Jack and Jill - SILVER WINNER

by Ashleigh May

Wrongly convicted, wrongly slain.
A suffering this world couldn't contain.
When the clock struck the hour,
She hung from the tower,
Her lust for vengeance all in vain.

"Dong"

Walter Doomadder hurried along the cobbled streets, under the shadow of darkness. He had been out for a drink and was silently wondering where on earth he was.

He was a tall spindly man, with fair hair and sullen eyes. Staggering, every so often grabbing bins or lampposts to hold himself up, it dawned on him that he was on the wrong side of town. The stars seemed unusually dark.

Flick, Flick, Flick.

Cautiously, he ground to a halt.

In turn, each lamppost fizzled slightly and then burned completely out, draining the life and warmth from the grimy street. The world went completely silent. It was as if even the wind was holding its breath. Slowly...

"Jack and Jill..."

A young melodic but pitiful voice resounded around the street, echoing softly. The voice had a hint of malice in it, as if...

"Went up the hill..."

It seemed to be coming from the cathedral; as though in a trance Walter sprinted in its direction, stumbling, tripping. The music had taken its hold. Any second -
"to fetch a pail of water..."

The cathedral was ominous, ancient, almost ruined. The squalid ground was crawling with mice and bugs, itching for corpses. As if in a daze, Walter pushed the iron gates and with a squeal and a screech they opened. He trudged into the sinister ruins. The cross on the steeple looked more like an instrument of torture than a symbol of sacrifice. Behind the shaded death trap, the moon loomed, waiting, stalking its prey. But who was its prey?
Over the steps, up into the bell tower. A raven haired girl was waiting for him. Laughing a terrible, haunting laugh, as if she was finally getting what she so desperately wanted. A rope hung from her bruised, swollen neck. She was...

"Jack fell down..."

She lunged. He fell backwards - his screams shattering the cool December air as Walter Doomadder met his end.

"And broke his crown..."

Later.

"Boom."

A small blonde haired girl abruptly awoke. "Dad?" she cried, her voice sounding small against the loud patter of raindrops. It was a stormy night, lightning lighting up the horizon. She was afraid. Her dad had been gone for two days now. She glanced at her mirror desperately and that was when she saw it.

A note.

On the crimson streaked mirror.

It read;

You are Jill and he is Jack.
You have but one chance to bring him back.
Or when the steeple strikes one,
The deed will be done.
And all will be dressed in black....

She prayed it would not be too late.

A raven haired girl, sat on the steeple. She chuckled and in a high cruel voice began to softly sing;

"And Jill came tumbling after..."

Laughter filled the ruins and finally, a piercing scream.