Dignified Plague

They come when they wish, not when you are prepared. They take what they want and leave nothing in return.

Dignified Plague

They barred the windows, they locked the doors and hid in the cellars – mothers holding children close to themselves, fathers grasping whatever they intended to use as a weapon so hard their knuckles turned white. Everyone strong enough was holding a piece of iron – any piece at hand. Much as the odds were against them, they were determined to try.

The Lords and Ladies came: elegant, colourful and laughing, like a flock of exotic birds. They strode lazily through the abandoned village. From time to time one of them would open a door and peek inside, but they never entered. It was almost as if they were guests on a banquet and were choosing what to eat.

Having done nothing, it seemed as if they were going to leave. One of them suddenly stopped as a smile spread across his face. He was a handsome man and yet the smile came off as unpleasant and cruel. With a dramatic flare that would have looked ridiculous, if performed by somebody else, he pointed at a small cottage. A woman went over to the door and pushed it open. Unlike before, she didn’t peer inside but strode in confidently.

Without stopping or looking around, she headed for a small rug carpet and kicked it away, revealing a trap door. With the same eerie smile that the young man before displayed she beckoned two other men. They rushed to her side: one opened the trapdoor and the latter jumped into a dusty cellar.

He looked around, raised his arm and flicked his hand – a moment later a small ball of light circled over his head. It wasn’t very strong but enough to see. What he saw must have pleased him because now he too was smiling.

There were several children huddled together and in front of them a woman with a knife. The man ignored her and focused on a smallish girl of maybe six. The girl looked back, the expression of fear slowly melting, as she stood up. Then she took a step forward, her face dreamy…

And the man smiled, as unpleasantly as the others. The Lords and Ladies took what they wanted…

Author's Note

Constructive criticism wanted. If you see a way I could improve this, please tell me.

Reviews

[Lyndie Bolt aka JustRac..]

with this "came of as unpleasant " Did you mean "off" instead "of"?

This is a rather creepy piece. Ar the Lofds and Ladies real people or a supernatural creature? Time period is hard to pin point also- seems a little monder with the imagery of a light bulb being turned on but not actually being called that. Seems old though too with the cottages and iron tools at hand. Creepy, but very good!

[Phoenix Alleena]

This was a brilliant piece!
I noticed but one thing; Preformed = Performed,
But it doesn't matter-- it still got the point
of the story across. It was terrifying
and the imagery was incredulous.

So Good job! Keep writing!

[269]

Well...you might give the characters depth. This just my thoughts, because I like my characters to speak and think. But then in real life, I am always wondering what people are thinking and why they are doing this or that. Thanks for the story, charly