Chapter: Ten



“What are you doing out here?” the head that sat next to the decapitated body asked.
“I’m looking for someone,” Salem replied looking from the head to the horses eyes.
“You know, you’re not aloud to be out at the border to the forbidden forest,” the head said, glaring at him.
“I’m sorry?” he asked the coach driver.
“Come on I’ll take you back into town,” the driver said.
“Thank you,” Salem thanked and then walked over to the black carriage that waited in front of him. As he approached the door on the side of the carriage it smoothly opened.
“Guten tag,” a lady that was inside the carriage said in German.
“Guten tag,” Salem said back using some of the little German he could speak and understand.
The interior of the carriage was red and black. The seats were red velvet cushioning. A candle was lit behind glass walling of a lamp.
“So what are you doing out here?” the lady asked.
“I’m looking for someone,” he answered.
“Oh…..who are you looking for?” the lady asked in her German accent. He thought for a minuet, did Ash have a different name that she went by here? He wondered.
“Her name is Ash,” he said. It was a bumpy ride as the horses pulling the carriage picked up some speed.
“Hmmm, I don’t think I know her,” the lady mumbled.
“She might go by a little different name here, but where we’re from that’s what she’s known as,” Salem explained. She gave him a puzzled look.
“Where are you from?” the lady asked, pronouncing the where as vere. Not knowing how to reply he sat in contemplation.
“The land of the living,” he replied.
“Are you dead?” she asked.
“No, I’m not, but Ash is,” he explained.
“I’m sorry….it’s not easy coming here to visit the lost,” she said.
“Wait, Lady Angel gave you permission to come here?” the German lady asked in amazement.
“Yeah she did….why is it so special?” Salem asked.
“Why is it so special?” she repeated in a hush whisper.
“Yes why is it so special?” Salem asked again.
“Young boy, you are the first one here in over three long decades that’s come here alive and been allowed to stay,” the lady said.
“So Lady Angel hasn’t allowed anyone back in since three centuries ago,” the German lady continued.
“Is Lady Angel the only one who can allow people in?” Salem asked. The carriage came to a turn, it was a tight turn.
“Lady Angel is the only one who has both the power and the authority to let anyone pass through the Land of the Dead to the Land of the Living and vise versa,” she said.
“I thought that was Deaths job,” Salem said.
“Here we are, boy,” the carriage driver called from outside.
“Thank you, young sir, for the chat,” the lady said in envy.
“No, thank you,” Salem thanked and reached forward pulling the metal door handle back towards him opening the carriage door.
“Good luck and don’t fail…..for the sake of all of us, don’t fail,” the German woman said.
“Auf wiederson,” Salem said and stepped out onto the sidewalk.
“Auf wiederson,” the lady said and shut the carriage door.
“Thank you sir, for the ride,” Salem said to the headless man.
“I would nod my head in a gentlemen like manner, but it’s a bit difficult in my situation,” the headless horseman man said down to him.
“Heyah,” the driver yelled and then sent a whip crashing down on the backs of the horses.

Want to comment on this Short Stories? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Short Stories and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...