Bedtime Story III

Read Bedtime Story Part I here https://theprose.com/post/211815/bed-time-story-i

Read Bedtime Story Part II here https://theprose.com/post/212568/bedtime-story-ii

Anna was asleep. Her canoe had run aground on the shore near an old farm which was in disrepair. There was a young man working there who was in fact trying to repair it when he noticed the canoe and the beautiful girl that it contained. The young man decided right there that an unseen diety must in fact exist. Up until that point he wasn't entirely convinced but upon seeing Anna and how beautiful she was, no other explanation made any sense.

The young man brought Anna out of the canoe and took her to the farm house. Upon seeing her the farmer couldn't believe his eyes. It was like seeing a ghost. The farmer was convinced that Anna was his long lost daughter, who had disappeared over twenty years ago. When Anna woke up, she was surrounded by the farmer, who couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"My daughter, " the farmer said, " I knew someday you would come home." After the farmer said this he leaned over and kissed Anna on the forehead. "We must call everyone we know and tell them you have come back to us. I have prayed for this day." The farmer started to cry because he was overcome with joy.

Anna was startled. She had no idea who the farmer was nor his daughter but the farmer was so overjoyed to see her, that she didn't have the heart to tell him that he had made a mistake. She thought to herself, "If I tell this farmer I am not his daughter, he might have a heart attack right on the spot and everyone will hate me for it. It is better that I pretend for his sake."

Anna responded "I'm home papa. I missed you so much".

"Where have you been?" The farmer asked.

"I was kidnapped and after all these years I finally made my escape." She answered.

"But why were you tied up?" The young man interrupted, he was also there.

"I couldn't untie myself so I had to escape all tied up" was the way Anna explained it.

"That makes sense to me." the young man replied.

"Well you are here now and that's all that matters" the farmer said.

Anna felt restless. She wanted to explore her new surroundings and see what was around her.

"I think I'm well enough to get out of bed , papa" She declared.

"So you are" the farmer said, " This fine young man here will show you around."

"oh okay" Anna replied.

Anna and the young man walked into the village, which was not far from the old farm. As they walked, they had this conversation.

"Do you remember me?" the young man asked

"No, I'm sorry" Anna replied.

"Well, I remember you, you're unforgettable. I'm not just saying that, you are actually unforgettable. In fact, every single person who was alive back then remembers you, Every year on your birthday there is a street fair to celebrate you and it's really creepy because everyone just ends up crying uncontrolably but this year it's going to be different. This year everybody will be happy because you have returned to us," the young man explained.

Anna felt uncomfortable but decided to continue pretending. "I am very happy to be back. I had no idea everybody loved me so much." Anna wasn't sure what else to say.

"Well." The young man continued, " I love you very much even if you don't remember me."

The conversation turned awkward for Anna and so she decided to quit speaking at this point. The two of them walked into the village. As they passed, everybody stopped to stare at Anna. The news spread like a wild fire and soon a small crowd gathered. As Anna and the young man walked through the village, the crowd followed them. Soon word had reached the chief of the village and so he came out to meet Anna and personally welcome her back. The chief made a speech that addressed the crowd that went something like this.

"20 years ago, our beloved daughter was kidnapped and taken away from us. It was a sad day for our village. Her beauty and grace lifted the spirits of all who beheld her. Even though she was just a small child then, her kindness surpassed even her beauty. We never forgot her. We never gave up hope that one day she would be returned to us safe and sound. Today, our prayers have been answered. Today, we behold her beauty once more. So in recognition of this joyous occasion, we shall have a street fair tomorrow. we shall sing and dance and celebrate. To make sure she is not taken from us again, we shall lock her in the high tower tonight where no misfortune will overtake her." Once the chief had completed his speech, the crowd cheered. Anna gulped and the town magistrate escorted her to the high tower where she would spend the night.

Anna sat in the darkness. There was a small window but it didn't let in much light. It wasn't long before Anna realized that she wasn't alone. She could feel the breath of another occupant. She made herself ready to strike should the need arise. "Who the **** are you?" a voice inquired. It was a rough voice but Anna could tell it was the voice of a young girl. Anna moved closer to where the sound was coming from. "Keep your distance, I'm warning you." the voice threathened.

"I just want to see your face" Anna responded. "Please let me see your face."

The other occupant moved into what light there was in the room. Anna was staring at her own face.

"Who are you?" the voice demanded again.

"I think I'm you" Anna answered.

"You can't be me, I'm me" the voice corrected.

"No, I really think that I'm you. You must be the old farmers daughter" Anna surmised.

"I am but who are you and why do you look like me?" The farmers daughter inquired.

"My name is Anna, but I don't know why we look like each other." Anna confessed. "How long have you been up here?"

"I've been here since I was 6 years old. They put me up in the tower to keep me safe and then completely forgot about me. I tried screaming but nobody ever heard me." The farmers daughter explained.

"Oh no!" Anna exclaimed, "They did the same thing to me! Do you think they will also forget about me?" There was a frightned tone in her voice as she said it.

"They will! We will sit up here and rot forever!" the farmers daughter replied in a dramatic fashion.

"but how did you survive without food and water?" Anna asked

"I have food and water." the farmers daughter answered, "I've made friends with the crows and they do my bidding" she explained. The farmers daughter made a wicked face and creeped Anna out.

"Then why don't you have the crows steal the key to the tower so you can escape?" Anna asked.

"Well, I guess because I never thought of it before." The farmers daughter admitted. "But now that I did, I'll escape and you'll be stuck here."

"Why do I have to be stuck here?" Anna protested, "I'm the one that thought of it."

"Because the villagers worship me, not you!" the farmers daughter explained, "So there can only be one me in the village!"

"But I'll leave, you'll never see me again!" Anna begged

"That's right, I will never see you again because you'll be here, right where I can keep an eye on you!" the farmers daughter said. She let out a deranged laugh that sent shivers through Anna's spine.

So the farmer's daughter had the crows steal the key to the tower and she let herself out.

With the farmer's daughter free to enjoy the villager's worship of her, Anna found herself locked in the high tower all by herself with the crows.

That's all for now, Good night everybody!