Soul Snatcher

by annie nadine

  “Annie, it is better…” but she didn’t give him time to finish.

  “Tell me!” She yelled not caring that Garrick was there. Eli became irritated that she was being so defensive of Baden and didn’t think before he spoke.

  “I will tell you where he is,” he said as he took a step closer to her. “He is exactly where he should be, trapped for eternity with Stewart, where he can no longer hurt anyone.” Eli’s voice was filled with loathing. Annie’s eyes widened with his words and she slapped him across the face. His head lashed to the side, not from the force of her hand but from the surprise of it. With his head still turned she closed the small distance between them and spoke.

  “I will be leaving here as of tomorrow and you will never see me again,” she said the words viciously. She turned to walk away but he grabbed her arm and stopped her from moving. She tried to push him away but he gripped her other arm so she couldn’t move.

  “Do not go. You will not be safe,” Eli pleaded seeing that he had caused her reaction. All of this was his fault and he would do anything to change it.

  “I do not care because you are not someone I trust any longer, I am not sure if I ever could. I do not want to be in your life, I want nothing to do with you ever again!” She yelled as she struggled to get away from him.

  “Please, I will release him if you just stay,” Eli bargained. His words were lies but he could not let her leave unprotected. She settled herself and stared up at him through the strands of hair that had fallen onto her face.

  “Will you take me to him?” She asked hopeful to see Baden.

  “No, it is too dangerous. I will have him released then he can go where he pleases.” He disappointed her with his words.

  “How will you have him released?” She doubted his truthfulness.

  “I have heard whispers of ways to free him,” he said using Baden’s words as his lie. Annie looked at him skeptically before she gave in.

  “Very well, do that and there may be a chance that I choose to remain in your life.” And this time she lied. She doubted that she would ever be in Eli’s future because he would never accept her relationship with Baden. Slowly, he let her go and she stepped away from him.

  “Now let us settle for the night,” Eli suggested.

  “I would rather be alone,” Annie said not looking at him. She knew he would protest with the argument of protection so she beat him to it. “No one else knows where I am and as long as I stay within the house no snatcher will be able to harm me. I am completely safe and will not require any guardians tonight.” Before he could respond she walked to the back room and disappeared.

  Eli looked at Garrick who shrugged his shoulders. Eli’s lips tightened in frustration. Seeing no use for it Eli waved Garrick over, indicating they were leaving. They headed out the door and left as requested. Garrick mounted his horse and trotted alongside Eli as he walked.

  “Tell me, are you going to release Baden?” Garrick asked when he thought they were out of earshot.

  “Even if I knew how to, I would not,” Eli said truthfully. “I just need to keep her safe because at the moment she cannot see what is good for her.” Garrick nodded and thought nothing of Eli’s lies.

  Annie had snuck up to the front window when they had started walking away and she heard Eli’s words. She knew he had been lying to her and decided then and there never to trust him again. She decided not to leave just at the moment, she wasn’t stupid. She knew that she wasn’t safe but when Eli had dealt with the dangers in her life, she would leave and never see him again. She also needed to find where Baden was and the only way to find out was from Eli. She had to stay around, at least long enough to do that. Some might say it was using him but he had deceived her. They were no longer friends and now all seemed fair in love and war.

  The day had grown long and Annie had searched the limited books in the house for anything that might point her in the direction of Baden. When she came up short she threw a book across the room and let defeat live in her for just a moment. She refused to cry because if she did, that would mean that she believed there was no way to get Baden freed. But from her own life experiences she knew that there was usually a way for everything, you just had to look in the right places.

  Giving herself a break she walked to the front room to watch the sun set. She enjoyed watching the lovely colours play across the sky as the sun went to bring light to another part of the world. Who knew, maybe Baden was watching the same scene? Wherever he might be.

  Just before night had settled and the sun was winking its last, a figure came walking towards the house. It was hard to see but after Annie’s eyes adjusted she could make out that it was Rosemary. Confused, she ran to the door and swung it open but stopped before she stepped out. She wasn’t meant to leave the house. Suddenly Rosemary stumbled and fell onto the ground clutching her stomach. In the last moment of light Annie could see blood dripping from where Rosemary was holding.

  “Rosemary,” Annie screamed and forgetting everything else she ran to her beloved friend. She was only a small distance away from the house so Annie made it to her in no time. “Rosemary, what has happened?” Annie gasped as she pulled Rosemary’s head into her lap and stroked her hair. There was so much blood, more than Annie had ever seen. Rosemary looked up at her through lifeless, glassy eyes and her skin was deathly white.

  Rosemary lay dead in Annie’s arms. Annie froze from the shock of it and tears fell silently from her eyes. Her body began to tremble as she gently shook Rosemary to try and wake her.

  “Please, Rosemary,” she spoke through sobs to her lost friend. “What happened?” She whispered.

  Before Annie had time to grieve any longer she was grabbed from behind. She was dragged away from Rosemary’s body and violently thrown to the ground. She hit her head against a rock and the pain spread through her quicker than flowing water. She looked around trying to see who was there and before blackness had completely stolen her sight a familiar figure stepped in front of her.

  “Nice to see you again, Annie,” Miss Danes said and then everything went black.

  CHAPTER 38

  Annie woke to find herself locked away in the dry storage room of Miss Danes’ manor. She tried to sit up but when she did her head throbbed. She reached and gently touched the back of her head to find where she hit was still very tender and covered in dried blood.

  “Ah,” she hissed and moved her hand away immediately. Her dress was all dirty from lying on the ground but she didn’t care.

  She looked around the room and saw sunlight filtering in from a small window. That meant she had easily been there all night, maybe longer. There were hessian sacks filled with supplies such as; wheat, sugar and potatoes. Vegetables lined some wooden shelves and she remembered the room well. It was a small room but was large enough to walk around in. The heavy wooden door that was the only exit was always latched from the outside with a long, iron bar that stretched the length of the whole door. So there was no option of escape unless she could fit through a window the size of a watermelon or if she was strong enough to break iron. And she could do neither.

  Annie closed her eyes and tried to push away the pressure in her head. She could not think about Rosemary right now because her head felt like it would explode from the tears. Instead she laid there trying to regulate the pain which was practically impossible. No one knew where she was and she didn’t even know if they knew she was gone. She was at the mercy of Miss Danes and there was nothing she could do about it.

  Eli stood outside calling to Baden early that morning. After a moment Baden opened the door and stood there with his arms crossed.

  “Is she safe?” Baden asked, not bothering for pleasantries.

  “Yes, but I cannot say she is pleased,” Eli said sharply.

  “I wonder if the reason is that you trapped me here or you used her to accomplish it!” Baden said sarcastically.

  “If you were not part of her life then I predict that she and I would be toget
her now,” Eli tormented. “Happily together... sharing a bed.” His eyes narrowed on the last words. Baden dropped his arms to his side and a look of revulsion and hostility erupted on his face. If he hadn’t been restricted he probably would have killed Eli where he stood.

  “Do not fool yourself into believing that she wants you in any other way than a friend,” Baden spat back. “You tell yourself such things because you do not want to face the truth that you cannot have the one you want because she does not want you.” The words cut Eli like Baden had intended them too and it fuelled his retaliation.

  “You are meant to be dead Baden. If nature took its course you would be buried along with our parents, which would be more respectable than what you are.” Eli spoke his feelings bluntly. Baden paused before he spoke again, his anger was boiling beyond control.

  “You say this when I cannot get to you. You are weak and pathetic and as soon as I am free I will kill you with nothing but my bare hands,” Baden threatened. Eli turned and started walking away but Baden wasn’t finished. “Know that I will love her every day of my existence and I will care for her more than you will ever know. And she will love me with all of herself because she already does.”

  The words made Eli pause for a brief moment but he forced himself to keep walking. He didn’t have to be there anymore and listen to Baden’s words…Baden’s hurtful, truthful words. So Eli left without saying anything else.

  Annie was sure at least a whole day had passed since she had been taken. Random people had brought her food and water and she ate when she couldn’t stop herself any longer. There had been no sign of Miss Danes, which was a relief, but what exactly did she have planned for her? Surely someone knew she was missing? Surely someone had checked on her? So Annie sat and waited. What else could she do?

  Time felt long and every minute felt the equivalent of an hour. Annie sat there and thought of Baden every moment and pushed out any pain about Rosemary. She could not let herself feel sadness or she might be overwhelmed with defeat. So she relived every tender moment she ever had with Baden and when she had thought of them all, she relived them again.

  Suddenly the latch on the door was pulled opened and Annie jumped to her feet. She had no idea who it would be. If it was Miss Danes she had no way of defending herself. She moved to the back of the room and leaned against the wall in a braced position, just like Eli had taught her, so if the person wanted to harm her they would have to come at her from the front.

  When Micah came through the door she stood frozen in surprise.

  “Annie,” he said with relief in is voice as he rushed to her. He gathered her into his arms and crushed her in an embrace. “I have been so worried,” he breathed the words on frantic breath. It was too surreal and Annie stood there stiff in his arms. He leaned back and looked to see what her hesitation was.

  “Micah, how did you find me?” She asked, sounding a little ungrateful.

  “When I realised you were missing I searched for you. When I knew you were here I came for you immediately,” he explained. It all sounded so easy when he said it.

  “Where is Miss Danes?” Annie was still too confused with the details to feel relieved.

  “As soon as she was confronted she fled.” Micah said it very simply, as if she should stop questioning him. It all sounded so bizarre to Annie. She looked around the room as if it would make things feel real again and tried to step out of Micah’s arms. He held onto her tightly and kept her close against him.

  “I still do not understand?” Annie insisted. She felt as if it was all an awkward dream and had arrived at the moment where you realise you are dreaming but remain asleep.

  “Annie, when I thought I would never see you again it almost killed me. It has been torture not knowing you were safe,” Micah said, ignoring her words. She looked at him, her brow furrowed in confusion. What was he talking about?

  “I am sorry you felt that way but it was not pleasant sitting in here either,” she said starting to realise Micah tended to think of his own feelings before others. Suddenly his hands were nestling her face in a way that made her feel uncomfortable.

  “Annie I cannot live without you, I cannot do life without you,” he declared and before she could say anything or try to move away he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

  He held her so tight she couldn’t move but her lips remained stiff from anger during the unwanted affection. As soon as he pulled his head back she spat off to the side and pushed hard against his chest to get away from him. He released her as she wiped her mouth and spluttered the kiss away. He stood there without moving, obviously offended by her reaction.

  “Why on earth would you do that?” She asked, allowing all of her annoyance show. “I have told you time and time again that I do not feel that way about you. I am in love with Baden, Micah!” She was so taken by surprise that she almost yelled the words. He stood there glaring at her for a moment and his gaze started to make her a little fearful. He stepped up to her and stood so close that she could feel his breath on her face.

  “You can love a monster like Baden but you cannot love me?” He asked in a tone so deathly it sent a shiver down her spine.

  “Micah, you do not understand,” she argued.

  “I do understand, Annie,” he interrupted and before anything else could be said Micah shoved her into the sacks full of wheat. She stumbled back hard against them but braced herself with her arms as best she could.

  “Micah,” Annie said horrified but he left without another word and locked the door behind him. She ran up to the door and banged hard against the wood. “What are you doing?” She screamed. “Let me out!” But it was no use, he was gone and there was no one else who could help her.

  Annie walked over to the back wall and slid down to sit against it. How could this have happened? How could Micah be someone she hardly knew after all these years? As she sat there contemplating what had come over him she heard footsteps coming towards the door. She stood to her feet and waited for the door to open.

  Micah practically threw Miss Danes into the, now prison, and slammed the door closed, locking it hard. His footsteps were the only thing that the two women heard through the silence of their shock. They stood facing the door expecting it to reopen but it remained closed. They looked at each other awkwardly after both of them realised that the new arrangement meant they would be bunking together.

  “I guess I have some explaining to do then,” Miss Danes said and the defeat that Annie saw there was genuine. “You may want to consider taking a seat, it is a long tale,” Miss Danes suggested.

  Annie moved and sat in the furthest corner away from her new inmate, as Miss Danes took the opposite corner.

  It seemed that things were about to get more interesting.

  CHAPTER 39

  Eli had waited more than a day to let Annie have some space to herself. He didn’t want to push her into making amends that weren’t sincere, so now he headed there to see if there was anything they could do to start repairing their friendship.

  He arrived to find the house in order. Everything was neat and in place but there was no Annie. Eli went through every room three times, only to find that some of her clothes and belongings were missing. She must have packed her things and left. Now she was out there all alone and it was entirely his fault, she left because of what he did to Baden.

  Eli jumped back on his horse and went straight home to speak with Garrick about his next course of action. No matter what, he had to find her.

  “I apologise if I offend you by asking this Miss Danes,” Annie started.

  “Please, call me Martha,” she offered. Annie looked at her uncomfortably for a moment before trying the name out.

  “Martha,” she said cautiously. “How is it that you find yourself in here?” Martha let out a sigh and leaned back on the wall as if she had given up hope for everything.

  “I will start at the beginning dear, innocent Annie,” Martha said her name affectionately. Her
care made Annie feel uneasy so she kept her guard up. “Many years ago I was going about my daily business when I was accosted from behind. When I woke up I had been turned into a soul snatcher. I had no idea what was going on but Micah soon explained everything.”

  “Micah said that you demanded he change you,” Annie interrupted.

  “Of course he said that. It was all part of the plan,” Martha explained. Hopelessness was ripe in her voice as she spoke. “Everything he has told you is a lie. Everything he has ever done for you was an act to gain your soul,” she revealed. All of a sudden it clicked and Annie realised.

  “Micah has never truly loved me, it was all an attempt to soul snatch,” Annie said under her breath as she gazed at nothing in particular. She couldn’t believe that their friendship had all been a lie. All those years, all those secrets between them, all the things that only friends understand were nothing but a lie. Refocusing, she looked back to Martha.