Into Thornwood || Chapter Twelve

By Becca

This is the last chapter!

Thank you everyone for your kind and encouraging reception. 

I might do a post with little tidbits and behind the scene things about the story, what do you guys think?

I'm so glad you've enjoyed Into Thornwood and I'd love to share more stories on the blog sometime.

But, enough of that now :)  On to the final chapter!

(Sorry, the indentation is not behaving for me...so, please ignore the strangeness)

Chapter 12

                  Now she will never come back.

                  Lucian opened the gate, intent on chasing them down. In his haste, the automaton missed a step and came crashing onto the stones, breaking apart and clanging all the way down.  Furious, Lucian took his mother’s bible and hurled it through the window. He ran to the opening and saw the wagon drive away, a glint of copper hair. The broken glass cut into the palm of his hand. He couldn’t feel it. 

                  She was your only hope, and you probably killed her. 

                  His lungs filled and a wild scream echoed through all of Thornwood. Far below the automaton lay scattered over the stairs. The fall would break his neck…. and death would be instant. That would be nice. Blood smeared as he ran a hand over his face and then the tears came.

                  He fell to his knees, staring over the forest, weeping. 

                  You loved her, didn’t you?

Into Thornwood || Chapter Eleven

By Becca

Chapter 11

                  “Through the third archway and the second door on the right.” Lucian’s voice came through distorted by the automaton. 

  Cecile reached out and turned the knob. At a squeaky meow she spun around, the cat trotted down the main stairs. 

                  “Well, hello you.” She smiled as it came and rubbed its head against her skirt. Reaching a hand under its chubby body, Cecile gathered the softness into her arms and at once it began to purr.                      

              “What is its name?” 

The cat didn’t flinch as the automaton stretched out and rubbed a metal finger between it’s ears.

 “Her name is Gypsum…she was mother’s.” 

Cecile laid her cheek against Gypsum’s fur and pushed the door open with her foot. She stepped into the imposing room, the automaton right behind her. 

Into Thornwood || Chapter Ten

By Becca

( Disclaimer: This chapter has some violence relating to a death ) 

Chapter Ten

                  Cecile slipped through the door and hurried up the stairs, retracing the steps from last night. The glass greeted her with strong light at the final landing, a view of the forest spread out below. She turned down the hall and paused at the reading nook. Kneeling on the cushions, she put her ear to the wall and heard movement on the other side, then a shuddering breath.

                  “Hello?” She ventured.

                  “Hello, Cecile.” His voice was low and husky, twined with sadness.

The little boy’s face came back to her. How old was he now?

                  “Well, I said I would tell you everything, didn’t I?” He sighed heavily. “I should have done that from the start…this may take awhile.” 

Into Thornwood || Chapter Nine

By Becca

Chapter nine

          Thornwood was far grander than she had imagined. 
          She must have looked like a fool, wandering through each room as if in a dream. If this was her prison, she could not have asked for a more luxurious one. 
          With a smile she opened the French doors to a sea of sunshine. It came pouring in though the rows of tall windows and filled the ballroom with brilliance.  A childish impulse drew her out onto the dance floor. She twirled and danced with an invisible partner to imagined music.  Her skirt unfolded and billowed, fluttering like wings with the movement.
          But then she stopped short, the room still whirling. Caprice’s scolding voice, very clear, came to her mind. “You are acting like a silly little girl. You are far too old for such nonsense and should be conducting yourself with propriety.”
          She would not say that now, would she? 
          After father’s death, Caprice changed. Cecile once hated the way Caprice spoke to her. Now, after these months of silence, she only wished that Caprice would speak.

Into Thornwood || Chapter Eight

By Becca

Chapter Eight

                  Never had she heard such terror. It tore her from sleep and out of bed. It stretched on forever, reaching out, straining, and snapped.  

         Then it came again; another scream. Cecile stood still, the sound of it wrenching through her. Her heart nearly ripped in two. She raced to the curtain, found the knob and threw open the door. It was louder, echoing, spiraling down from the higher stories. The house trembled with the cries, such desperate, miserable cries. She flew to the staircase at the end of the hall, nightgown softy swishing around her legs. She grabbed the rail and climbed.

Into Thornwood || Chapter Seven

By Becca

Chapter Seven

           

                  The automaton reached for the latch, hidden among the carved molding, and opened the door. Pushing aside the ivory curtain, it entered the room. The girl whirled around and stepped back, bumping against the wall.

                  “I’m glad to see that you’re up and about. How are you feeling?” He cringed at the harsh sound of the voice. She did not squeal, or faint. She just stood, quivering, and did not answer.

                  “I heard you speak earlier today, so now you’re just being rude. I didn’t mean for you to get hurt.” 

Her eyes leapt up, glinting with green fire.

                  “If you didn’t intend to hurt me why did you kidnap me? Be true to your word and let me go.”  

Into Thornwood || Chapter Six

By Becca 

Chapter Six

            “So, you’re telling me that your sister was kidnapped by a giant automaton?” The policemen’s carefully waxed mustache seemed to sneer at Dax.

                  “Yes, sir. ”

                  “And this automaton lives in Thornwood?”

                  “That’s what I said.” Dax imagined Cecile bleeding out on the stone path. 

                  “I told you boys, no own has lived in Thornwood for years, metal or otherwise. A nasty fire broke out five years past and killed the whole Eilert family. There only was the three of them, all crazy as loons.”

Frank spoke up, “But we deliver groceries there each month.”

The policeman was exasperated. “They probably didn’t cancel the order because they are all dead! Now are you going to leave nice and quiet like, or I am going to have to throw you into a holding cell to sleep it off?”

Into Thornwood || Chapter Five

By Becca

 After the goof up, I figured I'll just stick with the schedule. 

So, ready or not, here's the next chapter!

Chapter Five

                  Dax’s eyes flew open. He sat in the armchair, the fire burned low and the cat was gone. He listened carefully, wondering what had woken him. It was a sound, a creak? A floorboard, possibly… was someone else here? He tried putting weight on his leg; the pain had lulled since last night. 

There it was again. Not the floor, more like… a hinge, like a heavy door squealing on its hinge. There was another noise, a humming, like the inner workings of a clock, gears and springs and-    

“What are you doing in my house?” 

Into Thornwood || Chapter Four

By Becca

Chapter Four

                  Cecile sat up on the sofa, an afghan falling off her lap. The wails from her dream only became louder. She stood, confused not waking in her bed but in the main room. 

                  “I’m sorry, dearie. I didn’t see you there.” A voice came from behind, loud so as to be heard over the crying. Cecile turned and saw Mrs. Harvey sitting in the rocking chair cradling her youngest child. “I hoped to not wake anyone if I took Benjamin out here. Still waiting for Dax?” 

               Cecile nodded; sleep clinging to her eyes. The walls were so thin in this building everyone had probably heard Benjamin’s wailing.  It didn’t matter though. Light reached through the dirty window and spilled onto the floor in small squares. Everyone would be awake shortly. She reached for the afghan, mindlessly folding it and draped it over the sofa. 

                   Wait, he wasn’t here? Cecile went to their door, opening it quietly. Dax’s mat on the floor had not been slept in.  Why hadn’t he come home last night?

Into Thornwood || Chapter Three

By Becca

Chapter Three

                   “Mr. Abney!” Dax called out. “I’m going home now, have a pleasant evening!”

He snatched his coat off the peg and set his cap on his aching head. When he tried to leave, the back door wouldn’t budge. These damp nights tend to do that; a swift kick is all it needed-

                  “Dax!” A stout man with graying hair stumbled out of the stock room “Wait! I have one last thing I need you to do.”

   Hand sliding from the doorknob, Dax turned slowly and glanced at the clock. “What would that be?” At this late hour? He finished that thought silently.

                  “I need you to make a delivery. I know it’s not you usual task, but you have driven the wagon before, haven’t you?” 

   Dax’s shoulders slumped. His dreams of hot tea by a crackling fire and soothing conversation doused.

                  “Couldn’t it wait until the morning Mr. Abney?”    

                  “No, no, it has to be today! It’s usually on Gilbert’s route, but he has pneumonia and it’s late- everyone else has gone on home.”

   Exactly what I was planning, Dax grumbled inwardly. He sighed; whatsoever ye do, do it hardily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.

                  “Alright Mr. Abney, where am I to go?”

Into Thornwood || Chapter Two

By Becca

Sorry, the font and indentation is goofy.

Chapter Two 

                  Sunlight came streaming through the window, drenching the canopy bed in golden warmth. The sleeper buried her face into the pillows, hoping to steal a few more peaceful moments.                                            A few days after the engagement party, Father left aboard one of his steamers. Caprice insisted on the best silk for her wedding dress and of course Father could not deny her anything.  Dax was home for the summer, which meant Cecile had at least one ally in the house. She attempted to spend time with Caprice, yet found herself stepping into the lion’s mouth. Lately Caprice had been more intolerable then usual…  If only Father had not gone away.

Into Thornwood || Chapter One

By Becca

Some of you may know that when February 1st came around, the contest results were posted for the Five Enchanted Roses contest.

I checked the website after church that morning, and was a bit disappointed to see five names.. none which were mine.

But, I'm good now.

 I am very happy for all who did win, and I am still very proud that I finished my first story!
I decided a while ago that if I didn't make it in the contest, I still would like to share my story with all of you.

So, each week I'll be posting a few chapters of 'Into Thornwood'
and I'd love to hear what you think of it.