Summer Challenge, Dark Chocolate #8, Wildberry #19, Gooseberry #11
Author: Saya
Title: The Shadows Within
Universe: Standalone
Rating: Teen
Flavor: Summer Challenge #21 (They say not to be afraid / But you know better, night's just a breath away), Dark Chocolate #8 (blame), Wildberry #19 (bad influence)
Toppings/Extras: Gummy Bunnies (prompt: Getting Home source: StoryADay)
Wordcount: 944
Warnings: Implied violence (blood, etc.), living shadow creatures.
Notes: Day 1 of Story A Day. If you can believe it, this actually turned out lighter than I expected it to. My mind is a dark and scary place.
The sun peaking over the horizon was a welcome relief; but the warmth of its rays did nothing to dispel the chill that had settled itself over Estage and all of its residents. It wasn't until the whole sky became a dusty pink that people began to emerge reluctantly from the relative safety of their homes. None of them really knew what they were expecting, but the remnants of the evening's carnage was obviously not whatever it was.
Leaning against the inn's porch rail, Lormryn watched the typically bustling town slowly break the oppressive silence. Somewhere down the street a woman screamed. Children cried a couple houses down. Shouting could be heard a few streets over. Off to her left, she could hear someone retching.
Indeed, the sight was not for the faint of heart. The streets painted as they were with blood. Lormryn found herself blessedly thankful for little mercies. Like the fact the Rilless had dragged all the bodies back to their den.
She had been intending to set off for Owary as soon as dawn broke, but with the events of the night, had postponed her journey. Eager as she was to be home, being outside in the dark was far to dangerous a course to be taken. Even by something like herself.
Still, she didn't relish the thought of being forced to travel into the night either.
The chances that the Rilless would stray so far from their food source just to chase a lone being was unlikely; but she'd thought that when they followed her into Estage too.
Her eyes had settled onto a family across the dusty street and down a house, children clinging to their mother as she sobbed from the step. Lormryn didn't need to see the darkened smear leading away from their stoop to guess the cause of their distress. She wondered, idly, if business had treated them well enough they would survive without their breadwinner. Considering the age of the children, she doubted it.
It wasn't until the rail gave a reproachful crack she realized she'd been squeezing her hands so tight the wood had begun to give. She forced herself to let go, shaking out white knuckled fingers as she reevaluated her situation.
She couldn't let herself to think of the people. Couldn't let herself sympathize with them and their plight. Couldn't let herself fall into the deadly trap of caring for them and their pitiful lives. Couldn't let herself feel responsible for their lives, for their troubles. Guilt was a horrible creature, far, far more dangerous than the Rilless ever were. She couldn't let it consume her. Wouldn't let it consume her.
It was much too late for regret now.
Recognizing her danger, she whirled on her heel and reentered the inn, attempting to leave temptation behind.
But it followed her; hovered while she broke her fast, watched as she packed her things efficiently, whispered while she ate a tasteless meal, mocked her as the stable hand readied her stead with trembling hands, blood staining his sleeves, and chased her viciously as she picked her way through town, unable to tear her eyes from the horrible sights surrounding her.
Even though Lormryn knew she shouldn't think it, she thought it anyway.
All of this was her fault.
She was the reason the Rilless had invaded Estage. Why the town had been caught unaware by the terrifying creatures that lurk in the dark. They had thought they were safe, protected by their ring of fire. But she'd done away with that, hadn't she? Unable, no, unwilling to take the time to detour around them, she had exposed them to the deadliest of monsters.
And she had done it knowingly.
She shook her head sharply until her ears rang with the pressure. She needed to get home, back to Owary. Back to where everything made sense and there were no worries. Where people knew the Rilless wandered the streets at night and knew better than to wander off after dark. Where she didn't have to worry about her forsaken curse and the lurking of evils.
Besides, Aremu needed her, and she couldn't afford to let her down again.
Dinner was light fare, but more than enough on her unsettled stomach. She ate it in haste, hoping beyond hope that she could reach the next town by nightfall. But it was not to be so. She was still miles away when the sky turned a brilliant scarlet and she couldn't shake the image of the mountains bleeding.
Even her imagination mocked her.
Resigned to her fate, she found a nice tree to settle herself under, removing all of the tack from her horse and piling it neatly. She gave the stallion an affection pat, certain in the knowledge she would never see it again. "Run fast boy, it's your only hope," she whispered, just as the last rays of day slipped below the horizon.
It didn't take long for the shadows to take shape, the hissing and chuckles of the Rilless filling the air. One made a leap at her horse and he started, before running off back in the direction of Estage. Lormryn didn't bother stopping him, merely prayed the horse was fast enough to outrun the living darkness, despite knowing well to the contrary.
The rest of them circled her, hissing and spitting, somehow both angry and cajoling. She settled more firmly against the tree and closed her eyes. "Hush now pet," she murmured when one got particularly feisty, stroking it with the gentle hand of her mind. "It's going to be a long journey back to Owary and mother needs her sleep."
Author: Saya
Title: The Rilless
Universe: Standalone (accompanies story above)
Rating: Teen (it's scary!)
Flavor: Gooseberry #11 (ghoul/wraith)
Toppings/Extras: Wafer Cookie
Wordcount: N/A
Warnings: Horrible art skills, very scary shadow.
Notes: Saya can draw! Actually, no, she can't.
You may have to turn up your screen's brightness/contrast to see it, for some reason it darkened significantly outside of photoshop.