The cake finished baking and its smell filled the kitchen as soon as Father Pritchard arrived. He came in with a happy air about him, smiling and laughing as he greeted the other two guests, my dear friends Adrianna and Jack.

Adrianna was fair skinned, relatively tall, and elegant looking. Her eyes were an emerald green and her hair red as fire. A green pendant hung around her neck that was accented by her red dress. I had met her long ago, when I first moved to England. Jack was very tall and muscular, his eyes were a crystal blue and his hair jet black as the night sky. He wore a nice blue dress shirt and black pants. He had been good friends with my husband growing up. I did not realize that they still kept in touch but he had always been a gentleman to me so I saw no harm in inviting him to come. Father Pritchard wore his nicest robes, much different from the attire he had been wearing earlier.

As I seated the guests at my kitchen table, I heard a small murmur coming from the attic...

Nicole...

I went to the base of the stairs after seating the plates on the kitchen table to call for Nicole.

"Nicole? Come down sweetheart!" I called, waiting for a few moments before climbing the stairs.

As I approached the top of the stairs, I heard a sad melody drift under the door.

"Nicole?" I called softly, "I know you are nervous, but it is your birthday. sighs No one will hurt you... I promise."

As I said this, I heard a soft patter across the floor; she walked as if she were a ghost. Not a sound was made as she opened the door, clung to my dress, and walked with me down the stairs. As we entered the kitchen, all eyes were on Nicole, her ruby-red eyes glittered with fear in the candle light. Her snow-white hands clung tightly to my dress as Father Pritchard's voice boomed,

"Why hello sweetheart, where's your precious little flute?"

His voice startled her and as I turned, I heard a clanging sound as her flute fell to the floor. Fear now flooded her pale face as she immediately picked it up, dusting it off and checking for any damage...

Just the thing I would have done...

"Oh I'm sorry." The preacher said in a much softer tone.

Adrianna caught Nicole's eye and she dashed over to her seat.

"What a beautiful pendant." whispered Nicole.

"You like it? Well I think you will like your present then." Adrianna chirped.

"Present?" inquired Nicole, confusion covered the fear that still lurked in her eyes.

"Yes, a present. You receive them on your birthday sweetheart." I stated, confusion still lingered in her red eyes. "You'll see in a moment."

Nicole's face lit up as she breathed, "Like... Like a surprise?"

"Yes, like a surprise." I said as a smile crept across my face.

Nicole's joy soon ended for when she saw Jack sitting on the other side of the room, her eyes filled with apprehension. I could hear her heart pounding and her breath quicken and shorten as he boomed,

"Hello Nicole. It has been quite awhile. I brought you a present."

I saw a glint of a small object and before I realized what it was Nicole's eyes exploded in utter terror. She froze with fear as he stood and walked towards her that's when she cried,

"NO!!!!" and fled from the kitchen, dashing up the stairs and falling into her room.

I heard the thud of her light body as she fell to the ground. I could hear her soft sobs as she shut the door, locking it behind her, and yet I could not move to help her for someone had grabbed me and locked their arm tightly around my neck. The world began to blacken as I struggled to free myself. Reality slowly faded as I bit my attackers arm and drew blood. I fell to my knees gasping for breath as he cried out in pain and stumbled into the hot stove. I heard his shouts of agony as he fell on a pot of boiling water. As I regain my vision which had been blurred by lack of air I saw my attacker.

Jack?

He stumbled as Adrianna grabbed a pot and hit him square in the gut. Father Pritchard grabbed him then and pinned him on the ground. That's when I noticed a small blood trail from the kitchen to the stairs and a small pool of blood beneath me.

I saw that Father Pritchard was now tying Jack up and screaming, "WHY?! WHY?!" as Adrianna rushed to my side.

"What happened?" I asked as I felt suddenly light headed.

"He shot you." Adrianna cried, tears streaming down her face, "Did you not hear it?"

"No. Where's Nicole?" I said, wincing as Adrianna began to apply pressure on my wounds with a cloth.

"She... she was hit as well. Not as badly I hope." Adrianna said as her voice began to waver.

"Go to her! I'll be fine... Oh! Please... Go to her!" I cried as the world began to darken.

"But your wounds..." she began..

"ADRIANNA!!" I cried, gently taking her shaking hands off the cloth.

"Don't let her die." I whispered as she left my side and raced up the stairs and I began to hold the pressure on my wounds. The agony was so unbearable that I feared of loosing consciousness. I tried to stay awake as long as possible but soon I could not fight it.

The last thing I remember is hearing Father Pritchard's voice as he said, "He is tied up... I will tend to your wounds."

The last words I spoke before I truly passed out were, "Save my Daughter... Save Nicole..."

Then the world was gone and the only thing that was left was the horrid cries out my daughter and jack's horrid face. The look was so familiar as if... God no... He couldn't be... Did my husband use him to try and kill us? I awoke with a start in my bed, the fire low and the candles dim. I tried to get out of bed, but was met with pain. That's when I heard it...

That sound...