Black Bird

LITTLE BLACK BIRD

Have you ever just wanted to disappear, clear into thin air, almost like...magic. Sitting soundlessly near her bedside window Rose faun knew not what perilous journey would soon befall her or why on such a gloomy Sunday morning she would briskly be whisked away into lands unseen and unheard of.

The only thoughts that seemed to rattle inside young Rose's mind were those of wind, the rain, and the invigorating feeling of the fresh world that surrounded her. To Rose today was unlike any other rainy autumn day in New England. Today was the first rain of fall, the symbol of the change of the seasons.

Rose adored the very thought of it. The fresh green leaves she had long ago grown tired of would soon dance off their stiff summer branches and burst into an array of copper colors driftingly swiftly onto the dampened dirt beneath her calloused feet. How exciting for her to finally experience something different, something fresh, something new! She could not think of a more pleasant event, and she would do all she could to bask in it's wonder.

Rose you see, dear reader, was no stranger to change. In fact it was in change she found herself at her highest level of comfort. How boring life would be without the twists and turns of fate emerging so unsolicited and unforeseen. What a happy coincidence it should be then that on such a blissful day  young Rose should find herself in the most unusual situation of all.

She sat there still as a statue her eyes gazing dreamily up at the vast red maple tree that stood scenically outside her. Just then a plump little black bird flew gracefully down onto a floating branch just below the windowsill. How lovely it was with its lustrous blackened feathers radiating underneath the glistening rays of the sun, just peeking through the thick autumn fog. The sight of it, plain as it was, absolutely mesmerized Rose.Her eyes grew wide with curiosity as she watched the small, swollen bellied bird tap gently on her bedroom window.

"Silly little thing." She grinned unlatching the lock, "Have you come to sing me a melody?" She jolted back abruptly as the frigid wind came rushing inside. "My goodness!" She exclaimed startled."It seems as though fall really has returned." She giggled gleefully and turned her attention back to the little bird.

It stared inquisitively at her for quite some time until an enchanting tune finally swayed its way into Roses ears. Overtaken by the melody Rose felt her body rock back and forth almost by nature. "Lovely." She heard herself mumble."Just absolutely lovely."

Slowly, she shut  her eyes falling deeper and deeper into a dream like daze. She felt herself gradually grow more a tune to her surroundings. She breathed out a peaceful sigh as a gust of wind swam swiftly across her body and the minuscule hairs on her arms briskly danced upright. The moments was so serene it was as if she was under some sort of trance, one in which she hoped to never awaken from. Almost abruptly the tune stopped and Roses eyes rapidly flickered open. She turned her face to gaze upon her fat kitten Francis staring intently up at the bird.

"Oh no." She whispered in a low voice. "Francis no, FRANCIS!" The stout snow stained kitten leaped resolutely  towards the creature flinging itself swiftly out the window. "OH MY GOODNESS FRANCIS!" Rose exclaimed peaking her head down at the naughty kitten. He crouched down with his tubby legs splayed out on the ground as he stooped down in stalking position. Not a hair on him was injured, lucky for him, it appeared as though cats really did have nine lives.

    "Oh you naughty thing leave him alone before you get both of yourselves killed!" Rose shouted down from above as she found her self crawling outside her bedroom window.  The air was moist and fresh from the heavy rainfall that briefly passed not long ago. Without hesitation Rose valiantly leaped out her bedroom window, just two stories high, landing feet first onto the cool, dewy, green grass below.

Francis sprung up in shock as Rose thudded next to him. "Come here now Francis you leave that sweet bird alone!"  Francis narrowed his eyes at Rose questionably  then turned his attention back to little bird, who stood ever so calmly ahead of them, just a few feet away. Instinctively Francis pounced towards it stealthily hoping to capture it within his grasp. Before he was able, however, the bird flew just a few feet further provoking Francis to keep running ahead. Rose ran tirelessly after them skidding barefoot across the muddied forest ground. She found herself running deeper and deeper into the woods until all that surrounded her was a magnificent display of red and copper stained leaves adorned upon an array of gigantic trees towering above her.

"Francis we've gone too far." She circled around the area in a wavering state of uncertainty."Stop fooling around now silly cat so I can get us back home!" Francis didn't listen he continued to chase after the bird until in one sweeping instant it dove strait inside a wide stone-well that charmingly stood  in the center of the wood.
      "Oh no!" Rose muttered in bewilderment as the stout little bird plummeted headfirst down the well. To her utter distress Francis leapt in straight after it, still in hopes of capturing the tricky little black bird.

She felt her heart sink as dozens of troubling thoughts swam into her mind.
He's dead.
No! He can't be dead!
Stupid girl of course he's dead.
No please he can't be dead.
Are you deaf? We said he's dead.
It can't be! He can't be dead.
Listen girl that's it he's dead.
No please!
What's done is done.
There must be a way?
He's down the well he must have drowned, by god dumb girl what did you think!
It's all your fault!
NO! Please let me just check?
Why check? He's dead.
What's dead is gone girl and what's gone is dead. Come away now.
Yes come away now child.
Yes darling come away.
He's good and dead. Forget him child. Forget the dead.
Now go home child .
Yes, go home and rest.
NO! He isn't dead! He can't be dead! I have to check! He isn't dead.
Foolish girl!
Ungrateful wretch!
Keep away!
Keep away from there!
Girl don't!
The cat is dea-

Just like that she was gone. she grasped the edge of the well with her skinny, twig like, arms and pushed her self off. She fell down, and down the never ending pit her eyes darting toward the pool of darkness that awaited her below.

She was in utter shock. What had she just done? She thought to herself. There was no going back from this, whatever it was. She felt her heart thud ceaselessly as her body plummeted down the well.

It was as if she had instantaneously  removed herself from reality. She felt as if she was stuck inside a dream or torn between the pages of some fairy tale. Alice in wonderland!* she thought to herself. *Thats it. Alice in wonderland! That's what this is. This must be a dream. I must have fallen asleep reading to Francis. It all makes sense of course! She felt her heartbeat steadily now as if all her troubles simply lifted like a weight off her shoulders. Rose sighed in exasperation as she continued to descend waiting for the inevitable moment when she would hit the ground and wake up from this awful dream.

Little did Rose know that this was, in fact, not a dream. This was destiny. Soon 16 year old Rose Faun would find herself in the most troubling of circumstances in the most troubling of times. Her boring, plain little life will be turned upside and everything she's ever known will vanish before her very eyes. Its her destiny you see, dear reader, hers and yours and soon everyone will be falling down the wishing well.