Myshuno 2014 - Entry #1
Prompt: Discovering a long-lost new cousin
Story: Penelope's Journey
Word Count: 1279
Penelope stopped what she was doing and froze in place. She thought she heard someone outside. She crossed to the window and peered outside. She saw horses approaching. When they stopped near the house and the riders dismounted, she backed away from the window, hoping to blend in with the shadows. She couldn't see where the men were, but she could hear their footsteps crunching through the icy snow outside of the front door.
Then she heard a fist rapped at the door, pounding as hard and as fast as the beating of her heart. She stood frozen in place, barely daring to breathe. Her eyes darted around the room as she wondered if she had time to hide or a place to escape. She hoped if she stood very still and silent, whoever was outside would just go away. When the knocking resumed after a brief pause she quickly and quietly darted across the room and headed towards the next room.
She had barely ducked behind the bedroom door when the front door latch began to rattle and the door flung open bringing with it a blast of cold air and snowflakes, followed by the stomping footsteps of what sounded like at least a few men.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" a voice called out.
"Something has definitely happened here," another voice said so quietly, that Penelope had to strain to hear. "The rumors we heard must be true. This place looks deserted."
"Not quite," a third voice said. "Look at the hearth. Someone has been here recently."
"Hello? Is anyone here?" the first voice shouted again. "Uncle Zakorias? Anyone? Please, if anyone is here show yourselves. We mean no harm."
"Uncle?" Penelope wondered who these men were that would call her father "uncle." She leaned forward slightly, wondering if she dared to peek through the crack in the doorway without being seen.
"We're Zakorias' nephews. His sister Minova's sons. We wanted to see if our uncle and his family were well and to offer good tidings for the winter solstice."
"I think we came here for nothing, brother," the second voice said. "If anyone has been living here, they aren't here now. I fear our uncle and his children must be dead or long gone from here. If anyone is using this house, it must be squatters using an abandoned house for winter shelter."
Penelope warily inched forward. She knew almost nothing of her father's sister's family. Her aunt had not lived in Amphidelphos during her life time. She had no way of knowing they were who they said they were, but they sounded kind and they were not anyone who was familiar to her from the village. She had been in hiding for so long, she wasn't sure if she dared to trust.
When she peered into the room, she got a better look at the three men, all strangers to her. One of them had set a large basket on the dining room table and she thought she smelled food.
She steeled her courage and stepped into the open doorway. "Hello," she said, her voice sounding quieter and more meek than she had intended.
The three men turned to look at her, but none made a move in her direction. She wondered if they could see her trembling or if she looked like an apparition, who might vanish if they spoke too loudly or made any sudden moves.
"Hello," the first man said in a gentle tone. She realized it was the first time she had heard him speak in a regular tone, rather than shouting. "We apologize for barging in on you. We weren't sure if anyone still lived here or not." He introduced himself and his companions, a brother and brother-in-law. "We came to check on our uncle and his family. News reached us that there had been trouble here and we wanted to see if any help was needed. Does Zakorias . . ."
Penelope shook her head quickly, before he could finish his question. She blinked back tears that were threatening to fall. Hearing her father's name and the offer of help was almost too much.
"Come and sit down," the second man beaconed her over, as he pulled out a kitchen chair for her. He took a seat himself and the others followed his lead. "We won't harm you. We only mean to help, whoever you are and whatever your story. Tell us your name."
"Penelope," she said as she cautiously made her way over to the table. "Zakorias was my father," she managed to answer.
The first two men exchanged a sad look. "Then the rumors are true. What a shame. I never knew your father, unless I met him when I was quite small, but when our mother was alive she always spoke highly of him."
"Is anyone else left?" the second man asked.
Penelope shook her head. "No, they all vanished. I've been waiting for them to come back."
"All alone?" the third man asked. "How do you survive?'
"I manage," Penelope replied, but it hadn't been easy.
"We brought some food and things in case it would help. We had hoped they would be solstice gifts and that the rumors weren't true, but I don't think just leaving you these things would be enough," the second man said with deep concern.
"Oh no, it's more than enough. Thank you," Penelope said.
"No, what he means is, we couldn't in good conscience, leave you here to fend for yourself all on your own. You should come home with us. You're family and we would welcome you into our household."
"But my brothers and sisters. They'll come back eventually," she insisted, but she could tell they didn't believe her. "I know they will and I want them to know that I'm alright. That I'm still alive."
"We could leave them a message, let them know where to find you, but you shouldn't try to stay here all winter all on your own."
"Yes, at least stay for the rest of the winter. We have plenty of room, lots of provisions, a warm fire. Our sisters are planning a grand winter feast you wouldn't want to miss. They wouldn't forgive us if we told them we let you stay behind and I don't think we'd forgive ourselves either."
Penelope hesitated. She was torn. These long lost cousins of hers seemed kind enough and genuine in their desire to help. The comforts they promised were too tempting to resist after the difficulty she'd had the last few months, just managing to scrape by. It had been getting harder and harder to survive with her resources running low and the village still so unsafe. But her home, her ties to her family had a strong pull on her. How could she leave when she knew in her heart her siblings would return? She wouldn't even let herself consider the alternative.
She glanced over at the window as the snow was starting to come down harder. What were the chances they would come back now that the weather was getting worse? She hoped what was left of her family was somewhere safe and warm, waiting for spring to return home and what good would it do for them to come back in the spring and find her dead if she was unable to survive the winter on her own. She had to do whatever she had to do to make it through until they returned.
"Please, let us help in any way we can."
"Okay," Penelope gave in. "But just for the winter and then I'm coming back home. Just let me pack."