III.
Das Verlassen; Leaving
So one day when the Queen went to her mirror and said:
"Looking glass upon the wall,
Who is fairest of us all?"
It answered:
"Queen, you are full fair, 'tis true,
But Snow-White fairer is than you."
This gave the Queen a great shock, and she became yellow and green with envy, and from that hour her heart turned against Snow-White and she hated her. And envy and pride like ill weeds grew higher in her heart every day until she had no peace day or night.
At last she sent for a huntsman and said, "Take the child out into the woods, so that I may set eyes on her no more. You must put her to death and bring me her heart for a token."
It was a cool, sunny day as Blanche watered the roses in the gardens. She lifted the hood from her neck to cover the sun's rays from pouring on her black tresses. For such a cool day, it was very sunny. Blanche was in good spirits though, humming as she lowered the large, silver pitcher into the bushes. The water was cool as it splashed against her bare legs and she giggled with remembered embarresment at her meeting with a particular young man. How red she had been then, because of her bare legs. She could only smile now.
Mr. Scalc was busy a few feet from her, trimming the bushes with much energy. Blanche glanced at him and grinned even wider. Perhaps today was a good day for everyone.
"Mr. Scalc?"
The man paused his work in surprise. "Yes, Miss White?"
"You look a bit tired." Blanche began timidly. "I could take up the trimming for a bit. Just until you catch your breath."
The man seemed to stare at her for a while, his eyes locked to hers. Blanche thought she saw him flinch, but then he was back to his work and she ignored her musings.
"It's fine, Miss White. I am almost finished anyway."
Blanche hesitated for a moment, and began to return to her watering. She hummed a little tune, her own sweet love song.
I'm wishing…for the one I love…to find me…
Glancing over at Mr. Scalc, she felt her heart stiffen as she noticed his reaction. He clearly did not like her humming; for he was frowning deeply, a pained look on his face. She stopped mid-song and went back to her flowers, a small tear forming in the corner of her eye. Hadn't Ms. White told her many times what a horrible, whiny voice she had? Until now, she had never truly believed her. But upon seeing Mr. Scalc's stiff posture; that little hope died.
She was interrupted in her thoughts when a small white bunny leapt through the bushes, surprising Blanche.
"Oh!" She gasped, as the creature looked up at her with alarm. Behind her Blanche could hear Mr. Scalc stop his work.
"It's alright Mr. Scalc." She murmured. "It's only a little rabbit."
She bent down slowly as the infant rabbit approached, sniffing her. "He's just a baby." Blanche cooed as the bunny was swept into her arms lovingly. "He probably lost his parents…"
The sun had grown brighter as Blanche cradled the small fluff-ball. She thought of the bunny all alone in the world without his proper parents, just as she was alone.
"It's all right, little one." She giggled as the bunny tickled her with his nose. "You're safe now."
Suddenly, there was a great shadow over Blanche and her bunny, a shadow that towered over her and cast a terrible silhouette against the bushes. Blanche jumped in alarm and whirled around, only to find herself face to face with Mr. Scalc.
"Mr. Scalc…" Blanche barely managed, all at once terrified of the man she had known for most of her life.
His face had lost it's color and in his eyes was a glint that she had never before seen. He was sweating profusely, his lips curled widely about his bared teeth. Both his hands clenched at his sides, even as he began to lift his right arm, a shiny object grasped tightly between his fingers.
Blanche was frozen, ready to scream as he suddenly fell to the ground on his knees and gripped her short skirt tightly.
"Please forgive me!" He cried, letting go of the object in his hand. It fell to the grass, a useless lighter that glinted in the sun. "I cannot do it, Miss! I cannot!"
Blanche was too stunned to speak, her legs trembled as the man looked up at her with shamed-filled eyes.
"Forgive me, Miss White. You do not deserve such a fate!"
"Wha-what fate?" Blanche choked, still hugging the bunny tight. "Stop it, please!"
"Ms. White!" He cried, terror in his eyes. He gripped her more tightly than ever. "She bade me do it, I tell you. I should be whipped for such crimes I have committed against you…and even those I was about to…"
Those words had Blanche struggling to break free, her heart torn between wanting to know just what Mr. Scalc was speaking of and running to hide in her room.
"I don't understand." She whimpered. "Please, let me go!"
"She wanted you to burn!" Mr. Scalc continued, holding up the lighter. "For me to throw this weapon in the bushes and burn it all, with you caught in the fray…to scar your lovely little face…and secure her own vanity…"
The man was weeping now, so tormented that Blanche had to reach out and offer a gentle touch. He flinched away however, the tears flowing down his cheeks.
"I do not deserve it, Miss. Not for what I was about to do." He shook his head. "No, you must leave this prison. Now!"
"I cannot," Blanche protested shakily, her whole body about to break. "I cannot."
"You must! Else, your step-mother will harm you more than I was about to."
The sun was blocked away by the clouds now, and Blanche felt the bunny snuggle to her chest. Mr. Scalc whipped around like a mad-man, alert to any noise. He grabbed Blanche's hand then, and pulled her through the gardens.
"Get your things and leave." He ordered. "You must before it's too late. I will leave the back gate open. No one shall know.."
He pushed her inside the house, his eyes wild. "Hurry!"
As Blanche ran to her room, her mind raced with all that was said. Ms. White…was everything true, then? Could all the horrible things he had said be true?
She could not doubt the look in Mr. Scalc's eyes, and so Blanche grabbed the only bag she owned, a plain brown leather one, and stuffed her only worthy possessions; her father's songbooks, her mother's dress, and her own books. Then she poured her toiletries and only clothes inside. Finally she switched from her flat black shoes, to her thick boots and took off through the halls, swiftly and shakily. She was certain the bunny could feel her heart hammering against her chest. Goodbye, father, she thought as she swept out the back door. This was my only home.
The gate was open, as Mr. Scalc had promised but as she stood before it, breathing heavily, she could not take that final step. She glanced back at the gardens behind her, the huge mansion that had always trapped and protected her. It was finally all over…
With her bag slung over her shoulder, she turned the handle and opened the gate, stepping into the unknown world before her.
It was into a small alleyway she had stepped, and she closed the gate behind her, the sudden click making her jump. She looked down both sides of the alleyway, her eyes wide with both fear and curiosity. At least I have my bunny with me, she thought hugging the little fellow. With a deep breath she quickly made her way down the alleyway.
It was getting darker, the pavement under her feet dirtier. There was an exit up ahead and she practically ran into the dim light. She was unprepared for the the sight before her. Beyond the thick brush she stood in, lay a city below her, large and grey. The tall buildings stood against the sunset, their sharp tops like knives. The lights were lit up brightly and Blanche breathed in wonder.
"That's where Ms. White goes…"
The bunny squirmed in her arms and Blanche remembered herself. She looked around her, realizing it was the first time she knew what the outside of the mansion really looked like. She had been to the city once, when her father died. But she did not remember it, as she was in a black car the whole time, the windows tinted black. Now she saw that the mansion was surrounded by thick forest, with only a small road that lay far to Blanche's left. It was barely visible from where she stood, and it winded up the hill dangerously.
Just then there was a crunch of leaves in the silent wood, and Blanche began to run toward the city, careful as the hill was steep. The unknown noises were becoming louder, as if a whole pack of wolves was on the hunt.
And I'm their prey…
Almost tripping on a vine, Blanche desperately tried to steady her breathing, but the cold air filled her lungs so that she thought she would die. She ran until she thought she would collapse, visions of sharp fangs and blood-red eyes sourounding her in the dusk. She ran and ran, suddenly feeling like trees just kept appearing, until there was a light and the darkness began to vanish. Soon, she collapsed on her knees as she reached the end of the woods, the edge of the city in view. Behind her the noises stopped and she wept with relief and weariness, clutching the bunny tightly.
How cowardly am I? She thought. I am such a naïve fool.
But the tears, of both self-pity and shame, slid silently down her pale cheeks. She held the bunny tight and dropped to the cold dirt beneath her, praying for some kind of deliverance.
That was short, but hopefully I'll update soon. Thank you to Zoe-the-Lost & Lady Macbeth2 for reviewing. Big xoxo's to you! ^-^
