Irregular Days

Chime – Chapter 4

“It’s a nice place, huh?” Officer said with a smile as he opened the gate to the “orphanage” and led me inside. “You’ll have fun here!”

Ahead of me was a large white house. Much wider than the Old Lady’s house, but just as tall. Besides the dirt road that carried me here, the forest flanked the gated home in every direction. The confines were comforting to me. Was the fence built to keep the inhabitants in, or to keep the forest out? A few dozen children of various ages played about the yard, their voices melding in air and creating a screaming cacophony. As officer and I progressed towards the house, the children one by one stopped playing and watched us in silence. I wondered if they were sizing me up. I wondered if I could pass the tests their gazes provided me. They looked like me, but they weren’t me. The Shadowy man’s words echoed in my ear. “It is in the best interest of these mortals you do so love.” These mortals? Was I not one of them too?

My pondering was brought to an end as a large red ball sputtered to a stop at my feet, kicked astray from the game it was meant to be used in.

“Kick it back, Chime!” Officer suggested with a smile.

I stared at the ball. Kick it? But the ball wasn’t trying to hurt me. I didn’t hate the ball. Why would I kick it? I stood in place for a moment until Officer awkwardly kicked the ball back towards the group of children it had come from.

“Weird girl…” I heard him mutter under his breath. We continued towards the doorway, and upon arrival Officer gave it two knocks.

A few moments passed before the door was opened and we were invited in. An elderly woman, older even than the Old Lady stood to greet us. She stood leaning forward, like a bird about to take flight, with a face so wrinkled and weathered by time it was as if you could see the history of the world by studying it.

“Hello young miss.” She said with a soft, but raspy voice after flashing me a smile. “You must be Chime.”

“Hello Mrs. Valencia.” Officer said with a shy wave. Mrs. Valencia turned her attention to him.

“Oh dear. The trouble-maker returns.” She replied. I guess Officer used to live here too? “Is this what it takes to get you to visit?”

“Heh heh..” Officer rubbed his head with his hand. “Police work keeps me busy, y’know..”

“Oh I’ll have no such excuses, young man!”

“Please…” Officer stated desperately. “We should get Chime settled in.”

“Very well…” Mrs Valencia begrudgingly replied. “You know where the office is.”

Officer tugged me away a little harder than he usually did. As I was dragged out of the room, Mrs. Valencia glared at us. Officer led me down a hall and knocked upon another door.

“It’s us.” He called out.

“Come on in!” A calm and inviting voice replied. Officer opened the door and we stepped in. Sitting behind a desk stacked with papers was a young woman.

“Ah, this must be Chime!” The lady said brightly as she came out from behind the desk to see me. After giving Officer a polite nod, she crouched down next to me and smiled.

“I’m Ms. Olwen. I run the orphanage.” She paused as if expecting something, but after a moment continued to speak. “I’ll make sure you are very happy here.”

“She doesn’t like to say much.” Officer stated bluntly while motioning towards me.

“That’s quite alright.” Ms. Olwen replied as she stood up.

She walked over to the door and poked her head out.

“Mrs. Valencia! Could you show Chime to her room please?”

As the aged Mrs. Valencia hobbled her way to us, Officer turned to me.

“I’ll find out where you are from, Chime. Don’t worry.”

I gave him a nod.

“I’ll return soon, but for now you be a good girl for Ms. Olwen, alright.”

I gave him another nod.

Ms. Eleanor led me to a small room with little but two beds in it. Sunlight poked through the blinds and made stripes across my dress.

“This is it, Chime.” Mrs. Valencia said. “You’ll be staying with Eleanor. She’s a very nice girl about your age.

I wondered what this Eleanor was like. Could we be friends? Was she anything like me? Was anyone anything like me? Mrs. Valencia interrupted my pondering.

“Shall I bring you outside to play with the other children now?”

“Stay inside.” I replied. Mrs. Valencia let out a sad sigh.

“I suppose you’ve been through much and need a rest.”

I tried to smile, but I wasn’t sure what shape my face actually took. Mrs. Valencia looked at me strangely and raised her right brow.

“I’ll be just outside if you need anything.”

Mrs. Valencia left the room and the door slowly closed behind her. I was alone again. It had always ended this way, hadn’t it? No one stayed with me forever. I was always eventually left alone. What was I doing so wrong?

The words of the shadowy man played over again in my head. Was this place safe from him, or would he find me here in time? The notion froze me with fear. I never wanted to see him again. No more corpses. No more blood. Please, just leave Chime alone!

I stood in silence for a long time. I stood until the sunlight that had so brilliantly shown through the window blinds had began to retreat as day once again fell to night. Eventually a child about my size walked inside. This must be Eleanor.

“O-oh! H-hi!” She said loudly, fumbling with every letter of every word. “I’m…I’m Eleanor.”

“Chime.”

“Ch-Chime? That’s a p-pretty name.”

“Yes.”

We started at each other for a time. I had never interacted with another young girl before. What were we supposed to do? Eleanor was the one to break the silence.

“D-do you want to play w-with my d-dolls? She asked in a shaky and quiet voice that made her seem terrified of me.

“Play dolls?” Eleanor procured two raggedy dolls from on top of what must have been her bed. She extended one towards me. I looked at Eleanor for a second before grabbing it. The doll was poorly made, with stuffing starting to leak out of the cracking stitches that were no longer strong enough to do their job.

“Th-thats Annabelle.” Eleanor said with a proud grin. “Isn’t sh-she pretty?”

Pretty? This thing? What could possible be found to be pretty in such a dilapidated specimen?

“She was my f-first friend. N-now she can be your f-friend too!”

“Friend..”

“Of course!” Eleanor sang with glee before motioning to her doll. “This is Chloe. She was abandoned before like me, but now she’s about to be married to the prince of a faraway kingdom!”

“A prince?”

“Yeah!” Eleanor continued, her previous stutter slipping away. “Everyone deserves a happy ending!”

Eleanor began speaking for herself and her doll and blathered on about this and that. It seems this event was a cause for celebration and me and Annabelle were invited to the party too. Eleanor seemed to be having fun despite my, and Annabelle’s, lack of participation. She seemed happy. I wondered if she had always been as alone as I have. Maybe Eleanor could be my new friend. Maybe I could live a happy and normal life after all.

As if denying me a moment to dream, the Shadowy man’s words echoed in my mind.

“Stop resisting my pursuit now, ‘daughter’. It is in the best interest of these mortals you do so love.”

No, this place couldn’t be safe. The shadowy man would come for me as he always did. I couldn’t place Eleanor in such danger. But what could I do? What could I do…? My mind failed me and I couldn’t come up with any kind of plan. I was so very tired. Maybe one night of rest couldn’t hurt.

Eleanor and I played for a long time, and eventually it was time for bed. My eyes were heavy and I fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Chime – Chapter 5

My eyes snapped open and I was released from a hollow sleep. I wasn’t groggy like I usually was when I awoke in the middle of the night. I was alert. I was ready. Something was happening. Like the corpse in the forest, some instinct I buried long ago when I met the Old Lady was breaking out again. I’m not scared though. I’m not. Not this time.

I slipped out of bed and drifted across the room like a shadow. Eleanor was fast asleep. I looked at her for a moment as if to say goodbye. In that moment I hoped nothing more than a happy life for her. I left our room and crept across the house. I had never been here before today but my instincts guided me as if this was my home. My destination was unknown, but my body knew just how to get there.

I found myself in front of yet another door. I stood in the dark and stared at the door. What was beyond it? Why had I been drawn here? I didn’t want to see more death. I reached out for the knob and quietly pushed my way inside.

Mrs. Valencia lay on her bed. Muffled coughs escaped the pillow her head was buried in. The door closed behind me with a light thud.

“Who’s there?!” Mrs. Valencia said with panic as she looked up from her bed. I could barely see in this darkness, but she was paler than anyone I had ever seen before.

“Ch-chime?” Mrs. Valencia looked at me in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

How was I to answer? I didn’t know why I was here myself. I simply stared out at her in silence.

“You should go back to bed, dear.” She stated weakly. Maybe she was right. This couldn’t be somewhere I was meant to be. I hesitantly began to turn around.

“Chime.”

I turned back to Mrs. Valencia.

“Would you… indulge an old woman for a moment?” She asked, struggling to hold herself up enough to look at me. I took a few steps towards her.

“I…I never had children of my own. I want to be remembered. We may have only met this morning, but…” She paused for a second and lay back down completely. “Please remember me.”

Remember her? What was this about. Why would she care if I remembered her?

“What’s happening?” I asked lowly.

“I’m old, dear. I’m at death’s door.”

Dread crept over me and the bravery I felt minutes ago vanished. Mrs. Valencia was dying, wasn’t she? And where people die, he would show up.

“Remember.” I said with a nod. I swiftly left the room. I had to leave. I shouldn’t be here. I couldn’t be here. I ran to the door that led outside. The forest had always protected me. I would be safe amongst the trees. I twisted the knob, but it was locked. My head scanned the room for a way out, and it found it in a window. I grabbed a nearby chair and hurried towards the window. I climbed on the chair, pushed open the window and clambered out of it. I felt to the ground and landed on my side. A sharp pain shot across my arm, but this was no time to focus on that. I got to my feet and shuffled towards the treeline and the fence that blocked it out. As I reached it I turned and gave my very temporary home one last look.

Once again I was leaving somewhere that was supposed to shelter me. Once again I was on my own. How many times had I done this? How many times had I pushed similar events out of my own memory? I didn’t want to go, but I knew I had to. I turned back the fence and began to climb. One, two, three. Three seconds and I was over and in the forest. Just move, Chime. Don’t think.

I scurried through the woods as if something was giving chase, but I had no idea if anything was. I kept the road in view and followed it back towards the place Officer was from. Officer wanted to help me. Officer would give me food.

I ran and ran and ran, but my legs never got tired. I ran until night turned into day, and as the sun rose up behind me, I pushed into the building that Officer was from. All the people dressed like him looked at me, but the exhaustion my mind had hid from my body broke free as soon as I stopped moving. Before I could find him my vision began to fade and I couldn’t stand up any longer.

Chime – Chapter 6

I awoke once again to Officer and the gruff man talking. It was morning already, but my body still wanted to sleep. Still, I couldn’t help but hear the conversation nearby.

“It checks out.” stated the gruff man. “Timothy Wells does have a daughter who was reported missing 10 years ago. It’s been a long time, she probably just forgot her name.”

“I don’t know, how did he know we found her?” Officer replied.

“Who the hell cares, Williams?” yelled the gruff man. “We’re solving a ten year old missing persons case. Heartfelt reunions and all that. Now get moving.”

“…Yes, sir.” Officer replied as he walked over to me.

“Good morning, Chime.” he said with a smile.

“..Food.” I replied. Officer laughed a bit.

“We found your father. I’ll bring you to him now, I’m sure he has plenty of food for you to eat.”

“..My father?” I replied. What was he talking about?

“Yeah!” Officer exclaimed happily.

Officer walked me to his metal contraption and we began moving through the bustling town. Eventually we arrived at a large building. This area didn’t have any people walking around. There must not be much food around here. Officer looked out his window.

“This can’t be the right place. Who would live in a warehouse?” He looked over at me. “Does this look familiar to you?”

I shrugged. I don’t know. Was I really from this place at all?

“Ah, I guess we’ll check it out.” Officer got out of the car, walked around to my side and let me out. He took my hand and walked me up to a red door on the building. He knocked a few times, waited and then knocked some more. No answer. Officer tried the door. It opened up revealing a dimly lit, large open room. We stepped in.

“Mr. Wells, are you here?” Officer called out. “It’s the police, we have your daughter.”

“Ah, finally” called out a low voice. A man stepped out of the shadows. No, not him again. It was the Shadowy Man. The one who killed that old man. He looked at me revealing his vicious grin and his blood-red eyes. “It’s been a long time.”

“No!” I screamed out. “Stay away from me!”

Officer looked down at me. “Chime? What’s wrong?”

“Chime?” asked the Shadowy Man. “Is that what you are calling yourself this time?” His grin broadened. “How cute.”

“No, no!” I screamed out. “Stay away!”

“You’re coming back with me, like it or not.” he replied as he revealed his axe.

Officer drew his weapon and pointed it at the Shadowy Man

“Hey, drop the axe!” Officer yelled. The Shadowy Man laughed and slowly walked forward.

“Stop now or I’m going to shoot!” The Shadowy Man did not stop.

Bang, Bang! Officer shot the Shadowy Man twice, but he was not phased.

“W-what?” Officer asked confusedly causing the Shadowy Man to laugh harder.

“You can’t kill Death, boy.”

“D-Death? I thought Death had a scythe!” Officer replied.

“Good eye. He does, but that scythe,” Death looked over at me. “has a mind of her own.”

“W-what? Chime?” Officer looked at me in fear.

“I told them making a weapon out of a human soul was a stupid idea, but no. No one listens to Death.”

Death walked right up to us and touched me on the shoulder. Memories rushed into my mind. He was telling the truth. Death and I knew each-other quite well. I looked down at the ground.

Death smirked. “I see you’ve remembered everything. Remembered all the lives you have taken. Your place is with me.”

I didn’t reply. He was right. I’ve tried this hundreds of times. There is no escaping this. I am but a tool to be used to end the lives of humans. A tool to take a soul from one world to the next.

Death turned to Officer. “Just one loose end. You weren’t supposed to die for a long time, but I guess I’m going to have to break the rules again. She is always causing untimely deaths, that girl.”

Officer backed off, his face pale with fear. Bang, bang! He shot Death a few more times to no avail.

“No.” I said. “Leave Officer be.”

“What?” Death replied. “You’ve gotten attached to him? This is too much to take.”

“Everyone deserves a happy ending!”

Death chuckled at my words. “Ah, whatever.” He dropped the axe on the ground. Officer ran for the door, no one made any attempt to stop him. I closed my eyes an time seemed to stop. I hoped Officer and Eleanor would get their happy endings. As for me, I would never have mine. I no longer deserved mine.

“Alright, Chime” Death said as he turned to me. “Time to go. We’re years behind schedule.”

Death reached out and embraced his scythe. He was complete once more.

Filed under:
Chime, Short Stories by Tawny