Lancashire ,
18th September, 1905.

   In an attempt to subside cold, I frantically rub my palms while my teeth chattered, vibrating my lower jaw. The walking distance from institution to my home really makes me ponder over my decision. Also, the eerie surrounding with no people around makes this route really creepy, but I'm helpless.

       I struggle to keep up with my usual pace on this slightly muddy path. It didn't rain today but ground had the usual dampness.

Taking a shortest path connecting this rustic and small town to my home in village has it's own set of adversities. I've to swallow up the uneasiness churning in pit of my stomach. Only if I was born in some royal or a noble family, I would have had an easy ingress to everything.

Feeling dejected at my luck, I try to close my eyes to savour the hue of my imagination, but sudden ugly screeching of crows startled me.

     At times like these even a whisper can shoot up my anxiety, this one was still a horrifying one. I look up to see dark clouds gathering around, mocking my pathetic self.

My heart increases the lub dub, and I actually take a moment to calm myself. To add to my misery, spine chilling cold winds have no mercy against my body, and they do make sure to slap me with harshness. My black boots crumble the leaves impatiently while I take long strides. Meanwhile, in order to distract mind from harsh weather, I try to remember music notes of Miss Meredith, and to an extent, it did help.

   It's only been fifteen days since I've joined her classes, and I'm enthralled,  would be an understatement. A pure soul she's! In times where people have made art a way of earning rather learning, her institution is like a fresh breath which offers stay to orphaned or abandoned young girls and teach them to study, knit and other skills for free. Above all, these girls found a mother figure in Miss Meredith who took it upon herself to look after these girls. With husband long dead and no children of her own, she too found her solace in them.  Fortunately, I'm not one of those girls whose luck striked hard, still, I can take free music classes, the only reason I chose this institution. My father earnings can barely meet the ends, and I didn't want to add more to his troubles.

   Another gush of cold wave rustled past me, making me clutch my trench coat tightly. Darkness was sprawling around, making me worry all the more. I haven't even met him yet, and I look behind, over my shoulders if he's still there or not. On a cue, I hear neighing of a horse from the direction I was walking in and on an accord, my heart swayed with happiness.

    I giggled when he stopped the horse just infront of me. The way he climbed down from his midnight black horse, made him look so masculine. Silly me! I find his every gesture mesmerizing.

    The horse stood still and welcomed his master's warm affection and stood still where he was. Then he turned around and gave me his dazzling smile which I returned.

I could detect the eagerness in his posture when he walked towards me. Soon, he was by my side, holding me tight in his embrace.

My cheeks turned red when he kissed me possessively and fully on lips. Heavy breathing filled in, swatting away the eeriness of land for a while. I laughed subtly when he smooched me again on cheeks. It felt really nice to be loved liked that. Drawing my body closer to his, he admired me to his heart's content which made me blush furiously. I couldn't meet his intense gaze, and lowered my eyes.

  " You're so ethereal and precious. I'm honoured to have you as my lady. " His heavenly voice and compliments always set my heart on fire.

    Smiling fondly at him, I wrapped my arms around his torso. Feeling loved is a bliss. Mother says, I'm not allowed to court a boy till I'm eighteen, but do love sees age? I don't think so. I found my first and last love at Sixteen, and I shall marry him in future. Maybe, I'm in haste, maybe, he's good six years older than me, maybe, it's been only fifteen days to our courtship period, still, I love him and he loves me.

          Our collision happened on the very first day when I was returning from classes. That entire day, I was on my toes and that consequenced into sore feet. It was getting darker around which made me fret, but it was short lived when Shane spotted me and offered me the ride on his horse. Mother had warned me of strangers, but he really had an attractive aura around him. Soon, we were comfortable in each other's presence and daily practice of meeting since then began. I still remember when he confessed his love for me on the fifth day. I too had strong feelings for him. So, I accepted. I can imagine growing old and raising my children only with him. The very thought got me all excited.

   " Diana."

My chain of thoughts broke, and listening my name from his mouth made me smile. I admired him in all black attire, and took pride in the fact that he's my man.

In response , I imitated his tone," Yes, Shane. "

I can see him rolling his eyes at my poor attempt, still, he let it pass and eyed the box with curiosity which I was carrying.

" What's in your hand? "

The very question made me smile at the memory of happy glint shining in the eyes of little girl, Mary who had given this box to me in morning. Her two little pigtails wiggled around when she enthusiastically told me, " Sister Diana, Have these wafer biscuits with marshmallow on top. I made it with help of Miss Meredith. "

I gushed over her cuteness when she explained the procedure in a chirpy tone.

" My love, I see, someone or something is making you smile a lot. And I'm certain, it's not me. "

Instead of answering, I removed my right hand from his torso and opened the box.

" Would you like to taste them? "

            I felt elated seeing Shane smile , " Have you made them, my love? "

Shaking my head in denial, I told him about Mary. Oddly, I didn't see him reciprocating my smile rather his face is twisted with irritation. I couldn't help but ask him, " Is there something wrong? "

" Your eyes never twinkle like that when you talk about me. "

I let out an unlady like, snorty laugh and pinched his cheeks, " Are you jealous of a little girl? "

   I could see his eyes getting dark, " I get jealous of everyone who has your love. "

   Maybe, it was the rage in his eyes which made me stagger away a bit. Attempting to coo away awry thoughts, I opened the box. My nose welcomed the sugary smell and I offered him the crunchy sweet hoping it would vanquish his weird pensive mood. Even I picked one of it, and put it in my mouth.

     Immediately, sugar smothered my tongue, and I must say, Miss Meredith and Mary did a commendable job.

         I was enjoying the treat when I heard him say , " This is leaving behind a metallic taste in my mouth. "
He threw away the remaining piece on floor and made a disgusted face.
I looked at him baffled while he continued spitting out the chewed piece.

  I couldn't believe what he said next, " it feels as if I'm chewing stale flesh and blood. Are you sure, this is a wafer ? "

I had no clue what so ever and I looked at him for any explanation which never came. The way he said the word this , made me look at him with uneasiness. What was he even implying? The crisp, sweet and mouth watering delicacy which I was enjoying looked like a stale piece of flesh and blood?

Did he say all those and threw away the wafers mercilessly just because he was jealous? That too of a little girl. I was having a hard time believing that. He was a soft spoken gentleman.  Maybe, his piece wasn't good. I tried to offer him another one but he further mocked with distaste , " Is your little Mary incarnation of witch Bloody Mary? "

   I was agitated and hurt with his behaviour and I did ask him, " How could you say something so cruel to a child? "

He looked at me with disbelief, " Don't tell me, I was supposed to eat them. They were disgusting! "

I ran out of words at his strange behaviour. Even if he didn't like, he should have politely declined. There was no need to adjectify it awfully. It was a gift given to me with so much love and warmth by Mary.

    When he saw that I was getting red with anger, he became conscious, trying to cover up, " I would have liked, had they been fresh. "

I don't know why, but I had an unsettling feeling at the moment and I told him, " I'm dissapointed that you could be so mean. "

                I had no idea that he could be so snobbish and upfront rude. Needless to say, his unfathomable behaviour was somewhat scary.

  He was about to defend his honour, but I showed my palms. Closing the box a bit harshly, I took steps towards his horse.

" It's getting late, I want to reach home soon. "

   I was actually surprised when he nodded his head in understanding and made me sit on the horse, followed by him. Today, something was strange. In not a good way, might I add.

I always enjoy Shane's body's warmth, but I wasn't getting the giddy feeling today which I usually get . I could see his attempts to make conversation with me, but my monosyllables discouraged him.

     For the first time in presence of Shane, my focus wasn't on him rather on the surrounding which was peaceful. Way too peaceful, a feigned one.

   He stopped at a good distance from my house, amongst wood so my parents couldn't see him. Or else, they would surely reek havoc.  Darkness had spread it's wings around and I quickly climbed down. Resisting my urge to kiss him, I whispered a small ' Thank you ' and sprinted forward to be home on time.

" You ignored me because of that little girl. What was her name again? "

I halted in my steps when I heard his voice. Usually, heaviness of it made him appear more attractive, but the edge of darkness in them today didn't sit well with me. Nonetheless, I threw him a look and replied, " Mary. "

    I would have taken only a step forward when I heard him repeating, " Mary. "

       
                       ****

   I twist my stiff body in order to reach out to her, only in vain. One moment, I was in deep slumber, in very next I find myself in Mary's room on second floor of Miss Meredith's home, listening to her screams and pleading. She was sitting up straight on her bed and kept looking around helplessly, until she spotted me, standing next to her window. Her body was drenched in sweat and her breathing had turned erratic. Her white mid-length frock strode upwards when she started kicking her legs and hand in every direction.

I looked around to see cause of her  distress only to descry silence. Her room was dimly lit with candles, giving a translucent vision. I can't see anything suspicious which could harm anyone, but Mary looked scared beyond words.

Flabbergasted, I could feel anxiety capturing me, but that was least of my concern at the moment. I wanted to soothe her, and I spoke, " Mary, I'm here! Sweetie, calm down! What happened, will you tell me? "

   She seemed unfazed as if she didn't hear me. She was still crying and sobbing frantically. I kept screaming so that anyone, be it Miss Meredith or any girl can come up to rescue Mary from whatever was troubling her. I glanced outside from window and could see reddish hue of dawn. I protuted my head outside and shouted, " Miss Meredith, Hannah, Rosaline, someone please come up! "

Alas! No response. It felt that only I and Mary were a part of this chaos, rest everyone was enjoying warmth of their bed in this early hour. Nervousness, terror and oldness of the situation got into me and tears cornered around my eyelashes but I didn't get the time to cry when I hear Mary's sob. Still unsure of what's happening to her, I leaped forward desperately when her terrified voice pleaded,

    " Sister Diana, save me, please. "

  Much to my horrors, I couldn't even move a limb. It felt as if I was chained. I eyed her helplessly while she continued to sob. I jolted in fear when a voice whispered in my ears from behind -

" Be a spectator now, you'll get to mourn later. "

It was inhumane, literally. The grogginess and rough cut in it couldn't belong to any person or anyone. I sowly turn behind, expecting something unexpected, but to my dismay or rather relief, I found nothing. It felt like a whisk of air, gone sooner than it's arrival.

                  My eyes clenched tightly in fear when I hear that scary voice again, " Look, she's gone. "

  At this point, I don't have guts to turn around but my eyes shoot open when I hear a thud sound. I gasped out loud seeing Mary's petite form on ground, crawling toward me with her hands stretched for me to hold. Resisting the stiffness, I too try to extend my hands.

    But even before I can hold her, she suddenly stopped. My mind went numb when Mary's crawling body was suddenly dragged backwards, making her lay flat on the ground. Her scream of pain echoed around. Her chin had hit the ground with such a force that blood starts to drip out of it making me cry out loud, " Mary."

     It was still unimaginable when wooden door of her room flies open with a bang and her body dragged out by some invisible, possessed force. How on Earth was it even possible ?

             Surprisingly, I feel liberated enough to walk and without thinking much, I too ran outside of the room, not caring enough for Mary's blood which stained my bare feet.

    By the time I come outside into hallways, it was too late. Little Mary's body was already rolling down from the staircase and by the time her body hit floor, she was dead.

So, how was it? It's first time for me to write in a character's point of view. Don't know if description was satisfying and spooky or not? Lemme know your thoughts. ❤