Disclaimer: I own nothing (but the lead). Just borrowing an idea and a few names for a bit.
Chapter 1: Haunted
PG-13 -may change for violence.
"A beautiful young child on the stoop. Wrapped in naught but a few black blankets, and a small scrap of paper with the words, 'take care.'" Mother Superior sniffled a bit and raised her glass. "Well, that was years ago, and my how she's grown." The Mother smiled at the now, embarrassed nineteen-year old girl at the end of the table, who smiled back.
"Alright everyone, raise a glass," The Mother said looking around the table, "To Anne!"
"To Anne!" Everyone repeated and took a sip from their glass.
Anne smiled and leaned back into her chair. She looked around the table at the small group that had gathered for this surprise party. Every nun was there, the groundskeepers, the Reverend Father, and of course, Mother Superior. All the faces she grew up with were there. Anne turned her gaze to the Mother, the woman who had been her mother, and she wondered about her. She'd always been there, as long as she could remember. She took her in when, apparently no one else would. Anne was caught up in her thoughts of gratitude, that she didn't notice two nuns leave, and come back with a candle-adorned cake. Anne's smile grew as a chorus of "Happy Birthday" rang in the dining hall.
Long
lost words whisper slowly to me
Still can't find what keeps me
here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know
you're still there
The stone windowsill was cold to the skin; it made Anne shiver. She pulled her new shall tighter around her shoulders and watched through the window as the occasional car passed by the convent. Nineteen years, why didn't it feel that long? Of course, Anne had no idea what nineteen years should feel like, but still…
Anne continued to watch the outside world. A man dressed in black from head to toe caught her eye. She watched him walk along the sidewalk, then stop and look at the convent. Anne's spine straightened as a chill ran down it when she saw his eyes search the building, then stop at her window. He just stood there, staring in at her backlit figure. Anne looked the man over, he wore a long black leather coat and black pants, his face was white and his hair a brown, with light tones that shimmered in the light of the street lamp. For a moment, neither of them moved, they were just there, their eyes locked on one another.
Watching me, wanting me
I can feel you pull me
down
Fearing you loving you
I won't let you pull me down
Then suddenly, the man looked up, he seemed to be sniffing the air, and then with one final glance he took off running down the street. "No…" Anne found herself saying as she watched him disappear behind a building. Hopping down from her windowsill she quickly hurried out of her room and down the hall towards the front door. Her black dress ruffled slightly, but other than that, she made no sound. Anne never made noise when she ran. She eased open the large wooden door and ran out of it and towards the fence. Her body slammed into the gate, making a crashing sound. Wrapping her hands around the bars she strained her eyes to see if she could see the man anywhere, but she saw nothing. Her gaze went to the spot where he stood moments before. A small square box caught her eye. Anne fiddled with the lock on the gate, soon picking it open as she had many times before, and walked out onto the sidewalk. The ground was cold on her bare feet but she didn't notice. Kneeling beside the small box she looked up again, she was alone. Picking up the box she hurried back, closing and locking the gate behind her. Then running back inside and to her room. For the first time since she had her own room, Anne locked her door. She held the box close to her chest as she set herself down onto her bed. Her heart was pounding, not from running, but from the excitement and fear that she felt just from holding the small box. She set it down on her lap and looked at it. It was a red box, red as sacramental wine, with a black silk ribbon and bow on it. A small white tag on the bag read: "To: 'Anne'". She took a deep breath, and started to untie the ribbon.
Lifting the lid off the box Anne looked inside. The silver shimmered so brilliantly that it reflected onto her face. Anne picked up the necklace and held it out in front of her. A locket. A heart-shaped locket with what looked like Celtic markings on it. It was beautiful. Anne eyed the thing for a minute before she even thought of putting it on. Once it was fastened around her neck, she looked back in the box. There was a single red rose blossom. And a small scrap of paper that simply read:
"Tomorrow
After dark
Back Gate"
Anne looked at the note. The back gate, did it mean the back gate of the churchyard? She wondered about the curious events of the night as she laid her head down on her pillow and shut off her light. The only light in the room was a reddened light falling upon Anne's bed coming from the stained glass window. In the dark, Anne's hand found her new locket. Anne's half-closed eyes then snapped open; she sat up and flipped on the light. She unfastened the chain of the necklace and held the locket in her hand. She realized she hadn't even bothered to open it. Very carefully, Anne tried to open the tiny clasp of the locket. After a while, it opened with a minuscule squeak. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes locked in on two small painted portraits. One was a young woman, with mid-length black hair and dark eyes; the other was a young man with dark sandy hair and strong features.
Who were these people?