Martine77

@mgcrow · 12 Apr 2023

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The liftster

This is a short story that I once wrote for a group and have already posted in various Facebook groups, but share here again.


His breath formed clouds; the cutting reins made his hands warm rather than his wool gloves. He understood why the baron made him stop. There was a young girl dressed in rags on the side of the road. The driver estimated her at most sixteen years.
The horses breezed restlessly as they approached their destination.
Snowflakes swirled around her head, which was surrounded by long, reddish brown curls.
The carriage door opened. The driver's heart started beating faster. Letting the poor girl freeze to death seemed more humane than handing her over to his master, the baron.
It was too late. A hand reached out to the girl, who pulled hers out of her muff to grab them. She was numb. How she got there, only God knew.
- Henri, accelerate! We are almost there.
The towers of Saint-Hubert Castle already appeared on the horizon.
The girl stared in front of her. Her bright white skin looked like porcelain. With big, blue eyes like ice pools, she stared at the seated man over her.
The baron observed her as a predator, a prey. She was his ideal gift in these dark, cold days. She had to suffer from a cold in her worn clothes. She looked hungry.
A smirk appeared on the baron's face. His sideburns danced. He would feed the poor child. What he expected from her in return, she just had to agree.
- What is your name?
She did not answer. The whole time, she kept looking out for herself.
- Can you speak?”
The baron was slightly annoyed by her indifferent attitude. She sat there like a statue, motionless, silent.
- We are almost there. Can't wait to have you with me.
Like a hot animal, the baron changed banks and sat down beside the girl. She still didn't move a muscle. His hands glided happily over her cold body.
- I will warm you.
The baron pressed his lips to her cheek. Relieved, he let out a sigh as she turned her head to him.
On the buck, Henri fought against the chilly wind that pierced him like knives and made the horses trot faster. He wanted a warm fireplace in front of him.
Behind him, he thought he heard the baron groan. He knew him and did not want to know what he had done to the poor child. His master regularly took young girls with him. When he was done with it, they were never seen again. The poor girl was an easy victim. No one would miss her.
With a heavy heart, Henri stopped the carriage in the castle's courtyard. The groomkeepers came to meet him. A thick fog seemed to pass them from the carriage.
- Mr Baron?
It became silent when the carriage door was opened. A maid doesn't fall a jug. With their mouths open, everyone stared at the baron, who was lying in his carriage. His lifeless body had bled out. There were two wounds in his neck.
Henri got off the buck. With mixed feelings, he stared at the gate. For a moment, he thought he saw the young hitchhiker standing there in the mist. She smiled and placed a finger on her lips. Blood was dripping from the corners of her mouth.
- Henri?
He turned around and saw the footman standing.
- What happened? The baron is dead.
Henri shrugged. It was clear that no one suspected him, but everyone was relieved to be rid of that old ghoul.