Innocence Lost [HHWC]

The red bricked building was the only thing I could see. It blocked out the sun and cast a shadow that seemed to remove the colours from the flowers growing in the garden. If they were anywhere else, their bloom would lift spirits and pollenate happiness within all who saw them. But not here. Here they seemed to grow not through the beauty and wonder of life, but through the fear and loathing of death.

I was not alone in this dark place, as I looked around me I could see thirty or so others like me, all with the same display of confusion and fear upon their faces. And, like me, they all were held in place by towering giants. These giant gaolers stood clutching our hands and wrists, or palms outstretched on our backs in case we should attempt escape. They were mostly female and only spoke to each other, communicating with us through sympathetic smiles. They seemed reluctant to bring us here, as if they had no choice, something compelled them to escort us to this place. I didn't know about the others, but my giant had been with me since I could remember and until today had been kind and warm. Today however, she seemed different. Maybe, I thought, the past was a rouse to gain my trust and my delivery here. 

In the centre of the building stood a pair of dark oaken doors each with multiple square windows laid out in uniform. Above them was a large stone block engraved with strange markings, one resembled a snake, another a crescent moon, two suns and others that I could not decipher. In the reflection of the windows I surveyed my surroundings trying not to pause on the terror stricken faces of my struggling kin. Whatever lay beyond these doors instilled fear into us all through legend and unknown. I had heard stories about this place, tales of lost innocence and folklore of fear. I had met people who had been where I stood now, and they were different somehow, something here changed them, and not for the better.

As we stood waiting for our fate, the cries and screams rose through our crowd. None of us wanted to pass through these doors, even those who had arrived with smiles now echoed their neighbours' wails. 

In my mirrored view I saw a giant turn as it's captive slipped free. He ran for the gates with all his might, the shale pathway spitting with every step. One by one we span around to see his valiant escape and held our breaths. He was so close, I could feel our spirits lift with every yard he ran. However his collosal captor had not been ignorant of such an attempt and her hand clamped around our newfound hero's arm and hoisted him into the air. We all snapped back as his cries rang out and we fixed upon the building rather than see what horror lay in store for him. He screamed for what seemed like an eternity until silence, and no more was heard. A wind took our breaths as those of us at the front looked at each other for support. Some tried to see what had become of the escapee but the giants would not allow it. Whimpers began, a choiral harmony of terror and dread.

As the crowd shifted and moved like a sliding puzzle, I saw a girl. She was dressed in pink gingham, had blond platted hair and stared at me with tears on each cheek. I could feel her anticipation of what was to come, indeed I felt the same. I smiled through my own dispair and attempted to instill calm, but as the giants could not maintain peace, neither could I. 

My attention was caught by a noise coming from the building that sounded like a thousand bells ringing in unison. It's resonance shook my bones. The crowd shifted once more as the giants guided us towards the doorway.

With the girl engulfed by the moving crowd, I looked back at the windows and saw a giant, not in reflection but this time from within the building. She grew closer and stood smiling in the frame. This was it, the moment of truth, all our waiting was finally over, what lay in store for us was now unavoidable. All around me were silent as one by one they saw the figure in the glass. The doors creaked open slowly and the giant emerged, still smiling. The other giants seemed to know this one, and I sensed relief in them as she strode from the doorway and onto the step. She surveyed us all with scrutinising eyes maintaining that empowered grin that oozed omnipotence. She stooped her head, her gaze fixed upon me, her eyes seemed to pierce my very soul as if she knew my every detail. Then, still smiling, she spoke.

"Welcome children to Middlefield Primary School. I'm Mrs Coultard the Headmistress..."

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Don't know about anyone else, but the first day of school was a pretty scary experience.

Hope you liked it, a different take on the usual scary story.

Sendran.

Very, very good story. I was leery of reading it at first because I figured it would not be my cup of tea, but I must say I was very pleasantly surprised. Good writing style and it really held my attention. Plus, exellent ending!

reply to post by peewee1263


Bloody hell you were quick!

Thanks for reading, glad you liked it. I tried to keep the story from revealing the location as best I could.

Sendran.

Wondrful and captivating story telling - Yes it brings back my first day at school - Thank you for helping me recall it from a childs perspetive - I started school in1958 - I remember being slapped about for day dreaming - I have posted childhood experiences in another thread. Teachers were bullys back then apart from our Art Teacher who was more enlightened - We were taught to parrot information and ruled by fear and mockery

Originally posted by artistpoet
Wonderful and captivating story telling - Yes it brings back my first day at school - Thank you for helping me recall it from a childs perspetive - I started school in1958 - I remember being slapped about for day dreaming - I have posted childhood experiences in another thread. Teachers were bullys back then apart from our Art Teacher who was more enlightened - We were taught to parrot information and ruled by fear and mockery

Tears came...they didnt fall, but made thier prescense known nonetheless. Very good and touching. Thank you.
What a way of describing something that others may never give a second thought to...Bravo.

reply to post by artistpoet


Thanks for reading, I hope I didn't drag any supressed memories to the forefront! I attended one of the last grammar schools and some of the teachers there sound similar to yours. The more important the teacher the larger the bunch of keys, and our music master was a deputy head. Sleeping in his class was too easy, but the pain from those keys was like caffiene!

Sendran.

reply to post by psyko45


Cheers for the reply. I wanted to do something a little different after a few failed attempts at horror and one that wouldn't be in any way classed as a short story!

Love the signature.

Sendran.

Originally posted by Sendran
reply to post by artistpoet

 

Thanks for reading, I hope I didn't drag any supressed memories to the forefront! I attended one of the last grammar schools and some of the teachers there sound similar to yours. The more important the teacher the larger the bunch of keys, and our music master was a deputy head. Sleeping in his class was too easy, but the pain from those keys was like caffiene!

Sendran.

No quite the opposite it was liberating - You have a great talent for writing - Bravo

Lol. That was fun! I enjoyed it.

Very enjoyable, vivid images, and an awesome twist at the end!

S & F for you, thank you for "raising the bar", and encouraging me to step up to the plate (maybe), eventually.

JR

Twist and shout! Ah, but to have had it be what I had hoped it was... It is all good though, you really had me going, problem was I didn't want to take time out from your story to go...

reply to post by Sendran



Your story left me holding my breath till the end in anticipation to the fate of the children. Your ending made me giggle and reminisce my first day of school

Surprising ending, enjoyed the story. Good job!