The Flickering

The New One

Master didn't like the candles. They reminded him of the girls he had to kill in order to please me. But I liked them. The candles where my friends. There was Jenny, Lucy, Alice... Everyone of them was buried in the backyard. None of the candles where lit though. I put one out each week whenever I hear my friend scream for mercy. That meant Master didn't think she was worthy enough to be my friend.

I looked towards the shovel that hung by the door. It was muddy. Master had buried my last friend a week ago. That meant it was Friday. I would get a new friend by the end of the day. That meant I could relight the candles and try again.

I watched the door for Master, excited for the new friend I was to get. His job was in town so it took him awhile to come home, usually after dark. He told me he helped people. Sometimes I would ask to come, so that I too could help people, but he never allowed me too. It was one of the rules we agreed on.

"Caroline"?

I saw a man with blonde hair and dark eyes walking up the steps to our cottage. He was smiling at me, and waving. In his left hand, there was a bag. A body bag. That was my friend. "Caroline, honey I'm home"!

I stood up from my seat to open the door. I smiled. Master was always very kind to me, even though he took my friends away from me, he did that to protect me. "Hello Master, how was your day"?

He hugged me with his free hand before he placed the struggling bag down, "Very good, how was yours"? He knew I wasn't allowed to leave, so there wasn't a wide variety of answers to that question.

"Planted new seeds in the garden, and knit another sweater". I had gotten quite good at knitting with all the extra time I have during the day. Master said he was proud of me.

"Now, would you like to meet your new friend"? He knew the answer. I was always excited whenever a new one came. He unzipped the bag.

She was a redhead. That was the first thing I noticed. She wore a purple shirt, with an matching barrette. She struggled with the ropes tying her hands and feet together. I asked for the tape over her mouth to be removed.

The first thing they do is scream. Ive gotten quite used to it. I didn't need Master to cover up my ears anymore. She started crying next.

"P-please, l-let m-me go! I-I didn't d-do anything"! She said between sobs. "Please"! Her eyes got puffy and red.

I slowly sat down next to her. "It's okay. Your just here to be my friend". I smiled. "What's your name"?

She let out a shivering sigh of fear. "Did h-he get y-you too"? She looked at Master for a second, then her eyes darted closed. We could hear her praying.

I touched her hand. "It's okay. Your going to be okay". The poor thing was shivering. If only I had made a fire...
"What's your name"?

Her eyes slowly opened. "Mandy".

I smiled again. "Well, Mandy, your going to be very happy here".

Master cleared his throat, which made Mandy shut her eyes again.

"Would you like anything"? I asked. "Some water", I noticed sweat and spit dripping down from her chin, "or perhaps the bathroom to freshen up"?

She nodded. I helped her up and showed her to the bathroom. We could hear her vomiting. I wasn't surprised. Most girls go to the bathroom when they first arrive. Either to cry or vomit.

I looked at Master. His eyes weren't red. That was a good sign. If he was annoyed or bothered by any of my friends, it would be noticeable by his eyes.

Mandy stayed locked in the bathroom until dinner. I notice her creep into the kitchen after awhile. "Would you like to join us, Mandy? I made spaghetti".

She sat down in the chair opposite of Master and I. As I continued conversation with Master, Mandy did not eat, which I suppose is normal for her first meal. She eventually picked up her fork when we started to finish up, but set it down again. I looked at Master, fearfully. Whenever a girl leaves a plate of food untouched, he thinks it's ungrateful of her. But he did not speak a word. I was relieved.

I helped Mandy get ready for bed. That's when she asked for her Mommy. I said we couldn't do that, and showed her to her room, opposite and similar to mine.

Master came in to say goodnight to me, like he always did. He was comforting, and I felt safe around him. He kissed my hand. "Goodnight Caroline".

"Goodnight Master". I sleep soundly, like normal. Until I woke up by someone crying. It was Mandy. I sat up. No no no, please Mandy, go back to sleep! I thought. Master disliked the girls that awoke him, he thought they wanted attention, that it was selfish of them.

I heard his bedroom door open. I heard him walk into the living room. Then I heard him slowly open Mandy's door. The crying stopped.

"No, please, I'll be quiet"! That was Mandy. She was practically screaming.

The walls weren't thin enough for me to hear what Master was saying, but I knew it wasn't good.

Then there was a banging sound. Then a thump.

I knew Master wouldn't be long. He always knew the quickest way to dispose of the body. I repositioned myself as if I had been sleeping. As I knew, Master creaked my door open just a few inches, "Caroline"? He whispered into the darkness.

I slowly sat up, pretending to run the sleep for my eyes. He never liked to know that I heard the whole thing. "Yes"?

"Sorry to wake you honey, but remember to wash the sheets in the morning, okay? All the sheets". I could tell from the moonlight glaring in from my window that he was carrying Mandy's body bag.

I nodded and put my head back down. He wanted everything to be clean before my new friend arrived the following week. Clean of blood.

As I heard him walk outside, I slowly got up again and opened my door. No, he can't hear me, he's in the garden. I had hoped.

The shovel wasn't in its usual spot in living room. I wasn't surprised at all. Friends don't usually stay more than a night anyway. Master never let them.

I let my eyes fall to the ground as I heard the shovel from outside scooping dirt. I was still sad every time. I had not gotten used to that sound yet.

As I took steps toward my bedroom before Master noticed I was up, I took a final look at the candles. I turned one over, and watched it slowly burn out.

Sleep well Mandy.