Behind Crimson Veil

Ruby Regrets

The burning logs in the dusty fireplace warmed my hands and face. I lay in front of it on our worn carpet and began to have a tea party with my dollies and teddies. I hadn't seen my little brother Alfred at all earlier that morning, he hadn't even come out for breakfast, and it was toast with jam, his favorite. I didn't want to bother him, so I left him alone. I wasn't worried too much if he was okay or not, he would usually nap all day anyway, so I had no real reason to be worried. The maid, Lula-May, came down to the living room and told me that Alfred had asked for me. I stood up, collected one of my teddies that Alfred happened to be fond of, and followed her up the stairs.

She let me into Alfred's room, he sat up in bed and looked at me, then at Lula-May. She made a strange face and looked at me, then she left. I climbed up onto Alfred's bed and handed him the teddie. He smiled gleefully and hugged the teddie. Alfred then frowned and said that mummy told him he couldnt leave his room, and that he was really hungry because he didn't get any breakfast. I asked him why mummy said he couldn't leave, he said he didn't know. I hopped off of his bed and told him I was off to fetch him some toast with jam. Alfred grabbed my arm and asked me not to leave him alone, but I assured him I'd be right back. He let go of my arm and hugged the teddie a bit tighter.

After getting downstairs and into the kitchen, I our butler, Samuel, who asked me what I was doing wandering around. I told him I wanted some toast and jam with a glass of milk. Samuel told the cook what I had asked for, then he told me to wait in the living room. I did as I was told, and left the kitchen. After a few minutes of waiting he came into the living room holding a platter of toast with jam and a glass of milk. I headed towards the foot of the stairs, he asked me where I was going. I asked him to follow me upstairs with the platter, he nodded and followed.

I knock on Alfred's door, but got no answer. I assumed that he had just fallen asleep, so I quietly walked in Samuel following behind. He sets the platter on Alfred's bed side table and quietly exits. I shake Alfred awake, he sits up startled and wide eyed. After apologizing for spooking him, I hand Alfred a piece of toast with jam and tale one for myself. Alfred eats quickly, like a frightened mouse. Alfred is shy like a mouse, and fast too. After letting him finish eating I hand Alfred the glass of milk, he gulps it down quickly, then stops and looks at me. He apologises and asks if I wanted any, I tell him no, that I hate the taste of milk.

Just then mummy comes in the room, she looks angry with me. She tells me that I shouldn't be in Alfred's room and that I am a bad girl. I ask her why I can't be in Alfred's room and why he couldn't leave the room. She looks at Alfred angrily, then at me. She said that he needed to be alone today and that he needs rest. I looked at Alfred and gave him a tight hug, "see you tommorow", I said to him.

Later that day mummy came to me in the living room and told me to go get ready. When I asked why she told me that we were going to visit Aunty Petunia. I asked her if alfred was going with, she said he had to stay and rest. I go to my room and get ready, nice clothes, Auntie told me a lady is always prim and proper. A pretty blue dress is what I had picked, it was adorned with pansies, my fovorite flower. Matching them with my pantyhoes and little dress shoes that mummy got me on my birthday, I think I look very pretty. I pulled on my coat and rushed downstairs and into the family room, tripping on my dollie on the way there. She had slid closer to the fireplace, dangerously close, but I thout nothing of it.

Mummy looks me over, she is pleased with how I look, "Like a little doll, darling", she said. We hurry out the door and into our car, the faint smell of smoke hung in the air as we passed. We paid it no mind, "must be the fireplace", we thought. As Mummy pulls out of the driveway she suddenly stop, part of her face is illuminated by something before her. She screams and flings the door open and runs to the house. I am peralized with fear as I watch from the car, the house is burning, like a wild fire on the plains of Africa. Mummy is yanking on the door, screaming, crying, eventually she stops and comes back to the car. "Gone, they're all gone." she says in her broken voice, she embraces me.

That day was the last I saw Alfred alive.