Lavender Hill

CW: Multiple Themes of Violence

I took my scruffy dog down to the bridge on Indian Mound Road to swim in the river. Once he’d cooled off his furry bottom, he trotted with me, back towards the house. Letting the dog back in the house after drying off, I decided to sit out on the porch and stare out over the hazy afternoon sky. Cicadas were buzzing their tune, and the air was still.

Kicked back in my chair, I glanced over and saw a young woman running through the field towards my house. I perched up to get a better look. Almost nobody came around here in the summertime. I waited for her to approach the porch.

“Hi there, can I help you?” I greeted her with a nod.

“Oh, hey, please, yeah, that would be great,” She replied meekly.

“Um, sure, what’s up?”

“My car broke down over on the side of the road. I believe I have a flat tire.”

“Would you like me to go look at it?”

Her eyes shifted a bit.

“I don’t want to hang around here too long.”

I wanted to understand what she meant by that. She stood there, a simple woman, in plain shorts and a t-shirt, pink summer flipflops and a messy bun. The two delicate silver earrings dangling from her ears were the only indicators of wealth. Taking another glance at her, I couldn’t help but notice that she had red marks on her neck.

“Who did that to you?” I inquired, pointing at her neck.

“Oh, that was my boyfriend. That’s why we need to be quick.”

“I see.”

We wandered over to her car to take a look at her tire.

“You got a spare?” I asked.

“I don’t think so.”

Looking over the tire, I came to the quick realization that there wasn’t much that I could do as the tire had come halfway off the rim.

“Is there anyone you can call to help?”

“Sure… problem is, my phone isn’t on me.”

I couldn’t help but think how much more of a mess this gal could really be.

“Here, just borrow mine.”

She took me up on the offer, dialed a number, and held it to her ear.

“Went straight to voicemail,” she conceded with a sigh.

“So…”

I held my hand out for my phone. She handed it to me, looked at me, and I looked at her. Eventually, I just stated the obvious.

“Can I give you a ride somewhere?”

Her eyes lit up.

“That would be great.”

“Obviously not back to wherever he is,” I said, gesturing towards her neck.

“Oh, okay.”

We headed back over to the house, towards my car.

“Is there anything I can get you before we head out?” I added just to be polite.

“I don’t think so.”

We hopped in my car, and I turned the engine on.

“Where are we headed?” I asked.

“Lavender Hill.”

I had to think about it for a moment. I had only heard of Lavender Hill in passing. I had never seen it for myself before.

“How far?”

“Not too far. Just wind up Indian Mound Road a ways and it’ll be on your left down a driveway.”

“That seems doable.”

We pulled out of the driveway onto the main road, then turned down Indian Mound.

“By the way, I never got your name.”

“Maggie. Yours?”

I told her mine, and then we chatted a while about my dog, whether I had a girlfriend, and the summer weather. She seemed to be at ease at this point as she propped her feet on the dashboard. I always get nervous when people do that because if ever there’s a wreck, they’ll be crushed by the airbag like an accordion.

Eventually, she pointed to a desolate driveway on the left-hand side of the road.

“This is it. Lavender Hill.”

I turned down the driveway and drove a ways. Large oak and magnolia trees drooped over the driveway. She had me stop midway down.

“This is far enough. Thank you for the ride. You’re really sweet for helping a girl like me out.”

“Oh, okay. Well, I’m glad I could help out, “ I replied, dumbfounded that she didn’t want me to drop her off closer to the house.

She squeezed my hand, exited the car, and made her way down the driveway. I turned around to head home. As I approached the end of the driveway, I noticed that she must’ve dropped one of her silver earrings in the passenger seat. I debated for a moment whether to return it, and I decided, of course, I should. I turned my car back around and headed back down the driveway to find Maggie.

Winding my way up the bumpy driveway, I approached a large, historic-looking brick house with white columns protruding from the porch. Ivy was growing up the steps and up to the front door.

I parked my car and headed toward the front door, clutching the earring in my right hand. The whole place felt as though life had not swept through in a long time. The windowpanes had a wavy texture. Leaded glass, a style not made for a century or more. The reflection in the glass reminded me of my surroundings. I looked around. The field in front of the house was overgrown, although sprigs of purple shot up haphazardly throughout. Lavender, I thought. The sweet odor of which offset the deathly stillness of the air.

I knocked on the door and waited. Maybe Maggie wandered off somewhere else. I heard some footsteps on hardwood coming closer. Eventually, the door creaked open, and there she was. Unlike when I had given her a ride just prior, she was standing there in a stunning black gown.

“You must’ve dropped this in my car.”

“My earring? Oh, thank you.”

She grasped it from my hand, then slipped it back into her ear.”

“You’re welcome,” I replied, then turned to leave.

“Oh, why don’t you stay for a bit, for a drink, perhaps? I know you’ve driven a long way.”

“I best be going, but thanks anyway.”

“Are you sure?” She asked, staring at me with her longing eyes.

“Fine.”

I found it hard to resist, so I went inside. The living room felt cold and bare despite the warm temperature outside.

“I wasn’t expecting you to come back, but I’m glad you did.”

I just nodded in agreement.

“Here, have a seat while I get you something to drink,” she said in a soft tone of voice.

I sat down in a red velvet chair. The air was still, and the grandfather clock in the corner was silent. I glanced over at the fireplace, and my eye caught something that I thought looked strangely like a collarbone. Maggie came back with two glasses.

“I made us some sweet mint juleps,” she added, setting the drinks on the end table closest to me. She sat in the chair on the other side.

“I’m so glad you came by with my earring. I would’ve been devastated if you hadn’t returned it.”

“Is that so?” I replied sheepishly.

An uneasiness was beginning to envelop me. She raised her drink and handed me mine.

“Here’s to new friendship.”

I clinked my glass against hers reluctantly. She sipped from her glass, then nodded at me to do the same. I took a small sip.

“So what are you planning to do about your car’s tire?” I tried to add, changing the subject.

She just giggled and smiled at me. Her lipstick was bright red. I started to lose consciousness.

When I gained consciousness, I was lying on a bed in a different room with no windows. Maggie was leaning into me.

“How did we sleep, baby?”

“What? Where am I?”

“You’re so sweet just lying there,” she whispered into my ear while stroking my hair.

This time, she was in a red corset, bare legs draped over mine.

“I didn’t think you were going to wake so soon. I’m not finished with you yet.”

I wanted to shout finished with what, but the words escaped me. I found that I couldn’t say anything further.

“My last man was such a bore. I can’t believe I let him get away. You’re too sweet for that. You wouldn’t just up and leave me, would you, sweetie?”

She brought her hand around to the back of my neck, and she flashed a smile. I noticed her fangs glistening as she brought her teeth in.

I finally mustered the courage to grab her around the waist and wrestle her to the floor.

“You drugged me, didn’t you?” I hissed.

She gave me a cold stare, and her eyes glared deep into my consciousness.

“Let me go,” she spat under her breath as she attempted to reach behind her. I felt her grab something.

She produced a large hunting knife and attempted to point it at me. Struggling, I managed to finagle it out of her hand and into mine. I pointed the blade at her throat.

“You listen here. I know you tried to play the victim earlier with your sob story about a car breakdown. You knew all along that leaving an earring in my passenger seat would tempt me up the steps to your place more than me dropping you off at your doorstep would. What happened to that boyfriend of yours anyway?”

She grinned and cackled.

“Wouldn’t you like to know? I’ve been waiting a hundred years for a suitor to come along and sustain me. Why can’t you just be grateful to have a beautiful lady such as myself take you in and give you hospitality? Learn to love it here.”

“Not today.”

I nearly shoved the knife into her, but before I could do that, she quickly knocked it away, and before I could resist, she sank her fangs into my neck. Then, in a fit of rage, she leaped to the ceiling and crawled out of the room. I rubbed the side of my neck. Collecting myself, I noticed that the room had a hidden window after all. I pulled back the drapes and peered out at the bleak landscape. It was grey and motionless except for small hints of purple.

A permanent nightfall was befalling, and something inside of me knew that Maggie had made me one with Lavender Hill.