After a week of unusually heavy snowing, it was a warm and comforting Sunday morning in Los Angeles. The sun shone graciously in the Hollywood Hills and the house was enveloped in yellow haze of warmth.
Weather was never a direct influence on Anne’s mood, rather nothing at all had any immediate impact on her every day temperament. Anybody who looked at her, would in no time get fond her and this was accredited to Anne’s eternally graceful smile which never parted ways with her.
However, today Anne felt more content than usual and came to work half an hour early. It was 8 in the morning and Rebecca, Rebecca Wilson, was still in bed. Rebecca was at the peak of her career. 8 years of struggle and today she was more than what she could ever wish for; a supermodel and the most stunning actress of her time, not even 30 by now. Pestered by the constant knock at the door, Rebecca, walked out in her silk night gown and opened the door with a frown on her face. With a blissful smile on her face, Anne greeted Rebecca saying, “Good morning, my dear madam.” “Why would you come so early and not let me have my sleep. You are such a great source of annoyance to me, Anne”, said Rebecca, her face filled with exasperation.
Being used to this cold behavior of Rebecca, Anne got herself to work and started making eggs and coffee for breakfast. Meanwhile, Rebecca informed her that she was going to the beach with Peter and would come back only after dinner. Anne was required to clean the house, wash the dishes, do the laundry and tidy up Rebecca’s horribly messed wardrobe. Even as she was at the tender age of 13, Anne always had the spirits of a young adult wanting to work hard and conquer things. Looking at her petite body, nobody could believe that this slender orphan girl worked 12 hours a day and later, walked 8 kilometers from work to her tiny cottage by the metro station.
Rebecca was in the shower when Anne went to clean her extravagant room. The antic dressing table in the room, was glittering with exorbitant accessories and possessions of the actress. Cheerful as was the mood of the little girl today, she went and had a closer look at the scattered pieces of ornaments. Intrigued by a pair of sumptuous pearl earrings, Anne stood mesmerized, gawking at them. Rebecca was still in the shower and finding herself in complete solace with this glamourous world of riches, Anne’s eyes fell on the mirror. She touched her blushing cheeks and looked at her fairly beautiful face. Her tender fingers touched the pearl earrings and she felt an innocent urge to wear them only once.
Putting them on, she couldn’t stop herself from admiring the girl she saw in the mirror. How lovely those earrings looked on her bright sunshine face. Lost in moments of ultimate glory, Anne failed to pay attention to the bathroom door being clicked open. Draped in her towel, Rebecca was in absolute fury to witness the sight. Her huge eyes were filled with anguish and her teeth ground in horror as she saw Anne wearing the pearl earrings that Peter had gifted her for their wedding day.
Uncertain of the consequence of her rage, Rebecca ran towards Anne and slapped her face which was twitching of fear. The 13-year-old could not perceive what had just occurred. The terror and force of Rebecca made her fall on the floor.” But madam, I only wanted to try them once.” Said hollering Anne. Dissatisfied with the power of hands, Rebecca lifted the metal flower vase from the table and slammed it on the sobbing girl. Anne bled herself to death while Rebecca stood there, motionless and pale.
Whatever happened was too swift to be absorbed and minutes later was followed by utmost fear and disgust in Rebecca. Anne laid dead in a pool of blood, her blushed cheeks had turned white as ice and those pearl earrings hung from her slender ears, were now soaked in the color of her blood.
Not knowing what to do, Rebecca with trembling voice and hands called up Peter, her millionaire fiancé. Together, the two decided to bury Anne’s dead body somewhere outside the city. In accordance with the fact that Anne was only a little orphan girl, new to the pompous city of LA, Rebecca and Peter were certain of the murder going unnoticed.
However, fate in unison with the supreme power always serves justice and a heinous crime of this nature couldn’t be left unattended, whatsoever.
Rebecca paid for her sin in a horrifying way. Every night, Anne dressed in the same attire as on the day of her murder, started visiting Rebecca in her dreams. Frozen with horror, Rebecca woke up each night, sweating and gasping for breath. This went on for three whole years, during which, Rebecca fell from the glory of her surreal professional life and also her health went for a toss.
In the impatient need of money and companionship, Rebecca asked Peter to marry her soon. Considering what she was going through each day, in an isolated and lonely house, Peter decided to marry her the following week. It was to be a plain wedding ceremony in the local church with only family members as guests.
The day had arrived. Coincidentally, it was a Sunday as well. For the first time in 3 years, Rebecca sat down at the dressing table and pitied her once radiant face which had the beauty to die for. She was dressed in an elegant white dress and a tiara of red roses over her brown hair. Rebecca’s eyes filled with tears as she thought of those gorgeous pearl earrings that Peter had given her for their wedding. Millions of times had she imagined those earrings with this white dress as she gave herself to be his wife.
As she was rising up to head for the church, Rebecca heard a soft yet beautiful voice call out her name. She turned to look behind, at the window, and was stunned to see Anne, dressed in the same clothes, saying, “Rebecca madam, my lovely madam”. But today, Rebecca wasn’t shivering with fear. Instead, her eyes shimmered with an indefinable aura that Anne came with. Rebecca couldn’t move at all nor could answer that beautiful looking face, a face that was laden with peace and tranquility.
