Speaking with the Devil
"Alice, it's time to go" my mother called from just outside the door, too frightened to step into my room. I turned from my drawings to the mirror hanging on the wall, I quickly tied up my hair and rushed into the hall to meet her. She wore a dark blue dress that reached her ankles - of course. Her black boots clapped on the wooden floor as she strode over to the staircase with me in tow. Cynthia was at the foot of the stairs waiting impatiently for us to reach her, she had put her dark hair into a plait and was dressed in a basic, baby blue skirt with a loose fitting cotton top. She eyed me with a suspicious glare, Cinny was never one for good tact. Out of politeness I said nothing, and to save myself from a smack; mother would surely have hit me if I let slip what I wanted to say. It's rude to stare Cinny.
"Let's be off, now" mother's tone was urgent, like she really had somewhere to go. We made our way to the car, a relatively new model, father bought it before he passed away earlier this year. As I thought of his kind smile, his optimistic attitude - my eyes welled up, they always did when he crossed my mind. He thought my strange ability was a gift and loved me for it; everyone else feared me because of it. The visions started once I turned sixteen, at first it was just little things like: Mother wouldn't allow me to meet Catherine, Cynthia would be grouchy tomorrow or the baker would run out of bread on this particular day. They became more and more prominent as I aged. I turned seventeen and I saw that the Boston Red Sox would win the World Series in September 1918, they did. I saw the end of World War 1 in September, it happened on November 11th. I saw father die of the Spanish Influenza in late December, he did so on January 16th 1919 after a business trip to Chicago.
The car arrived outside two tall metal gates, mother stepped out to speak with the gatekeeper, he pulled them open and she drove in. My eyes went all over the dark place, looking for some sign of where I was. When we stopped beside the front doors, there was a brass plaque screwed into the greyish, blue wall. It read:
Biloxi Mental Institution
est. 1880
I gripped onto the seat and shut my door, snatching it out of the footman's hand. I could feel the tears from earlier brimming over, how could they do this to me?! We were family!
"Alice!" my mother wrenched the door open, I took it back again and willed a lock to appear. "You can't stay in the car forever!"
"I'm willing to try" I replied firmly. A beautiful man with extreme pallor appeared behind Cynthia and Mother in the car window. His face was calm and weary, there were dark shadows beneath his eyes, the eyes themselves were orangey. I was captured by them, my sobbing ceased as suddenly as they had started and I left my seat. The muggy June morning swirled around my ankles as I stood.
"Welcome, Miss. Brandon" he nodded, his voice was like honey - bittersweet. Yet I couldn't stop myself from being nice.
"Hello"
"This is Alice, the one whom speaks with the devil" Cynthia told them, I looked at her as though she were the dirt on my shoes. The pale man smirked, I turned to him lifting my brow. I guessed I would never get out of here again, so what did it matter if I was rude and unforgiving?
"I do not speak with the devil, Cynthia" I hissed. She rolled her eyes, the apple of mother's eye was a spoilt brat. I wanted to smack that smile off her face, but that would not prove my sanity was stable to the beautiful man. Mother got into the car again with tears streaming down her face, all anger left my mind abruptly.
"Cynthia, get in" her voice wobbled as she tried to gather up what little authority she had over her second child. Cynthia complied quickly, but not before hugging me and telling me she loved me and so did mother. Why am I here then?! I wanted to scream at her, but I gritted my teeth and returned her hug with a peck on the cheek. I told Mum I loved her through the closed car window. They drove off to the Institution's exit, I watched them leave and turned to the pale man with expectant eyes.
"What happens to me?" I asked shakily.
"You live here until you die" he answered plainly. His eyes shifted from one place the next in the background, I noticed it was an overcast day today - it fits the mood I thought grimly. He finally looked back to me. "I apoligize, my mind seems to be elsewhere this morning" he paused, guaging my reactions. I kept my blank face. "I'm William, I'll be caring for you, for now anyway" he smiled quietly, clearly someone who keeps to himself. I smiled in return to his good manner. He took my hand and drew me inside, they were freezing cold, like ice, I snatched it back. While he shut the tall doors I took in my surroundings. The corridor in front of me looked like it was miles long, the floor was tiled and the walls were off-white. Along this corridor I saw several openings leading off in various directions. A feeling of closure came upon me once I heard the click of the lock in the doors, with that feeling came a ball of pressure on my chest; I couldn't breathe. I closed my eyes. I froze.
A/N: I bet you guys are annoyed with me for starting up another story, when I have 3 other completely unfinished stories on the go. Just to let you know; I'm working on a new chapter for I've Found You, and I'm sure I'll think of something for Reborn very soon. Thank you for your patience everyone!
What did you think of the first chapter for this story though? PLEASE REVIEW!
