The Cellar

part 3

(Enjoy! And please, please give me some feedback:)

That night William's strange face chased her through her dreams. But when first morning light broke through her window, she awoke and her memory of William Brighton disappeared with the morning fog.

William sat in his prison cursing himself. He had known that she would forget him. The curse assured her memory's failure. Why he had hoped this time would be different he wasn't sure. It had been nearly two months since her talk with him. Sighing he crawled to the nick in the mortar which allowed him a glimpse into her world. Things had changed since he was last allowed to see daylight. Trees had been felled to make room for manors. The rich soil that he once worked became abused and then barren. Today she sat with a book open on her lap. Her brow was furrowed in concentration and her honey curls hung free down her back. He smiled remembering all of the arguments he overheard regarding her choice of hairstyle. Renaldo insisted that she wear a bonnet and her hair tied back properly while she argued that the silly fashions of town did not apply in her garden and if she so chose not to wear a bonnet then so be it. Suddenly, she looked up. Her eyes locked on the nick and it was almost as if she saw him. Standing quickly, the book fell of her lap forgotten as she ran from the garden. William wondered what had frightened her. Just then the door to the cellar burst open and there she stood. "You!" she exclaimed. He stepped forward into the pool of sunlight spilling in through the door.

"Well this is certainly different." He simply said although his heart was racing at the sight of her. Why did she suddenly remember him? She usually encountered him but then when she left she usually forgot him. The only other time was the first time that they met.

"Why could I not remember you? What is going on here? Explain." She commanded. He chuckled. Always so demanding.

"You aren't meant to remember me. I am a cursed man Juliana. A man that you would do best to forget." He knew that she would only leave and this small fluke would be righted. He would never be allowed to speak to her again. Never hear her angelic voice speak his name or be directed to him.

"Cursed? And just who cursed you might I ask?" Well there was no skirting around the truth now. He hoped that he would never have to reveal his burden to her again. Not after the first time. She wouldn't just leave without the answer this time and if anyone else found her here talking to air....he shuddered at the thoughts of her locked away in an asylum somewhere.

"By God." He knew that she would demand the reason but he still couldn't bring himself to tell her just yet. She would only run and even if it were for only a few more moments he hoped to be this close to her.

"That's absurd. God doesn't just go around cursing people these days!"

"As I told you before, I am not of your time. I am much older than my appearance foretells. I take on different names as the centuries roll but sometimes I am still apprehended by the Fellowship and am locked away until they die and I escape once again."

"Ludicrous! This is all mad! Who are you William Brighton? What happened to your parents?"

"They died long ago. Their names were Adam and Eve." He paused studying her face. Waiting for the horrible recognition that always followed.

"And?" She prodded still not understanding.

" My brother Abel and I were their only children. He was a herder and I a gatherer. I tended the fields while he took care of the flock." He watched for the dawning of understanding and the horror to fill her eyes. It never came. Astonished he asked, " Do you still not realize who I am?" She simply stared at him confused. "I guess Renaldo did not do his part in sharing the Bible with you."

"I have read the Bible!" she said defensively. "Well the New Testament anyway."

"He did not teach you of me? They always teach you of me! They always warn you. Why did they not warn you this time?" He babbled confusedly.

"Warn me of you why?" she pressed.

"I am Cain! Marked by God to wander this Earth and not be killed. To be alone for all of eternity for the murder of my brother. The murder that I committed! Why would they refrain this time! Renaldo....I can't comprehend it."

"You expect me to believe that you are a man marked by God. A murderer for Christ's sake? You hardly seem like a murderer." She replied disbelievingly

"That was long ago. I was a different person."