Come and I’ll Take Thee Away

It has been a fortnight since the children have been disappearing. The townspeople are worrying and I am afraid myself of being captured and even more so my sisters. It all started when Jared’s bed was found empty at dawn. He was always known for taking walks in the fields, but by the time the sun was setting in a blood red sky and he had not returned. We all knew something was wrong. The search went on for days. No blood, no body, and no clothing was found. I heard the villagers words. Saying that he must have ran away. I did not believe that was so.

It happened again. A week after Jared vanished, Rebecca had disappeared as well. A few suns after, Micheal and his sister Agnes were gone. The doors and windows were boarded up tight, but it did nothing to stop the vanishing. It has been a month and the number kept increasing. The words of the villagers are filled with nothing but sadness and concern.

The men ventured into the deep and dark forest to hunt down whatever is taking the children.

“It must be some kind of beast! A wendigo!” I heard a young man with sparkling blue-gray eyes exclaim.

Many of us believed him.

He went into the woods with the other men.

They never returned.

We are the only ones left. I am told to leave, but I refuse. I cannot abandoned my home and farm. It is all we have left. We have no one to care for us except each other. In any case, we have no where else to go and no family to take us in.

Grace is ill and cannot be moved. I risk her life if we travel.

I fear more than ever that it will come for my sisters and me. For I know something the others don’t. For the past week a stranger has been standing under my window. My sisters and I share a room and bed, but the window is on my side and I can see clearly that someone looks up and stares deeply into my eyes. Seeing all my troubles, my fears, and my wishes. I cannot tell anyone because I don’t know if anyone would believe a fourteen year old, especially an orphaned one. Attention seekers they call us. Also, I do not want to alarm my already fear stricken family. However, maybe the real reason I don’t mention him is simply because he frightens me. His body is tall and lean. The hair is lengthy and wiry. His nails are like branches from the decayed trees in the gleam of the moonlight.

I cannot see his face

The night sky conceals his face like a mask. Even the moon doesn’t help.

It scares me.

He stands there silent in the cool wind. I can tell..

He is smiling at me.

Shivers crawl up every inch of my skin. Sweat pours down my cheeks.

A conceited smile.

A smile that says…

I will come for thee.

After what feels like an eternity, I look out my window again and he is gone. An ease comes over me. I hold my sisters close and fall into a restless sleep; wishing in my dreams that he not come again.

I awoke the next morning and my sister Emily is at the window.

“I heard it again last night” she said grinning.

“Heard what?” I asked.

“That beautiful song” she replied, her face a full flush.

“What song. I did not hear any song last night” I said. Her behavior was odd. What if? No! She is just young and therefore childish. She was just trying to poke fun at me.

I did not want to face what might be occurring.

I was in a bottomless pit of denial.

“Oh I do remember all the words, but it promised me so much” she sighed. “Have you ever wanted more?”

“No” I said, seriousness growing with every spoken word. “I have a family that loves me, a home that protects me from the harsh nature, and have food in my belly; what else could I possibly want”?

She gawked out the window. Her hands on her rose cheeks. “I never saw myself has being a country girl forever. Wouldn’t it be lovely to go dancing in elaborate bright gowns of crimsons and blues. To wear gigantic garnets. Eat the finest foods and sleep on velvety beds”.

Those words seeped through my flesh and left scorching marks on my heart. For everything we we have was given to us through the sweat and blood of our parents. How could she just throw away their efforts that kept us alive?

“No!” I snapped. “I never wanted anything like that before and I don’t want it now.”

She merely shrugged and continued gaping out the window. Then without the sudden hesitation she began to sing.

“Come dear child and I will take thee away

to your fondest dreams and wishes.

Of dancing in moonlight clothed in reds

and slumber no more in comfortless beds.

Of food to eat and not to share

to walk paths nary of eldest disapproving stares”.

I respired heavily, rubbing the bridge of my nose as I set off to start the daily tasks.

After helping Grace with her dress and putting her hair in a single braid; I moved her carefully to the lounge in the sitting room so not to be uncomfortable of Emily’s peculiar behavior. I made the breakfast of oatmeal, bacon, a little cheese and bread, and finally red delicious apples. I boiled water for us to drink last night. I called Emily down then went to feeding Grace.

She did not come down.

I called her down to help with the chores.

She did not come down.

I called her down for the midday meal and to play a game of cards.

She did not come down. Still singing.

And when she did not come down for the evening meal, I went to her.

Every time I spoke, my words were ignored. I try to touch her and she would not let me. Eventually, I just couldn’t anymore, “Emily please! You’re scaring me! You know what is happening out there. People are losing the ones they love and I don’t want to lose you. So, please if this is a jest, stop!”

She turned her head at me. An empty smile spread across her face. “I think I’m feeling ill” she said; silky monotone voice glazed her throat. Her eyes were glossy and I swore the color of her irises changed. Blinking from purple, green, red, yellow, pink, brown, blue, and lastly black. I shook my head and I removed my hands from rubbing my eyes and…

All was normal.

“I think I just need to lie down” she said with that same sleek flat voice.

“Okay, I’ll let you rest and I will bring you some soup later” I said relieved.

She nodded and I closed the door and walked into the parlor to check on Grace.

“Is Emily alright?” the meek tiny voice of Grace came from under the blanket on the lounger.

Not wanting to worry her, I smiled. “She is just a little sick and will be right as rain probably tomorrow”.

“You know that is not true” a voice from inside her head said.

“Are you okay Olivia? You seem nervous”

“Yes I am fine. Just tired, that’s all”I chuckled.

“Everything is not fine” the voice pressed on.

“Do you feel well enough for a game of knock?” I asked. Trying to shake the voice out of my head.

Grace smiled and nodded. We ended playing for an hour before she began to feel feeble and needed sleep. Something she required a great amount of. The voices however, did not cease.

“You know what is to come.”

“Can you save her?”

“Of course I can!”

“How?”

“I’ll go up and see her and…”

“You can barely move.”

“There is nothing you can do”.

“Please! Not my sister. Take me instead.”

“No need to be so eager. I’ll come and take you eventuality,

only when

I

take

her”.

Exhausted, I marched up the stairs, carrying Grace in my arms. Begging myself not to cry and hoping that this was all a dream. However, I should of known better.

The bedroom had a sallow chill. It was seeping and it was all coming from…

Emily was still at the window, this time humming that damn song.

Exasperated, I put Grace to bed and tired of this foolery, I grabbed Emily’s shoulders and spun her around so she could face me.

I backed away immediately at what I saw.

Emily stood there mouth gaped blood pouring onto her nightgown. Her eyes stared at me. No pleading, no awareness, and no emotion. Just nothing in her. The corner of my I saw it emerge from the window. Huge skeletal wooden hands wrapping around my sister and hauled her out of the room. I ran to reach out to her, but she was gone. I peered outside and I saw him. There stranger that has been outside my window every night. He held Emily close to his breast as one wooden hand stroked her colorless eyes. Then he vanished. Again, I could not see his face.

I must prepare for tonight. I am scared he will come for Grace. He will not get her, I will take her place and rid this world of this horrid creature once and for all. I took my ruddy cloak off the hook and used it to conceal myself. I grabbed one of the meat carving knives and hid it in the pocket. Before leaving, I stuffed Grace’s ears with sheep wool so she would not hear the singing. I placed a kiss on her cheek. Then sat on the floor and waited.

“Come dear child and I will take thee away”…

The singing!

“To your fondest dreams and wishes.

Of ragged breaths departed and walking with ease

of weariness away and playing as thee please.

Pink cheeks and blissful giggles rather than lunar face and limp eyes.

No more tears to cry.”

It made perfect sense. Grace’s greatest wish was to be well again. Grace laid in her bed breathing slightly as she slept. Thank goodness the wool had done its deed.

I got up from the floor and headed downstairs. The singing had not stopped, even when I opened the door to the outside.

And there he stood.

I still could not see his face, even with the moon shining high in the night sky. However, I could see his wood hands, his straw hair, and his long bony body. He turned and ventured towards the forest. His feet hardly leaving any sound.

I followed. Determined in my mission to be rid of him. We walked what seemed like hours. The woods only kept getting darker and murkier with every mile. He never once turned his head to look at me and eventually he stopped singing. Clutching the knife in my cloak; I knew I could do it at any moment. Just strike him now with his back turned.

Something daunted me though, because no matter how many times I tried to bring out the blood lust weapon from underneath…I just couldn’t. Was I a coward? Was I not strong enough?

He knew.

And I knew it as well.

My feet were soaking wet when we entered a small cave. The smell was disgusting. The stench of rotting meat laid out for days in a hot sun. I swallowed my vomit as my stinging eyes fought against the rancid odor. He stood in front of a pit and used stones to light a fire.

There!

I saw his face.

I tried to scream, but no sound came. He had no eyes, just sockets. Pitch black inside trying to suck me in its black abyss. His face was long and pale and his mouth was round agape with hundreds of needle teeth dripping with blood.

I drew the knife and ran aiming at his chest, but I slipped on something slimy and spongy. I dropped the knife. I should not have turned to see what it was. As soon as I noticed it I saw that there was countless of them.

Bodies. They were everywhere. On the ground, stacked against walls and and hung from the ceiling. Some were already decomposing, but most were still fresh. Dried blood painted the walls of the cave, but I noticed something odd.

“So, you are not a wendigo?” I asked.

“No” it said with a silky even voice. The same way Emily had spoke yesterday. “I am much worse”.

“Why didn’t you kill me when you had the chance?”

“Stupid girl. That is not how it works.” It shook it’s finger at me. “I knew you would come.”

“So you knew of my plain to protect my sister?” I said, my fists shaking.

The creature laughed. It was a cruel laughter. “Grace was not my intention tonight. It was you.”

“What? But how? The song-”

“The song was never Grace’s wish, but yours. I see everything.” It seemingly stared at the fire in the pit. “Every fifty years I must feed. I eat the bones for my nourishment and I suck the sinful soul from the eyes for my immortality.” He turned to the pile of corpses behind him. “The skins and organs are of no use to me. They can stay here until they are found. By then I will be slumbering once again.”

“Why the children?”I asked trying to buy myself some time.

He turned his head with a snap. “You children have the sweetest bones and the deepest desires.”

“I’m guessing you were the ones who killed the village men as well?”

“Yes, but their bones were unsatisfying. Adolescents are bland and adults have the most bitterness.” He picked up the blade and threw it at my feet. “Now we are going to make a deal.”

“A deal?”

“Yes. Just as I have done with so many before and they all chose the same. Mmh, I wonder what you will choose?”

“I will make no deals with you!” I shouted.

“Not even on your baby sister’s life?”

Gasping,“what sort of deal?” I asked.

“I will grant you your deepest desire. I will cure your sister of her disease, but I eat you. Or use that blade right now to end my life and save a future generation from me.”

My body went frigid. “What kind of deal is that?” I scoffed. “My sister is dying and I can save her, but never see her again. Or end the forthcoming of another massacre, but I have to live without my family.” I began to pace. He had taken one sister away from me. I cannot allow him to take Grace.

“I made the same deal to all the others. Grant them their wish and be eaten or kill me and spare a generation. They all made the same choice.”

“There must be an alternative?”

“There isn’t any.”

“I live on a farm, what if you spare my sister and I can give you the bones from the animals?” I pleaded.

“I will surely die a gruesome death and I do not want that?” he said waving his hand in my face.

“How can you make me choose between my sister and hundreds of future children?”

“That’s it, isn’t it? You act like an adult most of the time child, but now you desire nothing but to be given what you want without consequence like a spoiled brat. You want too much. You desire so much to be the adult, now it’s time to make decisions like one. Just like your parents did.” His voiced ached in my head and send tears down my eyes.

“Choose girl.

Your sister’s life

or

the innumerable young lives of the innocent.”