Chapter 8: To Wake up in Hell
The Horseman held the young woman close to his body as the two rode deep into the Western Woods.
Charlotte, who sat awkwardly in the sidesaddle position in the front, dug her nails into the arm that ensnared her waist in hopes that the Horseman would ease up on his hold. But it was to no prevail.
The man didn't even flinch.
Trees flew by looking like mere shadows, and all poor Charlotte could do was watch helplessly...silently, as she awaited her fate at the Horseman's hands. Was she going die tonight? Her life seemingly began flashing before her eyes-so caught up in her thoughts, the young woman hardly noticed when the horse she sat upon slowed its pace to a trot.
Pulling back on the reins, the Horseman brought his black steed to a complete halt.
Shaken from her thoughts, Charlotte quickly looked around and instantly recognized the location that the Horseman had brought her to. The infamous Tree of the Dead- the place where this whole nightmare had started. And now it once again stood tall right in front of their eyes.
Without a doubt, he must have brought her here to kill her, Charlotte presumed while nervously closing her eyes in a silent prayer.
"If death is to come...let it be swift." She pleaded softly inside her mind.
All at once the horse jerked forward, taking off again at great speed. When Charlotte's lavender eyes reopened to settle on that damned tree, she noticed with even greater fear that its roots were opening up- revealing the dark entranceway to God-knows-where. And they were headed right to it!
Before Charlotte could scream, the horse leapt into the air.
At that moment, all time seemed to slow as the young woman watched with fearful eyes as the dark abyss swallowed the horse, its rider and herself whole. Charlotte made the mistake of drawing in a sharp breath before darkness completely engulfed her and a foul, putrid smell of death filled her nostrils.
It was stomach-churning.
The next thing Charlotte knew, she fainted right in the Horseman's arms…
Charlotte didn't know how long she was out... but when she awoke at last she found herself lying on a dark, plush carpet before a warm fire.
Shooting up from her position on the floor, the young woman's head turned wildly this way and that as she attempted to figure out where she was. Her frantic eyes searched about the room and it dawned on her that she honestly had no idea where she was.
The space was shadowy and dark and the only piece of furniture that was in it was an empty, black velvet armchair sitting just a few feet away from the fireplace where Charlotte herself sat.
Surely this was not hell, right? It couldn't possibly be.
Untangling her legs from her skirts, Charlotte slowly rose to her feet, "Where am I?" she asked out loud as she once again looked around the room.
Something out of the corner of her eye moved, catching her attention. Charlotte's head snapped in the direction where the movement came before becoming petrified on the spot.
In one of the corners of the room, hiding in the gloom watching her, stood the fearsome Horseman. His pale skin seemed to glow in the dark along with his electrifying blue eyes. His mouth showed no expression along with the rest of his face.
The young woman jumped softly when the sound of his spurred boots echoed across the floor as he stepped forward and slowly made his way over to her. Charlotte watched him close the distance between them in just a few long strides, naturally retreating backwards with every step he took.
Before he got too close, she turned on her heel, quickly moving around the armchair where she proceeded to use it as a barrier, blocking his advance.
The Horseman stopped just on the other side of it. One of his raven eyebrows had risen in response to Charlotte's action.
The young woman glanced away, her eyes traveling to the other far side of the room where she caught sight of a possible exit. She had barely taken a full step in that direction however when the Horseman guessed her plan.
His hand shot out from across the armchair and roughly seized Charlotte by her arm, yanking her around the piece of furniture till to she stood directly before him.
She had yelped in surprise and at the sudden hostility, her other arm lifted up in defense which was then easily caught by the Horseman's other hand.
In one swift movement, the man twisted her arms painfully and applied heavy pressure, forcing Charlotte to fall to her knees with compliance. On the ground, the young woman stared up at the Horseman's towering form with shimmering eyes of fright.
"Are you going to kill me now?" The question was bold but her voice shook softly with fear.
The Horseman smirked, flashing his white, sharpened teeth. "Süßes mädchen, if I had wanted you dead...you would already be so." His voice was rich and pleasantly deep with a slight ruggedness that came from his German accent.
It was a contradiction to his physical appearance, Charlotte thought.
...He actually sounded human. But can he even be called that now?
"Then release me." And she meant that in more than one way.
An amused light came to his eyes, "Why should I?" the Horseman threw back.
A shoulder rose and fell with a shrug, "Why should you keep me here? I am of no value to you." She pointed out.
The Horseman considered her words for a few moments and allowed his eyes to slowly size Charlotte up. Using one of his hands with a surprising gentleness, he let the pads of his long pale, blue-tinted fingers to caress the side of her face. They stroked down her neck at an angle, stopping just when his fingers brushed the top curves of her breasts that peeked out of her neckline with each breath she took.
Appalled, Charlotte gasped and jerked back. How dare the man take such a liberty with her.
The Horseman slowly lowered his hand, "I wouldn't be so sure about that." He answered in his low voice.
Charlotte's eyes widened at the suggestive comment. "Let go!" Her voice was sharper this time as she wrenched about in the man's hold.
The Horseman cocked an amused eyebrow before he finally released Charlotte's arm.
The young woman wasted no time jumping to her feet. Her eyes glared dangerously at the towering man before her. "Despicable bastard!" she spat.
The Horseman through back his raven head and laughed.
Charlotte took a step back, not quite sure of how to respond to his unexpected reaction.
The Horseman fixed his eyes upon Charlotte with great intensity, "Tisk, tisk, such colorful language for a lady such as yourself." He lightly scolded, a small smirk playing across his mouth.
Her eyes narrowed further into slits.
"Now...shall I show you to your room?" he mockingly asked.
The woman's face dropped with confusion while her entire frame tensed up, "My room?" she repeated.
"Of course Süßes Mädchen, you will be staying here for…" the Horseman chuckled, "…quite some time. What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't help you get….." he paused to think of the right word, "…settled in." he finished with a frightening grin.
Charlotte's heart stopped for about a second or so at his words.
"You...you really plan on keeping me here?" Her eyes widened with terror at the thought.
As his answer, the Horseman reached a hand out and grasped Charlotte firmly by her wrist. Spinning about on his heel, he hauled the young woman into step behind him as he stalked out of the room they were just in.
Together, they reached a grand, black marble staircase and swiftly started up the steps. Even though he was dragging behind a resisting young woman, the Horseman carried on with little difficultly.
At the top of the stairs, they entered a long narrow hallway that was torch-lit. About midway down the passageway, the Horseman came to a stop outside a large double-door room. With one hand, he opened the door wide enough just before effortlessly tossing Charlotte inside.
The young woman briefly tripped on her long skirts but quickly caught herself a second later. Turning around, Charlotte watched with dread as the Horseman smirked right at her before closing the door.
The sound of a key being turned in a lock confirmed her dismay.
"No!" She cried as she dashed over and started jangling the door handles- but the deed was done.
Charlotte was locked inside.
Angry and scared, the young woman started beating relentlessly on the door with her fists, "Let me out!" she shouted, "You can't keep me in here!"
Outside the room, she heard the distinctive sound of chuckling followed by the retreating noise of heavy footsteps as they led away from the door.
It was hopeless... she was trapped.
Tears welled themselves in Charlotte's eyes as she slowly collapsed to her knees in despair by door. She wept silently for a few, long minutes before resigning herself to laying down on the cold, unfeeling floor. The young woman closed her eyes, allowing one last tear to slip down her cheek.
A prisoner...Charlotte was the Horseman's prisoner.
"I was wrong…" she thought to herself, "I am in hell…."
Eyes heavy with a sudden exhaustion, Charlotte drifted into a deep, and dreamless sleep.
German Translations:
Süßes Mädchen: Sweet Girl