Chapter Text
It was 1:05 when Mrs. Melberry told me about the couple that was interested in me and wanted to see me. Most kids would be over the moon about this and maybe I should be too, but I got a good look at these guys the other day and they were these baptist church folks. They had brown permed hair, rosy faces and they were covered in pastels. And they kept smiling, like how did their cheeks not hurt! I've seen their type before back when I lived in New York, New York state not the city. They only seemed to adopt kids so they can look good to their church friend and get praised by strangers for "Doing the lords work!" on the street. Stringing them around every Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas potluck. I've also heard they find certain types of music sinful, by certain types I mean the cool types. Like rock, metal, blues and sometimes folk, which was my favorite. It all sounded like bad news to me. I couldn't imagine myself without my guitar or my band tee's, but I was also reaching that age when adults stop being interested in you and start reaching for the younger lot. "Ugh" I kicked the rocks beneath me near the meadow. I needed a second opinion, someone reliable and reasonable. Oh I know Cash! Cash was a short boy for his age but he could carry more than half of the older kids. A sensitive soul that boy was, you could see it in his river blue eyes. I thought I might call him over but he's playing ball with Mae and Tony, but he wouldn't mind right?
"Cash! Can you come over for a sec!" I hollered across the field, akin to a newborn goat.
"Uh..sure!" He yelled back.
He came running with the ball he was previously playing with. His blonde hair was all over the place and wet like he was playing with a hose. He huffed and puffed, his hands on his knees. He then politely asked "What, did ya need...?" trying to shrug off his exhaustion. "Um, sorry I made you run all this way, but I wanted to ask you something.." I said like a baby mouse. "And that is?" He asked sarcastically, which I didn't really appreciate. I took a breath in and let it all out.
"Mrs. Melberry said a couple was interested in me but they're like really Christian and I mean really Christian, and everyone know's that Christian's are either the nicest or meanest people and frankly I don't wanna take any chances again!" I blurted. "Well it's probably not as bad as you think; maybe they're nice?" he said confidently. "But what if they're not?" I wondered to him. "Well it seems you already made up your mind about this." He answered coldly. "Well no, not really." I coldly said back. I took a pick of dandelions for me to eat and blankly looked at the sky
"Well you probably shouldn't think too hard about it." He said looking down, then he looked up. "If you even do that!" He teased with a grin, chucking his stupid ball at my face.
"BOW!!"
"Cash! What the hell !" I yelled. Well this conversation is over and I'm about to beat his a-
"Children, time for lunch!" Mrs. Melberry called from the house, donning her usual purple floral gown.
"You got lucky this time but I will get you!" I warned while pulling at his freckled ear. "Ow...I'll be forward to it!" he teased. "Eugh! You're such a weirdo!" I cringed. Did I mention that Cash can odd from time to time, but I never know if he's doing it to piss me off or he's just genuinely like that...
I took a head start towards the door, I was starving. Mrs. Melberry stood by the door yelling things like "Be careful!" and "Don't shove, you'll trip!". I suddenly stopped and looked back to notice I forgot my guitar!
"Damn" I muttered under my breath while back to get it. I picked my guitar and case off the grass and strung on my back. I began to walk back.
"Hey Lia!" Cash yelled in front of me. "What!" I grumbled back with grit in my teeth. "Beat ya here!" Teased, pointing at himself then at the door. "Ugh, that rat bastard." I muttered under my breath. "Oh Lia dear before you come in can you do something for me?" Mrs. Melberry asked me. I've been out here and when its lunch time now there's a task that needs tending to. "I forgot to get the mail earlier this day and I was hoping you could go grab it for me, can you do that for me dear?" She asked politely. I swallow my annoyance and nod my head in agreement, it is not like I can protest about it anyway. "Oh thank you Lia dear! Such a good girl you are!" She gushed at me. She placed her hand on my head and then ruffled up my good curls a bit before going back inside.
Oh brother, now I have to redo my hair again.
I walked down the grovel road far away from the house. I never liked grabbing the mail, it was always lonely out when I did it and it was long walk there too. We were pretty isolated from the city, wont see it for hours and we were also close to a highway so everyday you can see colorful cars from the city flying by. It scared me sometimes.
I had made my way to the old mailbox, but before I opened it I took note of noise. It was silent click noise, but it was known of my business and I'm hungry. The mail box was old and green, covered in painted flowers. It was a nice mailbox just needed a touch, that's all. I reached in and grabbed the mail. Most were bills, some were letters from the state and the rest were from Mrs. Melberry's family; I forgot she had one of those.
I stuffed them in my pocket and got ready to walk all the way back till I heard the peculiar sound again? It was louder and it was click-clack sound this time! Y'know like a horse, but what would a horse be doing here. We didn't live near any ranches but we did live near a farm. Perhaps it was runaway, but from where? I walked slowly towards the road, the noise getting more rapid. It rang in my ears loudly , like fireworks on the fourth of July.
I stand closer to the road and I see something but not well, it's like a distant dark blob?
"What is that?" I say to myself staring at the dark blob getting closer. "I should move..." I quietly tell myself, but all I can do is stare and watch it get closer
"NEIGH!!"
A black chariot rushes towards me , It looked old like from a totally different era!
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"Ah, my esteemed benefactor..." A mysterious voice in the dark calls
"My proud, beautiful flower of evil."
"You truly are the fairest of them all."
"Oh magic mirror, thy wisdom I entreat..."
"Reveal unto me the visage I seek..."