Chapter 1 – Chilling Temptations
It is common knowledge that there are people that say they fight for truth and justice, but they’re really fighting for what they define as truth and justice. People are known to redefine what is good and true with what they think it is because they feel it is true. Few are willing to submit to the real truth since they have to change the way they live and give up some of the comfortable parts of their life. Charlotte is a woman from a suburban town called Chilly Meadows, which is far away from the rest of civilization. She falls into the category and doesn’t know it, like most people.
Today is a normal day for Charlotte who is walking home after doing some errands. As she travels along the road on her family’s horse, she notices that a family is moving into a house not too far from her house. She sees that the family has entered the house and left most of their stuff outside their house. Seeing some pretty items, she goes over to take a look. Various kinds of statues of beautiful women, angels, and saints are among their possessions along with different kinds of valuable silverware. Some of it is fairly large, but there are some items that she could fit in her pocket. A chilling breeze blows on her as she looks at the valuable houseware.
“Take it,” a feminine chilling whisper says as Charlotte’s hand caresses an item that holds her attention.
“I could, but why?” Charlotte asks the whisper while thinking she’s asking herself.
“Think about the money you could save. You could use the saved money to help your parents or yourself. Maybe you could even give it to the poor or to the church.”
She holds the item and admires it.
Another breeze blows in the opposite direction of the first. This one feels more comforting than the other.
“Don’t take it. The consequences outweigh the rewards,” a feminine whisper says to her.
“But no one while see it,” the whisper responds to the other.
“Have some integrity, Charlotte. It is wrong to steal, so don’t do it.”
Charlotte thinks about it for a second before putting the item down.
“What about this thing?” a whisper asks, drawing Charlotte’s attention to another item.
Charlotte touches the item and thinks about taking it as if taking this item is less bad than taking the other. A man and his family walk out from their house to see her admiring their things.
Seeing that she’s being watched, Charlotte stops touching their things and says, “Hello, you have a wonderful collection of housewares here. I’m Charlotte.”
She holds out her hand with a smile and each member of the family shakes her hand and introduce themselves. What catches her attention is the man who is blond with brown eyes. He wears a striking suit and appears to be a businessman. She also seems to have caught his eyes as well as the two stare at each other for a couple seconds.
“My name is Alec. It’s nice to see that this small town has pretty women in it.”
She blushes. “Thank you. It’s nice to see that there’s a handsome man living next door to me. What brings you here?”
The father explains, “We’re just moving our humble suit tailoring business here. We heard that there weren’t many suit tailors around here, so we’re here to help and make an honest living.”
Even while his father talked, Alec’s presence drew Charlotte’s eyes to him every few seconds.
Charlotte then says, “We’re a welcoming town, so I’m sure you’ll become fast friends with a lot of people here.”
“What do you do here young lady?” the mother asks.
“I’m just a meager house cleaner. I help people keep their houses and farms in top shape.”
“You’re dressed awfully well for that job.”
“That’s because these are my mother’s clothes. Even though the people here are generous in paying me, I just love my mother’s selection of clothes. It makes me feel like she’s still with me.”
“What about your father?” Alec asks.
“He’s a farmer. He helps supply the town with fruits, vegetables, chicken and cow meat, and whatever else a farm can grow.”
“Does he have help?”
“I help him from time to time, but he does have hired help. I just wish he could take longer breaks because he always smells from the hard work that he does.”
Charlotte laughs about her father and Alec’s family laughs as well since it seems appropriate.
The mother then says, “Well if your father ever needs a suit or us to tailor your clothes, then you can come to us. We’ll give you a discount since you’re such a nice woman.”
“And come over for dinner sometime. We’ll be happy to serve you our family’s best,” Alec says.
“I will. I’ll be going now, dad’s expecting me. Goodbye!”
The family says goodbye as Charlotte rides away on her horse. Back at home while eating dinner, Charlotte stares out the window at Alec’s house. She feels as if the two are looking at each other even though she can’t see him.
Her father notices this and says to her, “I know today’s another beautiful day, but it isn’t that glorious. What are you looking at?”
“We have new neighbors,” she says before explaining who they are and what they do.
“You should’ve told me earlier. We could’ve exchanged dinner to see who’s is better.”
“How about tomorrow then? I’ll ask them after I get up.”
“Go ahead. So you like him?”
“Yes, he’s a handsome and good man. Plus, he owns his own family business as well.”
“Sounds good. I wish you the best and pray that he is actually a good man.”
After dinner, Charlotte reads her books while spending time with her father like how she always does then goes to bed but can’t manage to fall asleep. She can just about see Alec’s house from her bedroom window.
“Go to him,” a cold voice whispers in her ear, “He’s waiting for you.”
Charlotte sneaks out of the house while her father is sleeping without much control of herself. She follows a chilling breeze as it guides her to Alec’s. At the house, Alec and his family are asleep. Alec left the window open to let the fresh air in, and she uses this as an opportunity to enter into his room. She stands over him with her hands moving over him, but not touching him.
“He can be yours,” a chilling whisper say, “You can give him a better life than his parents. Just take him while he’s sleeping or give him a reason to marry you now.”
“I…I don’t know,” Charlotte whispers back to them.
“You could get rid of his parents. Bury their bodies in the back and give him a reason to come to you. No one will know.”
“That’s not right!” a different whisper says.
“Then how about stealing some of their stuff? You’ve already had a look at their collection. How many people in town could use some of these things? They run a business. They can get the money to get another.”
“Don’t do it.”
“Then steal a kiss from him while he’s sleeping. He’s a virgin so you would be taking his first kiss in case he chooses some other skank over you.”
Charlotte leans over to Alec with her lips almost touching his.
“It isn’t right, Charlotte,” a whisper that isn’t as cold as the others says, “You’re smart and beautiful enough for him to fall for you without you needing to do this. Trust me.”
She thinks about it for a second before she wrestles control of herself. Embarrassed about what she was about to do, she swiftly exits the house and runs back home. Along the way, she realizes that she’s been hearing whispers in her head.
“Have I gone crazy? What’s happening to me?”
“It is Fall’s Whispers,” a comforting but strange whisper says, “They have decided to target you this time around.”
The whisper comes from seemingly nowhere, but its presence can be felt.
“What are Fall’s Whispers?”
“The dark spirits of fall that constantly tempt you until you learn how to cope with your temptations. They’re a type of demon that travel in packs. They are in the chilling winds of fall and can even take control of you if you breathe them in, which you will most likely do. These demons possess people more often than normal demons and only come out during the fall season.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m a Whisper of Wisdom. A guardian angel for you. If you need protection, then do not be afraid to call upon me. I can only do as much as you let me.”
Charlotte renters her house and goes up into her room. She looks into the mirror and sees demonic faces with long hair in her face. They smile at her.
“How am I going to get rid of them?”
“Be strong and be virtuous. It’s not going to be easy and you may not agree with it, in fact, you may agree with the temptations of the Whispers, but you have to stay strong and trust me.”
Other arms within Charlotte’s arms move on their own while trying to get her to move. Exhausted from what’s happening to her, she collapses onto her bed and falls asleep.
The theme song I had in mind for this story. I'm so Sick - Flyleaf
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