What Lies in the Dark
A/N: This is set in Germany in the mid-1800s
This story is rated M for multiple reasons, including violence and sexual situations.
The wind gushed out over the gentle hills of the German countryside. The blades of grass swayed and the trees shook, almost as if they were reveling in the day. A dull and rusty hoe hit the ground roughly before being pulled toward its owner, pushing away dirt in its path.
"Christa, the sun is going to set soon, we should probably head back to the house." Christa looked up from the potato plots she was tending to. Her light blond hair whipped around a bit but would always fall back and reach the middle of her shoulder blades. She wore simple clothing fit for a farm girl, poorly hand-stitched pants and shirt, almost the color of the ground beneath her feet.
The girl who had called her name dressed similarly but with a skirt and much less dirt. Her mouse brown hair was pulled away from her face. That was Sasha Blouse, her adoptive sister. She was obnoxious but she was very kind, unlike her mother. Sasha's mother had adopted Christa on the condition that she became some form of indentured servant. Orphaned Christa had approached the farming woman at the age of 12 with the proposition. She was 17 now and had worked in the fields ever since.
"Thank goodness, I thought my stomach was going to start eating it self!" The girls shared a smile before trekking to the humble cottage they called home.
After dinner, which Christa was made to prepare, Ms. Blouse sat the girls down. She was a stern looking woman with a voice much steadier than her hands. Gray curls fell around her shoulders and her dark button down dress pulled together a look to match her personality.
"Girls, I will only say this once, you are not to go into town this week without my company, especially at night, do you hear me? There are traveling entertainers that have come this way and believe me, they are all crooks and highway men. They'd snatch you up as soon as look at you."
"What kind of entertainers?" asked Sasha, with a twinkle in her eye. Her mother gave her a skeptical gaze.
"Why should that matter?"
"I was just curious..." Her mother held that gaze for a moment, so as to reinforce her point, and then looked away.
"Get some sleep, there's work to do tomorrow."
Days had passed since the girl's warning. They continued, as always, to work diligently in the fields, planting and watering and checking on the progress of the plants. They had very few animals that needed tending to, just a few chickens, whose eggs were for personal consumption, unlike their crop, and a horse that would pull their cart to town for market. Christa could often be caught looking longingly at the tall hills that surrounded the collection of hamlets, villages, and farms they lived in. Those hills, somewhere further off, turned into mountains. Oh, how she dreamed of walking through those woods and discovering what lay beyond and even further. She had always been stuck inside what felt like walls, never having left before in her life. But after day dreaming, she would usually snap out of it, knowing how lucky she was to have a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, and food to eat. Who knows what would have happened to her if she stayed at the orphanage? She would probably be on the street, either walking it or begging. She was interested in neither.
The moon shone brightly down on the wooden cottage as the hours of the night slowly ticked away. Christa was sleeping soundly until she was gently shaken awake. She intook the kind of breath that only comes upon waking from deep slumber.
"Hmm? Wha-?"
"Christa, wake up," whispered Sasha, "and be quiet."
"Is everything okay?" The blond quickly darted her eyes around the dark and small room she shared with her adoptive sister.
"It's fine, it's fine...just be as quiet as you can, Mother is asleep." Christa stared questioningly. "We're going to go out...to see the entertainers."
"What? But Mother said-"
"She's too paranoid. What excitement have we ever gotten around here? Besides," Sasha's eyes glazed over, "just think of all the special food...they must have special food for this kind of thing."
"I...well..."
"You work yourself to death...you deserve this." A conflicted expression crossed Christa's face.
"...Okay, but how are we getting there? It would take almost two hours to walk to town from here."
"Sasha, we really shouldn't..."
"If she's not gonna find out about us going to town, she's not gonna know about the horse." Reluctantly Christa nodded her head and rose from bed. Sasha had already gotten dressed so she waited for the younger girl to put on a green skirt and a plain white button up, her nicest, and a pair of boots. Life on the farm, and doing 2/3rds of the work, always left her wanting more in this world. Her childhood, too, was far from glamorous. But what was the 'more' she was craving...she wanted to find out.
The pair crept outside silently and saddled up their lone horse. Sasha got on first and Christa climbed on behind her. They galloped over the dirt and under the full moon. After about thirty minutes and a good bit of silence the warm light coming from town became clearer and it's buildings more detailed. They tied up their horse at the town stables and headed into the village proper. It was alive with a buzz of people perusing the night market and going about their own business.
"Where do you think they are?" Christa questioned, looking all around.
"We should ask someone..." Sasha's gaze caught on a food vendor. "Him! Let's ask him!" The other girl rolled her eyes as she saw her 'sister' rummage in her pockets for coins.
"2 orders of hackfleisch please!" Christa nudged her side. "Oh, and do you know where the traveling showmen are at?"
"Sure, they're in the square if you walk down the wide road and take a left." She beamed and grabbed the food that had been quickly boxed and bagged for her, giving off a lovely and meaty aroma.
"Thank you!" Sasha grabbed Christa's arm and pulled in toward where they were directed. When they turned the corner they saw a crowd of people huddled around a stage. On the stage were props abound and in the center two men were juggling 6 red balls between the two of them.
"Wow! Look at that!" The brown-haired girl couldn't hide her excitement at the spectical and Christa looked on with bright interest as they both ate their food. The trick soon concluded to applause. A third man approached from behind a curtain.
"Thank you! Give another hand to Bert and Jean!" Bert was skinny and young looking, smiling coyly, his short brown hair just barely reaching his eyebrows. Jean was built a little sturdier but still seemed small next to their ring-leader. His hair seemed like, strangely enough, it was two different shades of brown. The leader was almost barrel-chested and built like a brick wall, his smile charismatic and his hair shock blond. They all wore attention catching uniforms and bright greens and yellows, but only the leader wore a small cape.
"I'm Reiner and we are the Midnight Traveling Show! For those of you just joining us expect to be entertained and amazed! Tricks, feats, and plays of intrigue and hilarity! Now, get ready for Marcus and his ever obedient hound!" The man named Reiner and his companions quickly exited the stage. The man named Marcus approached the front of the stage. He was fresh-faced and looked very young.
"Ladies and gentlemen, a dog is man's best friend, obedient and loyal to the end! You share your food with them, you share your hunt with them, sometimes you even share the foot of your bed with them. So then why is it, dear audience," the curtains parted to reveal an almost larger than life, furry brown wolf whose head reached the height of Marcus's stomach. The crowd gasped here and there, "that we do not treat these nobel creatures with the same respect?" Marcus clapped his hands once and held out and open palm to the animal. The wolf licked it then raised its large paw to rest in Marcus's hand.
"You see?" He said, shaking the paw up and down. "If I treat him civilized, he returns the favor! Now, wolf, speak!" The creature barked once with alarming volume, visibly scaring some members of the audience. He let go of the wolf's paw and clapped twice. At once the wolf stood on its hind legs. "Stay." Marcus reached over to the pile of props and grabbed one of the red juggling balls. He lightly tossed it toward his companion. The wolf deftly bopped it back into the air with its nose and, dipping its head down and back up, balanced it between the bridge of its snout. The audience gasped again, but this time in awe. Sasha and Christa could help but clap, so impressed were they.
The show continued long after midnight with more tricks, a few jokes, and a play the left the audience in tears of laughter. The troop exited the stage until only Reiner was left.
"I'm afraid to say that concludes the end of tonight's show, and unfortunately, this weeks. We have greatly enjoyed performing for you. Now please, be kind enough to show your appreciation though donation of coin, otherwise we could not continue to do what we do! We will be packing away our set but a few of us will be collecting money in this area. Please, stay, chat, and show your appreciation!" He gave a deep and dramatic bow before receding behind the curtain to yet more applause.
"We should throw a few coins in the pot!" Said Sasha excitedly. "They were amazing!"
"Um...you already bought a special meal, are you sure we can afford this?"
"It's how they get by, Christa, it wouldn't be fair to watch and not pay." Christa thought on it for a moment and decided Sasha was right.
"Alright, let's give to the leader there, he doesn't seem too busy." They made their way over the Reiner, who was accepting donations from other people. He looked at them when they approached, doing a double take at the sight of Christa. "Hi! We both really enjoyed your performance and wanted to show appreciation." Sasha beamed and Christa had a small friendly smile.
"Ah, two lovely," at this he looked at Christa," young women enjoyed our performance? I will sleep happily tonight!"
He beamed, still in the blond girls direction. The gaze made her uneasy. "Actually, we are planning on having a bit of a celebration for completing another week of shows, would you two care to join us? Just a bonfire and a few drinks."
"I'm not sure if we should..." Christa trailed off until Sasha nudged her side rather hard and said,
"Come on, live a little, when's the next chance you'll get to?" Christa sighed,
"Alright...but we can't stay too late." Reiners smile turned into a grin.
"Excellent."
They had to wait for the troop to finish striking, once they had, Reiner approached the two girls.
"Now, if you'll follow us, our current camp ground is just inside that forest there." He pointed to the sloap of one of the large hills surrounding the immediate community.
"We rode a horse to town, Mr. Reiner, would you mind if we went to get him and met at the town limits?" asked Christa
"Not at all, my beauties." He grinned, again, never taking his eyes off the small girl. She started to wonder if this was a bad idea. But, she supposed, if they had their horse they could leave any time they wanted to. Once the old farm horse was saddled up they followed the caravan's large wagon to the spot previously pointed out to them. They exchanged pleasantries with many of the performers, complimenting their talents and asking them about life on the road. Soon enough a bonfire had been lit and tankards of beer were being passed around. Trees surrounded them from every side, the light of the flames dancing off their leaves and bark.
"So, you two are farmers?" Asked Bert once they had settled near the fire with their tankards. Christa nodded.
"That's right, it's hard work but it's honest...it's how we get by." Bert nodded his head understandingly and took a sip of beer.
"You really should try your drinks, it'll warm you up, the wind is beginning to blow." And it was, the branches rustled a sporadic rhythm around all of them. Reiner cleared his throat meaningfully.
"Now that we are all settled down for the evening of fun and relaxation, shall we share stories? How about the farming girls?"
"Oh, haha, we don't do anything that could count as a story, and I've hardly ever touched a book." Said Sasha sheepishly. Christa simply looked on, trying to squash the uncomfortable feeling in her gut.
"Well, it just so happens that I've recently purchased the tales of the Grimm Brothers, they really are a delight. I'm tired of performing tonight, Jean, would you mind reading, pick whichever story you like." Jean nodded and sat on a log near the fire, as he had been previously standing, talking to Marcus.
"Ah, well, how about I read you the tale of Little Red Riding Hood? There once was a girl who was loved by all, but most of all her grandmother..." the tale began to unfold, a well meaning girl bringing bread and wine to her grandmother, a seemingly friendly wolf telling her to stray from her intended path. During the story both the girls had started feeling the effects of their drinks, a warm but fuzzy buzz was starting to over take them. They almost didn't even notice when a few troop members left for whatever reason, supposedly to relieve themselves of the beer in their systems. "'What big eyes you have grandmother!' said little Red. 'All the better to see you with my dear.' 'Yes, but big hands you have!' 'All the better to hold you, my dear!' 'Oh, but grandmother, what big teeth you have!'" Suddenly something rustled forceful in the bushes behind Sasha and Christa and before they could even blink their eyes a huge blond wolf was just behind them, it's breath hot and rancid, and beginning with a gutteral grown it opened it's jaw and said,
"All the better to eat you with, my dears..." They screamed and tried to run for their horse but other wolves, just as big as the first one were surrounding them, sizing them up, raising their hackles. "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to trust strangers?" The wolves speech was warped, but still human language, which made every second more horrifying.
"Please...don't...don't do this..." Christ begged. The wolves lunged, Sasha was able to evade the first attack but Christa hadn't been so lucky. The talking wolf had bitten her leg and was still biting, deep and painfully. She screamed and screamed, she lost her field of vision and could hear Sasha crying what sounded miles away. She resigned herself to death, trying to focus away from the searing pain in her right leg until suddenly her skin was ripped, the teeth pulling away quite unexpectedly. She assumed it was about to continue devouring her but nothing happened. She could still hear Sasha crying but now she could hear wolves yelping and howling. She didn't dare open her eyes, already half scared to death. Ripping of flesh cried out in the night and growls and hisses seemed to be exchanged. She was bleeding quite badly and could feel her conscience beginning to slip, but the last second before she did, someone, or at this point, it could have been something, gently put it's arms under her knees and behind her neck, lifting her up. She submitted to sleep.
When young Christa woke it was slow, the sun crept into her eyes and the warmth of the bed she slept in was undeniable, almost pulling her back into slumber. Before that could happen, however, memories from the night previous started resurfacing. She sat up and screamed, tears fast approaching, eyes frantically searching her whereabouts. She was silenced by the mere unfamiliarity of her surroundings. She sat on a huge and luxurious bed with fluffy pillows and duvets. The room she inhabited was large and made of stone. A procelene bath tub sat in one corner next to an elegant wardrobe. To her other side sat a vanity with a beautifully crafted chair. Behind her were large windows that stretched to the incredibly high ceiling, framed by blood-red curtains half drawn. Finally, directly before her was a huge wooden door embroidered with what could have been gold. She just didn't know how to react at all.
"Where..."she murmured to herself, "where am I?"