Chapter 12
Violet struggled to wake up. She tried to will her eyes to open but they would not obey. Chills ran up and down her spine like playful children. It was hard to breath. The pressure on her chest seemed to surround her lungs and with each breath that pressure increased. She felt the pressure on her chest spread. There was a heaviness that engulfed her entire body she clenched her fist in an attempt to endure the weight crushing down on her… And just as suddenly as the episode had begun her invisible attacker ceased. Violet was immediately alert and at full attention.
“What?! Where am I?”
The room was pitch black. The last thing Violet could remember was being in a warm bath, the sensation of floating and drifting, she could swear she heard Nahmie and Toby’s voices. Violet was clean and warm. There was a familiarity in the room.
Violet climbed out of the bed and made her way to the light switch by the door. She knew this space, this felt like home. She found herself in a room surrounded by all of her things. She had been lying on her bed on her sheets. She looked down and saw that she was wearing an oxford sweatshirt and matching sweats. Could this be real? Violet had not been able to project herself over such a vast distance before and she wasn’t sure if she was strong enough to make it last.
Violet took in a deep breath and rubbed her chest. “I don’t remember it hurting so much.”
There was a slight tugging at her spirit. She could feel gravity pulling at her. She tried to focus in order to ground herself in this location but she knew she was still to weak. It would be only a matter of moments before she would have to return. She promised herself that she would maintain control this time.
Violet rushed to write a note for Nahmie. She wanted to let her know that she will be in Louisiana.
Nahmie,
I don’t know how long I have I feel the pull of gravity on my spirit as I write these words. I have so much to tell you about my journey but I am sure you already know that since you always seem to know.
I just wanted to let you know that I am in Louisiana. I think this may be a sign Nahmie, a sign that it is time to stop running from my past. It is time to face him and what happened so many years ago.
In 3 days I will meet you at Le Petite Chateau on Bourbon Street. I know that you are worried but I feel this is something that must be done. If I don’t do this now I may never do it and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life running. It is time to reclaim my life.
Try not to worry too much. I will see you soon.
Always,
Violet (soon to be Lillian)
Violet put the note on the pillow she had been resting on and rushed to the closet. Quickly she changed clothes and packed another bag of supplies. She sat on the edge of the bed and closed her eyes. She started by focusing on her heartbeat and matching the heartbeat to her breath. Then she recreated the room that she was in, the slight smell of lavender and the warmth in the room. She could hear the faint sound of a baby laughing and Kaye’s grandmotherly taunts to her new grandson.
Violet opened her eyes and she was once again in the bathroom of the little shack in the bayou. She rested her head against the freestanding bathtub. Violet was back. She smiled to herself and climbed to her feet and exited the little room.
“I was bout to come in der on ya gurl. You was in dat tub fo a long time. I thought maybe you was took down the drain.” Kaye said with a sight giggle.
“I am okay. I just needed to take a moment to get my mind together.”
“I see you got yo self a change a clothes. If I done learned anyting travellin wit you I know anyting is possible so I aint even gon ask where you got dem from.”
“Thanks, Kaye. Will you point me in the right direction to get to town.”
“Oh, don’t you worry none. After we eat Sarafeen here is gon take you into town.”
Violet turns to Sarafina and nods as a sign of gratitude. Sarafina nods back. The three ladies have a jovial dinner together. Sarafina tells her mother about all the neighborhood gossip that she has missed over the years.
When dinner was over Violet and Kaye said their goodbyes quietly. Kaye did her best to hold back her tears and she was almost successful. In a burst of emotions Kaye began to cry.
“Ms V. I owe you my life. You gave me hope. You were the light in the darkeness and I jus aint got tha words to sho you how I feel. You brought me from the dead and gave me back my family.”
“Kaye, we saved each other and I will never forget you.”
The two ladies embraced. And Violet and Sarafina leave.
Violet takes the trolley to St. Charles Ave to the famous Garden District. She walks down Jackson Ave and making a right on Prytania to find herself standing in front of a large mansion. The building is an odd combination of Greek revival and Victorian architecture. It is a large two-story house with an upstairs deck supported by round columns and a cone-topped tower. A large willow tree stands in the front yard with its twisted branches reaching towards the entry gate as if to scare off intruders but to Violet it was like the welcoming arms of an old friend.
She ran up to the tree hugging its trunk. She ran her hands across a heart that had been carved into the center of the trees trunk. LV + FB 4ever. Her heart began to ache for her previous life, her past and the lost love a boy who grew into the man that she loved and had to leave behind.
The house had been closed up for many years. With the excitement of a child Violet ran through the house tearing the sheets off the furniture, opening the windows and doors. She ran up the stairs and burst through the double doors at the end of the hall.
The master bedroom was huge with silk tapestries hanging from ceiling to floor. In the far corner was a large four-poster bed. Each post had the history of a great family carved into its flesh. Violets family no Lillian’s family. This place held her life’s story, her real story. Her story before she became Violet, before Lillian Blue, back when she was just Lillian Valmont a little girl that lived on Prytania and played with a little boy named Francios Baptist.
Lillian missed Francios, she missed his smell, his touch they way his body felt next to hers, the taste of his mouth on hers. But so much has happened, much time has passed.
“I wonder if he is still here? If he would ever forgive me?” She asked herself.
Violet, now Lillian (again) knew that it would only be a matter of time before word got out that she had returned. She missed New Orleans and would take some time to enjoy the city. She walked through the garden district taking in the beauty and familiarity of the area. She let the memories of her childhood lead her through the neighborhood onto the trolley and to the entryway to the French quarter.
Lillian allowed the sights and sounds wash over her. The music of home, of New Orleans filled her soul. She remembered walking hand in hand with her grandfather through the quarter. She remembered visiting Madame LaRue’s house and while her grandfather visited with Madame in her boudoir she would eat lemon cake in the kitchen with Nahmie and Toby.
Zydeco music filled the air around her a parade of drunken revelers pass Lillian on the street. She allows herself to get caught up in the celebration finds herself submerged in the joy of a group of strangers dancing their way down bourbon street.
There is a small bistro that serve the best shrimp in the world. Lillian finds a small wine table in the back of the restaurant.
“Bon Soirée, madame” the cute waitress said. “What may I get for you?”
“I will have a half order Creole shrimp with rice, some crawdads, a small order of jambalya, 2 pieces of fried chicken, cornbread muffins, green beans, sautéed squash and some turnip greens.” Lillian said with a smile.
“Will someone else be joining you?” The waitress asked.
“No, its just been awhile since I’ve been home and I want to take as much of it in as possible”
“Oh, so you from round these parts.” The waitress said.
“Yessum, I grew up in the Garden District on Prytania.”
“Well, isn’t that special. I know pretty much everyone. My family has been here for generations, since New Orleans was first settled. So who your people be.”
Lillian figured now’s as good a time as any to let the cat out the bag. She just hopped she would get to finish her meal before anything happened.
“My mother was Marianne Valmont and my father Jean Pierre Valmont…”
“So that mean’s your Lillian Valmont? Well, I have heard lots about you. I must say, I am very excited to meet you Ms. Lillian Valmont.” The waitress said as she scurried away.
It was odd for Violet to be addressed by her real name. She couldn’t help but smile at the relief of being Lillian Valmont again.
It was only a few moments before the food arrived. The waitress carefully placed the different sized plates on the table. The waitress leaned over the table to Lillian and in a whisper said, “There are a lot of people looking for you. If I were you I would go back wherever you came from. But rest assured those people who are looking for you are no friends of mine and they won’t be hearing about your return from me.”
Lillian sat back in her chair to enjoy her meal she let the broth from the shrimp dance across her tongue. She enjoyed the butter as it dripped off the green beans into her mouth. It gad been a long time since she enjoyed a meal so entirely.
Full and a little drunk from the Moscato wine Lillian made her way through the quarter in hopes of catching the last trolley back home.
“BonJour mon petite fluer” A deep familiar voice called out to Lillian from behind.
The faint smell of cedar and lavender danced around Lillian’s head filling her sinuses and overwhelming her senses. She knew he would come for her and she smelled him well before she heard his voice. Without moving she said “I knew you would come for me.”
“Did you miss me?” He said.
Lillian turned to face her past. There he stood before her, he looked the same as he did the day she left. She had memorized every inch of his 6 foot 2 inch frame drenched in the deepest and purest molasses. She knew every line on his face, every change in his skin.
“The years have been kind” She said.
“For you as well, I see.” He relied.
“How tragic, you cut your hair.”
“Much time has passed and a change was needed.”
She wanted to rush into his arms and pick back up right where they had left off. Before she could stop herself she was running into his arms. For a moment they were back as they had been once before but it was only for a moment. He evicted her from his arms her head no longer allowed to make a pillow of his chest. That was no longer her home. Lillian could sense many women had lived there since she had gone away.
He was the first to break the silence. “She will kill you if she sees you again. She promised and she never breaks a promise.”
“I know and I will deal with her. But if she doesn’t what doesn’t that mean for us?” Lillian asked.
“I can’t have this conversation now. Are you staying at the old house?”
“Yes”
“Then go there and I will come to you soon.”
“No! I must face her.”
“Not now!”
Lillian began to feel weak. It must be the wine. She couldn’t keep her mind focused. There was a fog over her preventing her from maintaining herself. “Just relax… I will come for you.” The familiar voice of her once lover whispered.
When Lillian opened her eyes it was a new day and she was laying safely in her bed.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Chapter 11
Standing in front of what appeared to be a tin wash bucket was a young girl that looked to be no older than thirteen. Her mouth dropped open and she immediately ran to Kaye and embraced her, totally ignoring the fact that Kaye was covered with mud and slop. Kaye kissed her and would step back and engulf the young woman again with a shower of kisses on her forehead and face. You could tell watching the exchange that they had some catching up to do. There were a lot of talking-like-yelps, crying and laughing as if there was just too much to say and not a language with which to say it. Violet just took the time to gather herself, as soon as there was a descent pause in all the excitement she interrupted ever so gently, “Kaye, I really need to clean-up and get going.”
“Oh my gosh, I sure am rude, dis’ here is my daughta, she big, ain’t seen ‘er in leas a decade. Baby dis is…” Kaye paused and thought about all that had transpired between the two of them and decided to keep it low-key. “Ms. V to you.” Violet smiled at the discretion Kaye exercised, even though she was not certain of her true identity at this point. There were so many layers to who she really was. So much that she had to reinvent and recreate. “We’s a mess gurl, who here whicha?” Kaye said holding on to her daughter’s face.
Interesting enough Kaye’s daughter was very pretty, but simple. She had on a very loose dress that was a grayish blue hue, like it had been washed too much. The sleeves covered her shoulders and hung down halfway above her elbow. It really looked like a bed gown from Little House on the Prairie. Nowhere did it fit her tight and it stopped just above her knee. She was barefoot and her feet looked as though they were dusty with dried up mud stains from the murky waters. Her hair was pulled back and bunched-up in an uncombed bun. It looked like a good shampoo and conditioner was long overdue. From somewhere in the house a baby started crying, the young woman snapped out of her trance and ran to see about the whaling. Kaye realized what could be happening here and at first a smile and then a solemn look came over her face as she inquired “who baby is dat?”
“Mine Ma, he 8 months old. Dis here is Jacob Elisiah. He named part after his Dad and part afta Pa.”
“You only 16 gurl, why you go and get a baby? I sure wanted you to get out of here, seein’ how you can sing and all. Specially with that head on your shouldas.” Kaye paused and began taking the baby from the girl, “but I’m here now. Can’t believe Ima a MiMa. Dis here is by firs granchile V. He sure is a pretty boy.” Turning toward her daughter she continued, “I’m not goin’ nowhere dis time, willin’ or not. Don’t you worry. Ma’s here to stay and help.” Kaye put one arm around her daughter while holding the baby in the other. “There’s much to say, but not right na. We can start fresh, but one thing fo sure, I didn’t plan to not be wit ya. I didn’t go away on my own will. However, nothin’ will eva happen now, I’m home and things different na.” Looking over at Violet, Kaye refocused “get Ms. V sometin’ ta put on and draw ‘er a bath.”
Violet chimed in, “Kaye, after I clean up I need to make my way to town and use a phone. You’ve been away too long so I don’t want to make a scene going into town with you. I can go by myself; it’s not even high noon yet. If I reach who I intend, I don’t expect to make it back this way. I will send word that I am fine, but you know me, I am a big girl.” Violet was ready to get out of her wet, sticky clothes; she didn’t care if she was given a sackcloth to wear.
Kaye was back in step as though she hadn’t been away for what Violet gathered was over a decade. “I understand. We gon make certain you eat and have energy. I think ya need ta rest tho, but that’s jus me.” Turning to her daughter, Kaye had another set of instructions “Sarafeen, I got dis’ here pretty baby; he’ll be sleep again in no time foolin’ with me. Start dem pots up, I’ll be right in der.” Violet could tell that Kaye was back in her comfort zone and didn’t want to push against her request to stay for a meal. Kaye was noticeably resilient and fit right back in as though she hadn’t missed a beat. Violet followed Sarafina, who Kaye called Sarafeen, back to the bathroom. She also realized Kaye’s daughter was older than she looked.
Violet noticed that the house was surprisingly neat despite the tattered outside of the shanty home and the looks of Sarafina’s clothing. It still seemed as though Violet had stepped back in time, but it was a welcomed change to the torture chambers that had just been her prison. As they entered the washroom there was some sort of makeshift version of running water and plumbing that appeared to be more like a supped up water pump, dumping into an old free standing tub. It looked as if somewhere there was a pilot boiling the water to make it hot. Violet thanked her young host, closing and locking the door after she exited.
Violet disrobed, peeling the sticky clothes off like a layer of dead skin; she found the oversized waste basket and happily dropped them in. She examined her breast and upper body in the stained mirror above the sink. She could see the wear-and-tear of the last week and the weight she had lost. Running her hand through her now stringy hair and pulling it back she just exhaled. Although she would have preferred a hot shower, this bath in even a strange place would wash away some of the dirt inside and out.
Inching her way into the water, the steam rose up between her thighs sending beads of sweat down her legs. The water had a clean scent and her tense muscles began to weaken as the water opened up and closed in around her body. She took the hand towel emerged it in the water, rung it out and just laid it over her eyes. Wow, when was the last time I meditated, she quizzed herself. She was so wound up her mind was racing. She began her breathing exercise and honed in on the sounds of her own heart. It was amazingly calm; beating, beating, beating. Her breathing became more steady and she actually let her self slide down into the water. Her mind began to loosen; she could feel her brain actually release like a muscle and her face softened. She pictured Toby’s smile, but she could hear Nahmie’s voice. It was as though her conscience was Nahmie. “Lillian focus, focus on where you want to be right this moment. Take yourself exactly to that place, see every detail. See the walls, see the floor, smell the air, feel the environment, taste it.” Yep, Nahmie would say when you got real in tune with your senses you could taste a place. Like now, the bayou was salty, sticky and very thick. “See yourself in the room Lillian, see what you are doing in that room, tell Nahmie what you are doing.”
Violet began to sink down into the tub, it was as though she was slipping into a comatose state. Her lips were submerged under water and the wet was inching up to the tip of her nose, soon her entire head would be under. She began to feel a dropping sensation in her entire body, like an immense gravitational pull. Almost as if the tub drain was sucking her under, she began coughing and gasping as she sucked in a lung of bath water. She reached for the sides of the tub to pull her up, but her grasp was weak compared to the force.
She pulled up one last time letting out a raspy yelp before becoming completely unconscious. “Get me some towels, lift her out quick, be careful not to hurt her!” Violet was sure she was in a twilight state of unconscious awareness. She smelled lavender all around her. "Put her own her side," the voice demanded as firm hands guided her body into safety. “Wake up child, wake up. You did it baby, you did it.” She heard the voice clearer this time “pass me the hot tea Toby quick.” Violet was very weak, she felt like fever and flu all over, she was chilled to the bone but hot at the same time. “She opened her eyes slowly, but it felt like 10 tons had fallen on her. Was she hallucinating? As though her mind was being read, Nahmie wiped Violet's forehead and turned her face to really make her focus. “Baby you’re here, you did it. I haven’t seen you do that in a long time. I thought you had lost the gift, but deep down I knew you had it in you; I gave you my strength and wouldn’t let go of the fact that I knew you were alive. We both knew, didn’t we Toby?” Nahmie was half laughing and half crying looking over at Toby. “Ha, can you believe this? You’re in Oxford baby, you did it. No, no don’t move too fast you took a lot out of yourself. You’ll need to rest.” That was the last thing Violet heard as everything faded back to black around her.
“Oh my gosh, I sure am rude, dis’ here is my daughta, she big, ain’t seen ‘er in leas a decade. Baby dis is…” Kaye paused and thought about all that had transpired between the two of them and decided to keep it low-key. “Ms. V to you.” Violet smiled at the discretion Kaye exercised, even though she was not certain of her true identity at this point. There were so many layers to who she really was. So much that she had to reinvent and recreate. “We’s a mess gurl, who here whicha?” Kaye said holding on to her daughter’s face.
Interesting enough Kaye’s daughter was very pretty, but simple. She had on a very loose dress that was a grayish blue hue, like it had been washed too much. The sleeves covered her shoulders and hung down halfway above her elbow. It really looked like a bed gown from Little House on the Prairie. Nowhere did it fit her tight and it stopped just above her knee. She was barefoot and her feet looked as though they were dusty with dried up mud stains from the murky waters. Her hair was pulled back and bunched-up in an uncombed bun. It looked like a good shampoo and conditioner was long overdue. From somewhere in the house a baby started crying, the young woman snapped out of her trance and ran to see about the whaling. Kaye realized what could be happening here and at first a smile and then a solemn look came over her face as she inquired “who baby is dat?”
“Mine Ma, he 8 months old. Dis here is Jacob Elisiah. He named part after his Dad and part afta Pa.”
“You only 16 gurl, why you go and get a baby? I sure wanted you to get out of here, seein’ how you can sing and all. Specially with that head on your shouldas.” Kaye paused and began taking the baby from the girl, “but I’m here now. Can’t believe Ima a MiMa. Dis here is by firs granchile V. He sure is a pretty boy.” Turning toward her daughter she continued, “I’m not goin’ nowhere dis time, willin’ or not. Don’t you worry. Ma’s here to stay and help.” Kaye put one arm around her daughter while holding the baby in the other. “There’s much to say, but not right na. We can start fresh, but one thing fo sure, I didn’t plan to not be wit ya. I didn’t go away on my own will. However, nothin’ will eva happen now, I’m home and things different na.” Looking over at Violet, Kaye refocused “get Ms. V sometin’ ta put on and draw ‘er a bath.”
Violet chimed in, “Kaye, after I clean up I need to make my way to town and use a phone. You’ve been away too long so I don’t want to make a scene going into town with you. I can go by myself; it’s not even high noon yet. If I reach who I intend, I don’t expect to make it back this way. I will send word that I am fine, but you know me, I am a big girl.” Violet was ready to get out of her wet, sticky clothes; she didn’t care if she was given a sackcloth to wear.
Kaye was back in step as though she hadn’t been away for what Violet gathered was over a decade. “I understand. We gon make certain you eat and have energy. I think ya need ta rest tho, but that’s jus me.” Turning to her daughter, Kaye had another set of instructions “Sarafeen, I got dis’ here pretty baby; he’ll be sleep again in no time foolin’ with me. Start dem pots up, I’ll be right in der.” Violet could tell that Kaye was back in her comfort zone and didn’t want to push against her request to stay for a meal. Kaye was noticeably resilient and fit right back in as though she hadn’t missed a beat. Violet followed Sarafina, who Kaye called Sarafeen, back to the bathroom. She also realized Kaye’s daughter was older than she looked.
Violet noticed that the house was surprisingly neat despite the tattered outside of the shanty home and the looks of Sarafina’s clothing. It still seemed as though Violet had stepped back in time, but it was a welcomed change to the torture chambers that had just been her prison. As they entered the washroom there was some sort of makeshift version of running water and plumbing that appeared to be more like a supped up water pump, dumping into an old free standing tub. It looked as if somewhere there was a pilot boiling the water to make it hot. Violet thanked her young host, closing and locking the door after she exited.
Violet disrobed, peeling the sticky clothes off like a layer of dead skin; she found the oversized waste basket and happily dropped them in. She examined her breast and upper body in the stained mirror above the sink. She could see the wear-and-tear of the last week and the weight she had lost. Running her hand through her now stringy hair and pulling it back she just exhaled. Although she would have preferred a hot shower, this bath in even a strange place would wash away some of the dirt inside and out.
Inching her way into the water, the steam rose up between her thighs sending beads of sweat down her legs. The water had a clean scent and her tense muscles began to weaken as the water opened up and closed in around her body. She took the hand towel emerged it in the water, rung it out and just laid it over her eyes. Wow, when was the last time I meditated, she quizzed herself. She was so wound up her mind was racing. She began her breathing exercise and honed in on the sounds of her own heart. It was amazingly calm; beating, beating, beating. Her breathing became more steady and she actually let her self slide down into the water. Her mind began to loosen; she could feel her brain actually release like a muscle and her face softened. She pictured Toby’s smile, but she could hear Nahmie’s voice. It was as though her conscience was Nahmie. “Lillian focus, focus on where you want to be right this moment. Take yourself exactly to that place, see every detail. See the walls, see the floor, smell the air, feel the environment, taste it.” Yep, Nahmie would say when you got real in tune with your senses you could taste a place. Like now, the bayou was salty, sticky and very thick. “See yourself in the room Lillian, see what you are doing in that room, tell Nahmie what you are doing.”
Violet began to sink down into the tub, it was as though she was slipping into a comatose state. Her lips were submerged under water and the wet was inching up to the tip of her nose, soon her entire head would be under. She began to feel a dropping sensation in her entire body, like an immense gravitational pull. Almost as if the tub drain was sucking her under, she began coughing and gasping as she sucked in a lung of bath water. She reached for the sides of the tub to pull her up, but her grasp was weak compared to the force.
She pulled up one last time letting out a raspy yelp before becoming completely unconscious. “Get me some towels, lift her out quick, be careful not to hurt her!” Violet was sure she was in a twilight state of unconscious awareness. She smelled lavender all around her. "Put her own her side," the voice demanded as firm hands guided her body into safety. “Wake up child, wake up. You did it baby, you did it.” She heard the voice clearer this time “pass me the hot tea Toby quick.” Violet was very weak, she felt like fever and flu all over, she was chilled to the bone but hot at the same time. “She opened her eyes slowly, but it felt like 10 tons had fallen on her. Was she hallucinating? As though her mind was being read, Nahmie wiped Violet's forehead and turned her face to really make her focus. “Baby you’re here, you did it. I haven’t seen you do that in a long time. I thought you had lost the gift, but deep down I knew you had it in you; I gave you my strength and wouldn’t let go of the fact that I knew you were alive. We both knew, didn’t we Toby?” Nahmie was half laughing and half crying looking over at Toby. “Ha, can you believe this? You’re in Oxford baby, you did it. No, no don’t move too fast you took a lot out of yourself. You’ll need to rest.” That was the last thing Violet heard as everything faded back to black around her.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Chapter 10
The helicopter floated along the Mississippi the blades and the engine performing a perfect duet. Kaye looked out the window enjoying the peace within this moment, while still savoring her newfound freedom. There is just something about the rumblings of engines that can create an overwhelming sense of peace over time. Violet found herself succumbing to the purr of the engine and the humming of the blades overhead. The two women sat in silence.
Violet knew the silence would be short lived. Since she was unsure of which side of the Mississippi they were actually traveling she didn’t want to risk being in the air for too long. The goal was to get away from the house of horrors and they had successfully done that, well two of them at least. But Violet couldn’t allow her thoughts to linger to long on Rose, beautiful little Rose.
Finally they approached a clearing large enough to land the Helicopter safely. Once on the ground both ladies sat inside their new sanctuary, still in silence. It was as if nobody wanted to be the one to disrupt the peace they had found traveling in that helicopter for the last two hours. But eventually the moment would have to come to an end and for Violet there was no time like the present. She had been taken so far off her original course she was starting to doubt the possibility of ever getting back on track.
Before Violet could speak…
“Should we destroy the copter before we split up?” Kaye asked in an eerily calm voice.
“Right now the priority is figuring out where we are and then we can deal with the rest. But yeah we are going to have to do something about this helicopter.”
“Figuring out where we are is the easy part. I know where we are. I grew up in these parts; we’re in Slidel not to far from New Orleans. So, what do we do about this here copter?”
“Are you sure?”
“Sure as I can be. I don’t know much but I know home when I see it and… I am finally home.”
Kaye was having a hard time containing her joy and it slowly began to run down her cheek in the form of the most delicate tears. She sat there with her hands over her chest, eyes closed just taking the moment in. Kaye’s joy became contagious and Violet began to silently cry in solidarity with her new friend.
“Violet… we better get while the gettin’s still good.” Kaye says in barely a whisper.
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”
Without another word the two ladies move in perfect concert with one another… They gather dried, dead foliage surrounding the clearing; coupled with the fuel reserves from the helicopter as an accelerate they set the helicopter on fire. The blaze grows gradually burning from the inside cab and eventually engulfing the base of the structure. The ladies quickly run to the edge of the clearing, their exit being punctuated by the sudden explosion of the helicopter as the flames make their way to the fuel tank.
As the two ladies journey through the trees towards the road Violet couldn’t help giggling to herself. This was the second fire she'd started in two days. What would her mother say if she could see her now? She always told her never to play with fire.
“Kaye, … Kaye, we’ve been walking for hours. Are you sure you know where we are going?”
“Just keep moving and don’t fall to far behind. It’ll be dark soon and we are approaching the bayou. All sorts of creatures live out that way and we gotta make sure we keep surefooted.”
“Why can’t we just go a different way then?”
“Ain’t no other way to get where we need to go sept through the bayou. You know they shot a real live movie out here once. I never did get to see it but folks around here were real excited about it.”
“Thanks for the bit of random trivia.”
“I was just tryin to make conversation”
“Well don’t!”
“I was just tryin to ease the tension but no need no more, see that house… We’re here.”
Violet was none to happy about having to wade in water up to her waist to what appeared to be nothing more than a dilapidated old shack nestled between a bunch of dead old trees. As she approached the house she could see that it was resting on several wide stilts holding it above the water.
Violet was surprised at the ease of which Kaye was able to pull her body up onto the front porch of the old house. She figured if Kaye could do it this shouldn't be too much of a stretch for her, after all she had been working out with a trainer 3 times a week up until about a week ago. Violet planted both hands firmly onto the edge of the porch and tried to pull herself up. Just then she realized that this was going to be more of a challenge than initially anticipated. The ground was too soft making it impossible for her to gain her footing.
Kaye reached down to give Violet a hand up, pulling her onto the makeshift porch with ease. Once Violet had both feet on solid ground she found herself breathing a deep sigh of relief and a little embarrassment. She followed Kaye into the main room of the little shack on the bayou. Once Violet crossed the threshold she was bathed in light, bright light and warmth. The smell of cedar and fresh jasmine filled her nostrils filling her with an overwhelming sense of calm and peace. She immediately felt safe. Until that moment Violet hadn’t realized how long it had been since she felt at ease, how long it had been since she had taken a deep breath. Tentatively she entered the shack, in front of her standing in front of what appeared to be a tin wash bucket was…
Violet knew the silence would be short lived. Since she was unsure of which side of the Mississippi they were actually traveling she didn’t want to risk being in the air for too long. The goal was to get away from the house of horrors and they had successfully done that, well two of them at least. But Violet couldn’t allow her thoughts to linger to long on Rose, beautiful little Rose.
Finally they approached a clearing large enough to land the Helicopter safely. Once on the ground both ladies sat inside their new sanctuary, still in silence. It was as if nobody wanted to be the one to disrupt the peace they had found traveling in that helicopter for the last two hours. But eventually the moment would have to come to an end and for Violet there was no time like the present. She had been taken so far off her original course she was starting to doubt the possibility of ever getting back on track.
Before Violet could speak…
“Should we destroy the copter before we split up?” Kaye asked in an eerily calm voice.
“Right now the priority is figuring out where we are and then we can deal with the rest. But yeah we are going to have to do something about this helicopter.”
“Figuring out where we are is the easy part. I know where we are. I grew up in these parts; we’re in Slidel not to far from New Orleans. So, what do we do about this here copter?”
“Are you sure?”
“Sure as I can be. I don’t know much but I know home when I see it and… I am finally home.”
Kaye was having a hard time containing her joy and it slowly began to run down her cheek in the form of the most delicate tears. She sat there with her hands over her chest, eyes closed just taking the moment in. Kaye’s joy became contagious and Violet began to silently cry in solidarity with her new friend.
“Violet… we better get while the gettin’s still good.” Kaye says in barely a whisper.
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”
Without another word the two ladies move in perfect concert with one another… They gather dried, dead foliage surrounding the clearing; coupled with the fuel reserves from the helicopter as an accelerate they set the helicopter on fire. The blaze grows gradually burning from the inside cab and eventually engulfing the base of the structure. The ladies quickly run to the edge of the clearing, their exit being punctuated by the sudden explosion of the helicopter as the flames make their way to the fuel tank.
As the two ladies journey through the trees towards the road Violet couldn’t help giggling to herself. This was the second fire she'd started in two days. What would her mother say if she could see her now? She always told her never to play with fire.
“Kaye, … Kaye, we’ve been walking for hours. Are you sure you know where we are going?”
“Just keep moving and don’t fall to far behind. It’ll be dark soon and we are approaching the bayou. All sorts of creatures live out that way and we gotta make sure we keep surefooted.”
“Why can’t we just go a different way then?”
“Ain’t no other way to get where we need to go sept through the bayou. You know they shot a real live movie out here once. I never did get to see it but folks around here were real excited about it.”
“Thanks for the bit of random trivia.”
“I was just tryin to make conversation”
“Well don’t!”
“I was just tryin to ease the tension but no need no more, see that house… We’re here.”
Violet was none to happy about having to wade in water up to her waist to what appeared to be nothing more than a dilapidated old shack nestled between a bunch of dead old trees. As she approached the house she could see that it was resting on several wide stilts holding it above the water.
Violet was surprised at the ease of which Kaye was able to pull her body up onto the front porch of the old house. She figured if Kaye could do it this shouldn't be too much of a stretch for her, after all she had been working out with a trainer 3 times a week up until about a week ago. Violet planted both hands firmly onto the edge of the porch and tried to pull herself up. Just then she realized that this was going to be more of a challenge than initially anticipated. The ground was too soft making it impossible for her to gain her footing.
Kaye reached down to give Violet a hand up, pulling her onto the makeshift porch with ease. Once Violet had both feet on solid ground she found herself breathing a deep sigh of relief and a little embarrassment. She followed Kaye into the main room of the little shack on the bayou. Once Violet crossed the threshold she was bathed in light, bright light and warmth. The smell of cedar and fresh jasmine filled her nostrils filling her with an overwhelming sense of calm and peace. She immediately felt safe. Until that moment Violet hadn’t realized how long it had been since she felt at ease, how long it had been since she had taken a deep breath. Tentatively she entered the shack, in front of her standing in front of what appeared to be a tin wash bucket was…
Monday, July 20, 2009
Chapter 9
The tears streamed down Kaye's face. There were so many mixed emotions as she cried out deep from within, it was a soul cry. It sounded like the pain of legion and it felt like it to anyone in earshot. Even the animals who heard the cry stopped in their tracks. Violet felt her pain for a moment; however it was hard to resist the impulse of thinking ahead. She needed to know where they were. Based on the train leaving Boston going toward Mississippi and the fact that she had only been on it for all of day before the series of incidences, she could not have made it further than Maryland or Virginia. She recalled the map of the train route in her mind and the hours on board.
Violet calculated they had another 7 hours of nightfall before the break of dawn, but the growing fire would certainly conger up some attention. While Kaye held on to Rose rocking back and forth, Violet waited for a natural pause in her sob. She firmly grabbed Kaye’s shoulder. “I know you are in a lot of pain, more pain than this moment will allow for.” Violet allowed her words to register with Kaye and when she got eye contact she continued. “It’s time to go and we need to take advantage of the night cover. Do you know where we are? The state or city?”
Kaye’s sob suddenly halted. She looked around as if she had a lucid moment in the midst of insanity. The events which had just transpired were beginning to sink in. “What ‘bout Rose, she need a proper barial. We can’t, can’t just leave here her near these animals we just kilt.”
“Didn’t you hear her Kaye, she said she was free. That’s the flesh that held Rose; she is freer than you and I right now. She would want us to keep going and get as far away from here, as quickly as possible.”
Kaye stood up with Rose’s limp and frail body in her arms. With ease she walked toward the back of the structure, Violet resisted the urge to yell or stop her. The silhouette of the moon exposed Kaye’s strong stride as she continued to execute her mission. Her destination was a small garden surrounded by a picket fence; the irony of such a pure place next to the hell hole of a torture chamber. Violet stood back watching as Kaye gently placed Rose in the midst of the blooms. She kissed her forehead and pulled the sheet over her feet and all around her body, exposing her face like an infant wrapped in a blanket. Violet could only imagine that Kaye said some sort of prayer as she slipped something in her pocket. As if Kaye snapped out of a trance, she ran at full speed toward Violet. Kaye had such momentum she almost ran right past her. “Dis way, cum on.” Violet followed Kaye’s lead and based on the position of the moon she could tell they were headed west. It seemed like an hour or more before they stopped for a break near a small brook. Violet was impressed at Kaye’s stamina.
They paused allowing each other to sit down and control their breathing. Violet was wondering at which point they would need to go their separate ways. This was certainly a twist she had not anticipated. All of sudden she became very thankful for the fact that Kaye grabbed her bag. Digging in she felt for the cash that served as the cushion between the inner and outer lining. Her phone was long gone; she began to think of how Toby and Nahmie must be feeling. She sent a vibration and knew deep down Toby would sense she was alive, just delayed.
Violet began to talk and Kaye shook her head raising her finger to her lips. She got up and began walking west again. Violet decided to trust Kaye, realizing this was her territory. While moving in silence, steering clear of the noisy path of leaves and dense brush, Violet noticed that Kaye was staying on the soft mud path. Eventually there was a clearing and in the middle of a thick forest was a landing with a helicopter. Violet realized that Kaye had a plan all along.
They walked around the helicopter; Violet took note of the seemingly great condition of the blades and external landing apparatus. She intuitively jumped into the pilot seat and observed the fuel gauge and flight panel. She was right at home. Kaye started digging around for something in her pocket and came out with a key, attached to a chain. Pay dirt! Violet took the key, immediately inserting and turning. After seconds of choking the hum of the engine went full throttle and twirl of the blades made a powerful sound as they churned in harmony. Violet could feel the power of the hawk wanting to lift in her hands.
Violet and Kaye needed to exchange some dialogue about what was next. How long would she allow Kaye to remain her wing woman? What about the life that awaited her in Oxford? Where would Kaye go, did she have a place to go? It seemed like too many questions for the moment. Violet closed her eyes and just smiled at the situation, of all things in the middle of this backwards place, a magic bird to fly her away…
Violet calculated they had another 7 hours of nightfall before the break of dawn, but the growing fire would certainly conger up some attention. While Kaye held on to Rose rocking back and forth, Violet waited for a natural pause in her sob. She firmly grabbed Kaye’s shoulder. “I know you are in a lot of pain, more pain than this moment will allow for.” Violet allowed her words to register with Kaye and when she got eye contact she continued. “It’s time to go and we need to take advantage of the night cover. Do you know where we are? The state or city?”
Kaye’s sob suddenly halted. She looked around as if she had a lucid moment in the midst of insanity. The events which had just transpired were beginning to sink in. “What ‘bout Rose, she need a proper barial. We can’t, can’t just leave here her near these animals we just kilt.”
“Didn’t you hear her Kaye, she said she was free. That’s the flesh that held Rose; she is freer than you and I right now. She would want us to keep going and get as far away from here, as quickly as possible.”
Kaye stood up with Rose’s limp and frail body in her arms. With ease she walked toward the back of the structure, Violet resisted the urge to yell or stop her. The silhouette of the moon exposed Kaye’s strong stride as she continued to execute her mission. Her destination was a small garden surrounded by a picket fence; the irony of such a pure place next to the hell hole of a torture chamber. Violet stood back watching as Kaye gently placed Rose in the midst of the blooms. She kissed her forehead and pulled the sheet over her feet and all around her body, exposing her face like an infant wrapped in a blanket. Violet could only imagine that Kaye said some sort of prayer as she slipped something in her pocket. As if Kaye snapped out of a trance, she ran at full speed toward Violet. Kaye had such momentum she almost ran right past her. “Dis way, cum on.” Violet followed Kaye’s lead and based on the position of the moon she could tell they were headed west. It seemed like an hour or more before they stopped for a break near a small brook. Violet was impressed at Kaye’s stamina.
They paused allowing each other to sit down and control their breathing. Violet was wondering at which point they would need to go their separate ways. This was certainly a twist she had not anticipated. All of sudden she became very thankful for the fact that Kaye grabbed her bag. Digging in she felt for the cash that served as the cushion between the inner and outer lining. Her phone was long gone; she began to think of how Toby and Nahmie must be feeling. She sent a vibration and knew deep down Toby would sense she was alive, just delayed.
Violet began to talk and Kaye shook her head raising her finger to her lips. She got up and began walking west again. Violet decided to trust Kaye, realizing this was her territory. While moving in silence, steering clear of the noisy path of leaves and dense brush, Violet noticed that Kaye was staying on the soft mud path. Eventually there was a clearing and in the middle of a thick forest was a landing with a helicopter. Violet realized that Kaye had a plan all along.
They walked around the helicopter; Violet took note of the seemingly great condition of the blades and external landing apparatus. She intuitively jumped into the pilot seat and observed the fuel gauge and flight panel. She was right at home. Kaye started digging around for something in her pocket and came out with a key, attached to a chain. Pay dirt! Violet took the key, immediately inserting and turning. After seconds of choking the hum of the engine went full throttle and twirl of the blades made a powerful sound as they churned in harmony. Violet could feel the power of the hawk wanting to lift in her hands.
Violet and Kaye needed to exchange some dialogue about what was next. How long would she allow Kaye to remain her wing woman? What about the life that awaited her in Oxford? Where would Kaye go, did she have a place to go? It seemed like too many questions for the moment. Violet closed her eyes and just smiled at the situation, of all things in the middle of this backwards place, a magic bird to fly her away…
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
A Dream... Chapter 8
Slowly Violet and Kaye climbed back down onto the main floor of the large house. The only sound to be heard was the crackling of a very large fire burning in the fireplace. Violet found her self being drawn to the fire, hypnotized by its rhythm and comforted by the dance of the flames. She stabbed at the flames with a metal poker that had been positioned next to the fireplace. As she moved the wood pieces around the blaze began to grow.
“We better get a move on miss, if we’s to get out of here in one piece” Kaye whispered with an obvious desperation to her voice.
“I know, which way to her room”
“They keep her in the room just off the kitchen, but they still hold up in the living room. How we sposed to get pass dem”
Just as Violet was formulating her plan the ladies were stopped in their tracks by movement coming from the other room.
“Kaye, get your black as in here. Ya hear! I need a drink and while ya at it make me a sandwich” came a gruff voice from the other room.
“What do I do?”
“You better answer him.” Violet ordered.
“Yessir, I be right there”
“Well what’s taken you so long? A mans liable to starve waiting for you.”
Kaye began making her way to the door but before she could reach the opening a tall figure emerged from the shadow. His body was long and lean. He wore coveralls with what appeared to be blood stains on the front. His skin was pale, almost iridescent. His face was round and fat, unusual for someone so thin and his ears stuck out like handles on a teapot. There was a small curly tuft of hair on the top of his head reminiscent of a children’s toy. Violet had to fight off the impulse to laugh at the absurdity of this villain.
Just as Violet had taken a beat to take in the site of this intruder he had done the same. A grotesque smile crawled across his face. He slowly licked his lips and said. “Kaye, who’s your little friend? Little friend won’t you come over here and let me get a better look at you.”
With her eyes Kaye begged Violet, but for what Violet was unsure. Slowly Violet walked over the round faced man. He put his hand out beckoning her to take it and she did. He slowly spun violet around in order to get a full overview. You must be the new girl Bobby picked up this morning. I think Ima try you out myself for I let my brother know about you.”
He grabbed at Violets breast with greedy hands and tugged at her belt. There was at least a week’s worth of dirt under his nails and he smelled like a dead animal mingled with the smell of urine. The stench was so strong that Violets eyes began to water a little.
He pulled Violet closer to him and locked her into what seemed like a vice grip. Kaye looked on in horror as she watched her hope slip away.
“What’s your name, pretty lady?” The round faced man said as he licked the side of Violets face. She could smell his saliva drying in her skin. His hot breath singing the hairs on her neck. Violet flinched. The round faced man smacked her, knocking Violet to the ground. Kaye gasped.
“What? You think you too good for me pretty lady? Well you’ll learn that Im the nicest of us all and pretty soon you’ll be beggin to spend some time with good ole Alfrey”
“Alfrey” Violet couldn’t help but repeat as she stifled a giggle.
“You think somethins funny bitch!” Spit escaping Alfrey’s mouth as he spoke.
Violet realized then that ole Alfrey had a bit of a lisp. She couldn’t help it but she was suddenly overcome with a fit of laughter. She quickly put her hand to her mouth in an attempt to further stifle her laughter. Before she could regain her composure Alfrey was upon her tearing at her clothes. Alfrey straddled Violet trying to pin her arms down with one hand while unbuttoning her shirt with the other.
Violet tried to shift Alfrey’s weight so that she could free her legs. Once she had some mobility with her legs Violet raised her hips pushing Alfrey forward and as he began to fall forward she threw all her weight into rocking herself on top of Alfrey.
“Oh I see, you’re a feisty one.” Alfrey sneered.
Positioned on all fours hovering over Alfrey Violet raised herself up onto her feet with her hands still on the floor and lowered her knee into Alfrey’s most sensitive area. Violet came down on Alfrey’s masculinity with such force that he was instantly reduced to silent snivels but no tears.
Violet returned to the fireplace and removed the poker she had been playing with previously then removed the pants of the still silently crying Alfrey she shoved the red hot poker through his scrotum. Alfrey finally found his voice. He let out a blood curdling scream. He lunges towards Violet but isn’t able to connect due to the fact that he was now tethered to the floor by a red-hot poker. With a roundhouse kick to the head Violet knocks ole Alfrey back to the floor and with one continuous motion removes the poker from his sack and begins beating him with it. Eventually the evil light in Alfrey’s eyes dims. Blood slowly oozes from his eyes and ears. A small pool of blood developed where his manhood once resided.
Violet rises to her feet and adjusts her shirt. “One more to go” she says winking at Kaye as she strolls away.
Violet enters the dining room. There is another man passed out at the table. His face turned up towards heaven and his legs dangling open under the table. There is a half eaten piece of chicken and what appears to be the remains from some half eaten corn on the cob.
Violet cautiously approaches the man passed out at the table. She reaches over and pokes him in the chest with the poker once used to impale Alfrey. He doesn’t budge. She pokes him a little harder. Nothing. Violet rests the poker on the table in front of the sleeping man and sits in the chair next to him. She is unprepared for this, she expected a confrontation. In one last attempt to rouse the sleeping man she pinches his nose shut. It seems like he is going to wake up but instead he just resorts to breathing through his mouth.
“Kaye, get in here.”
Kaye cautiously enters the dining room.
“Wanna see something funny?”
Before Kaye could respond Violet covers the sleeping mans nose and right on que his mouth drops open and he is barely even affected. Violet giggles. Kaye is still in shock. Violet reaches over to the table and grabs a few kernels from the table and tosses them into his mouth. The sleeping man chokes for a second before he chews and swallows the corn. Both women burst out laughing.
“Sshhh, not to loud, we don’t want to wake him” Violet giggles. “lets get moving”
The two women make their way pass the kitchen and are standing in front of a large heavy looking wood door. There are large metal hinges on the door and chain hanging from a wrought iron latch. Violet unlatches the door with the key Kaye had given her earlier. It takes the collaborative efforts of both women to pull open the wooden door.
The aromatic assault on their sinuses is immediate. Violet launches into a coughing fit and her eyes begin to tear up. She struggles to keep her gag reflexes in check.
“Just give it a minute and you’ll get used to it” Kaye tries to comfort Violet.
The room is dark and drafty. Violet can tell that the room is vast. When she takes a step into the room she can hear something squishing under foot. Kaye grabs her hand and guides Violet to a table in the middle of the room.
There is a small figure strapped to the bed. Violet touches what could only be the arm of the figure. The skin is moist and the bones of the figure feel frail to the touch.
“There, there my little Rose, it’s just me here to take care of you. I’ve brought a friend and she is here to help. The master caint hurt you no more, he caint hurt nobody no more. Help me unhook her”
The figure doesn’t move. Violet reaches for the leather binding and carefully unhooks the latch connecting the small figure to the bed and then removes the restraints connecting her to the wall. The fissure still hasn’t moved.
“Are you sure she is alive? She isn’t moving. Maybe we are too late.”
“No, Ms. Violet, this one here, she is a strong one. She still in there. We just gotta get her out of here.”
As though dealing with the frail body of an 80 year old women the two ladies cover the figure with a sheet and carefully carry her through the kitchen and out of the back door. Violet can hear her breathing. That breathing slowly picks up and is followed by soft sobs.
“Sit her down here for a moment. I need to run back in for a minute.” Kaye turns and runs towards the house.
“What are you doing? It took so long to get out, why would you go back in?”
Nervously Violet waits for Kaye to return. She strokes the head of the figure, rocking her trying to comfort her.
After what feels like an eternity Kaye comes running out of the front door of the house carrying Violets bag on one shoulder and some sort of knap sack on the other. Just as Kaye crosses the lawn flames engulf the second floor bedroom that once served as their prison.
The figure slowly pulled the sheet away from her head and watched as the house was slowly consumed by flames. Kaye sat next to her little Rose and they hugged each other and cried in silence. Violet waited patiently. These two women had earned this moment.
“The house that held all my pain is no more. I am free.” Were the only words Rose was able to say before she closed her eyes for the last time. She passed away on the lawn finally free.
“We better get a move on miss, if we’s to get out of here in one piece” Kaye whispered with an obvious desperation to her voice.
“I know, which way to her room”
“They keep her in the room just off the kitchen, but they still hold up in the living room. How we sposed to get pass dem”
Just as Violet was formulating her plan the ladies were stopped in their tracks by movement coming from the other room.
“Kaye, get your black as in here. Ya hear! I need a drink and while ya at it make me a sandwich” came a gruff voice from the other room.
“What do I do?”
“You better answer him.” Violet ordered.
“Yessir, I be right there”
“Well what’s taken you so long? A mans liable to starve waiting for you.”
Kaye began making her way to the door but before she could reach the opening a tall figure emerged from the shadow. His body was long and lean. He wore coveralls with what appeared to be blood stains on the front. His skin was pale, almost iridescent. His face was round and fat, unusual for someone so thin and his ears stuck out like handles on a teapot. There was a small curly tuft of hair on the top of his head reminiscent of a children’s toy. Violet had to fight off the impulse to laugh at the absurdity of this villain.
Just as Violet had taken a beat to take in the site of this intruder he had done the same. A grotesque smile crawled across his face. He slowly licked his lips and said. “Kaye, who’s your little friend? Little friend won’t you come over here and let me get a better look at you.”
With her eyes Kaye begged Violet, but for what Violet was unsure. Slowly Violet walked over the round faced man. He put his hand out beckoning her to take it and she did. He slowly spun violet around in order to get a full overview. You must be the new girl Bobby picked up this morning. I think Ima try you out myself for I let my brother know about you.”
He grabbed at Violets breast with greedy hands and tugged at her belt. There was at least a week’s worth of dirt under his nails and he smelled like a dead animal mingled with the smell of urine. The stench was so strong that Violets eyes began to water a little.
He pulled Violet closer to him and locked her into what seemed like a vice grip. Kaye looked on in horror as she watched her hope slip away.
“What’s your name, pretty lady?” The round faced man said as he licked the side of Violets face. She could smell his saliva drying in her skin. His hot breath singing the hairs on her neck. Violet flinched. The round faced man smacked her, knocking Violet to the ground. Kaye gasped.
“What? You think you too good for me pretty lady? Well you’ll learn that Im the nicest of us all and pretty soon you’ll be beggin to spend some time with good ole Alfrey”
“Alfrey” Violet couldn’t help but repeat as she stifled a giggle.
“You think somethins funny bitch!” Spit escaping Alfrey’s mouth as he spoke.
Violet realized then that ole Alfrey had a bit of a lisp. She couldn’t help it but she was suddenly overcome with a fit of laughter. She quickly put her hand to her mouth in an attempt to further stifle her laughter. Before she could regain her composure Alfrey was upon her tearing at her clothes. Alfrey straddled Violet trying to pin her arms down with one hand while unbuttoning her shirt with the other.
Violet tried to shift Alfrey’s weight so that she could free her legs. Once she had some mobility with her legs Violet raised her hips pushing Alfrey forward and as he began to fall forward she threw all her weight into rocking herself on top of Alfrey.
“Oh I see, you’re a feisty one.” Alfrey sneered.
Positioned on all fours hovering over Alfrey Violet raised herself up onto her feet with her hands still on the floor and lowered her knee into Alfrey’s most sensitive area. Violet came down on Alfrey’s masculinity with such force that he was instantly reduced to silent snivels but no tears.
Violet returned to the fireplace and removed the poker she had been playing with previously then removed the pants of the still silently crying Alfrey she shoved the red hot poker through his scrotum. Alfrey finally found his voice. He let out a blood curdling scream. He lunges towards Violet but isn’t able to connect due to the fact that he was now tethered to the floor by a red-hot poker. With a roundhouse kick to the head Violet knocks ole Alfrey back to the floor and with one continuous motion removes the poker from his sack and begins beating him with it. Eventually the evil light in Alfrey’s eyes dims. Blood slowly oozes from his eyes and ears. A small pool of blood developed where his manhood once resided.
Violet rises to her feet and adjusts her shirt. “One more to go” she says winking at Kaye as she strolls away.
Violet enters the dining room. There is another man passed out at the table. His face turned up towards heaven and his legs dangling open under the table. There is a half eaten piece of chicken and what appears to be the remains from some half eaten corn on the cob.
Violet cautiously approaches the man passed out at the table. She reaches over and pokes him in the chest with the poker once used to impale Alfrey. He doesn’t budge. She pokes him a little harder. Nothing. Violet rests the poker on the table in front of the sleeping man and sits in the chair next to him. She is unprepared for this, she expected a confrontation. In one last attempt to rouse the sleeping man she pinches his nose shut. It seems like he is going to wake up but instead he just resorts to breathing through his mouth.
“Kaye, get in here.”
Kaye cautiously enters the dining room.
“Wanna see something funny?”
Before Kaye could respond Violet covers the sleeping mans nose and right on que his mouth drops open and he is barely even affected. Violet giggles. Kaye is still in shock. Violet reaches over to the table and grabs a few kernels from the table and tosses them into his mouth. The sleeping man chokes for a second before he chews and swallows the corn. Both women burst out laughing.
“Sshhh, not to loud, we don’t want to wake him” Violet giggles. “lets get moving”
The two women make their way pass the kitchen and are standing in front of a large heavy looking wood door. There are large metal hinges on the door and chain hanging from a wrought iron latch. Violet unlatches the door with the key Kaye had given her earlier. It takes the collaborative efforts of both women to pull open the wooden door.
The aromatic assault on their sinuses is immediate. Violet launches into a coughing fit and her eyes begin to tear up. She struggles to keep her gag reflexes in check.
“Just give it a minute and you’ll get used to it” Kaye tries to comfort Violet.
The room is dark and drafty. Violet can tell that the room is vast. When she takes a step into the room she can hear something squishing under foot. Kaye grabs her hand and guides Violet to a table in the middle of the room.
There is a small figure strapped to the bed. Violet touches what could only be the arm of the figure. The skin is moist and the bones of the figure feel frail to the touch.
“There, there my little Rose, it’s just me here to take care of you. I’ve brought a friend and she is here to help. The master caint hurt you no more, he caint hurt nobody no more. Help me unhook her”
The figure doesn’t move. Violet reaches for the leather binding and carefully unhooks the latch connecting the small figure to the bed and then removes the restraints connecting her to the wall. The fissure still hasn’t moved.
“Are you sure she is alive? She isn’t moving. Maybe we are too late.”
“No, Ms. Violet, this one here, she is a strong one. She still in there. We just gotta get her out of here.”
As though dealing with the frail body of an 80 year old women the two ladies cover the figure with a sheet and carefully carry her through the kitchen and out of the back door. Violet can hear her breathing. That breathing slowly picks up and is followed by soft sobs.
“Sit her down here for a moment. I need to run back in for a minute.” Kaye turns and runs towards the house.
“What are you doing? It took so long to get out, why would you go back in?”
Nervously Violet waits for Kaye to return. She strokes the head of the figure, rocking her trying to comfort her.
After what feels like an eternity Kaye comes running out of the front door of the house carrying Violets bag on one shoulder and some sort of knap sack on the other. Just as Kaye crosses the lawn flames engulf the second floor bedroom that once served as their prison.
The figure slowly pulled the sheet away from her head and watched as the house was slowly consumed by flames. Kaye sat next to her little Rose and they hugged each other and cried in silence. Violet waited patiently. These two women had earned this moment.
“The house that held all my pain is no more. I am free.” Were the only words Rose was able to say before she closed her eyes for the last time. She passed away on the lawn finally free.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Chapter 7
The familiar herbs began to take effect as Violet went through her routine of deep breathing to absorb them into her bloodstream quicker. She used the emotions she tapped into for fuel; there was no time for weakness. The sounds beneath had completely subsided, which made it more difficult for Violet to maneuver in this space. It was a good thing there was light, but still she was not certain of the acoustics and it was too early to clue in the perpetrators to her presence. Violet began to survey the room for what could be turned into a weapon. She lay on her back and scooted underneath the cot, as she suspected it was made up of intersecting wooden beams. The longer beams that ran the length of the cot were secured into both ends. She tested each one to see if there were any in a weakened state. She also had to figure out which beam could be removed without collapsing the cot. She found the beam, it was not as loose as she would hope, but with the right position she could kick it loose. On her first attempt it did not budge at all. There was very little space to create a lot of momentum and force but she would have to keep trying. Strangely enough, instead of getting weaker, she was getting stronger.
Positioning herself cattycorner to the beam and pulling her head from underneath the cot, she was able to grab the leg of another piece of furniture. She tested the piece that she was using to balance her upper body weight and it did not move. Holding on with both arms over her head and angling right where the beam connected at a ninety-degree angle, she was able to kick it loose. It fell on her legs, one end still connected. She kept tugging at it and moving it back and forth to loosen it from the other side. Eventually she worked it loose. All this activity with minimal noise made Violet work up a sweat. Her forehead and nose were covered in beads. Streams of wetness were rolling down between her breast and mid-back. The smell of her clothes, damp and sour was permeating the space around her.
In the corner there was an old piece of equipment, upon a closer look it was an antique sewing station cemented into the floor. This was just what she needed, something that would not move against which she could mold the beam. The station had plenty of rusted edges. With slow methodic movements, shaving off wood with each stroke, she filed one edge of the beam into a perfect point.
She heard the bark of a dog and began to remember the instructions her trusted caretaker recounted before submerging into the darkness below. She counted the seconds, again the dog barked. This was the sign, she was going to have to keep track of the seconds closely now. She put the belongings she used back in her bag, blew out all the candles in the chandelier except three and then positioned herself. She expected that her caretaker would be arriving soon. As she continued to survey the room memorizing each detail, she found rope similar to the material of the ladder.
It seemed like an hour, but only ten minutes had passed, Violet crawled over to the door being careful to follow the rug patterns. She moved over the three latches as instructed and waited. Violet was careful to be where she could see who ascended before they saw her. This is taking longer than planned she thought to herself; finally she heard activity. Her heart began to race but she was steady, she had given herself ample time and her eyes were fully adjusted to the dim lighting. The door was slowly rising; if you did not focus it was almost hard to tell that it was actually lifting.
The voice made a slight hissing sound and she knew it was her caretaker. Violet crawled close enough to push the rope ladder down. The familiar stranger emerged from below and quickly closed and re-latched the opening.
“Where is the other woman, why did you leave her?” Violet whispered, not allowing her caretaker time to get her bearings.
“How did you know there was someone else?” responded the stranger in hushed tones. “What are you doing up and at it, you really should lie down.”
“I’m fine, answer me now,” replied Violet in a stern manner that commanded a response.
“She’s in the servant quarters beneath, lower than the main floor. Never has made it up here, too feeble. Plus, he doesn’t want us fraternizing out of his sight. When he’s away she’s locked below. I have to provide for her needs prior to that time and he’s always in earshot.” After a brief pause, “now you haven’t answered me, how did ya know there was someone else, I mean ‘nother woman below?”
“Listen,” this time Violet grabbed the woman’s chin and forced her gaze right into her eyes, “I have no time to explain, you asked me to trust you earlier now you’ve got to trust me.” “I need you to tell me in concise terms how many people and rooms there are below; where the closest exit is, how we get to the other woman, what lies outside this building.” After a pause she started again, “you were trying to help me, but now all three of us are in danger that much we can agree on. The one thing we have to our advantage is that the evil beneath us has no idea I am here. We need to make a move and we need to make it soon. Do you understand me?”
The woman was startled and hopeful at the same time. A part of her believed this was the answer to her prayers for so many nights. When she first saw Violet she knew there was something special about her and a reason she wanted to help her. There was some selfish part of her that knew Violet could help her too.
“Call me Kaye, I don’t know the other one’s real name but I call her Rose. She had one in her hair the first day he brought her here and it stuck for me.”
Kaye described in great detail the layout of the house and who was still inside. She kept pausing as though she could hear the evil one making a move, as though she could see what he was doing. Violet reassured her several times to keep going. As Kaye painted the picture, Violet’s brain was the canvas holding on to each brushstroke. She could clearly see the structure tucked well into the woods, each window was boarded shut. The floors were all cement and the furniture wood, old big sturdy furniture that could cause splinters. There was a wood burning stove, lots of chains hanging from the wall; it looked like a cellar or a torture den. In fact, this part of the house was sub-terrain; there was a long corridor that led to the ground level. The lighting came from lanterns hanging in random spots. There were small corridors leading to various rooms and dead-ends. The placed reeked of dampness and mustiness, the air was thick.
There were two other men fallen out in drunkenness, they were tall but thin and very dirty. They were if various states of nakedness. There he was, a brut of a man, with his bald hairy belly rising and falling with each snore. His beard was long and various parts were stuck together because of Rose’s sex secretions that he smeared over himself. He was barefoot with only some unbuttoned trousers on exposing his pubic hairline and nastiness. He reeked of alcohol. In his hand was a small hacksaw with blood on the edge, just enough to color the edge of blade, but not more. That too belonged to Rose, the blood from him pressing the blade against her back anytime she pulled away from the others ravishing her.
“I’m scared I cannot do this,” protested Kaye.
“If you don’t listen to me you will die, because either he will kill you or I will be forced too. You brought me to this hell hole and I am not going to rot here playing twisted sicko games with some sato-masochist bastard. You will do as I told you; exactly as I told you and you will do it now.”
Kaye started hyper-ventilating, her trusting eyes glazed over like ice, she didn’t know who she feared more, this woman before her or the man that tormented her for years. She knew his evil; she knew how to avoid his most brutal attacks. But this woman, there was something disconnected about her, something unnatural that Kaye had no time to figure out.
Kaye approached the opening that kept them safe from the evil and she moved over latches with great hesitation. She looked at Violet as if to ask are you sure? Lifting the door with the steadiness of a surgeon, she dropped most of the rope ladder saving just a little in her hand. She twisted the rope around her left wrist and took some steps downward. Suddenly she moaned in great agony as though the pain was too intense for a yell. Just as she knew the evil heard her. “What is going on, how dare you fools rattle me?” He stumbled out the room, rubbing his eyes to focus with one hand, dropping the saw he was holding up his pants with the other. “Oh it’s you Kaye; you want a beating waking me up from such a good rest? What are you doing you blind, one-sided hag? That left eye finally giving out on you?” He stumbled toward her clearing his throat and spit a loogy on her.
From above Kaye could hear the voice sternly whisper “do it again, now!”
She moaned and stepped off the ladder hanging by just her wrist tangled in the rope. He grabbed at her trying to hoist her body onto the rope ladder and looking up at her wrist to see which way to turn her loose. Violet quickly swung her upper body down through the latch and with the force of all three women’s emotions she drove the beam now spear through his eye into his brain. He couldn’t even scream before Violet was churning the stick ensuring she wrapped his mind around it-literally. Kaye gasped as she pried herself from him and quickly got her feet planted back on the rope. Violet was still hanging out of the door suspending the hulk of a man like a harpooned animal; he was her puppet only standing because she held the spear that was lodged into his head. Kaye climbed back up and maneuvered around Violet. She could feel her own confidence growing. She passed Violet the rope shaped into a noose; it was lowered over the corpse’s head and tightened until there was no more give. Violet dislodged the spear allowing the stream of blood to flow from the back of his head.
Slowly they hoisted the body up pulling the rope until his feet were off the ground. Each pull became more strained as the dead weight seemed as if it would tear the head from the body. When he was close enough they were able to grab beneath his arms and pull his weight up until his upper torso cleared the opening. The hard part was over. Violet and Kaye each lay out on the floor taking deep deliberate breaths. Their adrenaline was pumping and hearts racing. The lifeless flesh was the first sign that they were one step closer to their freedom. Kaye crawled over to the carcass and hawked up a loogy spitting it on his face, she had tears falling from her eyes. Her emotions did not cloud her logic; she quickly patted down the pockets and found the key. “I’ve got it; this is to Rose’s door. I’m ready, two more to go …”
Positioning herself cattycorner to the beam and pulling her head from underneath the cot, she was able to grab the leg of another piece of furniture. She tested the piece that she was using to balance her upper body weight and it did not move. Holding on with both arms over her head and angling right where the beam connected at a ninety-degree angle, she was able to kick it loose. It fell on her legs, one end still connected. She kept tugging at it and moving it back and forth to loosen it from the other side. Eventually she worked it loose. All this activity with minimal noise made Violet work up a sweat. Her forehead and nose were covered in beads. Streams of wetness were rolling down between her breast and mid-back. The smell of her clothes, damp and sour was permeating the space around her.
In the corner there was an old piece of equipment, upon a closer look it was an antique sewing station cemented into the floor. This was just what she needed, something that would not move against which she could mold the beam. The station had plenty of rusted edges. With slow methodic movements, shaving off wood with each stroke, she filed one edge of the beam into a perfect point.
She heard the bark of a dog and began to remember the instructions her trusted caretaker recounted before submerging into the darkness below. She counted the seconds, again the dog barked. This was the sign, she was going to have to keep track of the seconds closely now. She put the belongings she used back in her bag, blew out all the candles in the chandelier except three and then positioned herself. She expected that her caretaker would be arriving soon. As she continued to survey the room memorizing each detail, she found rope similar to the material of the ladder.
It seemed like an hour, but only ten minutes had passed, Violet crawled over to the door being careful to follow the rug patterns. She moved over the three latches as instructed and waited. Violet was careful to be where she could see who ascended before they saw her. This is taking longer than planned she thought to herself; finally she heard activity. Her heart began to race but she was steady, she had given herself ample time and her eyes were fully adjusted to the dim lighting. The door was slowly rising; if you did not focus it was almost hard to tell that it was actually lifting.
The voice made a slight hissing sound and she knew it was her caretaker. Violet crawled close enough to push the rope ladder down. The familiar stranger emerged from below and quickly closed and re-latched the opening.
“Where is the other woman, why did you leave her?” Violet whispered, not allowing her caretaker time to get her bearings.
“How did you know there was someone else?” responded the stranger in hushed tones. “What are you doing up and at it, you really should lie down.”
“I’m fine, answer me now,” replied Violet in a stern manner that commanded a response.
“She’s in the servant quarters beneath, lower than the main floor. Never has made it up here, too feeble. Plus, he doesn’t want us fraternizing out of his sight. When he’s away she’s locked below. I have to provide for her needs prior to that time and he’s always in earshot.” After a brief pause, “now you haven’t answered me, how did ya know there was someone else, I mean ‘nother woman below?”
“Listen,” this time Violet grabbed the woman’s chin and forced her gaze right into her eyes, “I have no time to explain, you asked me to trust you earlier now you’ve got to trust me.” “I need you to tell me in concise terms how many people and rooms there are below; where the closest exit is, how we get to the other woman, what lies outside this building.” After a pause she started again, “you were trying to help me, but now all three of us are in danger that much we can agree on. The one thing we have to our advantage is that the evil beneath us has no idea I am here. We need to make a move and we need to make it soon. Do you understand me?”
The woman was startled and hopeful at the same time. A part of her believed this was the answer to her prayers for so many nights. When she first saw Violet she knew there was something special about her and a reason she wanted to help her. There was some selfish part of her that knew Violet could help her too.
“Call me Kaye, I don’t know the other one’s real name but I call her Rose. She had one in her hair the first day he brought her here and it stuck for me.”
Kaye described in great detail the layout of the house and who was still inside. She kept pausing as though she could hear the evil one making a move, as though she could see what he was doing. Violet reassured her several times to keep going. As Kaye painted the picture, Violet’s brain was the canvas holding on to each brushstroke. She could clearly see the structure tucked well into the woods, each window was boarded shut. The floors were all cement and the furniture wood, old big sturdy furniture that could cause splinters. There was a wood burning stove, lots of chains hanging from the wall; it looked like a cellar or a torture den. In fact, this part of the house was sub-terrain; there was a long corridor that led to the ground level. The lighting came from lanterns hanging in random spots. There were small corridors leading to various rooms and dead-ends. The placed reeked of dampness and mustiness, the air was thick.
There were two other men fallen out in drunkenness, they were tall but thin and very dirty. They were if various states of nakedness. There he was, a brut of a man, with his bald hairy belly rising and falling with each snore. His beard was long and various parts were stuck together because of Rose’s sex secretions that he smeared over himself. He was barefoot with only some unbuttoned trousers on exposing his pubic hairline and nastiness. He reeked of alcohol. In his hand was a small hacksaw with blood on the edge, just enough to color the edge of blade, but not more. That too belonged to Rose, the blood from him pressing the blade against her back anytime she pulled away from the others ravishing her.
“I’m scared I cannot do this,” protested Kaye.
“If you don’t listen to me you will die, because either he will kill you or I will be forced too. You brought me to this hell hole and I am not going to rot here playing twisted sicko games with some sato-masochist bastard. You will do as I told you; exactly as I told you and you will do it now.”
Kaye started hyper-ventilating, her trusting eyes glazed over like ice, she didn’t know who she feared more, this woman before her or the man that tormented her for years. She knew his evil; she knew how to avoid his most brutal attacks. But this woman, there was something disconnected about her, something unnatural that Kaye had no time to figure out.
Kaye approached the opening that kept them safe from the evil and she moved over latches with great hesitation. She looked at Violet as if to ask are you sure? Lifting the door with the steadiness of a surgeon, she dropped most of the rope ladder saving just a little in her hand. She twisted the rope around her left wrist and took some steps downward. Suddenly she moaned in great agony as though the pain was too intense for a yell. Just as she knew the evil heard her. “What is going on, how dare you fools rattle me?” He stumbled out the room, rubbing his eyes to focus with one hand, dropping the saw he was holding up his pants with the other. “Oh it’s you Kaye; you want a beating waking me up from such a good rest? What are you doing you blind, one-sided hag? That left eye finally giving out on you?” He stumbled toward her clearing his throat and spit a loogy on her.
From above Kaye could hear the voice sternly whisper “do it again, now!”
She moaned and stepped off the ladder hanging by just her wrist tangled in the rope. He grabbed at her trying to hoist her body onto the rope ladder and looking up at her wrist to see which way to turn her loose. Violet quickly swung her upper body down through the latch and with the force of all three women’s emotions she drove the beam now spear through his eye into his brain. He couldn’t even scream before Violet was churning the stick ensuring she wrapped his mind around it-literally. Kaye gasped as she pried herself from him and quickly got her feet planted back on the rope. Violet was still hanging out of the door suspending the hulk of a man like a harpooned animal; he was her puppet only standing because she held the spear that was lodged into his head. Kaye climbed back up and maneuvered around Violet. She could feel her own confidence growing. She passed Violet the rope shaped into a noose; it was lowered over the corpse’s head and tightened until there was no more give. Violet dislodged the spear allowing the stream of blood to flow from the back of his head.
Slowly they hoisted the body up pulling the rope until his feet were off the ground. Each pull became more strained as the dead weight seemed as if it would tear the head from the body. When he was close enough they were able to grab beneath his arms and pull his weight up until his upper torso cleared the opening. The hard part was over. Violet and Kaye each lay out on the floor taking deep deliberate breaths. Their adrenaline was pumping and hearts racing. The lifeless flesh was the first sign that they were one step closer to their freedom. Kaye crawled over to the carcass and hawked up a loogy spitting it on his face, she had tears falling from her eyes. Her emotions did not cloud her logic; she quickly patted down the pockets and found the key. “I’ve got it; this is to Rose’s door. I’m ready, two more to go …”
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
A Dream...Chapter 6
A Dream Chapter 6
It was obvious to Violet that she could not stay here for too long. Although she was not certain of the danger that lay beneath she was certain that the danger was grave. Once the commotion from below began to subside Violet made her way to the makeshift cot in the corner. She needed to find a way to balance her mind so that she would be able to expedite the healing process.
Violet pressed her back firmly against the wall at the edge of the cot and pulled her knees to her chest, resting her chin on the tops of her knees she inadvertently began to rock. Soothing herself like a small child would do. She prayed, asking God to help her find the strength she needed to endure whatever was to come. As her prayers moved into meditations she could feel her body healing, strength returning to her limbs.
There was a loud scream, followed by a thunderous commotion. It sounded as though something massive had fallen. Steadying her mind Violet tapped into her gift and allowed her mind to connect to the emotions in the room below. The image that was forming was that of pain and sadness, she felt tears welling up in her eyes. She was overcome with fear but those feelings were quickly washed away by violent impulses, rage followed by the need to lash out. But there was something else, someone else lingering on the edges of her mind but she couldn’t get a clear picture. These feelings, thoughts were muddy and unclear. She tried to focus… They were the thoughts of a younger woman. She was hurt and in pain, she couldn’t see but there were definite images of light, she was blindfolded. Violets spirit jumped. She had gone too far, her connection was too deep.
Dark images flooded her mind, beatings, and abuse, pain beyond imagining. She was not only seeing the life of the young girl she was now experiencing it for herself. She could see…
It was not always a life of pain. There was once peace and beauty. Soft hands caressing her face. The warmth of a lovers breath on her neck as he whispered things to make her smile. They had a good life. She remembered the warmth of the sun on her skin, the sun oh, how she missed the sun.
She was out in the garden when he came and took her. He was very nice when he approached her sunbathing next to the roses. She always liked to lie out in that spot because when the breeze rolled in through the garden over the lake the flowers always smelled especially fresh and the scent of Jasmine mingling with the roses was especially nice. It reminded her of her mother. The garden had always been her safe haven until that day.
“Would you like to come live with me,” He said. He was smiling but his smile didn’t see to reach his eyes…There was something sinister about his demeanor. She knew immediately not to trust him.
“No, thank you” she replied “I am quite happy here, if you don’t mind”
“Well I have made arrangements for you to stay with me for awhile, until your husband has made arrangements”
“What arrangements are you talking about, my husband and I are newlyweds and I don’t think he would be sending me away nor do I think it would be appropriate for me to keep company with some strange man that I do not know.”
“Well the arrangements have been made and I have given your husband a lot of money to secure your company, so we must be leaving now.”
Before she could complete her call to her husband she had been swept up in a blanket and thrown into the back of some sort of vehicle. It was dark in this place, always dark.
When the car stopped she was taken into what felt like a very large room and left there for several days, how many days had it been (How many days had it been for Violet?)
She was overcome with hunger, her thoughts were becoming cloudy, she was unable to focus on anything because she was so weak. And that is when her torment began.
He would enter the room twice a day and ask her the same series of questions. “Do you love me? Will you stay with me? Tell me how much you love me?
Her answer was always the same. “NO!”
Then the beatings would begin. He would beat her within an inch of consciousness and just before she would pass out he would climb on top of her and a new torment would begin. Sometimes he would choke her just as he was beginning to climax.
Over time (not sure how much time) she stopped answering the questions and he stopped asking. But to elevate his excitement he would devise new methods of torturing her. He would insert objects in her or allow others to violate her. She began to separate her mind from her body and while he was at his business she would retreat to the garden in her mind, the garden that remained a safe place, where the scent of roses intermingles freely with jasmine and danced across her skin on the current of the summer breeze.
Her torment had become familiar. Although she lived in constant darkness she could feel the subtle shifts in the day that would indicate that hour of her torment was upon her. She had long given up on hopes of death. He was smarter than that. He always seemed to know just how far to go and on the occasion that he or one of his guest did get a little overzealous she was given a few days of rest. In those few days she would find moments of peace.
In those few days someone with very soft hands would come and whip her forehead and whisper pleasant things even though she no longer had the will to smile she appreciated the sentiment none-the-less.
She had grown numb and detached from her own body but she knew that the damage he had done must be great because the owner of those soft hands were there again today whipping her brow with a damp cloth and she was almost positive that she heard crying.
Violet tried to regain her composure. She knew that now was not the time to fall apart. She had to stop this evil man from hurting both of these women. She realized that life is a funny thing often times things do not happen by accident or chance, sometimes it is just meant to be. Violet had played the role of a death dealer many times before in her past and just as it had been before, her past was once again upon her.
She found her bag and removed herbs she would need to regain her strength. She didn’t know yet how she would do it but she knew that whatever she was going to do she would do tonight…
It was obvious to Violet that she could not stay here for too long. Although she was not certain of the danger that lay beneath she was certain that the danger was grave. Once the commotion from below began to subside Violet made her way to the makeshift cot in the corner. She needed to find a way to balance her mind so that she would be able to expedite the healing process.
Violet pressed her back firmly against the wall at the edge of the cot and pulled her knees to her chest, resting her chin on the tops of her knees she inadvertently began to rock. Soothing herself like a small child would do. She prayed, asking God to help her find the strength she needed to endure whatever was to come. As her prayers moved into meditations she could feel her body healing, strength returning to her limbs.
There was a loud scream, followed by a thunderous commotion. It sounded as though something massive had fallen. Steadying her mind Violet tapped into her gift and allowed her mind to connect to the emotions in the room below. The image that was forming was that of pain and sadness, she felt tears welling up in her eyes. She was overcome with fear but those feelings were quickly washed away by violent impulses, rage followed by the need to lash out. But there was something else, someone else lingering on the edges of her mind but she couldn’t get a clear picture. These feelings, thoughts were muddy and unclear. She tried to focus… They were the thoughts of a younger woman. She was hurt and in pain, she couldn’t see but there were definite images of light, she was blindfolded. Violets spirit jumped. She had gone too far, her connection was too deep.
Dark images flooded her mind, beatings, and abuse, pain beyond imagining. She was not only seeing the life of the young girl she was now experiencing it for herself. She could see…
It was not always a life of pain. There was once peace and beauty. Soft hands caressing her face. The warmth of a lovers breath on her neck as he whispered things to make her smile. They had a good life. She remembered the warmth of the sun on her skin, the sun oh, how she missed the sun.
She was out in the garden when he came and took her. He was very nice when he approached her sunbathing next to the roses. She always liked to lie out in that spot because when the breeze rolled in through the garden over the lake the flowers always smelled especially fresh and the scent of Jasmine mingling with the roses was especially nice. It reminded her of her mother. The garden had always been her safe haven until that day.
“Would you like to come live with me,” He said. He was smiling but his smile didn’t see to reach his eyes…There was something sinister about his demeanor. She knew immediately not to trust him.
“No, thank you” she replied “I am quite happy here, if you don’t mind”
“Well I have made arrangements for you to stay with me for awhile, until your husband has made arrangements”
“What arrangements are you talking about, my husband and I are newlyweds and I don’t think he would be sending me away nor do I think it would be appropriate for me to keep company with some strange man that I do not know.”
“Well the arrangements have been made and I have given your husband a lot of money to secure your company, so we must be leaving now.”
Before she could complete her call to her husband she had been swept up in a blanket and thrown into the back of some sort of vehicle. It was dark in this place, always dark.
When the car stopped she was taken into what felt like a very large room and left there for several days, how many days had it been (How many days had it been for Violet?)
She was overcome with hunger, her thoughts were becoming cloudy, she was unable to focus on anything because she was so weak. And that is when her torment began.
He would enter the room twice a day and ask her the same series of questions. “Do you love me? Will you stay with me? Tell me how much you love me?
Her answer was always the same. “NO!”
Then the beatings would begin. He would beat her within an inch of consciousness and just before she would pass out he would climb on top of her and a new torment would begin. Sometimes he would choke her just as he was beginning to climax.
Over time (not sure how much time) she stopped answering the questions and he stopped asking. But to elevate his excitement he would devise new methods of torturing her. He would insert objects in her or allow others to violate her. She began to separate her mind from her body and while he was at his business she would retreat to the garden in her mind, the garden that remained a safe place, where the scent of roses intermingles freely with jasmine and danced across her skin on the current of the summer breeze.
Her torment had become familiar. Although she lived in constant darkness she could feel the subtle shifts in the day that would indicate that hour of her torment was upon her. She had long given up on hopes of death. He was smarter than that. He always seemed to know just how far to go and on the occasion that he or one of his guest did get a little overzealous she was given a few days of rest. In those few days she would find moments of peace.
In those few days someone with very soft hands would come and whip her forehead and whisper pleasant things even though she no longer had the will to smile she appreciated the sentiment none-the-less.
She had grown numb and detached from her own body but she knew that the damage he had done must be great because the owner of those soft hands were there again today whipping her brow with a damp cloth and she was almost positive that she heard crying.
Violet tried to regain her composure. She knew that now was not the time to fall apart. She had to stop this evil man from hurting both of these women. She realized that life is a funny thing often times things do not happen by accident or chance, sometimes it is just meant to be. Violet had played the role of a death dealer many times before in her past and just as it had been before, her past was once again upon her.
She found her bag and removed herbs she would need to regain her strength. She didn’t know yet how she would do it but she knew that whatever she was going to do she would do tonight…
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Chapter 5
Violet couldn’t place the smell of the liquid that was being placed under her nose. Vision blurred, she swatted the old hand away that was waving the handkerchief in front of her face. She jumped up and ran to what appeared to be a window, it was not.
“Be easy little lady,” belted out the small but sinewy looking woman. “You were in some kind of shape, I have no idea how you got where you were, but you betta be glad I found you before the wild life or something worse did.”
Violet tried to get her bearings, she quickly realized she wasn’t herself when the room began to spin and she reached for the quickest thing to stabilize herself. She slowly sat down leaning her head and body against the wall. All of sudden Violet realized how hot it was, the nape of her neck was moist as though she had been sweating in her sleep. Her clothes felt a little damp against her skin and she couldn’t tell if she was drying up from being submerged in water or if she had sweated through all her clothes to the point that they needed to be hung up and dried.
“What was that liquid on the handkerchief you were waving in front of me?” Violet asked in a curt tone.
“If you hadn’t taken such a nasty spill, I might be insulted that your first words consist of a distrusting question. I will excuse you, plus you didn’t ask me to do what I did. I did it on my own accord. Pure cayenne pepper.”
The woman continued with whatever she was doing, Violet couldn’t make it out, but as she looked around the room it felt like she had stepped back into the past and not the recent past either. The room was well lit by a chandelier of candles. The floor appeared to be cement with rugs neatly positioned to purposefully reveal sections. The rugs seem to indicate where one section of the room finished and another began.
Violet struggled to concentrate. If she could muster up enough strength she wouldn’t need to ask any questions, she’d just rely on her gift. “Where is my bag and where am I?” she asked out loud.
There was an echoing sound as something, somewhere slammed shut, it almost seemed like a chamber door. Whatever closed was massive and there were lots of chains rattling. The footsteps that followed were heavy, combined with lots of bumping around. All the noise seemed to come from beneath them.
“Be very quiet.” the woman starting moving feverishly around the room, she blew out all the candles but two on the chandelier.
“I will explain later, if you are seen here we will never get out, alive,” responded the voice in a hushed tone. For the first time, in the worst lighting, Violet caught a real glimpse of her savior, now captor. It was a beautiful face with trusting clear eyes; however one side covering the whole left eye was disfigured. Almost like healed, burnt skin.
Violet instinctively believed this stranger and plus there was no time to ask more questions. She realized she was almost holding her breath and for some unknown reason, she felt an emotion that had been foreign to her for a long time-fear.
“When I leave out of here you have to move over the latches, you must do as I say. Focus child, your life depends on this right now. Trust me, I didn’t save you to kill you, but I thought I had more time. We’ll have to think of another plan, but for now I just have to get through the rest of the night.” The woman ran off a list of things that Violet needed to remember and she mentally filed each away so as not to forget.
Violet’s mind shifted for a moment to Nahmie and Toby. Wait, this was no time to get sentimental. Focus Violet, she thought to herself. The woman lifted the heavy cemented door and exposed the wood bottom and dark abyss beyond. Violet briskly crawled over to the opening and as quick as it appeared the woman was climbing down a makeshift ladder that looked to be made of rope and motioned to Violet.
Violet recounted the mental instructions she was given and pulled up the ladder, realizing she was weaker than usual. She closed down the door with deliberate, soundless movements and pushed over the three latches that secured the door shut flushed with the floor. She replayed the list in her head. As instructed, she only crawled along the edges of the carpet. Now it made sense why the rugs seemed so deliberately placed. She made her way to the stash of food and water, nibbling to her desire. Her appetite was small and she was not herself in the least bit.
Violet attempted to still her mind long enough to figure out what was the last vivid thought she remembered. Then came the muted sounds that chilled her to the bone. She heard yelling, it seemed like a louder version of her trusted unknown friend’s voice. Then came grinding noises, chains and something heavy hitting the floor. Next came the sound of laughter. There was definitely more than just two people down there, Violet was certain of that. She felt her way to the bed and laid there thinking of her next move.
“Be easy little lady,” belted out the small but sinewy looking woman. “You were in some kind of shape, I have no idea how you got where you were, but you betta be glad I found you before the wild life or something worse did.”
Violet tried to get her bearings, she quickly realized she wasn’t herself when the room began to spin and she reached for the quickest thing to stabilize herself. She slowly sat down leaning her head and body against the wall. All of sudden Violet realized how hot it was, the nape of her neck was moist as though she had been sweating in her sleep. Her clothes felt a little damp against her skin and she couldn’t tell if she was drying up from being submerged in water or if she had sweated through all her clothes to the point that they needed to be hung up and dried.
“What was that liquid on the handkerchief you were waving in front of me?” Violet asked in a curt tone.
“If you hadn’t taken such a nasty spill, I might be insulted that your first words consist of a distrusting question. I will excuse you, plus you didn’t ask me to do what I did. I did it on my own accord. Pure cayenne pepper.”
The woman continued with whatever she was doing, Violet couldn’t make it out, but as she looked around the room it felt like she had stepped back into the past and not the recent past either. The room was well lit by a chandelier of candles. The floor appeared to be cement with rugs neatly positioned to purposefully reveal sections. The rugs seem to indicate where one section of the room finished and another began.
Violet struggled to concentrate. If she could muster up enough strength she wouldn’t need to ask any questions, she’d just rely on her gift. “Where is my bag and where am I?” she asked out loud.
There was an echoing sound as something, somewhere slammed shut, it almost seemed like a chamber door. Whatever closed was massive and there were lots of chains rattling. The footsteps that followed were heavy, combined with lots of bumping around. All the noise seemed to come from beneath them.
“Be very quiet.” the woman starting moving feverishly around the room, she blew out all the candles but two on the chandelier.
“I will explain later, if you are seen here we will never get out, alive,” responded the voice in a hushed tone. For the first time, in the worst lighting, Violet caught a real glimpse of her savior, now captor. It was a beautiful face with trusting clear eyes; however one side covering the whole left eye was disfigured. Almost like healed, burnt skin.
Violet instinctively believed this stranger and plus there was no time to ask more questions. She realized she was almost holding her breath and for some unknown reason, she felt an emotion that had been foreign to her for a long time-fear.
“When I leave out of here you have to move over the latches, you must do as I say. Focus child, your life depends on this right now. Trust me, I didn’t save you to kill you, but I thought I had more time. We’ll have to think of another plan, but for now I just have to get through the rest of the night.” The woman ran off a list of things that Violet needed to remember and she mentally filed each away so as not to forget.
Violet’s mind shifted for a moment to Nahmie and Toby. Wait, this was no time to get sentimental. Focus Violet, she thought to herself. The woman lifted the heavy cemented door and exposed the wood bottom and dark abyss beyond. Violet briskly crawled over to the opening and as quick as it appeared the woman was climbing down a makeshift ladder that looked to be made of rope and motioned to Violet.
Violet recounted the mental instructions she was given and pulled up the ladder, realizing she was weaker than usual. She closed down the door with deliberate, soundless movements and pushed over the three latches that secured the door shut flushed with the floor. She replayed the list in her head. As instructed, she only crawled along the edges of the carpet. Now it made sense why the rugs seemed so deliberately placed. She made her way to the stash of food and water, nibbling to her desire. Her appetite was small and she was not herself in the least bit.
Violet attempted to still her mind long enough to figure out what was the last vivid thought she remembered. Then came the muted sounds that chilled her to the bone. She heard yelling, it seemed like a louder version of her trusted unknown friend’s voice. Then came grinding noises, chains and something heavy hitting the floor. Next came the sound of laughter. There was definitely more than just two people down there, Violet was certain of that. She felt her way to the bed and laid there thinking of her next move.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
A Dream Chapter 4
Violet made her way down the corridor to car 44. She was running a little late and her body ached a little but she has always believed she is worth the wait to any man. The train suddenly lurched forward knocking her to the ground. There was a loud thud and the sound of the train screeching to a halt.
“Shit!” Violet realized she had scraped her knee and torn her nylons in the process. Just then the train jerked forward and begin slowly moving. “That’s odd” she thought to herself. From her periphery she could see what appeared to be a figure climbing aboard the train. Hurriedly she resumed her journey to dining car 44.
Just as she approached the sliding door that leads to the dining car she was grabbed from behind and pulled into a nearby supply closet. A large hand closed on her mouth and another around her waist. She could feel his hot, heavy breath on the back of her neck. His hands smelled like dirt and potatoes but there was a faint hint of something else, something sweet and familiar.
“I know who you are and I know what you did and we are going to make sure you pay” The voice was thick and raspy as though her attacker were trying to mask his true voice. She could feel spittle on her cheek as he spoke. She could also tell the impact her fear was having on the man as he ground his pelvis into her behind and his semi erect penis rubbed against her. “Your skin is very soft” he said.
Seeing an opportunity Violet leaned into her attacker. Meeting the pressure from his hips with her own. She opened her mouth slightly and let her tongue graze his fingertips. She could feel his grip on her mouth loosen. She arched her back a little in order to add just the right inspiration for his next thought. She could feel his breath begin to quicken and his grip continue to loosen. Once she was able to get her right hand free she slowly reached back between his legs and begin to stroke her attacker. She could feel him succumb. Her master had now become her servant.
She turned and faced him. He was big. Big all over. Even his facial features were big. He had a heavy brow with thick bushy eyebrows. His jawline was square and so was the shape of his head. There was deep anger in his eyes and his face seamed to hold a permanent scowl. She put her left hand gingerly on his cheek to trace what appeared to be an old knife wound while still stroking his member with her right.
Violet knew she had this man under her spell. This, this moment was something she was good at, she was truly a master. She ran her tongue across his top lip and she felt his body quiver. It wouldn’t be long before the shakes began. She focused her energy on her hands and fingertips. Just as the final wave was to come crashing down on her would be attacker she reached into the back of her shirt and pulled out a small curved blade not much bigger than her pinky. Violet used the small hook on the blade to secure it to her middle finger and as she stroked him one last time she shove the blade deep into his scrotum slicing the skin while embedding the blade in his pelvis. When pulling the blade out she cut deeper into his body to sever an artery.
Instantly he fell to his knees. Tears mingled with snot as he tried to cry out in pain. He reached out to Violet but the pain was too much making his grip weak. Violet tried to back away but there just wasn’t enough room in the small closet. She watched as the man grasped for her while gasping for his last gulp of air. When the last signs of life left his large body Violet stepped over his slumped body and pulled the door open but not before removing the personal effects of the large man. His belongings were pretty standard. He had a wallet, passport and a folded manila envelope. There was no time to look through his things now. Surely someone would be along soon.
Covered in the dead man’s blood Violet quickly made her way back to her room and closed the door behind her. Uncertain of what else may lay ahead of her she quickly changed her clothes opting to wear a pair of pants rather than the classic Channel suit she originally intended.
“I though this part of my life was over” She said to herself.
Not certain if her potential male suitor had anything to do which her friend in the closet she decided she would play it safe. She summoned Mel and asked him to send a message to the man in dining car 44 advising him that she was feeling a little under the weather and that maybe they could meet for breakfast.
Violet knew it was only a matter of time before someone found the big guys body in the supply closet. She had to get off this train and quick. The last thing she needed in her life was some nosey cop asking questions trying to drudge her past. She packed a bag of things she would need and threw the bag over her shoulder. Although Violet loves nice things she knows how to minimize in the case of an emergency. She pulled out her laptop and checked her account making sure she had enough liquid assets in case she had to make a quick escape from the country. She sent Toby a coded text message and left her room.
She quickly made her way to the cargo hold of the train. The last car of the train held several large trunks. Violet found the one marked L.B. and opened it. The last vestiges of a life she thought she was leaving behind. She laughed to herself remembering the discussion she had with Toby about getting rid of this stuff. The consummate boy-scout Toby encouraged her to keep it “Just in case”. She would have to but him a very special present as a thank you.
Repacking her things into a large backpack and removing new supplies form the trunk and packing those as well Violet made her way to the rear door of the train. She stepped out on the small deck, the wind blowing her hair forward she took a moment to say a small personal prayer. She could smell the water as the breeze danced across the Mississippi as she opened her eyes the train was approaching the bridge. Just as the middle of the bridge was approaching Violet took a deep breath and jumped.
“Shit!” Violet realized she had scraped her knee and torn her nylons in the process. Just then the train jerked forward and begin slowly moving. “That’s odd” she thought to herself. From her periphery she could see what appeared to be a figure climbing aboard the train. Hurriedly she resumed her journey to dining car 44.
Just as she approached the sliding door that leads to the dining car she was grabbed from behind and pulled into a nearby supply closet. A large hand closed on her mouth and another around her waist. She could feel his hot, heavy breath on the back of her neck. His hands smelled like dirt and potatoes but there was a faint hint of something else, something sweet and familiar.
“I know who you are and I know what you did and we are going to make sure you pay” The voice was thick and raspy as though her attacker were trying to mask his true voice. She could feel spittle on her cheek as he spoke. She could also tell the impact her fear was having on the man as he ground his pelvis into her behind and his semi erect penis rubbed against her. “Your skin is very soft” he said.
Seeing an opportunity Violet leaned into her attacker. Meeting the pressure from his hips with her own. She opened her mouth slightly and let her tongue graze his fingertips. She could feel his grip on her mouth loosen. She arched her back a little in order to add just the right inspiration for his next thought. She could feel his breath begin to quicken and his grip continue to loosen. Once she was able to get her right hand free she slowly reached back between his legs and begin to stroke her attacker. She could feel him succumb. Her master had now become her servant.
She turned and faced him. He was big. Big all over. Even his facial features were big. He had a heavy brow with thick bushy eyebrows. His jawline was square and so was the shape of his head. There was deep anger in his eyes and his face seamed to hold a permanent scowl. She put her left hand gingerly on his cheek to trace what appeared to be an old knife wound while still stroking his member with her right.
Violet knew she had this man under her spell. This, this moment was something she was good at, she was truly a master. She ran her tongue across his top lip and she felt his body quiver. It wouldn’t be long before the shakes began. She focused her energy on her hands and fingertips. Just as the final wave was to come crashing down on her would be attacker she reached into the back of her shirt and pulled out a small curved blade not much bigger than her pinky. Violet used the small hook on the blade to secure it to her middle finger and as she stroked him one last time she shove the blade deep into his scrotum slicing the skin while embedding the blade in his pelvis. When pulling the blade out she cut deeper into his body to sever an artery.
Instantly he fell to his knees. Tears mingled with snot as he tried to cry out in pain. He reached out to Violet but the pain was too much making his grip weak. Violet tried to back away but there just wasn’t enough room in the small closet. She watched as the man grasped for her while gasping for his last gulp of air. When the last signs of life left his large body Violet stepped over his slumped body and pulled the door open but not before removing the personal effects of the large man. His belongings were pretty standard. He had a wallet, passport and a folded manila envelope. There was no time to look through his things now. Surely someone would be along soon.
Covered in the dead man’s blood Violet quickly made her way back to her room and closed the door behind her. Uncertain of what else may lay ahead of her she quickly changed her clothes opting to wear a pair of pants rather than the classic Channel suit she originally intended.
“I though this part of my life was over” She said to herself.
Not certain if her potential male suitor had anything to do which her friend in the closet she decided she would play it safe. She summoned Mel and asked him to send a message to the man in dining car 44 advising him that she was feeling a little under the weather and that maybe they could meet for breakfast.
Violet knew it was only a matter of time before someone found the big guys body in the supply closet. She had to get off this train and quick. The last thing she needed in her life was some nosey cop asking questions trying to drudge her past. She packed a bag of things she would need and threw the bag over her shoulder. Although Violet loves nice things she knows how to minimize in the case of an emergency. She pulled out her laptop and checked her account making sure she had enough liquid assets in case she had to make a quick escape from the country. She sent Toby a coded text message and left her room.
She quickly made her way to the cargo hold of the train. The last car of the train held several large trunks. Violet found the one marked L.B. and opened it. The last vestiges of a life she thought she was leaving behind. She laughed to herself remembering the discussion she had with Toby about getting rid of this stuff. The consummate boy-scout Toby encouraged her to keep it “Just in case”. She would have to but him a very special present as a thank you.
Repacking her things into a large backpack and removing new supplies form the trunk and packing those as well Violet made her way to the rear door of the train. She stepped out on the small deck, the wind blowing her hair forward she took a moment to say a small personal prayer. She could smell the water as the breeze danced across the Mississippi as she opened her eyes the train was approaching the bridge. Just as the middle of the bridge was approaching Violet took a deep breath and jumped.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
A Dream...Chapter 3
Violet figured this was be a good time to journal and get a draft to-do list of the things she would handle her first week in the new city. She was certain that the train was the optimal choice for traveling as she sat legs crossed on the bench style seat. Her belongings were sprawled out on the little two person table; cocoa in hand, she lifted the mug to her lips. Violet was caught in a daze as the scenery whisked by. There were so many full green trees and little shanty houses tucked in the midst of nothingness. The thought crossed her mind that she had no idea where the train was or the time of day for that matter. It was nice for a change to be free of life’s constraints, even if it was for just a few moments. No appointments, no one to answer to, no bills for that matter. Heck, if it weren’t for Toby needing to get a text message or two, she would shut off her phone altogether.
Violet was startled by the knock on her door; she went up close to it “yes, what can I do for you?”
The male voice on the other side responded, “Ma’am I have a message for you, this is the car attendant Mel. I helped you with your belongings earlier.”
“Oh yes, one second,” as she unlatched the door and slide it halfway open, blocking it with her body. He handed her a small note card sized envelope.
“A gentleman requested that I deliver this to you, he is another passenger on the train. I hope you do not mind the interruption.”
“No, not a problem Mel,” it took Violet a few seconds to get her bearings and realize what gentleman he might be referring to. “Yes, thank you.” As she took the envelope, there was an awkward pause while Mel stood there without anything more to say. It was almost as if he was waiting for her to open the envelope. “Is that all Mel?”
“Yes Ma’am, I will be on duty until midnight if you need anything and then the other attendant comes on shift.”
“Thank you, good to know. Please, no need to call me Ma’am; I’ve hardly lived long enough to earn that title.” She extended her delicate un-manicured hand outside the confines of her cabin “call me Violet.” He took hold and she firmly shook, immediately letting go. She knew from experience that her energy was just too strong to pass it for a moment more through contact. She nodded her head as if to say good bye and with a half-smile, pulled the door shut ensuring to latch the lock.
Walking back to the table she slid her finger under the opening of the envelope to look at its contents. There was embossed lettering on the outside of the flap that appeared to be initials. Taking out the folded stationary there was legible writing almost a cross between cursive and print. “Dining car 44 @ 7.”
“How presumptuous and exciting,” she thought. Now she was forced to be cognizant of the time. It was 3:30, she wasn’t sure if she even felt up to this. She remembered his scent from the hallway. She still had time to think about her next move. Was this going down an all too familiar path? This was a train with many destinations, how likely could it be that he was getting off in Oxford. And if he was, what are the chances he lived there. What could one meal hurt? She sat back down at the table but journaling was the farthest thing from her mind now. In fact, she was getting antsy and beginning to second guess the whole train thing.
She lay down across the makeshift bed that was more like a bunk with her head facing toward the window. She could make out only the very top of high trees and some of the scenery, mostly skyline. There was a hint of scotch on her tongue…no it was the taste of the mouth she was exploring. It was a sweet scent on the breath of this masculine figure with a full bottom lip that she playfully tugged and nibbled at between her teeth. His hand was full of her breast and then his mouth. He tugged at her nipple between his teeth, first gentle then the pain increased. “This hurts. Is he biting me too hard? Should I make him stop?” Violet pinched his back then pulled away. With a loud thud she hit the floor and opened her eyes. This unfamiliar space was the train car but she was confused. Her upper lip was moist and she wiped beads of sweat from her head.
“I’m in the train car; I wonder how much time has passed?” She felt around for something to grab and hoist up to her feet. She felt along the wall for the lamp and pulled the string illuminating her car. It was twilight, almost completely dark outside. Her belongings were still spread out and she noticed the note. “What time is it?” she thought grabbing for her phone - 6:35.
She had been out much longer than she realized. Exhausted by the scenario, it took her a moment to realize she had a man’s business shirt on, completely unbuttoned. Her pants were scrunched down with one leg on and one leg out. Her left breast was soar and a there appeared to be some bruising. She touched her nipple and a little spot of blood was on her finger tip. “Maybe I should get out of this car for a little bit.” She hurriedly started to prepare herself for the 7 o’clock rendezvous.
Violet was startled by the knock on her door; she went up close to it “yes, what can I do for you?”
The male voice on the other side responded, “Ma’am I have a message for you, this is the car attendant Mel. I helped you with your belongings earlier.”
“Oh yes, one second,” as she unlatched the door and slide it halfway open, blocking it with her body. He handed her a small note card sized envelope.
“A gentleman requested that I deliver this to you, he is another passenger on the train. I hope you do not mind the interruption.”
“No, not a problem Mel,” it took Violet a few seconds to get her bearings and realize what gentleman he might be referring to. “Yes, thank you.” As she took the envelope, there was an awkward pause while Mel stood there without anything more to say. It was almost as if he was waiting for her to open the envelope. “Is that all Mel?”
“Yes Ma’am, I will be on duty until midnight if you need anything and then the other attendant comes on shift.”
“Thank you, good to know. Please, no need to call me Ma’am; I’ve hardly lived long enough to earn that title.” She extended her delicate un-manicured hand outside the confines of her cabin “call me Violet.” He took hold and she firmly shook, immediately letting go. She knew from experience that her energy was just too strong to pass it for a moment more through contact. She nodded her head as if to say good bye and with a half-smile, pulled the door shut ensuring to latch the lock.
Walking back to the table she slid her finger under the opening of the envelope to look at its contents. There was embossed lettering on the outside of the flap that appeared to be initials. Taking out the folded stationary there was legible writing almost a cross between cursive and print. “Dining car 44 @ 7.”
“How presumptuous and exciting,” she thought. Now she was forced to be cognizant of the time. It was 3:30, she wasn’t sure if she even felt up to this. She remembered his scent from the hallway. She still had time to think about her next move. Was this going down an all too familiar path? This was a train with many destinations, how likely could it be that he was getting off in Oxford. And if he was, what are the chances he lived there. What could one meal hurt? She sat back down at the table but journaling was the farthest thing from her mind now. In fact, she was getting antsy and beginning to second guess the whole train thing.
She lay down across the makeshift bed that was more like a bunk with her head facing toward the window. She could make out only the very top of high trees and some of the scenery, mostly skyline. There was a hint of scotch on her tongue…no it was the taste of the mouth she was exploring. It was a sweet scent on the breath of this masculine figure with a full bottom lip that she playfully tugged and nibbled at between her teeth. His hand was full of her breast and then his mouth. He tugged at her nipple between his teeth, first gentle then the pain increased. “This hurts. Is he biting me too hard? Should I make him stop?” Violet pinched his back then pulled away. With a loud thud she hit the floor and opened her eyes. This unfamiliar space was the train car but she was confused. Her upper lip was moist and she wiped beads of sweat from her head.
“I’m in the train car; I wonder how much time has passed?” She felt around for something to grab and hoist up to her feet. She felt along the wall for the lamp and pulled the string illuminating her car. It was twilight, almost completely dark outside. Her belongings were still spread out and she noticed the note. “What time is it?” she thought grabbing for her phone - 6:35.
She had been out much longer than she realized. Exhausted by the scenario, it took her a moment to realize she had a man’s business shirt on, completely unbuttoned. Her pants were scrunched down with one leg on and one leg out. Her left breast was soar and a there appeared to be some bruising. She touched her nipple and a little spot of blood was on her finger tip. “Maybe I should get out of this car for a little bit.” She hurriedly started to prepare herself for the 7 o’clock rendezvous.
Friday, April 10, 2009
A Dream...Chapter 2
After packing the last of her bags and doing a final walk through of the house Violet was finally ready to embark on a new adventure. As she approached the door for the last time she took a moment and said a small prayer in remembrance of the life she once led in this space. Tears began to well up in her eyes as her mind flooded with old familiar sights and sounds. She took a moment to relish the memories then shook them off and made her exit.
“It may not have been the life that I planned but it was my life” she said to herself.
As she boarded the train Violet began to feel a little giddy. She couldn’t help but giggle to herself. “Its time to leave the past in the past and move forward” As the train pulled off she reached into her purse and tossed a wallet into a nearby trash bin. The wallet fell open when it hit the bin. The ID in the front sleeve read “Lillian Blue, 3557 Vinton Lane”
Sitting in her private car on the train Violet allowed the steady chug of the engine to lull her into a relaxed state. Her subconscious moved freely between her past and her present. The gyrating of the train began to impact her thoughts. She tried to fight off the images rushing to the forefront of her mind but fatigue from the sudden move was weighing heavily on her and she would eventually have to succumb.
The parlor was always filled with music on Saturday nights. Toby playing the upright and Nahmie in the kitchen cookin up something good. Now those were the days. The voices and laughter of the girls filled every corner of the place. Even though there was always a lot of traffic, she always kept things under control. Everyone knew the rules of Ms. Lillian’s house. You could have anything you wanted as long as you followed the rules.
Ms. Lillian ran a high class joint and that was reflected in her girls. She made sure that they were all familiar with Victoria’s secrets. Above the door to the hallway that led to the ladies private boudoirs was a signed that read “Cleanliness is next to godliness and this is a godly home”
Ms Lillian was the youngest Madame in the cities history or at least that was what she claimed. She had found a way to turn her own urges into a very profitable business. She herself only serviced a very select clientele. And the men chosen to embark on the odyssey that is Ms Lillian were always thankful for the blessing.
When he walked into Ms. Lillian’s parlor she knew right away her life would never be the same. He was tall, caramel complexioned and built to last. He smelled of sandalwood and vanilla and he spoke with some sort of exotic accent.
“What can I get for you or do to you mister?” One of the younger ladies said to the stranger.
Ms. Lillian could tell right away that this was a man that was used to the finer things in life and he would not settle for anything with the slightest hint of commonality to it. She watched him as he made his way through the parlor and into the main sitting room. She motioned for one of the girls to take him a drink. Not just any drink but something special from her secret stash.
He studied the single malt scotch with a discerning eye. He took a sniff and then raised the class to his lips closing his eyes to allow his taste buds to take in the rich flavor of the scotch. Lillian could just imagine the flavors dancing around his pallet making its way past his tongue and gliding down his throat. He opened his eyes and tilted his glass towards her, graciously thanking her with his eyes.
She smiled back flashing the most beautiful set of pearly whites you have ever seen. She batted her long black eyelashes at him trying to cast a spell on him with her almond shaped eyes. She ran her fingers through her short cropped hair and hit him again with her 100 watt smile. She was rocking the old Halle Berry cut and she knew her sassy style had intrigued this as well as many other men. When she exited the room toward her private patio she knew he would follow and of course he did. This would mark the beginning of a very passionate romance.
The train lurched forward and came to a stop. Violet rubbed the back of her neck to get the kinks out. She looked at her watch out of habit to check the time. It has only been four hours since the train originally pulled out of the station. She checked her cell phone and realized that she had missed Toby’s call. He was always worried about her. He and Nahmie had tried to convince her to fly in but Violet refused. She said “I have spent the better part of my life rushing around and it is about time that just sat back and took my time.”
Violet checked her messages and then shot Toby and Nahmie a quick text message letting them know that she is alright. She opened the door to her private suite and took a quick look around just then the train’s horn sounded and an all aboard came from over the loud speaker. “Wow, I didn’t know they still did that?” she said to herself.
“Yeah, I didn’t know they still did that either, I guess it’s nice to know that some things don’t change” The stranger said as he turned the corner and passé her in the hallway flashing his own version of the 100 watt smile.
His scent lingered in the passageway overwhelming Violets senses. That familiar sensation began beating its way to the forefront of her emotional awareness. She felt her façade beginning to crack. She took a deep breath hoping to regain her composure. A wave of heat engulfed her body followed by the all too familiar hot and cold flashes.
“The past is the past, get a hold of yourself girl. You have a new life ahead of you. A new respectable life…”
Violet took another deep cleansing breath to steady herself and closed the door to her private suite.
“It may not have been the life that I planned but it was my life” she said to herself.
As she boarded the train Violet began to feel a little giddy. She couldn’t help but giggle to herself. “Its time to leave the past in the past and move forward” As the train pulled off she reached into her purse and tossed a wallet into a nearby trash bin. The wallet fell open when it hit the bin. The ID in the front sleeve read “Lillian Blue, 3557 Vinton Lane”
Sitting in her private car on the train Violet allowed the steady chug of the engine to lull her into a relaxed state. Her subconscious moved freely between her past and her present. The gyrating of the train began to impact her thoughts. She tried to fight off the images rushing to the forefront of her mind but fatigue from the sudden move was weighing heavily on her and she would eventually have to succumb.
The parlor was always filled with music on Saturday nights. Toby playing the upright and Nahmie in the kitchen cookin up something good. Now those were the days. The voices and laughter of the girls filled every corner of the place. Even though there was always a lot of traffic, she always kept things under control. Everyone knew the rules of Ms. Lillian’s house. You could have anything you wanted as long as you followed the rules.
Ms. Lillian ran a high class joint and that was reflected in her girls. She made sure that they were all familiar with Victoria’s secrets. Above the door to the hallway that led to the ladies private boudoirs was a signed that read “Cleanliness is next to godliness and this is a godly home”
Ms Lillian was the youngest Madame in the cities history or at least that was what she claimed. She had found a way to turn her own urges into a very profitable business. She herself only serviced a very select clientele. And the men chosen to embark on the odyssey that is Ms Lillian were always thankful for the blessing.
When he walked into Ms. Lillian’s parlor she knew right away her life would never be the same. He was tall, caramel complexioned and built to last. He smelled of sandalwood and vanilla and he spoke with some sort of exotic accent.
“What can I get for you or do to you mister?” One of the younger ladies said to the stranger.
Ms. Lillian could tell right away that this was a man that was used to the finer things in life and he would not settle for anything with the slightest hint of commonality to it. She watched him as he made his way through the parlor and into the main sitting room. She motioned for one of the girls to take him a drink. Not just any drink but something special from her secret stash.
He studied the single malt scotch with a discerning eye. He took a sniff and then raised the class to his lips closing his eyes to allow his taste buds to take in the rich flavor of the scotch. Lillian could just imagine the flavors dancing around his pallet making its way past his tongue and gliding down his throat. He opened his eyes and tilted his glass towards her, graciously thanking her with his eyes.
She smiled back flashing the most beautiful set of pearly whites you have ever seen. She batted her long black eyelashes at him trying to cast a spell on him with her almond shaped eyes. She ran her fingers through her short cropped hair and hit him again with her 100 watt smile. She was rocking the old Halle Berry cut and she knew her sassy style had intrigued this as well as many other men. When she exited the room toward her private patio she knew he would follow and of course he did. This would mark the beginning of a very passionate romance.
The train lurched forward and came to a stop. Violet rubbed the back of her neck to get the kinks out. She looked at her watch out of habit to check the time. It has only been four hours since the train originally pulled out of the station. She checked her cell phone and realized that she had missed Toby’s call. He was always worried about her. He and Nahmie had tried to convince her to fly in but Violet refused. She said “I have spent the better part of my life rushing around and it is about time that just sat back and took my time.”
Violet checked her messages and then shot Toby and Nahmie a quick text message letting them know that she is alright. She opened the door to her private suite and took a quick look around just then the train’s horn sounded and an all aboard came from over the loud speaker. “Wow, I didn’t know they still did that?” she said to herself.
“Yeah, I didn’t know they still did that either, I guess it’s nice to know that some things don’t change” The stranger said as he turned the corner and passé her in the hallway flashing his own version of the 100 watt smile.
His scent lingered in the passageway overwhelming Violets senses. That familiar sensation began beating its way to the forefront of her emotional awareness. She felt her façade beginning to crack. She took a deep breath hoping to regain her composure. A wave of heat engulfed her body followed by the all too familiar hot and cold flashes.
“The past is the past, get a hold of yourself girl. You have a new life ahead of you. A new respectable life…”
Violet took another deep cleansing breath to steady herself and closed the door to her private suite.
Monday, April 6, 2009
This time it would be different. She would not let anyone close enough to expose her. It was up to Violet to do everything in her power to live a normal life. It could be done; she had convinced herself of this fact. She was older and understood human nature, plus she always had her circle of trust to depend on and help her through the intense moments.
Despite Violet’s circle of trust and growing ability to control the sensations, it still did not take away from the loneliness she felt most of the time. Yes Nahmie understood; yes Toby understood; but that did not make the every day facade any easier. Violet was the one who had to suppress what was most natural to her very being… every day, every hour and almost every minute.
People take normalcy for granted. They take routine for granted. Always grabbing for the next step, the next plateau and wanting to outgrow their current space---not realizing that each minute builds upon the next. Imagine if every thought whether intentional or not could materialize. How long would it take before you recognized this was happening? How often do we have random responses to different stimuli throughout our daily journey? If you needed to, if you absolutely had to, could you control your every thought?
Violet was still trying to figure out if the condition was progressing. It seemed that even in her sleep she was becoming a prisoner to her mind. For the last few months she was very careful about the things she watched on television or listened to before going to bed. Her mind was impressionable and she could not put anything into it that she did not want to dream about, possibly live out later. There were signs left behind in her bed and on her clothes that she could not explain. Weird scents that were unfamiliar and foreign, sometimes the smells didn’t even seem human. Then the way her body physically felt, it was as though she was very active in even her sleep now. What all this evidence pointed to was not clearly revealed to her just yet, but something was changing.
The focus now was on Violet’s soon-to-be new environment. Nahmie had spent several summers in Oxford and had nothing but good things to report. It was a well-respected academic town, with lots of old money. It was listed as one of the top cities to retire, hardly what Violet was after in this stage of her life. At this point though she had to focus on the positives, at least this place was known for something. She was going to start her new position as an adjunct professor at Ole’ Miss.
Most exciting was the living space she was leasing for the school year. It looked absolutely enchanting online and the realtor had nothing but good things to say about the property. Too bad time did not permit her to visit ahead of the school year to check out the space in-person. With virtual tours, faxes and phones, it really was not necessary to spend the extra money on the trip. Violet had convinced herself that it would be fine; however she was big on the energy of her living space, especially because she was destined to spend a large chunk of her time there.
There was still much to do to start this new chapter of her life. Different from all the other times, Violet had a distinct nervousness in her spirit that she just could not shake. All along she wondered would she be settled for a while. She found herself getting lost in her thoughts and she quickly had to rein her mind in. That was close, she had to get better at not loosing control of her thoughts; she reminded herself that the consequences of not doing so were negligent at best.
Despite Violet’s circle of trust and growing ability to control the sensations, it still did not take away from the loneliness she felt most of the time. Yes Nahmie understood; yes Toby understood; but that did not make the every day facade any easier. Violet was the one who had to suppress what was most natural to her very being… every day, every hour and almost every minute.
People take normalcy for granted. They take routine for granted. Always grabbing for the next step, the next plateau and wanting to outgrow their current space---not realizing that each minute builds upon the next. Imagine if every thought whether intentional or not could materialize. How long would it take before you recognized this was happening? How often do we have random responses to different stimuli throughout our daily journey? If you needed to, if you absolutely had to, could you control your every thought?
Violet was still trying to figure out if the condition was progressing. It seemed that even in her sleep she was becoming a prisoner to her mind. For the last few months she was very careful about the things she watched on television or listened to before going to bed. Her mind was impressionable and she could not put anything into it that she did not want to dream about, possibly live out later. There were signs left behind in her bed and on her clothes that she could not explain. Weird scents that were unfamiliar and foreign, sometimes the smells didn’t even seem human. Then the way her body physically felt, it was as though she was very active in even her sleep now. What all this evidence pointed to was not clearly revealed to her just yet, but something was changing.
The focus now was on Violet’s soon-to-be new environment. Nahmie had spent several summers in Oxford and had nothing but good things to report. It was a well-respected academic town, with lots of old money. It was listed as one of the top cities to retire, hardly what Violet was after in this stage of her life. At this point though she had to focus on the positives, at least this place was known for something. She was going to start her new position as an adjunct professor at Ole’ Miss.
Most exciting was the living space she was leasing for the school year. It looked absolutely enchanting online and the realtor had nothing but good things to say about the property. Too bad time did not permit her to visit ahead of the school year to check out the space in-person. With virtual tours, faxes and phones, it really was not necessary to spend the extra money on the trip. Violet had convinced herself that it would be fine; however she was big on the energy of her living space, especially because she was destined to spend a large chunk of her time there.
There was still much to do to start this new chapter of her life. Different from all the other times, Violet had a distinct nervousness in her spirit that she just could not shake. All along she wondered would she be settled for a while. She found herself getting lost in her thoughts and she quickly had to rein her mind in. That was close, she had to get better at not loosing control of her thoughts; she reminded herself that the consequences of not doing so were negligent at best.
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