The Ravenwood Chronicles

Chapter 4- The First Nightmare

        I called the authorities, making myself sound as frantic as possible as I told them about Mrs. Tordue’s suicide. I faked tears as they inspected the body, making it seem like this was completely unexpected. My story about what happened went unquestioned.

         “I’ll take in Rêver, it’s the least I could do, she lost so much already,” I said through my false tears. It really was the least I could do, however. She would still have her brother, but, like Caron, she wouldn’t be able to leave.

         I would have to explain to her how Caron was alive. Then I’d have to tell her that we had planned it, knowing that her mother would kill herself. She wouldn’t love her brother anymore, but she would have to put up with us. I was her only lifeline. No one else had as extensive a knowledge of herbs as I do.

         “It’s okay, Diana, we’re just sending her to a foster home in the next town over. We wouldn’t want to put you through any trouble,” said Dean Dux. Dean was the head of our police force. He liked to think that he knew best, yet he was the one who failed to convict my mother’s murderers because there “wasn’t enough evidence.” The fact that he thought I would be troubled by the addition of a sick girl was an insult to all I had been through. 

         Not wanting to put me through any trouble my ass. He didn’t care. He was putting up a front. I knew he suspected me for the murders, and we both knew that he couldn’t get anything on me. I hid my tracks too well.

         “She needs to live with me, I am the only one who knows anything about herbs. I am the only one who can keep her alive,” I said. The realization on his face showed that I had him convinced,  and  with so little words at that.

         “Alright. I’ll have her things moved into your home,” he sighed.

         I decided that he would be my next target. He suspected me, and if the slightest hint of evidence came up against me, I’d be imprisoned, or worse. He must die next. There was no question about it.

         After we got Rêver’s things into the room I made up for her, I gave her a small root. This was her medicine, it helped with her pains and lengthened her life. I wanted her to live out of everyone. She fell asleep after she took it, and I resolved to tell her with Caron in the morning about my life and hobby.

         I headed to my own room, where I let sleep take me away. If I said that I had slept soundly, I would have been lying. It was a long night for me.

 ~~~

         I was in a dimly lit room. There wasn’t much to it other than three pale apparitions. They looked like a few of my past victims. 

         Why? Why would I dream of them? I didn’t understand. I never, ever dreamed of my past kills. I knew this wasn’t a good sign.

         Was I feeling guilt? No, that couldn’t be it. Even now, looking at them, I still felt that they had deserved what I gave them.

         After a moment of inspection, I recognised the faces. I saw James Baker, whose jugular I had slit. Karina Lanca, whom I had cut to pieces with a large sword. And most recent, Laura Tordue, whose suicide I had caused.

         They looked at me with contempt, but they didn’t try to harm me. They knew what I did, and it seemed they didn’t want to experience it again. It was also in my best interests not to try anything myself.

         “Dark tidings are showing themselves, we are but the first,” they said in unison, “Evil happenings are coming, and they threaten your very existence.”

         “What do you mean by that?” I inquired, “What could possibly threaten my existence!? And what tidings? What the hell are you getting at!?”

         A hint of fear escaped with my words. This seemed to bring amusement to the strange spirits before me. They enjoyed my fear. My fear of the unknown.

         “We cannot tell,” they replied, showing their amusement, “They will show themselves to you, and only you. They will strike fear into your cold, unfeeling heart.”

         “What…?” It was the only thing I could manage to get out of my throat, and it sounded weak. It was strange, showing weakness. I didn’t like it.

         Before they could answer, the ghosts started disappearing. One by one, Laura being the last one to go. As she disappeared, her voice echoed in my head.

         “Take care of my daughter,” I made a mental promise to her in return for this warning, this weird, cryptic warning of something yet to come.

         Suddenly, the ground started shaking, and I was no longer in the room. Instead, I was in a large field, much like the one on the outskirts of town. The images I saw were horrifying to say the least.

         There was a giant… thing. I couldn’t tell you what it was. If I tried to describe it, I’d have a panic attack. I just remember it being grotesque, and it was killing everyone in my household, Caron and Rêver, even Adam. 

         Watching Adam die hit me the most. I fell to the ground, and started crying. Crying because I couldn’t do anything to save him. Crying because I was alone. Crying because the creature turned its gaze towards me.

         The fear was overwhelming, and the creature seemed to relish in the fact that I was scared. It took in the anguish that I felt with an awful look of pleasure. Then it pounced, and my blood splattered the grass around me.