Lily

25th November 2002

That was when I saw her. Sat at the edge of the graveside, all melancholy, swinging her long pale legs chaotically at the grave side, peering down and giggling at the sight below her. Funny, I would never have believed in my wildest dreams that humour would have been the response she chose when staring down at her present and future accommodations. Although I guess I would never have believed that my deceased sister would be staring down at her own coffin in the first place. Her head snapped around and looked me dead in the eyes, her face expressionless, her lips like paper, blue, but still full of wicked glee. I had loved that about her the most, that smile of hers melted the hearts of all, but it never reached her eyes, only ever with me, that her true self was uncloaked. I couldn’t look away from her as she swung her legs to and fro, until she launched herself onto her feet. She was dressed in a white frilly number, one of mother’s lovers purchases to coax the kids into going outside for the adults to play. It was hideous, dripping with lace and ribbons like a preened-up doll, whose eyes were as lifeless as a corpse - the irony of it all. I was almost glad we’d buried her in it. Almost.

She ran to my side, the curls of her soft brown hair floating in the wind, as though elevated with angelic beauty, she moved passed me and ushered me to join her. I followed without hesitation. She grabbed for my hand, but I was too in awe to respond. We weaved through the graveyard, bolting side-to-side, avoiding towering tombs and spindling trees, until we reached the edge.

Bridgewater bay was like any coastal village, with beautiful white cliffs caverning above you. To stand on the edge is like looking down onto a blanket of serene blue, hauntingly beautiful, its danger was its ensnare. What most tourists didn’t know about Bridgewater bay was that these cliffs spoke their own secrets. Mystery beaches and coves unveiled at the moons permission with a sweep of the tide. The sand was virgin pure, untouched by man, and danced in the wind as aerial silk. a staircase adorned the bay, plunging down into the depths below, it creaked as a gust spun.

She ran in front and only stopped to look back to me at the top of the staircase, seconds later she had descended to the shore below. Teetering forward I began to believe that my mind was playing tricks on me, a sudden gust blew the fallen leaves collected by the cliff edge, they danced in the wind, encircling me and wrapping me within their warm embrace, for a moment I felt safe. when they began to disperse, I shuddered as a pair of icy eyes peered at me from the top of the stairs, like a crocodiles atop a glistening lake, I was captivated. Fear and curiosity, swirled in my mind and engulfed me, inhaling sharply, I pushed forward and began a small jog after her. Once again, she descended to the shore. 

Bumbling, I clumsily raced after her, tripping over my own feet as well as the loose wooden planks that led to the cove below. Blisters beginning to form around my ankles, as the already too-tight shoes abused my fragile feet. But, my mind was elsewhere, like the wind, it was soaring with thoughts of her. My precious sister. My terrifying Melody. Could I save her this time? Could we be free? Would we be able to change our fate?

Gasping and wheezing, I squinted in the light of the burning sunset, trying to seek her out. as the light glinted over the sea, a small shadow began to stretch itself upon the sand, snapping my head up, my eyes followed apprehensively to the direction of the shadows origin. Her black hair flowing in the wind, and her tiny dress soaked to the knee, as wave after wave lapped at her legs, and the sea spray sprinkled across her skin, like tears dripping down her cheeks. I took a cautious step, but searing pain welled inside my shoes, in haste I discarded the abominations, throwing them behind me. strength in my resolve to not look back. 

I crept toward the waters edge, caution in each step, my eyes lingering at my feet. when I raised my eye line, her hand was outreached toward me, just like she always had, to pull me along with her. I was never lost at her side, because we had each other, and now that hand was once again outreached to me. I could feel hot tears trickle down my cheeks, but i was too consumed in the moment that I didn't even attempt to wipe them away. Her smile was gentle and welcoming, and her eyes were sympathetic and sorry. It was home. I reached my hand toward her, and she grasped it tight.

BANG.

The sound of a wave smashing against the cliff edge broke my gaze, and that's when it became clearer. Her eyes of icy blue, no longer looked sympathetic, but seemed to be laughing at me, mocking me for believing such a stupid ruse. Her hand wasn't grasping me tight, it was pulling me, claws digging deep. The facade of my beautiful sister began to fade into a sinister creature, as it pulled me under the surface of the sea. Its eyes shining red, where my sisters blue had been, its face scarred and disfigured, her black hair encompassed its entire body and coiled around it, into a black hole. It sniggered at me, dragging me further into the darkness, I thrashed trying to escape its clutches, but to no avail, as it sank its claws deeper into my flesh. 

Cold. Black. Alone. I knew I was going to die, just how I had lived. Surrounded by infinite emptiness, without a single person who loved me. 

I had held in my breath for as long as I could muster, but the resolve to fight to stay alive had extinguished. As the last ounce of air escaped my body, I began to lose consciousness. The blackness coursing through my body, engulfing the light...

LIGHT. 

AIR.

I'm breathing. I'm warm. I can feel the sun. A faint mumbling sound is in the distance. I'm alive. straining my eyes, adjusting to the glimmer, I looked up. There he was, smiling, panting breathlessly, and then laughing hysterically. I could feel his hands on my cheeks, they were warm and clammy. His hair dripping wet, and his cheeks were stained with tears. He moved his hands from my cheeks and wrapped them around me in a tight embrace, he lent next to my ear and whispered softly, 

'Thank God... Your Alive...'

I could feel my heart begin to surge, and tears welled my eyes. He moved to being above me once again, he sighed and wiped the tears away from my cheeks. He smiled down at me, his green eyes captivating in the sunlight. 

'I will keep you safe...', he stated, softly as though trying to caress me with his words, 'I will be your home now.'