Photo Credit: Vanessa Barger
Memory
History oozed from every piece of rain-polished stone. I sidled closer to the wall and ran my hands over a few of the bricks, glancing around as if what I did was illegal. The Yeoman Warder, in all his regalia, stood over the crowd, gesturing and discussing the history of the site. We stood in front of Traitor’s Gate, the water replaced by damp tan and cream gravel.
For a moment, the world darkened, and it seemed the water rose, the crowd disappeared, and a boat slid silently to the other side of the gate. Doom weighed heavily on my shoulders as I watched a cloaked woman with dark tendrils of hair alight.
“Mercy! Come on!”
I blinked, my sister, Anna tugging on my hand as we followed the crowd further into the castle. Everywhere I looked, the Shades of history crowded the visitors. Screams mingled with the wet, grisly thud of the ax when we neared the chopping block. Priests gave service in the chapel as we sat and listened to the Warder talk.
We wandered back into the walls of the Tower, and I blinked again, allowing the Warden to lead me and my sister to a small room. My sister handed him something, and he nodded.
“It will be all right, Mercy. Just rest.”
I turned, and the world stopped. I’d been wearing a windbreaker and jeans when we entered. Now, my image in a tall mirror flickered, just as the electric lights faded from my vision and a Tudor dress weighed down my shoulders.
My sister, dressed similarly appeared behind me, a cold smile curling over her lips. “Now we’ll see how much you like history.”
“What is going on?”
Her fingers tightened on my shoulders. “I’m tired of the jumps between lifetimes. This time, when they lay your head on that chopping block, you won’t escape the bite of the ax.”
My hand crept to my throat and I searched my mind. I didn’t know what she was talking about.
“Don’t play that game with me, sister. I know your tricks. You remember. You always remember.” Her eyes unfocused for a moment. “That is always the problem.”
***
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Ooh, love this twist lady! At first I thought maybe she saw ghosts, but I loved that you have her able to jump through time. Cool idea! Oh and great pic this time! I love London/England, the UK for all the history. I wish I’d been able to spend more time there exploring last time. I got to see so much, but would like to go again.
Thanks! I think we should take a YAFF trip… all descend on London at the tsame time… it would never be the same…. lol
Ooohhh, how wonderfully creepy!
Thanks!
Great story, Vanessa. I wonder what does she remember though? Her death? Some treachery her sister committed?