A Lock Of Blue (Part Two)

It was getting dark. The sunset had faded away, leaving behind it only a thin strip of blood on the horizon. The long-grass and wildflowers in the field blew as a soft wind combed through them lovingly. Two lone sheep jumped the piping that stood in the middle of Farmer Iad’s field. Close behind them ran two young girls in overalls and sandals, with daisies in their hair. They looked almost like two porcelain twins; except for their hair- Melody had a lock of blue in her blonde hair. Aimee didn’t. Melody had begged her mum for the dye job; everyone had weird hair these days! Her mum had taken along time to cave in; after all, twelve year old girls shouldn’t be getting their hair died, right? Melody finally got what she wanted though. She always did, really. Melody always got what she wanted. This also explained why they were out so late in the middle of the fields on their own. The two girls had been allowed by their parents to sleep out in the piping. They’d brought sleeping bags, torch lights, sweets and cola. Oh, and Melody’s Keeshond Amber, which could have easily have been mistaken for a ball of brown wool even in daylight. 1

Unbeknownst to Melody however, was the man who’d been following them, and the fact that Aimee was soon going to get scared of the dark and turn back. 2

Melody plopped down onto the dumped mattress in the middle of the piping, giggling as she sunk down into its broken springs and saggy material. Aimee jumped in after her, holding the lit flashlight close to her chest and staring around into the darkness. 3

“Come on then, goose,” Melody grinned, showing her pearly teeth in a little smile, “where’re the jelly worms?”4

The two girls searched through their bags, unravelling their sleeping bags and chomping on various sweets they thought lost for good. Amber ran around their feet, yapping and tugging at the bags with her little teeth.5

The man who’d been following them stopped and watched from a distance, eyes lustful, unconcerned of any following parent. He already knew that they were on their own. For the whole night. Delicious. 6

“Melly, it’s cold and scary out here,” Aimee whined, huddled in her sleeping bag, blinking out at the night. “Can’t we go home? I’m sure mummy won’t mind too much.”7

Melody frowned. She knew this would happen. She just knew that Aimee would ruin her fun. If Aimee had to go back, then so would she.8

Acting like it meant nothing to her, Melody stroked Amber’s soft fur and said in a simpering little voice, “fine, fine, you go run back home to mummy. Just make sure nothing doesn’t gobble you up on the way back.” 9

Aimee looked affronted and then stood, gathering her things, “I’m going home. You stay here if you want, but mummy will tell your mummy and then you’ll have to come home too.”10

“Whatever, Aimee. Talk to you later.”11

Sulking in the darkness of the piping, Melody watched her friend disappear off down the road, until she was out of sight. She sighed, hugging Amber and then turning off the flashlight and snuggling into her Barbie sleeping bag. 12

Melody was scared too really; everything was too out of the ordinary for her. She’d have loved to be home in her bed right then. She fell asleep at some point, the fear riddling her dreams, and Amber curled in a corner, tired as well. 13

The man didn’t waste his time. He knew full well that as soon as Aimee got home, Melody’s parents would be alerted and someone would be sent to take her home. He slipped into the opening of the pipe and looked around. The dog was no threat. 14

Sometime in the night, Melody screamed. 15

-x-16

Aimee snuck into the house that night because she was too scared of what Melody would do if she got taken back home in the middle of her great adventure. 17

Farmer Iad came to herd the cattle in at six in the morning the next day and was surprised to find Amber wandering around, blood soaking her toffee fur. 18

On the fifth day of Christmas, twelve-year-old Melody Bishop was found dead in the abandoned piping that ran through Farmer Iad’s field, not twelve hours after she was announced missing. She was only recognisable by the lock of blue in her hair. 19