Dead at Midnight

this is the first of a series of short stories

 

I pulled her closer to me as the ball music played on. The violins screeching a beautiful melody. Her purple gown with descending black vines made her look like a princess. I wrapped my arm tightly around her waist and took her hand in mine.

"You know I can't dance Michael," she said with a smile.

"There's nothing to it." I said twirling her and taking two steps two the left, then right. "You're dancing, see?" Her cheeks turned bright red. The clouds moved apart allowing light to illuminate her angelic face. I twirled her around once again. Her dress moved with her gently like leaves in a light summer breeze. Several strands of her ash blonde hair, which had been securely tucked behind her ear, fell into her face. "You're so beautiful, did you know that?" I said looking into her loving silver eyes only to see they were glazed over. I furrowed my brow. 'No. No. It cant be midnight,' I thought 'not yet.'

"What's wrong?" she whispered.

"Nothing," I looked at the haunting clock tower. "Come, lets go for a walk Lunalle."

" Let's."

" Through the cemetery? The woods?"

   “Woods. You know how I feel about being near death.”

   I laughed uneasily. “How could I forget something like that…” She’d lost all color in her skin making her ghostly white. I squeezed her hand gently.

   “Ow…” she mumbled

   “Oh…sorry. Let’s just go back to the house.”

   “No.” she said firmly. “I want to go for a walk. It feels like I haven’t had any fresh air for a long time. I’m not sure why but I’m so sensitive right now…it’s strange.”

   “It’s only because you were ill.”

   “Funny…I don’t really…remember being ill.”

   “You slept through most of your sickness.”

   We headed into the woods to the pathway my father built around the lake. She began to shiver soon after we started following the mosaic tiled path. “It seems I’m becoming sick once more. I’m so cold all of a sudden Michael…”

   “We can go back to the house Love.”

   “No! This fresh air is just what I need.”

   “Alright. Alright.”

   I kissed the tip of her nose, before wrapping my arm around her shoulders. We followed the path around the lake until we arrived at our spot. The spot that one summer I cleared out by hand. That I painstakingly decorated with furniture and carvings in the tree bark. The spot I dragged a ladder to and fro to create a skylight just for us. The moon light shown through giving everything a heavenly glow. I sat and offered Lunalle a spot on my lap.

   “It’s a wonder I made it all the way here. I’m so tired.”

   “I love you so much.” Her hands were so boney, her face, though it would look beautiful to me regardless’ had yet to begin changing.

   “I love you too Michael…more than you will ever realize.”

   “I have something for you.” I pulled out the engagement ring that I’d been carrying around in my jacket pocket for two years. The band was solid gold. It had one large diamond in the centre and three smaller ones on either side of them. I lifted her off my lap and placed her in the wicker chair. I got on one knee and her slowly dulling eyes lit up. “Is that…that…for me?”

   “Yes.” I slipped the ring onto her delicate finger. I lifted her chin and kissed her happily. Her mouth was soft. I loved the taste of her despite the strange after taste. “I love you,” I said kissing her once more.

   “I love you.” she said collapsing into my arms and kissing my neck. “I’m tired.” I lifted her into my arms and quickly carried her back to the Victorian mansion. “When did you get so strong…” she asked quietly

   I frowned. It was 11:45. ‘Only fifteen minutes left’ I thought as the ball music seeped out of the open windows. The waltz was being played. It slowly shifted into piano music. Beethoven.

   I sat her down as gently as I possibly could ensuring that her hand stayed in mine. “I love you. I love you. I love you.” I whispered. “This is the happiest I have been in years.”

   “Why is that?”

   “It...just is…I mean we haven’t had this much alone time in a while.”

   “True.” she sighed

   “You’re so beautiful and always in my heart and soul and mind. If I died I would wait at the gates of heaven for you.”

   “I would do the same for you.” she kissed me.

   “What a relief to know…”

   We walked inside and I helped her onto the couch. “I’m…so tired.” she mumbled. Her eyes lost what was left of their color. Her cheeks no longer held any color. I leaned in and kissed her passionately for what very well could be the last time. I took her hands in mine as the clock struck twelve. Over and over again I said “I love you.” As she began to fade I quickly said “I love you Lunalle. Wait for me in heaven. I love you.”

   “I will. I love you Michael…” she whispered with a small smile and was gone.

   I stood their petrified. Just starring at where her body had been laying seconds before. The clock struck a quarter to one before I finally broke out of my trance and made a dash toward the cemetery. ’I’m not sure what I’m expecting to see. I already knew what would happen when the spell wore off.’ I hesitantly walked through the crumbling gate. My legs grew heavier with each step I took toward her grave.

   I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths before looking at the headstone. Nothing. I sighed and began to walk away. Reluctantly, I took one more look. This time I saw her,the way I remembered her. “I’m waiting for you, my love.” she said with a warm smile.

   I made a heart with my shacking hands, she did the same with hers then faded away. I walked away with a tiny flame of joy in my heart. What a night. Too bad I couldn’t have told her she would be dead again at midnight.