"You! Get up now!" A tiny girl with medium length red and brown hair slowly rose from the floor, rubbing her eyes in confusion, staring at the stubby little man before her. It took a moment for her to remember him; his name was Satdey and he was one of her father's many servants. "Come on, now." She followed him down a long corridor lined with portraits that whispered in a grave tone as she passed. Turning the corner they entered a second hall, this one lined with mirrors. Stadey shuddered as shadows passed from mirror to mirror, like some horrible creature trying to escape. But he had no idea what was really behind those mirrors.
one voice called into the little girl's head.
I don't know, she replied, in the same manner.
cried another voice.
She was ushered into a small black buggy, hitched to a gray mare, and much to her dismay, a rifle lie in the back seat. Stadey climbed in, steering the buggy out into the midnight flurry. She knew she was in danger, but she couldn't help but be amazed at the snow that was falling heavily all around them. She'd never seen snow. Under the tattered rags that clothed her body, she shivered, and Stadey cast her a sideways glance.
"I s'pose yeh already know why yeh're out here?" She nodded. "Then yeh know that I dun' want to do this."
"Then why are you?" she demanded. He was taken aback. He'd never heard her speak a word in the eleven years she'd been alive.
"Its orders." She didn't say anything, and Stadey just side, looking at her again. "Calisto, you know I don't like doing this..." She turned her head away. He leaned back, now deep in thought. Suddenly an idea came to his little mind...a dangerous idea, and if his master found out he would face a terrible fate, but he didn't want the little girl to die. He'd known her mother, and the child was nothing but kind, even after all she'd endured. 'There's a cabin up here somewhere...I remember it...but where? There! There's the path.' He turned the buggy onto a snow-laden path, driving deep into the country.
About an hour into the drive a soft golden light appeared on the snow. About ten yards away, he pulled the buggy to a stop, ordering her out into the deep snow, grabbing the gun from the back seat. "Calisto, I want you to go to that little house over there. Whoever's there will take care of you now." Calisto stood there for a moment, not sure what to do. "GO!" He kicked a spray of heavy snow at her, sending her off towards the cabin. Making sure she was well on her way towards the cabin he lifted the rifle, taking sight. After all...he couldn't count on her knocking on the door, and he'd have to let the owner of the cabin know she was there. Closing his eyes, he pulled the trigger.
one voice called into the little girl's head.
I don't know, she replied, in the same manner.
cried another voice.
She was ushered into a small black buggy, hitched to a gray mare, and much to her dismay, a rifle lie in the back seat. Stadey climbed in, steering the buggy out into the midnight flurry. She knew she was in danger, but she couldn't help but be amazed at the snow that was falling heavily all around them. She'd never seen snow. Under the tattered rags that clothed her body, she shivered, and Stadey cast her a sideways glance.
"I s'pose yeh already know why yeh're out here?" She nodded. "Then yeh know that I dun' want to do this."
"Then why are you?" she demanded. He was taken aback. He'd never heard her speak a word in the eleven years she'd been alive.
"Its orders." She didn't say anything, and Stadey just side, looking at her again. "Calisto, you know I don't like doing this..." She turned her head away. He leaned back, now deep in thought. Suddenly an idea came to his little mind...a dangerous idea, and if his master found out he would face a terrible fate, but he didn't want the little girl to die. He'd known her mother, and the child was nothing but kind, even after all she'd endured. 'There's a cabin up here somewhere...I remember it...but where? There! There's the path.' He turned the buggy onto a snow-laden path, driving deep into the country.
About an hour into the drive a soft golden light appeared on the snow. About ten yards away, he pulled the buggy to a stop, ordering her out into the deep snow, grabbing the gun from the back seat. "Calisto, I want you to go to that little house over there. Whoever's there will take care of you now." Calisto stood there for a moment, not sure what to do. "GO!" He kicked a spray of heavy snow at her, sending her off towards the cabin. Making sure she was well on her way towards the cabin he lifted the rifle, taking sight. After all...he couldn't count on her knocking on the door, and he'd have to let the owner of the cabin know she was there. Closing his eyes, he pulled the trigger.