two sisters

Edgar sat in his old worn chair one cold november night. In the house that used to belong to his great aunt who finally kicked the bucket, and left him the residence in her last will and testament. It was an old house, and he should have known the power would fail the second one measly storm rolled into town. The fire was creating the only light in the room with it’s occasional cracks and pings.

    He leaned back trying to find comfort. His fingers doing their odd familiar dance along the arm of his chair, and the bitter aftertaste of his dinner still lingering on his tongue. His skin was sunken and appeared worn from many long years of work. He let a permanent scowl reside on his face.

    Suddenly, interrupting his much enjoyed silence, there was a knock at the door. He slowly pulled himself up with a series of grunts and groans and approached it. As he opened the door the chilled wind blew through the newly created gap, causing goosebumps to dance across his skin. Stood there were two girls. The one appearing older standing in front of the other holding a doll. She had old, ratty, wet clothes from head to toe, and light brown hair pulled messily out of her face by a faded ribbon. The other was behind her dressed the same except for one distinct feature. She had shiney new tapping shoes as black as coal. Her pure black hair stretched straight down, draping over her head like a wet blanket. The first one spoke;

“Please…” she said her small voice shivering with her body. “All I ask is for shelter till the storm passes.

Edgar looked at the pair skeptically. After many years of experience he had grown to be distrustful of all kinds of people. However it was cold and they were children so he invited them in. As soon as they walked past the damp smell from their clothes suddenly overwhelmed his nostrils. They sat down on the floor in front of the fire and he took his position back on his chair, watching them.

    The older simply played with the doll completely ignoring anything going on around her. However the younger one just sat there and stared at him. He stared back at her, but the longer he stared, the more he felt his eyelids being pulled shut. Like she was slowly hypnotizing him into a deep slumber.

    When he opened his eyes at dawn the oldest girl was still there playing. The youngest was missing… She was nowhere to be found.

“Where is your sister?” he sat up in a slight panic.

She tilted her head in confusion staring back at him. “What are you talking about. I don't have a sister.”

Suddenly he became aware of where the second girl was. The heels of her tapping shoes were galloping hooves of Death’s horse slowly creeping up behind him.