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Waking up in the empty stable block, Nelly got out of bed and headed outside to the latrines. She could feel the wet and cold grass soak into her bare feet and a nightly chill roll down her spine and arms. But as Nelly approached the latrines, she spotted someone standing outside. Nelly first thought it was a Paratrooper, but it couldn't have been because this person was in a dress. Soon, the person turned around and looked at Nelly.
"Come here 'till I see you...". A familiar voice said.
A smile lifted Nelly's face. "Mum".
Mary grinned at her daughter. And once Nelly was standing in front of her, Mary took her hand and held it close to her chest. "You're still a cute wee thing, eh? Not much has changed for our Helen".
Nelly's eyes softened at those words. "Are you feeling better?"
"I feel...great, Helen". Mary said, "Never better".
"What are you doing here, mum?"
Mary's grip on her daughter's hand tightened and she smiled. "We're going for a walk".
"We are?" Nelly sounded somewhat hopeful.
"Aye, we are".
And with that said, Mary roughly pulled Nelly away from the latrines and away from the stables. It was dark in Aldbourne, but Mary shone like a star. Her curls were long, her dress was yellow and like Nelly, Mary wasn't wearing socks or shoes. Nelly wasn't afraid while her mother dragged her along the cobbled roads in the village. Wherever they were going, Nelly could relax because she was with her mum. They ran by familiar shops and houses. But Nelly's legs started to get tired. She tried to slow down but her mother wasn't having any of that – she continued to run. Nelly had no choice but to run behind her.
They neared the bottom of the village and took a sharp turn into a tangle of trees. Nelly almost recognised the tangle of trees. The branches overlapped each other and created an archway, and the trail was muddy and sore with nettles. But the trees didn't look very normal. The branches were long and skinny like skeletons. And the twigs were like bony fingers. The trees themselves had faces, with large gaping mouths and dark sunken eyes. As Nelly turned to face the front, wanting to catch her mother's bright yellow dress and long curls, she discovered her mother was gone. Nelly's hand was empty of Mary's hold. But she could hear laughter echoing and bouncing against the trees.
"Mum?" Nelly called out – quietly at first.
The distant laugh continued to echo throughout the tangle of trees. Nelly stood completely still, almost too scared to move. The trees began to moan and groan, as a gust of wind blew into the woods. The long, bony, twigs brushes against Nelly's cheek. And she turned around.
Nelly turned around slowly.
And was soon face to face with her mother.
Mary laughed loudly in her daughter's face.
The laughter sent a wave of unease through Nelly's body. "Mum...". She whispered – somewhat faintly and scared.
The laughter got harder, louder and more urgent.
Nelly broke and screamed, "Mum! Stop! Stop it!"
And the laughter stopped sharply. Mary peered down at her daughter. And when she spoke, her voice wasn't light and sweet – it was dark and low. "You'd best run".
By this point, Nelly's chest was heaving with quick and frightened breaths. "What?"
"Run!" Her mother yelled, "Run!"
Nelly didn't want to run by her mother – she was afraid Mary would grab her again. So, Nelly turned around and started running further into the tangle of woods. Nelly didn't look over her shoulder, she didn't look down or at the trees around her. Nelly kept her stare forward, whilst being attacked by branches and nettles. Upon seeing an opening, she burst through and stepped onto stones. Nelly heard a rush of water and soon realised where she was.
It was the river she and her friends had discovered in September when they first arrived in Aldbourne. But the river was fierce. Its currents were strong, and it angrily swirled and crashed into large rocks. Nelly ran toward the river and stopped when she felt the cold water against her toes. Nelly shivered and looked over her shoulder.
Mary was there.
And she was walking toward her daughter.
"Helen...". Mary stopped under the light of the moon – just a few feet from Nelly. "You'll die like me".
Nelly frowned and shook her head.
"It's already happening, Helen". Mary said, "You're not well, hen".
Her frown deepened.
"You're sick...just like me...". Mary said, "Sick...weak...alone...afraid...".
"Dad...". Nelly whispered, "Dad killed you".
Mary smiled. "I was already dead".
"Nelly!" A voice called from beyond the tangled trees.
Nelly's eyes looked toward the woods.
"That's not your friend, Helen". Mary said lightly, "You don't have any friends...".
"Nelly!" The voice called again.
Nelly knew that voice. And she almost smiled. "That's not my friend...".
"I know". Mary said.
Nelly looked at her mother. "That's my Captain...".
Bare feet digging against the stones, Nelly took off into a run and ran right by her mother – leaving her there. Inside the tangled trees once more, her feet slammed against nettles and sharp thorns. Nelly could hear Winters call her name. And she was running toward him as if her life depended on it.
But then, she heard Mary's voice sharply yell directly into her ear. "No!"
Nelly screamed.
Mary grabbed her daughter's shoulder. "You're staying with me...".
As Nelly tried to take a step forward, her mother yanked her back.
And they both fell to the ground.
...
Eyes opening, Nelly lay on the wet and muddy earth. Above her, she saw the twisted branches and twigs. But they no longer resembled skeletons. A gentle wind hushes the leaves. And poking out between branches, was the moon. The moon was the first thing Nelly saw upon opening her eyes. Nelly was aware she had been sleepwalking. Her feet were cut, cold and bleeding. She was not wearing her jacket and her nightclothes were soaked. Nelly grimaced faintly while sitting herself up. Grabbing a hold of a branch, she then pulled herself onto her feet and started to limp out of the woods.
Not aware of the time, Nelly left the woods and headed to Back Lane. Her barrack was too far away. But Back Lane was close, it was only up a gentle cobbled road. Nelly had hoped Winters would be there when she woke up from her sleepwalking trance – she could remember hearing his voice. But her Captain wasn't around. Nelly walked up a set of concrete steps and knocked on the door on the landing. She was aware all the lights inside the home were off. Nelly knocked again.
Then, she could hear footsteps approaching the door. A light turned on. Nelly took a tiny step back, as she soon heard the sound of someone unlocking the door. A few seconds later, the door opened. "Nelly?" A confused yet sleepy voice asked. Winters's eyes squinted down at the girl. It took him a few moments of blinking to see the full state Nelly was in. She wasn't wearing her boots or a jacket. And her nightclothes was soaking wet.
"Lad?" A voice asked somewhere behind Winters. "Who's at the door?"
Winters frowned. "One of my soldiers, Mr Barnes".
"Oh". The older man said, "Are they alright?"
But instead of waiting for a response, Mr Barnes stood next to Winters.
"Good heavens". The old man frowned. "I know, we'll run your soldier a bath and they can take Lieutenant Welsh's bed for the night".
"Sounds perfect, Mr Barnes". Winters agreed. "Thank you".
Mr Barnes smiled. "Oh, not to worry, lad. Not to worry...".
Winters pulled the door further open. "Come in, kiddo".
Nelly stepped under her Captain's arm and walked into a kitchen. The kitchen was small, clean and smelled of washing up liquid and flowers. Nelly could hear the gentle ticking of a clock, which was hung up on the wall close to the door. The Barnes's lived above their shop. Nelly had never met the elderly couple, but they seemed fond of Winters. Mr Barnes smiled kindly at the girl as her somewhat fearful eyes stared up at him.
"I'll find you some clean clothes, pet". He said to her gently. "We'll get you dry and warm in a jiffy".
"Thank you...". Nelly whispered.
Winters set a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you, Mr Barnes".
Mr Barnes cast Winters a smile. "Do you remember how to make tea, lad? I believe our new guest is in need of a hot drink".
Winters smiled back at the old man. "I remember, sir".
"There's a lad...". Mr Barnes said softly. "Right...I'll get this bath sorted. Take the blanket from the couch, lad. Your soldier can use that for the time being".
"Thank you, Mr Barnes". Winters and Mr Barnes left the kitchen. But in a matter of seconds, her Captain was back, and he placed a woolly blanket around Nelly's shivering body. She stared up at Winters. And he smiled kindly in return. "Okay, kiddo?"
"I'm sorry, sir...". Nelly whispered, "I didn't know where else to go".
"It's okay, trooper". Winters assured her. "I did tell everyone to come to me if they were ever in trouble or needed help".
"It's...late?"
It was 0130 hours, but Winters didn't tell Nelly that. "It's alright, trooper". He said, "Let's sit you down, okay? And I'll make that tea".
Sat down at the kitchen table, Nelly cuddled into the warmth of the blanket. It was only her first night alone while everyone else went to London. And already, it was a disaster. Thankfully, her Captain decided to stay put in Aldbourne. Or else, Nelly would have been wandering the streets of Aldbourne trying to locate the stables in the dark. Plus, she wanted to feel safe again and Winters always made Nelly feel safe.
After not eating properly for days, Nelly felt hungry. And she felt as though she could eat. "Sir?"
"Yeah?" Winters asked while filling up a cast iron black kettle with water.
"I'm hungry...".
A tiny smile of amusement met the corners of Winters's lips. He nodded. "If I make you toast, will you eat it?"
"Yeah, sir". Nelly promised him.
Winters stretched it out, "Every last bite?"
"Yeah".
"Even the crumbs?" He joked lightly.
Nelly's eyes lightened. "Sure, sir".
"Then we have an agreement, trooper".
A small smile played on Nelly's lips, while her eyes stared down at the surface of the wooden table. Winters set the kettle down on the stove and then turned on the oven to make Nelly some toast. Grabbing a knife, Winters cut off two slices of white bread. And while he did that, Nelly suddenly felt very, very at ease. It felt like a normal setting. A small snack in the night for an empty belly. A hot drink after a bad dream. Nelly had never experienced that while growing up. And because she felt at ease and content in a comfortable home, it started to alarm her because she wasn't used to that.
Ten or so minutes later, Winters set a plate of toast and a cup of tea on the table. "I'm 'gonna check on Mr Barnes".
"Okay, sir". Nelly whispered.
Winters's footsteps disappeared out of the kitchen. Nelly picked up a slice of buttered toast and took a tiny bite. It was warm. Chewing on the toasted bread, she felt a tearful lump form in her throat. And soon, tears reached her eyes. Nelly swallowed that tiny piece of toast with great difficulty. She could feel fat tears roll down her cheeks. With a gentle sniff, she mopped those tears away with her arm. Crying over toast felt stupid but crying over kindness didn't feel as stupid.
And seeing those tears, Winters entered the kitchen and crouched by Nelly.
"What's the matter?" He asked softly.
Giving her head a shake, Nelly set the toast down. "Tastes like...shit, sir". She tried to joke and brush his concerns away.
A sad smile reached Winters's lips. His hand fell onto her back. "How about you stay here until the fellas get back?" He suggested kindly.
A sad frown met Nelly's face. "Did they leave because...they don't like me?"
"Oh, no, kiddo...". Winters said gently, "That's not it at all".
Nelly looked at her Captain. "Because...I'm a girl, sir?"
"I think". Winters said softly, "I think they didn't invite you because they didn't think you'd like those noisy clubs".
"Oh". Her frown softened. "Yeah, that...that makes sense, sir".
"I'll bet when your friends get back, they'll take you somewhere". Winters said, "Somewhere you'd like to go".
Nelly's head cocked to the side in thought. And she said softly, "Brighton...Skip says they've got fun rides in Brighton".
Winters smiled. "Well, I'll bet they'll take you there".
"Yeah, sir".
Winters gave a nod to the toast. "What happened to our deal?" He asked lightly.
With a tiny sigh, Nelly nodded but admitted, "Eating is...hard, sir".
A shadow of worry crossed Winters's face. "Yeah?" He kept his voice light. "Why's that?"
"I don't know, I just...I just...". Nelly searched for the right words.
Winters waited patiently.
"I'm hungry but...I don't 'wanna eat". Nelly tried to explain.
Nodding along to what she was telling him, Winters cleared his throat and for a moment, he briefly wondered if Nelly had looked at too many models the men hung up in their blocks at the stables. But then Winters scratched that idea. "Sometimes...those who don't give their body what they need...do it because they feel they don't deserve it". Winters explained to her slowly and asked, "Do you think that could be you?"
"Maybe". Nelly whispered.
"Do you know about men on death row?"
Nelly appeared confused. And she looked at her Captain – wondering where the hell he was going with this one. Winters almost smiled at the confused look across her face.
"Don't worry, I'm going somewhere with this, trooper". He assured her.
"Okay, sir". Nelly said back quietly.
"Men on death row – the men who've committed awful crimes and are sentenced to death. Well, before their execution, they get to eat whatever they want". He said, "Their last meal. Because even those who have committed terrible things, they still deserve to eat". Winters sent her a soft smile. "You've not done anything bad, that should stop you from taking care of yourself, kiddo".
With a faint nod, Nelly picked up her slice of toast.
And ate the whole two slices.
Minus the crumbs.