1901; a small village in France:
Wanted to write a short story kind of like a folklore horror story.
Two brothers, rich but dull were enjoying the countryside to get away from work. The youngest brother, Laurent, owned a successful string of businesses. The 29-yr-old also had an array of lovers; young and old. He had a voracious libido I suppose one could claim. Short blonde hair framed his fair face along with blue eyes. Two of his businesses weren't doing so well, but he was embarrassed to seek help or advice. The older brother, Xavier, looked lovelier mainly due to his dark black hair, slight facial hair stubble, and green eyes. At 31, he was one of the most respected and the most intelligent lawyers in France.
They had grown up in a small village and had many fond memories of their silly youth.
Laurent was more emotional and sensitive; however Xavier was just the opposite. Sometimes even painfully blunt to others when he wasn't in the mood for small talk. He also had a quick and powerful temper at times.
Laurent secretly wished his successful brother would leave him alone. Was tired of living "in his shadow". Of people always comparing the two of them.
On this particular afternoon, the two men went for a walk near the forest. Several abandoned homes stood nearby. Maybe a walk would cheer Laurent up.
"Enough arguing I say!" Laurent suddenly announced in the middle of a disagreement.
"Alright, what do you suppose we do instead to pass the time?" Xavier inquired, slightly smug.
He did have one innovative idea that would be so much fun! He scratched his beard with one finger. A few birds chirped overhead.
Laurent became enthralled in his thoughts for a good while, as they paused briefly beside a river.
"Hunting is out of the question, since I forgot my pistol back in the city," Laurent replied finally. He stared silently at the cool water. Kicked a few stones nearby him nonchalantly.
"What do you say we venture inside those homes over there by the forest?" Xavier blurted out. Couldn't contain his mischieviousness to himself any longer.
He studied Laurent's expression.
Would he be foolish enough to follow his older brother's wild idea? Like he used to when they were teenagers?
Laurent shrugged. He was just bored. Anything would be better than walking and talking!
"After you, then," he said.
A part of him warned him not to trespass onto others' properties, but if no one else was there, what was so awful about simply taking a curious look here and there?
So he followed his older brother up a hill and towards the first house they saw.
It was white and very plain. Dead flowers lined the sidewalk alongside the fence. Half of the fence was gone. The birds had stopped chirping. The wind had stopped blowing. It was starting to get colder. Laurent briefly consoled his fear and continued on towards the front door. Xavier was already inside.
An old black piano sat in one corner in the dusty living room. Xavier was just about to press his fingers on the keys to play a song he'd played before, when suddenly, Laurent let out a loud gasp.
This quickly grabbed Xavier's full attention.
He turned to look where his brother was staring. Down on the floor, sprawled across a red rug, lay a wrinkled old woman. Not moving.
"Do you think...she's dead?" Laurent asked.
Xavier sighed. The nerve of this corpse ruining what was supposed to be a relaxing and fun time for them! Within seconds, he had two fingers on one side of the woman's neck.
"Do you feel anything?" Laurent asked. He had stayed in one spot the whole time. Kept his distance.
"No, no pulse," Xavier answered softly. He took a slight kick at the body with one shoe. No movement. He grinned slightly.
"Stop that!" Laurent snapped.
"It's a bad thing to disrespect the dead."
Xavier rolled his eyes.
"She won't know we're even here, brother. She's dead," Xavier pointed out. "See?"
He gave her another kick in her side.
Horrified, Laurent shook his head. Xavier casually reached down and unclasped an emerald necklace from her neck.
To better examine its overall worth.
