3/8/10

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ROSE RED, ITS CONCEPT, ITS IDEAS, IT LOGOS, NOR ITS CHARACTERS. THEY BELONG TO STEPHEN KING. THANK YOU.

....

Perhaps tomorrow would be a better day. Perhaps tomorrow would be bright and shining and pretty. And perhaps I wouldn't die in the process of getting there.

After Steve's thoughts towards me, I had left the Parlor in a hurry. I didn't want anything to do with the group. Especially not Joyce. But now I was lost somewhere on the second floor ... I paused to glance over the railing that had appeared at the end of the hall. The grounds below were engulfed in black. I felt my heart leap from my chest. Opposite of my railing was another, leading around towards me. I could see the floors. One, two, three, four ... The fifth floor? All right, I was lost on the fifth floor, at least as far as I could see, and had no idea where I was. I turned and ran back down the hallway, trying to get back to the first floor.

I didn't care if I had to talk to Joyce or anyone, I just wanted back. I let out a sigh as I saw that I was back at the railing. Strange thing was, I had walked straight and there was no way to go in a circle. I hated this house. I did. I really, really did. But not as much as I hated Ellen. She was controlling it. Or so it appeared to me. Maybe I could just ... jump ... from the railings and land on the first floor. I mean, after all, this was just an illusion right?

I ran to the bar as fast as I could, ready to propel myself over and plummet to the ground, only to stop suddenly. I skidded forward, keeping my feet out to stop myself. I came to rest just short of over the rail, my hands pressed against the cold wood. Why had I stopped? Maybe this was a dream ... I could pinch myself ... But seeing how the odds were against me, and I would pinch myself pretty hard, I decided against it.

So I asked myself again, why did I stop? Before I could wonder, I heard the heavy panting of someone. A chill ran up my neck, causing me to shudder. What was that? Certainly no one in the group. I glanced towards the right, seeing the tall pillars disappearing into the black. This was like a deck on a cruise ship. The red carpet was stretched out across the ground, a large oval in the center of the ground, railed in, to peer down on the other floors. The huge columns rose up to support the ceiling above, their paint chipped and old. I shuddered again as I felt something approach. I couldn't see anything. All I heard was the breathing.

"H-Hello?" I called out. There was no answer, but the sound grew louder. I got the feeling that the person was coming from behind me. I turned my head slowly, fearing that I would see a ghost come charging at me and shove me over the wood and to my death. But, in fact, I saw nothing. However, the creepy feeling did not subside. The panting grew harder and I heard them mutter something. It was like they were trying to breath and it was hard for them.

"Hello?" I said again, this time louder. In return there came a soft grunt and then a grumble in a foreign language. One person stuck in my mind. " ... S-Sukeena?"

I heard a high shriek that turned into a deep chanting. I swallowed, my head spinning. I felt almost sick, like I was at a high altitude. I blinked and shook my head, trying to clear myself of this feeling. If it was Sukeena, then I needed to be on alert. She was the one that communicated with Rose Red. The one that found the portals and convinced Ellen that the house was alive. She was also the one that warned Mrs. Rimbauer about the dangers of the house, and to leave. But she didn't, and soon after that April had vanished.

The African woman was also against Madame Stravinski and her glass globe that supposedly connected her to the "other side". But the Lady would not listen to her, and was promised an everlasting life. Now she haunted the house, angry and upset. It was like her angst as a child had bloomed into pure hatred that seeped into the very wooden walls of this house, and dripped into the foundation, cursing it for all the time it stood.

"Sukeena?" I asked again, "Is that you ... ?" It seemed almost silly to call out to a ghost, but what was I supposed to do? There came another shriek, but this time louder. I covered my ears and gasped. I could still hear it. Though I shouted back and tried my best to block out the noise, it somehow found it's way into my ears. I felt almost deaf as the woman screamed, her voice high. I fell to my knees, letting out a sound. I wanted this to stop. Perhaps if Annie could scream, then I could ....

"BAD!" I screamed out, throwing my hands from my ears, "YOU SHUT UP!"

In a rush, the sounds stopped. I was left there on my legs, panting. I inhaled deeply, my chest expanding, and stared out into the black area of the room. I swallowed hard, my ears ringing. That had worked? Surely not. This was insane! It was crazy. Impossible. There were no ghosts and there were no --

"You scream at Sukeena, ma'am," came an accented voice. I jumped and turned, staring in horror behind me. There stood a dark woman, her hands clasped against her chest. She walked slowly, her feet peeking out from the hem of her long dress. I noticed her large brown eyes staring back at me; they almost appeared stuck in an emotion that she had been scared. A red bandana on her head hid her hair, tucked behind her ears. "Are you mad at Sukeena?"

I stared in silence. Mad? Why was I mad? Angry, yes. At Joyce, though. For making us come here. But the ghost that had killed some visitors? No. Never.

"Ma'am?" came the voice. I looked up at her. She smiled softly, "Yous funny, ma'am."

"What?"

"Yous Miss Waterman?"

"Y-Yes .... ?"

"Miss Ellen is expecting you."

I stiffened. "What?"

"Yes. Miss Ellen is waiting for you ... in the Tower."

"T-Tower?"

"Yes. Come this way," she turned and began to walk off. Should I follow her? I didn't get the chance to wonder as she turned to me and stared. "Come this way," she repeated.

I stood up slowly. My legs felt like a mixture of jell-o and marshmallow puff. I slowly walked after her, wary of the railing she could push me over. Was this a trick? Was she leading me to my death? I mean, I'd die eventually. But I'd rather live for at leat the next, say, fifteen years. Why was I following her anyway? I wasn't sure.

As we walked, she began to talk in her British-esque accent.

"Oh, yes, Miss Ellen has been expecting you for quite some time ... she real nice. She wonder if you stay." Sukeena turned her wide eyes to me, which made me jump. She was a bit creepy, though pretty. She looked as alive as I did. Actually, probably more alive. I was so scared, I felt pale and most likely looked like a ghost myself. I swallowed and shook my head, then quickly nodded.

"Y-Yeah. I mean, I believe .. we are ... s-staying for a couple of days .. Miss Sukeena."

She laughed loudly, "You no call me 'miss'. That only for Miss Ellen and her friends."

Friends?

She smiled at me as I glanced over. "You 'fraid, Miss Waterman?"

"N-No. Why?"

"You pale, like a sheet. You see a ghost, Miss Waterman?"

"N-No ... y-you don't have to call me 'Miss Waterman' .... Sukeena."

The woman smiled. "It all right, den, if I call you Miss Emily?"

" ... yes ... ?"

She nodded before turning her head forward. We walked for a while in the dark before coming down a hallway. It looked like every other hall, except it was quite short. Sukeena had to bend over and walk almost sideways until she came to one wall. She pressed her wide palm against the panel, which shifted and moved to the side. She stepped inside. I stood in silence, feeling my heart beat rapidly. Where were we going? Was this the way to the Tower? To Ellen?

Sukeena's dark face appeared, "Come on," she said, "this way, Miss Emily."

I stepped forward, ducking my head into the space. I looked up and stood to see that the panel had led into the wall. A narrow path that went both left and right. As I stepped to the left, the wall shut behind me and clicked. I shuddered, feeling dust brush along my face.

"This way, Miss Emily!" Sukeena's voice echoed down towards me. I stood with my back to the wall that led out to the hall and walked sideways, following her footsteps until there was a break. We stepped up onto three stairs that curved and led to another slim passage. We walked along this until Sukeena stopped suddenly. I stopped as well, staring at her. She knocked her fist along the wall until the noise that came back was hollow. She pressed against the panel until it moved and light filtered in. She stepped in and I walked down, following her into the room.

I looked around the dusty area to see a door near the middle of the room. I stepped forward, following Sukeena towards the door. I had a feeling I knew where we were, as boxes and crates filled the space. The attic. Sukeena pulled open the door and stepped up onto the first crude stair. It creaked under the sudden weight. The uneven planks shifted as she walked up. Each of the stairs' unevenness slowly diminished as the stairs ascended. I followed her, leaving the door open.

We climbed the stairs which curved around three times before coming to a stop before a door. Sukeena pushed the door open and stepped inside, motioning for me to follow. I inhaled deeply, and walked up the final steps into the room. I looked around the chilled area to see that moonlight peered in through the large windows. The floor hadn't been swept and cobwebs drifted to the ground from corners. I glanced around. I didn't see anyone there ...

"Miss Ellen," came Sukeena's voice from behind me, making me jump again, "Miss Waterman is here to see you."

"Good, bring her in." The voice was soft and loving. Sukeena pushed me forward with her fingertips, shoving me over towards the large stained glass window. Light poured through the colored glass, making the area appear red, yellow, orange and blue. The large rose in the center of the window glowed.

I glanced back at Sukeena whom nodded. I stepped forward onto the creaky planks. I still didn't see anything .... One more step forward and in an instant I heard the soft humming of a young girl. I looked over towards the rocking chair near the windows on my right to see it move back and forth. A woman sat in it, her black hair in a tight bun atop her head. Her long, white gown draped over the edge of the chair to the ground. As she rocked, she held something in her hand. Slowly, the item appeared. The golden threads began to shimmer in the moonlight, growing longer and connecting with a pale circle that formed to an oval. All of the features appeared, one at a time.

Finally it was finished. Ellen sat in her chair, rocking, as she brushed her daughter's hair into pig tails. April stood patiently, holding her rag doll with her good arm, humming a song. Her bright eyes turned to me and she smiled softly, shyly. Once finished, Ellen tapped April's back and the girl ran off past me, towards the dollhouse set up in the corner of the room, near the doorway.

Ellen smiled at me, her eyes bright and shining. "Miss Waterman, please, come. Sit." Another chair materialized across from hers. I hesitated before taking my place in the white wicker chair. "I have been expecting you -- tea?"

I shook my head, looking over to see Sukeena bend down with a silver tray holding teacups. "N-No, thank you ... "

"Very well then." The woman waved her hand and her maid disappeared behind me. I sat in silence with my hands in my lap.

"I-Is there any reason you have .. requested my presence ....?" I asked in a shaky voice. She smiled, her teeth straight and white.

"Why .. I thought you knew?"

I shook my head, "No, ma'am."

She grinned, "You are with that group exploring my grand house, are you not?"

"Y-Yes," I replied nervously. Was she going to grow into an angry vampire and attack me? But to my surprise, and relief, she just chuckled softly.

"Well, that explains it then!"

"It does?"

"Yes. If you are with them, then you can help me."

"I can?"

"Yes, of course." She stood, her dress settling neatly across her figure. I stood as well, slowly. She walked over to me, smiling still. Ellen raised her hand and brushed a strand of hair out of my face. I stared at her in silence. "Dear girl ... you are much like a daughter .. a sister, perhaps, to April ... you can play games with her ... you can sing her songs ... "

What was she planning to do? Keep me as her slave?

"I will give you life," she said softly, "Life forever ... just as I have had .. I received it from Rose Red, and now I will give it to you ... You will live forever with April and Sukeena and I .... "

I stared quietly as she smiled back. She appeared to be laughing on the inside. " ... all you have to do is ... " She leaned in close to my ear, as if it were all some big secret. But I had the feeling Sukeena knew what she was about to say. I stared blankly at the window behind the woman, listening to her request, half wanting to fulfill it, half wanting to run away and ignore her.

" ... bring me Pamela Asbury ... "