1.
Charcoal marked fingertips cast a blackened smudge upon the cold, pale cheeks of the sleeping girl. They danced delicately towards the pouting blue lips. Warm breath hung closely in the air from another pair of lips. It cast a strong contrast. The blue and the pink. One single kiss. A girlish giggle echoed around the stone walls of the almost empty crypt. 1
“Oh look at you, stuck here between life and death. How long have you been trapped here. So long with no release.” The long fingers wrapped deftly within the tangles of golden hair. “One little kiss, I could release you. Just a touch of my lips. Ooo.” A moan, deep and luxurious, escaped from a throat. It was a delicious prospect. 2
2.
“Save me. Oh please save me. It’s cold. It’s very cold.” 3
3.
Wet fingers slipped upon the hard, steel bars. Even as they were pulled backwards they remained nearly clenched, still grasping at freedom. The thud reverberated as a heavy body dropped to the floor. She whimpered, spreading her fingertips over the floor, feeling for the small black sticks of charcoal. Finally. They met. She clutched it to her palm, hands marked black. 4
4.
The girl lies, a veil of death cast over her form. She’s so still. But look. A whimper. Her blue lips are twitching. Her head is turning. She is stuck, trapped in a terrible nightmare. Oh gentle sleeping beauty. Who will help you? Who will set you free?5
5.
The scrawls upon the wall, an illegible mess originally, were smudged together as she fell against it and slid down to the floor. “How can I help you, my precious little girl? How can I save you?”6
6.
The bridge red drop of blood cast a ghastly sheen upon the curve of a pale shoulder. “Oh No! I’ve spoiled your dress!” The giggle ended in the sound of a hiccup. Above the sleeping form constant blood dripped from tiny but deep nicks. They marked the white gown that had previously remained a hundred years pristine. 7
“Let me fix it. Let me help you. You can not be rescued like that.” 8
With marked strength she hefted the girl to an upright position. She had previously looked so light but dead weight spurred the action. Fingers twisted frosted buttons, unlatching material and allowing it to release. She lay her back, spread bare. 9
7.
A piercing scream in the darkness.10
8.
“There. Much better now. Rest dear. It will not be long.” 11
She swept away, stepping over the crushed glass scattered upon the ground. Humming to herself. What? A lullaby. To soothe the sleeping beauty. She moved to the wall and bent. Picking up the charcoal it rested comfortably between her fingers. She dipped once again, the cold still chilling her palm. 12
“Are we ready dear? You have been asleep for far too long. Trapped within your nightmare. I’ll save you dear. I’ll save you.” 13
9.
A light touch upon her shoulder causes her to spin. It is warm and she gravitates towards it. 14
10.
Slowly, she drew back from the pale lips. Her own curved into a smile as she heard the staggered intake of breath. Upon the shoulders, which instantly began to warm, there sat the brand of a charcoal handprint. 15
The blue lips returned to pink. She smiled, eyelids beginning to flutter in awakening. “You s…” Her words were stopped by a firm fingers touch. 16
“Do not speak sleeping beauty. Do not speak. I have come to rescue you, and rescue you I will.” 17
11.
She gasped. Again the coldness overcome her. Hard steel slid easily through her breast like a heated knife through butter.18
12.
Reddened hands swam in a warm puddle. 19
She lifted one and licked. 20
13.
In the red see the sleeping beauty swam. Awaked, she was even more magnificent than the glass encased wonder she had previously been. Oh look, at how she swept a delicate hand through the water and lifted it to her face. Her reflection cast in an odd red hue. Oh yes little beauty. Gaze upon yourself in wonder. As so many had previously done.21
14.
Falling over covered shoulders, the gold locks knotted. She continued to twist and turn at her own hair, tugging on it a little, feeling the slight hint of pain. A giggle. Her head dropped back lightly to hit against the wall. The words surrounded her, almost drowning her. 22
15.
The waterfall. That’s it. Standing beneath the water fall the pale beauty washes herself clean. There is the hint of red upon her skin. Healthy skin. Bare she spins within the water. It is warm and cool at the same time. She does not notice the blue cast of her breasts, nor the translucence of her own lips.23
16.
Slumping lower, she washes away the words with water upon her hands. No one else can read them or the nightmare will never be over. She moves with speed, lost in a frenzy. A bell is sounded, loud and clear but the action remains completely uninterrupted. The doors are flung open and cold air suddenly fills the room, casting a chill upon its occupant. 24
“She’s so pretty. I have to save her. I have to release her and stop the bad dream.” 25
17.
She moves through the river, and returns to the bank. Standing upon it she steps through the trees and over to the laid out bed. No glass encases it any longer, it is spread about the floor in snow flake twinkles. 26
18.
Finally she is pulled away, heavy in their arms. They marvel at the coolness. The blue tint to her cheeks. Is she in shock? They are. Swallowing they lift her quickly from the room, watching the red drips leave a trial upon the floor, should she need to find her way home. 27
19.
She lays down upon the bed. There is already the print of her own body in the mattress. Set so long there, it has left a mark. A deep impression. She closes her eyes with a sigh, her lips curving into the ghost of a smile. One day she knows she will be fully awakened, and not only for a few moments. Awakened by the kiss of her true love.28
20.
Pristine white creates a contrast against the redness. It is dark. The sheet is lifted slowly above the head of the pale, sleeping beauty, with only one last look at her pouting blue lips. 29
“Where did she get that? How did she…”30
21.
Slowly, as she falls back into a world of sleep, the glass returns, reset and replaced.31
“Sweet dreams this time my dear. Only sweet.”
Author notes
Bahh
A contest entry
- Not your average fairy tale by Six-Feet-Underwater.
190 points, ended September 15, 2008, 20 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest - Happily Never After by Sha Wujing.
270 points, ended September 24, 2008, 11 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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Dead on what i wanted.
Nice work, and good luck. -
Chilling and very beautifully written. I loved it, the imagery was great and the tone was eerie and delcious at the same time. Wonderful, great job.
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Hmmmm... A child who didn't like sleeping beauty much? I like the story and wanted to see beauty grasp the truth of her situation. Yet, I felt the innocense was perfect. Great job.
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Chilling
a perfect unhappily ever after.
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