Alright guys, here's the fourth chapter, and let me tell y'all something...it goes into Ana's past to why she's in France, not completely for that won't happen until in later chapters, but she tells part of her tale. Tell me what you think, aka R&R! Thanks!
Chapter 4
He had made sure she would see the note. It was needed to know that somehow she could trust him, that was until a certain point. He watched her through the large mirror as she gazed around then muttered, "Whoever you are, you won't scare me! I don't believe in such things as ghosts or phantoms for that matter!" and then she left her room. He smiled slyly knowing that she went to fetch the stuff that he had asked for. And no sooner had she left, then she was back with candlesticks, matches, and a bottle of wine. Thinking that she had left again and that it was safe to come out of hiding, he hit the spring mechanism that opened the mirror. Stepping through, he walked over to the bed. Grabbing the stuff he noticed that a figure was standing behind the changing screen. Damnation! He knew he felt another presence in this room, so leaving as silently as he arrived, he stood on the opposite mirror as he watched a scared Ana appear from behind the dressing screen clad in a dressing gown and welding a ballet slipper. He smirked and watched as she checked the lock.
Ana was now nervous, the lock was locked and no one else had the key to her room except Mme. Giry, and she wouldn't come in here. Then her eyes glanced over to the bed where the candlesticks, matches, and wine had sat. But no more, someone had taken them. Now, this was really odd, someone had come into her room, for she was sure she heard something click and now the stuff that she had gotten for the practical joker, was gone. Well, it wasn't her fault, she would not be the blunt end for the joke. Picking up the letter, she stuffed it into her pocket and decided that she would go show it to Mme. Giry and ask her who would play such a cruel joke. Just as she placed her hand on the doorknob, there came a knock. Ana quickly unlocked the door and cracked it open. Standing in the hallway was Meg, with a picnic basket in her hand.
"I was thinking that since it is such a nice night out, we could have dinner on the roof, I do it occasionally, but I don't think you've ever been up there. It's really beautiful, and there's supposed to be a meteor shower tonight." Meg said hastily.
"Sure, come on in. I've gotta quickly change first." Ana said stepping behind the screen and changing into a black skirt with a pale peach blouse. The two left Ana's room arm in arm and the figure behind the mirror looked thoughtful before heading towards the top of the Opera house.
The stars twinkled and shone above the sky. Each one like a diamond that someone had hand selected to place there to shine their beauty into the sky. Ana and Meg sat on the blanket, each one wrapped in a wool shawl for it was somewhat cold outside. Spread before them was roasted chicken, bread, cheese, some wine, water, and a few grapes. They ate in silence just staring out at the beautiful scenery of Paris that lay spread before them. When both had had their fill, Meg turned to Ana.
"Ana, my mama told me not to ask you any personal questions, but this particular question has been eating me up inside. Would you mind if I ask you?"
Ana smiled at her friend. She felt like she could tell Meg anything and everything. Everything except the horrible thing she had gone through four months prior to her arrival in France. "I would not mind if you asked me."
Meg instantly drew closer to her friend, "Where are your parents? When you came to the opera house, everyone assumed you were Marishka's daughter that no one had heard about." Ana knew, just somehow knew deep in her bones, that Meg would ask her this question. It seemed to be on everyone's mind about where this beautiful young girl had come from. No one really knew about her past because Ana kept it as quiet as she could. It was something that she didn't want to share with the whole world. If the people in America didn't believe her horrible tale then who was to say that those in France wouldn't believe her as well?
Ana took a deep breath and decided to tell certain parts of her horrible past to Meg. "Will promise you won't breathe a soul to anyone about me? For what I am about to tell you, I'm afraid you won't believe me in most parts, that I'm making it up but it doesn't bother me anymore."
Meg nodded, only to shocked to believe what her friend might tell her. Ana gave a faint smile and then began her tale. "The reason no one has heard of me or my parents before is because when I was a little baby, just two years old, my parents decided to move to America. They thought they could have a better life there. So we moved to a city called New York City. There, I was raised as an American. From an early age, both my parents insisted that I talk in French whenever I was around them. But when I was with my friends, I was allowed to speak English. I was put in a private girls school where I was taught music, embroidery, dance and various other things. I had no need to learn another language for I spoke perfect French. My mother put me into a ballet school and I soon became one of the best dancers there. Both my parents were proud of me, my mother especially since it was one of her goals for me to become a ballet dancer, something that she was denied as a child. Then, my parents began to talk of finding the perfect husband for me, one that could support me well and care for me. That was when I was at the tender age of fifteen. Then my dad brought home for dinner a man, his wife, and their son. Mr. John McKinley, Mrs.. Carol McKinley, and Alex McKinley. They were a well known, well-respected, and a very rich family. Unfortunately my mom thought it would be nice to catch a play with them and they both decided that they should leave the two of us at the house with only our servants to watch out for us. That night, as I lay half asleep waiting patiently for my parents to return home, Alex came into my room and..he raped me. It was horrible, he had brought some rope to tie my wrists to the bedposts. He also put a rag into my mouth to silence my screams. Then, he pulled my legs apart groping my body and raped me cruelly. When he was done, he untied me, took the gag out of my mouth and fled back to his room. When my parents returned home, I told them my tale of how he came and raped me. Only he twisted whatever I said, he told them that I had come and seduced him. He claimed that he began to fight me off, and the scratches on his face was from me, trying to pin him down. Finally, I had beaten him and he spilled his seed into me by accident. Of course, the McKinley's claimed that I had better marry their son. So I did, I really had no choice. My parents were sadden by the fact that I had to marry so young. And they really didn't believe Alex's story. So we were married, me at 15 and he at 17. Then, well, then the secrets begun. I had a deep dark secret that I would not tell him and eventually he found out. He found out about my other love and passion. And for that, he...he killed my parents. He said that I gave someone else my love, and so in return, he took my only love away from me. Of course, that isn't to say that he'd beat me until I was rendered unconscious and then rape me brutally. Only, he claimed that it wasn't rape since he used cream on me. But in the eyes of the society, after my parents death, I just mysteriously disappeared, leaving my husband back in America and coming here. Now Alex is trying to find me, saying that we had a lover's spat and that he wanted me to come back. But that is all I can tell you without...without..." Ana began to choke on her tears. She glanced at Meg who had her own silent tears falling down her face. The two embraced each other, until the tears had stopped.
"I am so sorry to hear that Ana. But do not worry, we won't let Alex take you away from us. Now, we better get back inside before we catch our death out here." Meg packed up the remnants of their dinner. She walked towards the door then turned around. "Ana, are you coming?"
"I'll be done in a little bit. I just want to clear my head that's all." Ana gave a weak smile then turned around to face the city that was before her. She thought of her parents, how they'd be proud of her for being able to accomplish her goals. She sighed wistfully and wondered if Alex would get the idea of coming to France. He knew that she had relatives here, no doubt he would try to track her down in France then drag her back to New York. Turning around, she started to walk towards the door, when a huge rat scampered out in front of her. Seeing the overgrown rodent scared her and she jumped back and struck her head against the statue that was behind her. Blackness and pain enveloped her as she crumpled to the ground with no one to see her except the rat and the man in the shadows.
