The sun was high, the birds were singing and people were laughing along the banks of the pond in Wayfare. Johnny Blackthorne, the local carpenter, was walking his ox down the road hauling a cart loaded with freshly cut lumber. The Baker, Mr. Porter had a hole that needed to be patched in his roof.
The kids were playing their normal game of tag in the open fields near the tents where the gypsies sometimes camped on their way from here and there. Everything was bustling.
Rachel tried hard to reign in her little sister tugging hard on her hand as they walked down the street. "Rach, I wanna buy a sweet treat! You promised me Rach! I have my birthday money!" Rebecca whined as she pulled hard and tried to get away from her older sister's hand.
Rachel rolled her eyes slightly, "Becca, first I've got to go to the butcher, then the baker... so you'll just have to wait. Besides, I need more thread and a new needle because you keep ripping your dresses by playing so rough." She looked at her little sister sternly, a near reflection of her father. "If you keep whining at me, I'm going to take you home and you won't even be allowed to come shopping with me."
Rebecca huffed. "Fine," she said sulkily. "But... I wanna go get my caaaandy!"
Rachel stopped abruptly and looked down at her sister. "Rebecca Lee Poetr, you will stop your whining this instant! I am tired of having to always listen to this incessant noise from you!"
Well... that did it. Rebecca's lower lip began to quiver, and the tears began to flow. Her wails of absolute anguish at upsetting her older sister echoed out even over the busy streets of people. Heads turned and stared to see who it was that was upsetting the little girl. Rachel's face reddened from embarrassment as she knelt down to look her little sister in the eyes.
"Becc... look at me. Stop crying, please? I'm not angry. I'm just..." she wiped the tears from her little sister's face. "I'm just having trouble keeping up. Can you help me get the work done? I promise, we'll get you something really sweet afterwards okay?"
Sniffling, Becca nodded and took hold of her sister's hand once more.
Suddenly a shrill scream pierced the calm air. Mist was rolling in from the far side of the pond. There was a hissing... snarling sound. More screams began to shatter the peace of Wayfare and Rachel and Becca stood frozen in fear as those around them began to run in panic. The screams worsened, and the mist thickened, rolling in faster now.
Rachel, catching a glimpse of a monster within the mist suddenly grabbed tightly to Becca's hand and began to run with her towards home. "Run Becca! Run fast!" The girls took off running down the road, darting between other villagers also running in fear trying to get to someplace safe. The mist continued to roll in, filling every gap, covering and confusing people. The streets were no longer visible, but Rachel kept pulling the terrified Rebecca behind her. Quietly she prayed to Rofirein as they ran, "Please, Lord Protector.... Let me get my sister home safe..."
There it was. The cave entrance, just a few more feet, they could make it! But then, suddenly, Rachel tripped. Becca let go of her sister's hand as she fell. "Run Becca! Get to the house and bolt the door. DON'T LOOK BACK!" Rachel looked down to see what it was that she tripped over... it was a head, it's lifeless eyes staring up at her in horror.
She screamed in fear. "RUN BECCA!"
Rebecca ran as fast as her little legs could carry her, while Rachel scrambled to her feet trying to race after her. She scrambled for the door of the house and made it inside, slamming the door behind her and running up the stairs to hide under her bed.
And then... just as suddenly as it started, the screaming stopped. An eerie silence fell.
Where was Rachel?
Rebecca crawled out from under her bed again and cautiously, still trembling in fear, she crept back down the stairs. She stared at the door, still closed, but unbolted. Rachel would have bolted the door when she came in. Rachel always bolted the door.
Terrified, Rebecca opened the door and peered out cautiously into the dark cave beyond, the light shining once more from the opening not too far away.
There was something in the opening of the cave. Becca edged slowly out of the door to see what was lying there. Then she recognized something... the flower print of Rachel's dress.
Becca ran over to the heap, it moved slightly. Becca knelt down near her sister's torn, nearly shredded body as the blood drained from her, her life flowing with it. Rachel, fear and pain in her eyes looked at her sister for a brief moment, her voice and breath in ragged, weak gasps. "The Dragon... took care... of... you... Bec..." She coughed as blood spilled from her mouth, trying to breathe. "I... I love you..." she sputtered weakly as her last breath left her. The blood pooled around her, soaking Rebecca's dress as she hugged her sister's broken, lifeless body, and cried.
