James walked over to the black Iris; amazed at how lovely and out of place it looked. Slowly, he plucked the flower and held it up into the light. As he gazed at the Iris, his glance shifted to a table at the far end of the room. One small shaft of light shone down onto the table. James could make out the figure of a girl laying on it.

“Strange she isn’t moving…” He thought to himself. James quietly approached the table to get a better look at her, but when he did what he saw shocked even him. For the girl was but a torso, bound in bandages with only her face exposed. The moonbeam shone down upon it.

James gasped and stepped back in surprise, but after staring at the girls face for a few moments, he couldn’t help but approach again. Her hair was a deep raven color and shimmered with the light. Her skin was smooth like cream, and her lips, soft and red.

“How could one long gone look so at peace?” James thought to himself. He then brushed her hair from her eyes and tucked the black Iris behind her ear.