Writing Prompt: The Stolen One 4

      This blog is for me that others may read. I spend at least an hour on each prompt then go back and edit it then post it. If I come back to it I come back to it but if I don't then oh well. I have so many stories in my head and get depressed if I don't write something so this is more therapy for me. Enjoy!

      Writing Prompts Used:

         1. When he woke, she was gone.

         2. "Sometimes memories are the worst form of torture."


        When he woke, she was gone. Rick rubbed the sleep from his eyes to see that the bed was empty and her clothes were missing. He stood up in a panic running out to the nurse’s station, “My friend is missing! She was in that bad asleep but now she’s gone.” The nurse at the desk made a quick call.

“Mr. Jameson,” Inspector Murdoch seemed to have come out of nowhere. 

“Alice is missing,” Rick looked like he was about to fall a part. 

“Calm down, Mr. Jameson,” Murdoch soothed. “Your girlfriend won’t get too far.”

“How do you know that?”

Inspector Murdoch reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring.

“She’ll be back for this.”

“What is that?”

“Something that’s gotten your girl in a lot of trouble.”

*     *     *     *     *

Alice tried the Lost and Found. Maybe it fell out of her pocket though Callum was the voice of doubt in her ear. 

“Instead of whining you can think,” Alice retorted to Callum’s most recent verbal barb, “when was the last time you saw it. I know you followed us to the hospital.”

“I had to do so at a distance,” Callum grumbled. “Someone was using St. John’s Wort to keep me away.”

Alice tried to remember but she didn’t have any St. John’s Wort on her at the time. Someone else maybe? Just as she was pondering this question the lights began to flicker. Her adrenaline kicked in, her hair stood on end. Callum seemed to freeze, the wicked humor drained from his face. 

“He’s here…,” Callum whispered in horror. The whispers in Alice’s head grew so loud they were deafening. Then she saw it. The hideous creature with the stag horns and skull mask. She heard a low menacing growl like a leopard behind her. The large cat from her vision was eyeing her with it’s slitted peridot eyes.

“We’re cornered,” Alice breathed in sharply. Instinct told her to run but where to? Before she could think Callum grabbed Alice by the arm and dragged her down another hallway. 

“Run,” he ordered. Alice ran as fast as she could but the cat creature always seemed to be right at her heels. Then she practically slammed into Inspector Murdoch.

“There you are,” Murdoch looked into Alice’s fearful eyes, “what happened?”

“It’s coming for me,” Alice ranted. “They’re coming for me!” Alice looked behind to see Cernunnos and his feline companion behind her. 

“It’s going to be okay…,” Murdoch whispered. Suddenly Alice felt a sharp pain in her neck. A needle. She went limp and everything went dark. 

*     *     *     *     *

Alice had dreams. She was a child in her grandmother’s house. Alice remembered the yellow flowers that grew on the window sill of every window in the house. There was also a large amount of iron in every room. To ward off fairies, she said. Alice’s grandmother was the one who got her into paranormal stuff though Alice was more into aliens. 

There was something else. A raven. A raven she would play with from time to time. But sometimes he wasn’t a bird but a boy. A boy with hair as white as snow. He was about 14 years old and Alice was 10. They played hide and seek. He called her name but never told her his then one summer where he never came back. Strange. Alice remembered her grandmother’s house but never the boy…

“Alice… Alice?” Alice heard Callum calling her name. It seemed so familiar now. Like a memory you forgot you had but it suddenly popped into your head and you remembered again. Then the voice changed. It was Rick’s voice calling her.

Alice woke up to see Rick looking at her with such concern. She felt the warmth of his hands holding her hand, bringing life back into her extremities. 

“Hey, you okay?” he asked.

Alice looked around. She wasn’t in the hospital. She was in a small bedroom below a window. Other sounds and smells filled in the blanks. Birds singing and the smell of soup and fresh coffee wafted through the air giving the place a country ambience. 

“Are we in the country?” Alice asked.

“In England almost everywhere is the country,” Rick smiled. “You’re safe. No one’s going to get you.”

Alice attempted to sit up but her head was pounding. She fell back down.

“Easy,” Rick scolded softly. Alice heard rapping at the window. She turned to see a large raven staring at her with it’s soulful eyes. Callum? 

“Smells like soup,” Alice said. “I just realized I haven’t eaten in hours. Can you get me some?”

Rick was reluctant to leave but Alice’s stomach was actually grumbling so loud that it was hard to ignore. Rick said he would be back with soup and details. Once he was gone, Alice opened the window and allowed the raven in. Sure enough the raven turned into a man.

“About time!” Callum stretched his aching muscles. “As much as I like flying being in bird form for so long is a pain. How about you, Miss Beethoven?”

“I remembered something,” Alice managed to sit up and lean against the wall.

“About our time as prisoners?” 

Alice shook her head, “When I was 10. At my grandmother’s. She told me all about fairies and there was this boy…”

Callum’s face became neutral. 

“A boy with white hair who could turn into a raven,” Alice continued softly. “But I forgot all about him. Like he never existed. Which is strange because who could forget a boy with white hair?”

Callum sat on the edge of the bed beside Alice.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Alice asked. “Why didn’t you tell me we knew each other before all of this started?” 

“Sometimes memories are the worst form of torture,” Callum sighed mournfully. 

“So something terrible happened that you wanted me to forget? What was it?”

Callum said nothing. His lips turned into a thin line. His blue eyes apprehensive.

“If you’re not going to tell me the truth then why the hell are you here?” Alice punched Callum in the arm who cringed, holding the place she hit.

“Easy, love,” Callum winced. “I’m here to save my skin as well as yours. If Cernunnos catches us you’re headed for a life of servitude and he’ll skin me and mount my head on a wall while he listens to you play Beethoven until your fingers bleed.”

“What happened when I was 10?” Alice pressed. Callum sat staring at the floor. 

Alice rolled her eyes then fumed, “Get the hell out then.”

“Alice?” Rick came in through the door holding a tray of hot soup. “Who are you talking to?”

Alice looked to see that Callum had turned into a raven.

“How did that thing get in?” Rick set the tray of food down and went to shoo the bird away. With a defiant “caw” Callum flew through the window.

“Just a rat with wings,” Alice muttered. “So where are we?”

“My place,” Murdoch walked in holding a mug of coffee. “We need to talk, Miss Whitethorn.” 

*     *     *     *     *

Everything was finally out in the open. Well… not about Callum. Alice still held his existence with the utmost secrecy. She had no idea why but she didn’t want Rick to know about him. 

“This all sounds insane!” Rick finally cried out. “Alice wasn’t kidnapped by fairies and there’s no giant stag creature or a cat beast after her!”

“Then what has she been running from?” Murdoch inquired never taking his eyes off Alice. 

“She’s stressed that’s all,” Rick reasoned, trying to convince himself more than anyone else. “She suffered a terrible trauma.”

“Oh I’m traumatized alright,” Alice was tired of Rick treating her with kid gloves. “I’m remembering everything.” Alice recalled more playful memories of Callum when she was a girl. But there remained a gap that she wanted to be enlightened on. 

“This is insane,” Rick turned to Alice, eyes filled with disbelief.

“I agree, which is why I called for help to get your memories back,” Murdoch beckoned for Alice and Rick to follow him down stairs. Everywhere were charms, dried herbs and plenty of iron and St. John’s Wort.

“This is your place?” Alice marveled skeptically. “Seems pretty Hocus Pocus for a cop.”

“I care for my old aunt,” Murdoch explained not at all offended. “She’s known as an unorthodox healer.”

Rick rolled his eyes waiting to see some crystals and dream catchers or smell some incense. Hippie nonsense. They saw an old woman preparing tea. When she turned and saw Alice her blue eyes worn with age began to shine. Her smile was infectious making Alice feel safe and secure for the first time in days. 

“So this is the poor doe being hunted,” her voice was melodious not scratchy or weak like most elders her age. 

“This is my Aunt Effie,” Murdoch introduced. 

Effie seemed to glide as she walked towards Alice. Her long silver hair like a veil trailing behind her. Effie took Alice’s hands into her own. 

“My dear you’re shaking,” Effie pointed out. 

“It’s been a rough few days…,” Alice suddenly wanted to cry. She couldn’t help it. This woman had a power that made one fell secure and Alice could sense some amount of understanding and honesty that had been missing in her now torrent life. 

“It’s alright, girl,” Effie soothed. “You’re safe here. No evil may get in unless invited.”

“So what are you going to do exactly?” Rick sounded skeptical. 

“I’m going to help your friend remember her time in the OtherWorld. Fairies may be skilled in memory but the body and brain have deeper memories than we can imagine.”

“You sound very science-y for a hippie,” Rick crossed his arms looking at Effie with a critical eye.

“Aunt Effie is a licensed psychiatrist,” Murdoch poured everyone tea. 

“My field was memory retrieval and suppression,” Effie smiled. Alice saw a few medical and psychology books on the shelves. One was a book written by Effie herself. 

“Where do we start?” Alice asked.

“Alice, no,” Rick protested. 

“I have to, Rick,” Alice turned to her friend pleading for his understanding. “I need to know what happened. Something is after me and no distance or amount of running will make it stop. But I need one thing…” Alice turned to Murdoch and demanded, “I need that ring.”

“Not sure what you mean,” Murdoch shrugged.

“Just give it to her,” Rick glared. 

“Edmund,” Effie raised an eyebrow giving the Inspector an accusing eye. “It’s important.”

Murdoch gave up and went to a box on the kitchen table that was labeled for tea bags. He pulled out the ring and handed it to Alice. Having it back made Alice breathe easy again. 

“Where’d you get that ring?” Rick asked Alice.

“From the one who kidnapped me 7 years ago,” Alice explained. “Though it still felt like it was only 4 days ago…”

“Now that we have what we need let’s get started,” Effie applauded.

*     *     *     *     * 

       If you would like for me to continue this story please let me know in the comments!

Writing Prompt: The Stolen One 3

     This blog is for me that others may read. I spend at least an hour on each prompt then go back and edit it then post it. If I come back to it I come back to it but if I don't then oh well. I have so many stories in my head and get depressed if I don't write something so this is more therapy for me. Enjoy!


    Writing Prompts Used:

       1. Wow, somebody needs a Happy Meal.

       2. "Get a move on, will ya!"

       3. This is what happens when...

       4. It's coming for me. It WILL find me. I don't have much time.

       "Get a move on, will ya!" Rick swore under his breath. He checked his cell phone. Then the cafe clock. Then after a few seconds checked the time on his cell phone again. The time was still 1:32 PM. Where was she? Horrible thoughts began to race through Rick's head. Did Alice disappear again? He tapped his foot frantically as he checked the time on the cafe clock again. He shouldn't have let her leave the apartment. He should have stayed home with her. Then Rick saw her walking through the door. 

     "Hey!" Rick stood up abruptly and walked briskly towards her, his eyes dark making Alice almost jump back. "What the hell?"

     "What's the matter with you?" Alice asked.

 

     "What's the matter with me?" Rick asked incredulously. "I called you 8 times where were you?"

 

     "Yes I got all 12 messages," Alice placed her hands on her hips her brow creasing in annoyance. "Things at the library ran a little long that's all."  

 

     "I see that your arms aren't broken or your fingers," Rick continued his berating. "Something else must have prevented you from answering my messages."

 

     "You are being ridiculous," Alice refused to be bullied like this in public. She looked around to see curious eyes on them. She was aware of more than human eyes too. She began to feel her adrenaline kick in that warned her of danger. 

 

     "Can we do this somewhere else...," she spoke through gritted teeth. "Privately."

 

  *     *     *     *     *

 

     They made it back to Rick's apartment. Rick vented out his full rage. He spun around and cried, "What the hell happened?"

 

     "I told you things ran late at the library," Alice held firm but before Rick could let any more angry words fall out of his mouth Alice finished, "Inspector Murdoch was there. He wanted to ask me more questions."

 

     Rick's face fell. He suddenly felt like an idiot. 

 

     "I also wanted to surprise you with some decorations for your apartment," Alice showed him the new flowers she placed on the kitchen table and outside on the garden ledge. Yellow flowers that really brightened up the room. Rick's cheeks flushed.

 

     "Ugh... I'm an idiot," Rick's shoulders slacked. 

 

     "I agree," Alice stormed off into the bathroom and slammed the door leaving Rick stunned with silence.

 

  *     *     *     *     *

 

     Wow, somebody needs a Happy Meal. Alice looked at herself in the mirror. She still barely recognized herself. She once had such light in her eyes but now that light had gone dim and the world seemed too bright for her. The sun made her miserable and the laughter around her made her ornery. Yep. She could use a Happy Meal. One with a toy though that probably wouldn't help her current mood. She understood why Rick was so crossed but to tell him the whole truth would be asking him to commit her. 

 

      Alice bought those flowers in hope of warding off whatever fairy was hunting her and to keep Callum out of her head as well. She could still feel him probing but there was a much stronger probe that made her queasy. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath then slowly exhaled. She heard Rick moving around in the kitchen. He was moving plates and pots. She'll have to apologize for not calling. 

 

      Alice reached into her pocket and pulled out the magical ring. Callum didn't tell her much about it only that it belonged to the King of the Fairies. She read about Cernunnos. The Horned One. He was also known as The Green Man. He was not Lord of the Wild Hunt though some said he was. Details that so far haven't helped her remember. All she knew was that the pictures she saw depicted a benevolent creature in stark contrast to the figure she saw in her waking nightmares. He was terrifying. For some odd reason she had this compulsion to put the ring on. Last time wasn't so great. Alice looked at her brand the circle with horns below her triskelion tattoo. Now she realized that it was Cernunnos's mark. She was his. But the compulsion was too much. She felt that putting it on would trigger something. The mysterious whispers called to her. They grew louder as she tried to place the ring on her finger. Her brand mark seared but Alice bit through the pain until she heard a knock outside not from her door but Rick's apartment. 

 

    Alice heard Murdoch's voice. 

 

    "Alice, it's the Inspector," Rick called. Alice ignored his call and placed the ring on her finger. Suddenly she was in a dark forest as if transported from Rick's bathroom. She looked around. It all felt familiar. Alice walked deeper into the forest. There was no sound except for the whispers. Alice saw a throne made of trees inside the thick trunk of an oak tree. Some of it started to come back to her. Beside the throne grew a piano. It actually grew from the nature surrounding her. Alice hated learning the piano but her parents insisted she have some culture. Now she played with ease. Occasionally when she needed to clear her head Alice would finger the piano. Maybe it would help her now?

 

     Alice sat at the piano, the whispers growing quieter as if to listen. Her favorite modern composer was Ludovico Einaudi. Her favorite song was "Eros". She played the first few keys then let the melody flow. She closed her eyes then after a few bars opened to see that she was not alone. She was surrounded by odd looking creatures. Some were disgustingly ugly while some were breathtakingly beautiful. They all looked a part of nature as if growing out of the forest yet a chill went down her spine when she sensed the same darkness watching her as she felt in the forest when it gave her chase. 

 

     Alice slowly turned around to see enthroned the creature with the skull of a stag for a mask and it's gnarled horns with it's bear, fox and wolf skins hiding it's humanoid form. Beside him sat a large cat like a panther but this one had a white spot on it's chest and it's black slitted eyes were like two peridot gems eyeing her like prey. Cernunnos petted his large cat which purred at it's master's attentions. The purr caused Alice's insides to vibrate as if the whole ground was shaking from the beast's pleasurable sounds. 

 

     Alice stopped playing. She turned to face the Horned God her heart caught in her throat preventing her from speaking. Or was this a replay of before. Her movements were on auto pilot as if she were reliving the whole ordeal. 

 

     "Play another," Cernunnos's voice was hollow, an echo in the winter wind but deep as if from an ancient age. Alice turned around and played another song. "Moonlight Sonata" by Ludwig van Beethoven was a classic. One of the first songs she learned to play on the piano. But what did it matter her feelings? She was a prisoner and she had done all of this before.  

 

     Time passed and Alice was in a cage that was made of twisting wood. They left food in her bowl along with a bowl of water. Alice's stomach began to growl. The berries looked so tempting. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten. Alice picked up a berry and was about to pop it into her mouth when she heard a man's voice, "I wouldn't do that."

 

     "Why not?" Alice turned to see that her cell was next to another cell. 

 

     "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to take candy from strangers?" he retorted with a dry laugh. "Ever even bother to read a fairytale?"

 

     "I'm not one for fairytales," Alice miffed. "I was never much of a Disney fan."

 

     "Ha," the man scoffed. "This is no white washed, glamorous cartoon, Lady Beethoven. This is the real deal Grimm Fairytale Boogie Man stuff. It's what nightmares are made of..."

 

    "Who the hell are you?" Alice called. She heard chains moving in the next cell and finally saw the man's face in the light. He had bleach blond hair and bright blue eyes while the rest of him was in black leather and feathers. It was Callum only she didn't know it was Callum yet.

 

    "Just call me Carthage," he said. "At your service, mate."

 

  *     *     *     *     *

 

    Alice woke up in a sterile white room. She heard slow steady beats. When she tried to move she felt a sharp pain in her left hand. She was in a hospital attached to heart monitor and she had a needle to transfer fluids into her body stuck in her hand. Rick was asleep beside her.

 

    "This is what happens when you try on magical fairy objects," Alice heard Callum's smug voice. She turned to see him casually lying back in a hospital chair. 

 

    "I'm guessing no one else sees you," Alice sighed very annoyed, "or else they would never have let you in here dressed like you just came from a Final Fantasy Cosplay." 

 

    "You're cranky when you wake up," Callum was full of snark. "I know what side of the bed you woke on."

 

    "What do you want, Callum," Alice retorted. 

 

    Callum grew serious, "You know exactly what I want."

 

    Alice looked around for the ring. She began to panic, "Where is it?"

 

    "I suppose the nurses took it when your boyfriend and the cop brought you here when you wouldn't wake up. Very clever with the St. John's Wort by the way. I couldn't get with 2 feet of your place," Callum walked up to Alice who inched away. "You still don't trust me?"

 

   "What do you think," Alice replied acidly. 

 

   "Ok, Miss Beethoven, if I wasn't trustworthy than I would have gotten that ring and left you here for Cernunnos to find you and take his vengeance on you."

 

   Alice still wasn't sure. She felt Callum was still holding something back but she would cross that bridge when she got the ring back. She had to remember more. 

 

   "I remembered some things when I put on the ring," Alice confessed. "I was playing the piano for that horned guy. He had a huge cat with him..."

 

   "Knew you would get some of your memories back... you remember anything else?" Callum was apprehensive. Definitely hiding something. 

 

  "Nope...," Alice lied. She needed to find out why Callum was in chains. "We need to get the ring so I can remember more. It's coming for me. It WILL find me. I don't have much time."

 

  "WE don't have much time, partner," Callum corrected. "Let's get you some clothes though huh?" 

  “Wait what about Rick?” Alice suddenly remembered that Rick was there.

   “He’s asleep,” Callum shrugged. “I put a minor sleep spell on him. Don’t give me that look he’ll wake up eventually and he’ll have you back in bed once we complete our mission.”

   “You’re shameless,” Alice scrunched up her nose in mild distaste. 

   Callum winked as he threw the dress at Alice who promptly caught it. 

  “Get a move on, sweet heart,” Callum smirked wickedly.

*     *     *     *     *

   If you would like for me to continue this story just make a request. Happy Writing!

Writing Prompt: The Stolen One 2

     This blog is for me that others may read. I spend at least an hour on each prompt then go back and edit it then post it. If I come back to it I come back to it but if I don't then oh well. I have so many stories in my head and get depressed if I don't write something so this is more therapy for me. Enjoy!

      Writing Prompts:

          Sometimes, there is no place to hide.

          "You didn't believe I was dead?" "Never."

     If you would like for me to continue this story please let me know.

Sometimes, there is no place to hide. Some have settled with going to a happy place inside their minds to escape the dark reality they faced but in Alice's mind there was no safe place. It was full of monsters. The local doctor came to look her over. They did a routine check with a rape kit. A woman gone for 7 years then returned some would assume she had been kidnapped, held against her will then used for her kidnapper's sadistic pleasure. Alice heard the doctor and Murdoch talking in the hall way. She was still very sensitive to her surroundings so she could make out what they were saying:

"No sign of abuse except for the brand," Dr. Bran deduced. "No sign of sexual abuse."

"You sure?" Murdoch asked. 

"I may be from the village but I have some amount of skill, Inspector," Dr. Bran sounded insulted. 

"He brands her like cattle, dresses her up and doesn't... use her in any way? You think it's Stockholm Syndrome?"

"She's well nourished, her clothes were clean," Dr. Bran continued. "Perhaps one day he snapped and tried to hurt her so she ran away." 

Murdoch wasn't so sure. Alice lay down on the cot in his office staring into nothing. The sedative they had given her made her quiet at least since before she wouldn't stop screaming. 

"You would have to ask her for the whole story," Bran shrugged. 

"Is it okay if I talk to her?"

"I think so but don't be too long," Bran cautioned. 

Murdoch entered the room quietly as if walking into a bomb wired room. 

"Miss Whitethorn," Murdoch coaxed. "I managed to find one of your friends, Rick Jameson. He's still in the UK."

"Rick...," the name was familiar then pictures of Rick's sparkling hazel eyes and happy face oozed into Alice's mind making her feel warm again. 

"He never stopped searching for you it seems," Murdoch mused. 

"Sounds like him," Alice smiled for the first time since her ordeal. 

"I gave him a call he should be picking you up shortly." 

*     *     *     *

Rick arrived at the station sooner than Murdoch thought. Rick burst into the station like a gust of wind asking for Alice Whitethorn. Murdoch thought he was going to rip the station apart looking for her. Murdoch finally brought Alice out to see him and Rick just stopped. 

"Rick...," Alice was afraid this was another illusion until she was swept up into Rick's arms. Tears formed in her eyes once she breathed in his familiar musk of leather mixed with Axe Body Spray and motor oil. 

"I got you," Rick whispered. They reluctantly broke their embrace but never stopped holding onto each other afraid that the other would dissolve like a mist the minute they let go. Rick had stayed in Cornwall after Alice disappeared. Hayley went home. Rick worked for an auto shop and every weekend he would look for her in the forest. 

They were always close friends ever since high school. People thought they would end up together but Rick met Hayley and Alice started seeing other guys. But there was always that spark between them. He looked so different now though. Aged a bit and kind of pale and thin as if he hadn’t eaten or slept right for those long years that to Alice felt like days.

"Hayley was ready to give up," Alice pointed out.

"She stayed as long as she could," Rick explained. "Hayley stayed for 3 months helping me look but she said it was time to go home... to heal."

"Then what happened?"

"The engagement was off...," Rick rung his hands his hazel brown eyes dimmed. "Hayley broke it off I mean."

"I'm sorry, Rick," Alice touched Rick's hand. Rick touched Alice's hand and squeezed it. Before Alice flinched at every person. The sound of their voice, their touch was like barbed wire being scraped against her skin but seeing Rick and being with him made that go away. Touching him was more of a balm than a wound. 

"It's ok," Rick smiled. He meant it. They left the station together arm in arm. Then as Alice was getting into Rick's car she noticed a man staring at her with burning intensity. He had platinum blond hair and ghostly blue eyes. He wore black and leather with iridescent raven feathers poking out of his sleeves and around his jacket collar. He had the look of a British rock star with his slack shoulders and thin frame. Some ravens had gathered outside the police station their eyes fixed on Alice. Alice felt chills running up her spine. Her adrenaline quickened. The hairs on her arm and the back of her neck stood on end. It felt that way sporadically through out their drive as she could sense the birds following her.

Rick took Alice from the station and brought her to his place. It was a nice apartment on the hill down by the bay. Cornwall was surrounded by forests but was also a fishing village. It felt like something out of a Grimm Fairytale. A quaint little town surrounded by magic. She could practically smell the enchantment as if it were a summer breeze. 

 

They made it to Rick's apartment. It was a plain apartment above a bakery. Rick never had much of a talent for decor. Simple sky blue paint. A dusky couch, TV set and a small kitchen.   

"I know it's not much but it's been home the past 7 years," Rick apologized. 

"No it's great," Alice quickly said. "Just needs some flowers to brighten it up that's all."

"I'm not a flower guy," Rick shrugged. Alice looked outside seeing the sparkling blue bay. She could feel every fiber and every molecule around her it was deafening. Even the sun seemed harsh on her retinas. Her eyes were still adjusting 

"You okay?" Rick asked. 

Alice's hairs stood on end when she saw the ravens outside the window. The adrenaline kicked in once more as her heart hammered in her chest. She sensed someone behind her and instinct took over. Alice spun around and smacked the hand away. Fear in her eyes like a frightened doe in a hunter's sights. Then she realized it was Rick behind her.

"Sorry," Rick backed away to give Alice space.

"No I'm sorry I...," Alice wanted to tell Rick everything about the man following her and the creature in the stag mask but something stopped her. 

"Hey it's alright," Rick assured her. "I have no idea what you've been through these past 7 years. You remember my uncle. He had PTSD. He was jumpy and would stare off into nothing like he was back in the jungle again running from Charlie and the crazy shit he had to do to survive in that POW camp."

Alice nodded. She took in a deep breath to try and relax her nerves. "I think I just need a shower," she reasoned.

"Shower's through there," Rick pointed. "I didn't shower today so there should be some hot water left."

"So that's why you wreak of motor oil and Axe Body Spray," Alice smirked. 

"The ladies over here go crazy for it," Rick joked. "American guy with that Yankee smell makes them feel rebellious." 

Alice laughed for the first time in she didn't know how long. Rick gave her some fresh towels and she made her way to the bathroom. Alice shut the door getting a good look at herself in the mirror. They cleaned her up a bit at the station but she remembered refusing to get out of her dress. Alice was down right insistent. For some reason she knew it was important to keep it. Not for the fabric but what it contained. The dress had a pocket that she fished in and pulled out something cold and heavy. Alice opened her hand to reveal a glittering silver ring. It's band was like weaving vines with small thorns poking out and in the center was a triskelion symbol; the same symbol that was on her arm. She knew that it was important. It was important for her safety. She just didn't know how or why yet. She fit it on her finger. It fit so nicely. Then her brand began to burn. The triskelion on the ring and her arm glowed red hot. The whispers in her head sang again.

*      *      *      *

Alice showered and ate and slept but her dreams were plagued with shadows. Her dreams were filled with monsters. The creature in the mask held her in chains at the foot of his throne with his black feline beast beside him growling at her. The stag horns were like gnarled branches that mached his wooden throne at the foot of an oak tree. Alice saw the ring on the stag mask's thin sharp finger. Then she saw the man in black leather and raven feathers. He was in a cage staring at her with those piercing blue eyes. 

"You owe me," he said. "If you don't close on your end of the bargain then we'll both pay the price." Alice's brand burned so hot it surged through out her entire body making her believe she was on fire.

Alice woke up screaming causing Rick to rush into the room to see if she was alright. She looked around wildly as if she were back in whatever hell she had escaped. 

"Nightmares...," Alice excused.

"I figured...," Rick stood still waiting patiently for Alice to tell him what to do. "Do you remember anything?" Alice shook her head.

"Sorry for waking you," she apologized. 

"Nah I was awake anyway," Rick shrugged. Alice's muscles slowly relaxed. She motioned that it was okay for Rick to sit on the bed with her. 

"To be honest I was awake anyway," Rick confessed. "Searching for 7 years I would dream about seeing you here then wake up and realize you were gone."

"You never believed I was dead?"

 

"Never." 

 

Alice smiled weakly as she tucked her hair behind her ear. Rick smiled broadly.

 

"What now?" she asked as her cheeks burned. 

 

"I missed the way you did that," Rick explained softly. "Tucking your hair back when you were embarrassed or nervous." 

 

"Shut up don't be weird," Alice laughed then playfully punched Rick in the arm.

 

"Didn't miss the hitting though," Rick pretended that Alice's punch hurt making her laugh even more. Her fear was slowly melting away like snow in spring time. 

 

"I'll uh... let you get back to sleep then," Rick ran his hand through his ebony hair then scratched his ear, a manner that Alice remembered was always a sign of Rick's awkwardness and uncertainty on how to proceed.

 

"Wait, Rick...," Alice caught Rick's arm her eyes pleading, "can you just sit with me until I fall back asleep?" Rick sighed relieved and nodded. He sat on the bed as Alice got more comfortable. Rick even tucked her in. He sat like a faithful sentry protecting her in the waking world.

*      *      *      *

The next morning Alice asked Rick where the library was. 

"What do you need to go to a library for?" Rick asked. "I have a laptop." Alice was in the bathroom putting on a dress that Rick had borrowed from the baker's daughter who was away at university. It was a bit too feminine for Alice's taste but she couldn't walk around in Rick's clothes smelling like a used car in an auto shop. The dress was a powder blue and white plaid. Alice felt like she was transported back to the 50s. 

"I know I just need to get out and books have always been a sanctuary for me you know," Alice explained. "Nothing beats the smell of books." Rick was still on the fence. 

"I'm not going to disappear again, Rick," Alice reassured him. Rick still wasn't sure. Alice managed to convince Rick to let her stay an hour at the library then meet him back at his apartment for lunch. Rick bought Alice a cell phone just so they could keep in touch. In truth Alice needed to do research and she didn't want Rick to know what she was researching. 

Alice made it to the library. No creepy British rock star following her this time but the ravens returned or they maybe they never left. Every instinct told Alice that she was still being hunted. She wasn't much for tales of fairies. She was more of a UFO chaser but after her experience and that ring in her pocket she was beginning to question that theory. She took out every book she could find on fairies. Iron and St. John's Wort were by far the best defenses against them. Alice could easily find some iron. As she read she rotated the ring in her fingers. No matter how much time it spent in Alice's hand it remained cool to the touch.  

"You're looking better, Miss Whitethorn."

Alice looked up to see Inspector Murdoch smiling at her. She smiled back, "Rick is helping me readjust but... it still feels so weird." She put the ring back in her pocket. Murdoch noticed but said nothing. 

"After the ordeal you've had I'm not surprised," Murdoch reasoned. Alice allowed him to take a seat. "Still don't remember anything?"

"Some things but it's all still a blur," Alice shrugged. Murdoch looked at her book selection. 

"New hobby? Researching local legends and fairytales?" said Murdoch. "I thought you were a UFO chaser?" Alice raised a quizzical eye brow as Murdoch explained, "I've read your blog from 7 years ago. It helps to do extensive research into the victim to see if there are any clues as to why they were abducted."

"I don't see how reading my silly blog would help," Alice figured. "But I'm not a detective so anything?"

"Nothing important," Murdoch confessed with a heavy sigh. "How are things with Rick if you don't mind me asking?"

"They're great," Alice shortly responded. "Rick's been patient."

"And where is he now?"

"At work."

"He let you go out on your own? I would think he'd take time off and spend time with you or even make arrangements to go back home to the States."

"I just felt... trapped," Alice explained but explained quickly, "Books have always been a sanctuary for me. I was the weird kid in class with glasses that made my eyes look like an owl. Luckily I got laser eye surgery and suddenly I was the hot girl." Murdoch looked at the book Alice was currently reading. 

"Cernunnos? The Horned God," Murdoch casually noticed. "Lord of Beasts and Guardian of the Forests." 

"I was looking up the symbol on my arm," Alice sputtered. 

"Doing some of your own investigating?" Murdoch admired though his police senses were tingling. "Maybe we should work together then."

Alice sat quietly for a moment. She fondled the ring in her pocket. Then she smiled rather weakly, "Yeah sure." Alice looked at the clock.

"I gotta go," Alice excused. "I promised Rick I'd meet him for lunch." Murdoch caught Alice's arm, the one that fondled the ring in her pocket. Alice froze like a deer caught in the head lights. Her heart pounded. They stared each other down. He was searching for some clue in her eyes then he picked up Alice's black moleskin note book, "Don't forget this."

Murdoch released Alice's arm and she took her note book back timidly mumbling "Thank you."

"If you need anything or find something let me know," Murdoch said. It was more of a demand than a request. Alice only nodded. She scurried out of the library. Just when she thought she was out of danger the hairs on the back of her neck rose and her adrenaline spiked. There was the blue eyed platinum blond haired man right beside her as if appearing out of nowhere. Before Alice could run the man grabbed her and swiftly took her to another place out of town as if traveling by wind. 

*     *     *     *

They landed on the shore outside of town away from curious eyes. 

Her kidnapper threw her to the ground and snarled, "Nice to see you again, missy. Time we had a chat." Alice rubbed her now soar behind and looked up at her abductor. His cold blue eyes made Alice feel cold. 

"Who are you and what do you want?" she demanded trying to sound unafraid. The strange man only chuckled. 

"And here I thought you were special but the memory curse cleaned your clock as well as the others," the man sneered. "Allow me to re-introduce myself then," the man gave a very low bow his voice becoming as smooth as silver, "I'm Trinkett and you and I are partners in crime."  

"You were in my dream...," Alice gaped. 

"Had to get your attention somehow," Trinkett looked at his nails casually. "The thing with memory is that it can be triggered by simple things such as smell, taste or sound but I wanted to get to the point."

Alice stood up and brushed herself off. 

"Nice dress by the way," Trinkett admired lewdly. "Better than the jeans I saw you in though they made your legs look shapely."

Alice's cheeks burned. She wrapped the skirt tightly around her legs also ready to fight if she needed.

"Oh relax you're not what I came for," Trinkett miffed.

"Really because the way you were looking at me in the dream and outside the station reminded me of the pervs in college who tried to pinch my ass," Alice scorned. 

"I'm almost insulted, missy," Trinkett cried. "I'll have you know I'm a gentleman." Trinkett straightened himself up trying to appear classy. Alice saw right through him. 

"A gentleman gives his real name," Alice said. Why did she say that? How would she know that Trinkett wasn't his real name? Trinkett raised his fine white eyebrow. 

"Well maybe I was wrong... maybe you do remember something," Trinkett came closer while Alice stepped back. "Go on," he goaded. "Say my real name." Alice searched her mind but nothing came. 

Trinkett shrugged disappointed then grabbed Alice's arm and reached into the pocket that contained the ring.

 

"I got what I came for," he whispered. 

 

"Wait you said we were partners in crime," Alice said quickly.

 

"Seeing as you don't remember I see no reason to honor our deal," Trinkett rationalized. 

 

"Give it back!" Alice cried. She may not have remembered much but she knew that ring was a clue to what happened and that she couldn't lose it. Then the name just came out, "Callum!"

 

Trinkett froze. Alice held out her hand and demanded, "Give the ring to me, Callum."

 

Callum had no choice but to obey. With begrudging eyes Callum handed the ring over to Alice. 

 

"So I was right," Callum sighed with some satisfaction. "You're starting to remember things."

 

"Not everything unfortunately," Alice looked at the ring intently trying to unlock it's mysteries with just her eyes. "I remember your name which gives me power of you-- I read that part in a book."

 

  "Well humans occasionally get some things right," Callum shrugged. "So I guess we're chained together again."

 

  "What do you mean?"

   

  "Cernunnos is coming for you and me," Callum became grim. "We were his prisoners and were going to be sacrificed for a Stag Hunt."

   

  "Stag Hunt? I remember reading something about that..."

   

  "Yeah well I'll save you the trouble and tell you that the stag isn't really a stag," Callum said. "It's us. We're on the Horned One's hit list and that ring is our way out."

   

  "But how?" Alice wondered aloud.