The curse of the Anjou Peartree

This wasn’t the only victim during the curse of the Anjou pear tree. However, this was the first to survive.

23 Hrs. pre curse:

I’m stuck in a cold soul-sucking town, where your business is everyone's business. My dad’s sickness taking a turn for the worse, enabled everyone to pity me and ask, ‘how I was holding up.’ It just left me dying to crawl out of my own skin. It sounds insensitive, but I've hardly known him. I only came so my mom wouldn't have to.

The only thing keeping me from boredom is the fact that the entire town’s wonky. My mechanic Finsley seems to be halfway decent, but his family’s one fuse shy of insanity. They’ve lived in this town longer than anyone, and own half of it. His grandparents crouch like vultures on the porch and scowl at everything that passes, and each night a new grave pops up in their backyard, only no one dies.

I close the window for the third time and growl when I hear water overflowing from the toilet. Something’s always falling apart around here and I’m not pouring my hard-earned money into this dump. Especially with my college expenses. Ugh! I forgot about my test, great. It’s due tomorrow and I have to wait until my cousin shows up to study.

Something raps against the window and I huff on the way to the bathroom and shut the water off to the toilet. I swear if the window is open one more time… I storm into the room ready to yell in frustration when a shadowed figure passes by. Blood drains from my face and my mouth freezes mid-scream. “Alex! Are you home?” My cousin calls from the living room and my heart drops to my stomach, “Aah! Ugh, Beck, you could’ve called and told me when you were coming home. I thought I was about to be murdered!” I call back, take a deep breath, and shake away the chills. I check the window to make sure it’s closed and on both sides of the frame are handprints streaked with black.

A breath hisses from my lips and my cousin’s arms wrap around my shoulders distracting me; as she kisses the back of my head I look up at the window again seeing the marks have disappeared, “Hey, girlie! Mh, how’s college?” I couldn’t even find the words to answer, maybe it was just stress or lack of sleep. Great, I’m so stressed out I’m hallucinating.

“Oh, you know professor Haloway… always giving last-minute assignments until you finally crack,” I say after a minute of her glancing suspiciously. Her face twists into a wry smile and she tilts her head, blonde curls rolling over her shoulder, “Well, I hope you don’t mind, I’ve asked Finsley to check in on you...” I sigh, a small groan welling up in my chest and she pouts, “Come on, Alex! You’ve been stuck in this house all month with dad, any other human interaction is me, and he might actually help with your assignment. I mean you’ve said it yourself his family’s messed up. You might see into a psychopath’s mind after all.” She suggests smirking and I shrug, “You know? It might just help. I’ve had enough of this mess, what time did you schedule my murder?”

Hours later:

My cousin dolled me up, not that it was a date, I just didn’t want anyone to see me as hopeless. Maybe if it looked like a date they’d let off pity and gossip instead. I cut the curler off and lean in for a closer look. Not bad. My mascara was a bit thick, but honestly, I doubt he’d notice with the dress draping over me.

I smooth the wrinkles out slowly and close the mirror. My chest rises rapidly with the idea of leaving the house, a sudden wave of nausea churning my stomach. I close my eyes, exhaling slowly, and shake my head pushing the thought to the back of my mind. I’ve had enough, I’m going out even if it kills me.

His horn honks outside and I roll my eyes heading to the door. I mean yeah it wasn’t a date, but at least be a gentleman. “I’m coming!” I announce and open the door to a custom-made white suit. His black hair stands in a controlled mess over his head, grey eyes widening as he looks down at me, a smile creasing his eyes, “Wow, you know how to dress? I mean you look great.” He fumbles graciously and grimaces at his wording. I grin, a laugh changing the pitch in my voice, “Oh, well great, thanks. I am a woman after all. I’m just kidding, honestly, I love dressing like a tomboy.”

He lays his hand on the small of my back, closing the door behind me. “Well, you cleaned up nicely.” He whispers in my ear. For some reason, his low voice came as a warning. Every goosebump lits up as his arm slides away and a breath stills in my lungs. “Are you ready?” He asks, grey eyes flashing curiously and I reach for my chest exhaling a bit heavily, “Oh, yes of course. We should probably leave before the rain starts.” I notice a smudge of black on his fingertips and frown, well I mean he is a mechanic.

We decide to eat at the local diner and when we arrive, the entire building lights up with candlelight. The corners of my lips twitch into a cheeky grin as I look over at him, scoffing, “You know this wasn’t a date right?” Finsley turns off the car, smiling gently as he hops out, “Let’s just say I needed this.” He offers and clears his throat, opening my door. The doors slide open, light from the candles flickering across the walls raise his shadow further on the ceiling.

He chuckles softly, easing the tension, “I figured if we’re going out for the night we might as well have a bit of fun.” He explains pulling out my chair motioning for me to sit. I oblige, smiling softly at his gesture, and relax into the seat. “That’s pretty sweet of you, thanks. I don't get out much, honestly, I’d rather be exempt from the human population, but then again I attend a college where I’m allowed to pick people’s brains and find out what makes them tick.”

The conversation was great. He was charming outside his looks and I found myself smiling at more than a few of his jokes. The worry I had was gone and I was finally comfortable. Time for dessert came and he pops up from behind the counter with a tray of cake. “I wasn’t sure which one you wanted so we have classic vanilla, red velvet, chocolate, and lemon cake.” Oooh! This man sure knew how to pick. “Mmmm… can I have a bit of each?” I beg, almost drooling on the platter. He smirks, “Of course, I hope you don’t mind, I've only brought one fork.”

Things progressed from me being uncomfortable to staring at my empty plate with a full stomach, smiling in contentment. He smiles grimly at his watch and for a second worry pings in the back of my mind and disappears. I ignore it, laying a hand on his arm and lean in close, spotting my reflection in his eyes. “Thank you so much for tonight.”

As we lock up the diner, a giggle rises and I find myself laughing. “What’s so funny?” Finsley asks from behind me and I cover my mouth, “Nothing… Sorry, I’m just getting sleepy.” He smiles warmly, leading me to the passenger side, “Well good. I’ll have you home in no time.” My eyelids droop and I fight the draw of sleep as he slides into the car. Moments later, I'm dozing off. When I look over, his expression changed. The charming warmth is replaced by a cool distant stature, as he turns on the air. I can't fight any longer being lulled by the cool air blowing on my face.

I wake up retching and cough, lifting my arm to wipe the vomit from my lips and feel something tighten around my wrists. I turn, my head swimming as overwhelming dizziness settles over me making me gag and I force myself to focus on my surroundings. I was in a basement; the concrete walls are streaked with black and very detailed mannequins facing the bed coated in red paint.

I exhale shakily peeking at my hands, which were tied with rope leading to the ceiling with a bell on either side. If I moved so much as an inch I'm dead. A whimper escapes me and tears cloud my vision. Why me? I haven’t done anything to him! What was he planning on doing to me? My thoughts were a rushing blur as I tried calming myself. I turn my head to find my way out when a voice booms from across the room. “You know, I’ve tried killing you the quickest and most painless way possible. For some reason I knew it wouldn’t take, but how could you be immune to the curse? No one is. It took us years to figure out how to redirect the effects, but no one’s ever been immune.” Finsley stands angrily from his chair biting his lip and runs a shaky hand through his hair.

“You know… I don’t want to kill you.” He reasons, glancing over at me. Guilt flashed in his eyes and he sighs scratching at his stubble. “I’m doing this for my family, you know I’d never hurt anybody. Ever since my great, great, great grandfather planted that pear tree in our backyard there hasn’t been a single night without death. Half of the family thought it was health problems, the other thought it was a curse and it’s true. It doesn't matter if someone eats the fruit or not, someone dies. After I lost my younger sister and my mom, I just… I can’t lose anyone else. The only thing keeping it from wiping us out is if we feed it to other people.”

His voice breaks and he looks down as a tear falls. Part of me wants to believe him even as I’m tied to a bell, but my rational side could care less. “Finsley, listen to me, curses aren’t real…” I start, ready to talk sense into him, but his head snaps up, bleary eyes burning, “They are! I just have to figure out why it didn’t work…” His voice quivers, and he grips his hair roughly, “Why didn’t it work?” he whispers, storming across the room and an alarm sounds. A resounding crash echoes upstairs followed by shouting, catches Finsley’s off-guard. His face scrunches as he checks the time on his watch, “No... no no no no NO!” He screams mournfully and makes his way up the stairs. A tangle of words overlap, and all I make out is that someone died. During the commotion, I manage to free myself and am halfway out the window when a calloused hand grips my ankle, “Oh no you don’t.”

To you, my reader, I sincerely apologize. The story of the Anjou pear tree mostly ends in tragedy. In this specific case, I’m afraid to inform you that I can’t disclose the ending. Some say she never made it out alive, others that she fought her way to freedom. However, I can say because of a random search many of the previous bodies have been discovered. Disclosed as mannequins hidden in the McGinsley’s basement and backyard, the missing persons have been found. Thank you and Goodnight.