She knew about them. Perhaps she didn't know as much as others, but she knew enough. She knew they existed, and to her great misfortune, she knew what they were capable of. However, she wasn't one of them. She never was and never will be. This knowledge was beat into her mind when she was young, too young. Although the years have passed and she is no longer "too young", the lessons learned left marks that never seem to fade.
The marks continue to remind her of who she is and her place in this world. She was dirt. Not low enough to go unnoticed, but certainly low enough to be walked on. Her purpose, she had learned, was to stay out of the way of her superiors and serve them whenever they demanded. She was born into this twisted world. A twisted world, she had been taught, that did not belong to her or her kind.
She told no one of what she knew. Why would she? They wouldn't believe her. Even to her the topic seemed to be just a fantasy, a dream, and a bad one at that. Another world? What a joke. How can there be a secret world? There can't. Oh how she wished she could believe that, but she couldn't. She knew too much to think it wasn't real.
She wanted to tell. Her nights were constantly restless, and telling someone could ease her pain. It could also bring her more. Fear circled around her like a vulture waiting for Lady Death's visit. It was always watching. There were a few times when that devilish creature seemed to have disappeared. There were a few times when she could've told. Did she? No, she kept quiet. Fear is very powerful, and Fear can make even the strongest of warriors, weak.
"Annabelle! Oi! Annabelle!" Annabelle turned around to see a rather excited looking blonde running towards her.
"Hey Tara! I thought you said you were going to meet me back at the house!"
"I did," Tara stated coming to a stop beside Annabelle, "but I've changed me mind. I've got great news!"
"Oh boy. What now?" Annabelle gave her friend a worried look and took a step away from her.
"Oh don't be silly! It's not something to worry about! I've got a surprise for you!" Tara had a big grin on her face that couldn't help but show how proud she was of herself. Annabelle, however, was not convinced.
"Another one! No! Not again! No offense Tara but your surprises aren't exactly enjoyable."
"What are you talking about? Of course they are!" Tara put her shopping bag filled hands on her hips.
"You call getting a bucket full of steak sauce dumped onto your head, on your birthday enjoyable?"
"I told you Annabelle. It was an accident. I put the confetti in a bucket identical to the one mum put the steak sauce in for the steak dinner."
"What, you couldn't tell the weight difference when you were hanging the bucket above the door?" Annabelle smiled.
"Well I just thought I put a whole lot of confetti in it!" Tara started to laugh. "You should've seen your face when we opened the door!"
"Not funny." Annabelle shook her head but smiled anyway.
"I'm sorry. Anyway, you're going to love this surprise! We have to get something for it though." Tara looked in the window of every passing store. She finally found one she thought was suitable. "Come on Annie." Tara grabbed a nervous Annabelle by the wrist and pulled her into the store.
"What are we doing here?"
"Shopping of course." Tara made her way over to a rack of skirts while Annabelle stared at an interesting piece of clothing, if you could call it clothing, displayed by the door. It seemed to be a maroon bikini top with enough coverage for a seven year-old, with silver strings hanging just bellow the breast line. Annabelle was just wondering why, or better yet how, you could where such a thing when Tara came running towards her, once again, with an excited look on her face.
"What do you think?" She held up a faded and frayed blue jean skirt that appeared to stop mid-thigh. "I still have to find the perfect top."
"I think it'll look good on you."
"On me? No, no pet. This is for you," she said giving Annabelle a mischievous grin and holding out the skirt for Annabelle to take.
"Me? Ha! No," Annabelle held up her hands, shook her head, and backed away from the brazen miniskirt.
"Yes. Yes. You are going to try it on and you're going to love it," Tara hung the hanger on Annabelle's outstretched arm. With groans of protest, Annabelle was pushed into the nearest changing room, with the ostentatious skirt.
"So what do you think?" rang Tara's voice through the changing room door. Annabelle looked at herself several times in the mirror. Front view, side view, back view, other side view, and front view. She turned around and slowly bent over, just to see how much the skirt would actually show. "Well? What, did you die in there?" came Tara's voice growing steadily impatient.
"I suppose I could wear it, just as long as I don't drop my keys," Annabelle sighed in defeat.
"I knew it! I knew you'd like it!" You could hear Tara jump up and down, clapping with glee. Annabelle never wore anything that showed skin, and Tara was determined to break her of that "horrid" habit.
"Here, try this on with it." Tara handed a slinky black top over the door.
"What's wrong with the shirt I have on?"
"Are you joking? It's a stupid T-shirt!"
Taking off her shirt, Annabelle snatched the top. She didn't like that Tara thought she needed a clothing makeover. Annabelle was perfectly happy with her "stupid T-shirts". She slid the top over her head and faced the mirror. As much as she hated to admit it, she looked better in what Tara had picked out for her than in anything else that hung in her closet at home. She turned and looked at both sides. This definitely showed off her hourglass figure. She turned to look at her back. What she saw made her snatch off the top as if it were on fire.
"I can't wear this," Annabelle sputtered out as she threw the top over to Tara.
"What? Why not?"
"It's-uh-it's really itchy."
"Annabelle, it's silk."
"I just don't like it ok?" Annabelle retorted, almost too harshly.
"Alright. Don't get your knickers in a twist. I'll go find another one."
When Tara's footsteps finally faded Annabelle couldn't help but laugh at her stupidity. Did she actually think she'd forgotten? Did she actually think that the nice top would magically make it all disappear? That, one day she'd just wake up and it would have all been a dream? Did she actually even try to think that? Annabelle banged her head against the wall in frustration.
"What was that?" Tara had returned with a much less revealing top.
"What? Oh. I tripped."
"And you call me the klutzy one? Anyways, here you are, Anne. I think you'll like this one."
Another slinky top was tossed over to Annabelle, only this time it was dark brown and definitely covered more skin. It had a v-neck, and the sleeves had slits in the edges with little gold buckles on the shoulders. Annabelle's favorite touch to the shirt was the laced sides that gave you the ability to control how much skin was exposed. She threw it on, and looked in the mirror. The skirt showed off the shape of her hips nicely, and brought out the deep blue of her eyes. The top accented her chocolate brown hair, and Annabelle thought she looked stunning. She didn't care if Tara was going to like it or not. She was buying it.
"Oh and check out these." Tara flung a pair of dark brown boots, which reached just below the knee, over the door. "Don't you love me?"
"Miss Everlynd are we getting a bit cocky with our self?" Annabelle chirped.
"You know you love me. Don't the boots make the outfit look absolutely smashing? Cody is going to drool all over you."
Annabelle swung open the door and gave her best friend a piercing stare. "Tara you didn'tâ"
"I got us two very hot dates from the states! Can you believe it? We are going out to a club tonight." Tara stood proudly waiting for a thank you, but it never came. Instead Annabelle stomped right past Tara groaning.
"What?" Tara jogged after her friend.
"You how I am with guys. I'm not going through with this. No."
"Annabelle! You have to!"
"No! No I don't!"
"Please? I already told Jeff and Cody our address, and they're coming at eight."
"What? You gave out our address! Tara! We don't know these people! They â they could be rapists. Maybe they're escaped convicts!"
"Annabelle, what is it with you and your fear of dating?"
"I'm not afraid of dating! I'm just afraid of guys I don't know!"
"Why?"
Annabelle was shocked at Tara's blunt and sudden question. Why? She can't tell her why.
"I â I â I don't know," Annabelle finally managed to say while looking at her hands.
"So are you coming?" Tara clasped her hands together and made the best puppy-dog-face she could muster. Annabelle, seeing no other way to get out of this without telling Tara the truth, agreed.
Oh how she wished she wouldn't have.
