Masquerade Read Online Free PDF Page A

branch
snap. Startled, I looked to where I’d heard the noise; there was
nothing there. I nudged a reluctant Jasper along, feeling silly,
yet I couldn’t convince my heart to slow down. A few feet farther
there was another snap, this one a little closer than the last.
Jasper’s ears pricked up, and he turned toward the sound. Suddenly
his nostrils flared, and he took off running. I grasped at the
reins but didn’t bother to try to slow him down; if he sensed
danger then I wanted him to run. I tucked my head down and urged
him faster. I thought I heard another scuffle behind us, but I
didn’t turn to look. Broken memories and feelings began building in
my chest. I felt like I might burst with anxiety. A sob
escaped.
    “ Not again.” I trembled,
urging Jasper faster. The roof of the barn came into view, and I
held on to the sight. I was almost there. I tried to listen for
anyone following but heard nothing except the pounding of my own
heart. When we reached the barn, I took a deep breath and turned to
look behind me. There was no one there.
    I felt silly.
    Though, silly as I felt, I didn’t slow
Jasper down until we were safely inside the barn. Once there, I
dismounted and swung the barn doors closed, bolting them. I ignored
the trembling in my knees and hands as I lead Jasper to his stall.
I tried to take comfort in the fact the horse showed no signs of
distress.
    I couldn’t.
    With Jasper in his stall, I walked to
a corner of the barn filled with hay, sank down and cried my eyes
out.

The Hate
    Her crying amused me. She
came prancing into the forest on that silly horse not even
realizing I was watching. The horse noticed, but as always she was
too involved in herself to notice that it was trying to warn her.
She trotted right past me, so close that I could have reached out
and touched her. Ahh, to see the terror in her eyes when she
realized that all that looking over her shoulder wasn’t for
nothing. That there really is a monster in the shadows…waiting. But
the time isn’t right yet, and it was all too easy to scare her. All
I had to do was make a single sound to send her fleeing the woods
with fear on her face. Her cowardice annoyed me.
    Months I have been
stalking her, and I still can’t figure out what it is that he loves
so much. I guess some might call her beautiful – well they would
have. I took care of that. With those huge, disgusting scars on her
face, no one can stand the sight of her. Still, he watches her. He
obsesses over her. He doesn’t see the real her, he sees what he
wants to see. He’s blind to her. What he needs is a lesson…an
education on all things about ‘little Miss Priss.’ Maybe then he
would finally see what world he belongs in. He’s fooled himself
into thinking that there might be some good left inside him. But no
more. I wonder who he will turn into when he sees her dead and
lifeless body lying before him. Yes, when she is dead he will
finally accept what he is and who he isn’t.

 
    The Hope
     
    Her crying was unsettling. I wanted to
reach out to her and take away her pain, but without pain there
would be no joy. I took a moment to close my eyes to feel the
warmth of love and peace course through me, and I sent it out to
her for comfort.
    It disturbed me that she
was being watched by those with sinful agendas. Her path was so
tentative it could turn either way. I prayed that she would choose
the path that would lead her towards happiness. She could be the answer — but she would need help. I looked
upon her once again; she lay crying in a darkened corner, looking
alone and lost.
    You are not lost. You are
brave.
    Love is the answer to it
all.
    Your turn for love is
near.
    I prayed that he was
deserving of her love. I prayed that he could cast aside what he
probably should be. It takes a brave and strong soul to deny part
of yourself, not many can accomplish it. I watched her for another long moment. It was still too early
to know which way this would go.
    The road