by Yume
* * *
Back in the carriage, Madam Hernandez peeked out of the window.
“Dirty peasants.” She accused as she saw a bunch of workers working in the mud. “Despicable.”
Madam Hernandez had never liked the idea of crossing the market, for she deemed the place was too dirty to pass through. If it wasn’t for emergency, she wouldn’t have taken this shortcut. Still, her dear friend’s death was a great shock to her. A day before, Prince Eugène was in charge of an execution. A maiden girl was condemned to death by burning. Everyone witnessed as she got tied to the stake and fire began to burn. Prince Eugène was watching the scene all along. So, how did he end up being the one burnt? It all sounded so bizarre.
The carriage eventually stopped at the execution ground. Madam Hernandez gracefully got out and walked towards Detective Carter.
“Madam Hernandez, come and have a look.” Detective Carter said, leading the way.
The cotton sheet was uncovered and lying beneath it was Prince Eugène’s body. His dehydrated skin had turned all black, revealing the bloody flesh. A strong choking smell emitted from his distorted, impaired corpse. His eyeballs had melted, showing the deep and hollow eye sockets. The once pretty face had now been ruined and torn. Madam Hernandez could not help but to cover her mouth with great surprise.
“We found him dead after the execution.” Detective Carter explained. “The girl was the one being tied to the stake, as all the audience could witness. The headsmen were sure during the time of burning, the girl was screaming in the flame.”
“What happened then?”
“It’s strange and scary.” Detective Carter continued. “When the fire is put out, Prince Eugène was nowhere to be seen. The knights were certain a minute ago he was there but the next he was gone. The corpse lying dead on the floor was revealed to be him. And the girl just vanished in a blink of an eye.”
“Non-sense!” Madam Hernandez shouted. “How on earth could that happen? Are you suggesting that a magic is involved here?”
Detective Carter exchanged a glance with some knights and then turned back to face Madam Hernandez.
“Madam, there’s a recent rumor.” He whispered. “It’s heard that a girl who was executed two years ago has come back to life. It’s suspected that the deaths of Earl Beaumont and the maiden Rubia are also linked to this girl. Mrs. Lefebvre claimed she met a dead before she died.”
Madam Hernandez narrowed her eyes and scanned through the platform.
“Who’s this girl mentioned?” She asked.
“Margorie Walker.”
“Margorie?” Madam Hernandez scowled. It was a familiar name. She was sure she heard it before.
Oh yes, she remembered it. Margorie, the peculiar girl in the town, was always despised by many. She had a very attractive sister called Rubia, who married Earl Beaumont. It was then Earl Beaumont reported that the little strange girl practiced witchcraft. Though no real evidence supported so, she was executed. Madam Hernandez was there when the burning happened. There was no way she would ever forget those eyes. The girl did not squeal or cry. She just stared, at the audience that watched her, at Prince Eugène who grinned at her death and…at Madam Hernandez, obviously an accessory.
“You’re not serious, right?” A sudden feeling of horror filled Madam Hernandez’s heart. It all sounded ridiculous that a dead girl could come alive and return to avenge her death on the culprits.
“And there’s one more thing.” Detective Carter said. Two knights brought out a young man from behind. The man was thrown onto the ground.
“Who’s this?” Madam Hernandez asked.
“This is Hanzel Nelson, Margorie’s friend.”
“Hanzel, I have heard your name.” Madam Hernandez said, examining the boy’s beautiful face.
“What’s he got to do with Prince Eugène’s death?”
“He must have talked to Margorie before the execution.” Detective Carter said. “But he refused to tell us the truth.”
“Oh?” Madam Hernandez took a step forward. “Why won’t you say something, Hanzel?”
“I have nothing to say.”
“Liar!” Detective Carter shrieked. A knight immediately smacked Hanzel’s face. Hanzel collapsed to the ground. Blood spew from his wound.
“So, this Margorie girl is really a witch.” Madam Hernandez commented, nodding her head cautiously.
“She’s not a witch!” Hanzel finally opened his mouth. “She’s innocent! You people are devils! You killed her! She’s come back for your lives! You all deserve it! You’re the next, Madam Hernandez! She’s probably somewhere around you right now, so close that you can’t even realize that!”
“What?” All at once, a thought emerged in Madam Hernandez’s mind. Someone close to me…
Instantly, she jumped down from the platform and got into the carriage.
“Carter,” Madam Hernandez ordered through the window. “Lock this boy up and wait for me.”
“Yes, madam.” Detective Carter. “But…” Before he could ask whereabouts she was going, the carriage moved away.