below. With a squeal of excitement, she hopped in, clothes an all. Swimming around in circles, she splashed and laughed, "This is so fun!! Why would father keep this away from me?!" She laughed aloud. Her laughter soon died down as she floated in place, focusing on something. She looked down at the water, wishing she could see below the surface to her legs. Something was touching her leg. It must be seaweed, she thought. Just like father had said grows in these waters. But seaweed doesn't have fingers...

     With a terrified scream, Aliana scrambled onto the bridge, something following out with her. The figure stood hunched over, snarling rows of rotten teeth. Grey skin sunken in, clinging onto bone. Long fingers like talons as they dug into Aliana's ankle. "Let me go let me go!! Help someone I beg of you!!" Aliana cried out, trashing like a fish out of water. The creature chuckled, her laugh sounding as if it were choking on water. "Girrrl commmesss withhh meee...girrrl musssttt beee punnnishhheddd." It hissed out.

     Aliana dug her nails into the bridge, trying to escape as the creature attempted to drag her back into the water. "Release the princess!!" A voice boomed as a loud BANG! rang through the air as the huge oak doors were through open. King Victor stood with a furious snarl, all the guards rushing out around him. With a choked gasp, the creature dropped Aliana and flung herself into the water. Rushing her inside, Victor wrapped her in a wool blanket and sat her down infront of the fire place. "What...was that..?" Aliana whispered in shock. Sighing, Victor put his head in his hands, "That is why you can never leave...Your mother was just as curious as you are, and it got her killed!" She exclaimed, breaking into muffled sobs.

     Aliana let her mouth hang open in disbelief, "Mother wasn't sick?...That, thing, killed her?!!..." "Yes dear...we didn't want to scare you so young, so all of us here told you that your mother was sick... I'm sorry..." he sniffled, never looking up. Aliana sat next to him, pulling the blanket tighter around her as the cold air nipped at her skin.

    "Aliana can ask you to do something for me?" Victor whispered. Already knowing the question, with a shudder, she answered, "I'm never going out there again...I promise..." They hugged eachother, sobbing in terrified relief. I wonder if they heard the watery laugh from behind the drapes?....