Tragedy of Rain 18 Chapter 18: Apparition

The stream was warm despite the night air, Rain didn't complain as she walked into the water and submerged until only her head was above water. Her clothes were laid out neatly just next to the streams edge. Her tunic was a rag of torn fabric, her pants remarkably held together, her vest was perhaps the only thing still in one piece and in good condition. As she basked in the stream she stretched her arms over the rocks allowing her legs to float and drift. It was a shallow stream but deep enough to float, at least for her.

If only there was soap, she thought to herself, but at least there was privacy. The thought of Maxine or Grail finding her out here made her feel sick anxious. As she drifted she listened to the sounds of owls in the trees, insects in the grass. Something was prowling nearby, she could smell its fur before seeing what it was. A pair of eyes broke through the darkness, a pair of cats eyes. The small panther studied her warily but didn't seem the least bit alarmed. Its black fur camouflaged with the shroud of night.

Rain froze in place, her hand glowed a vibrant orange as a small flame danced in her fingertips. The creature walked slowly toward her and drank from the stream, it's fur had a faint smell of dried blood. The animal payed her no heed, instead it gave her the faintest of attention before moving away. It's focus was on other game, and it wanted nothing to do with this strange interloper in its territory.

Rain exhaled not realizing she had held her breathe for so long. The fire in her hand went out leaving behind a trail of smoke. She sank deeper into the water, letting her hair soak and the smell from days of running wash away.

The past day echoed in her mind, and the alcohol coursing through her veins made her feel dizzy. She looked upward as a light drizzle descended into the pool of water and bounced against her face. When she stood up, the rain danced against her naked body before finding its way to the stream. It was cool but not unpleasant.

Stepping out of the water she wished there was a towel to dry off in, but such commodities were rare out here. Luckily, or perhaps not so luckily, she had her ill founded gifts to work with. The elemental magic burned in her chest warming her skin and steam evaporated from her pores. Within moments she was dry, the rain now hissed as it met her skin.

She only wished she could wash her clothing. She put on her underwear, boots and leggings followed by the leather pants. her belt held it in place. She picked up the tunic, studying the torn seam that cut through the center openly exposing her chest and stomach. She wished for something to better cover herself. She put both arms through the sleeveless holes, the fabric barely covered her breasts and did nothing to hide her modesty. It's former white color was stained with dark grey smears. It was up to her open vest to keep the tunic securely in placed, but it did nothing to cover where the fabric had torn. Two thin straps buckled across her chest to keep it from opening too far. She was starting to like the freedom her clothing had offered, even though it was revealing.

She had barely started walking back to the hamlet when a fog rolled in. Her eyes pierced through it, her heightened senses a gift from her mother. She found her path, and listened to the sounds of nature until reaching Coppermill. It was a gloomy place, not easy to find amid the hanging trees and thick undergrowth. A wall used to surround the hamlet, it's brick was still visible but nearly half of it had been torn down. Weeds had covered the remainder to the point where it was more a wall of weeds than actual brick.

She walked into the hamlet only to freeze, not only physically but her body itself grew cold. She could see the fog of her breath as she exhaled, and frost was in the air. It suddenly occurred to her that the rain had ceased. Cautiously she took a single step and found the earth crunch from broken ice. Her magic was weaker, she couldn't warm herself like she did before.

Someone began walking across the yard in front of her, a man who was clad in dark grey iron.

Had the order found them already? Fear struck her as she tensed. The thought made her ignite fire in her hands only to have them turn to smoke and sizzle out. The hair on the back of her neck stood straight, her heart raced. She wished she had a dagger.

There was something odd about how the human walked, each step sluggish and worn. His armor was broken in a dozen places, one arm completely exposed. It didn't seem to be the same brand as the order, nor did it look well kept. The helmet itself rattled loosely against the wearers scalp. He carried no weapon, not even a bow or small blade. The only thing of any significance was a bent shield. The icon on it a pale eye.

"Stop right there," she voiced with as much authority as she could. The human did not stop, it continued to walk undisturbed. She said it again louder this time, her hands were fists and her eyes focused. But the human simply didn't care. He continued to walk until reaching the well at the center of the hamlet, it's black stones seemed bleaker in the fog. The human didn't stop as he reached it, instead he bent over and threw himself head first down it.

Rain watched in stunning horror as the human had, without hesitation, thrown himself into the hole in the ground. She ran toward it and peered down, even her eyes could not pierce the darkness of that well. Suddenly she felt a hand grab her and push her forward, a bloated scream met her ears as she fought to prevent the fall. She caught a glimpse of the figure trying to thrust her into the endless depths, a corpse of a man with cloudy eyes and stretched skin. His teeth were black, his scalp partially removed to reveal the bone of his skull. It's breath smelled like rancid meat, and she fought it off by pushing it away. As the thing collapsed on the ground she recovered her stance and prepared to strike again only to find nothing but fog.

The thing was gone...she scanned the area and could see nothing else. She relaxed her breathing. What was that thing, she wondered? A sunken face broke through the darkness from a dozen windows around her. Old decrepit buildings, most of them exposed to the elements, seem to house an army of apparitions. She knew they were there but every time she tried to look at one it faded. But there were there in the corner of her eyes. Eyes and teeth and mossy hair continued to crack the etchings of reality only to fade into nothingness.

Her magic felt like it was being sapped away from her, and she suddenly felt afraid. Whatever had claimed this place, it wasn't something to be trifled with. She walked backward and away from them, only to feel the wisp of something brush against her. At one point she was convinced that another hand had hold of her only to find frozen air in its place.

She ran...what else was there too do? Light glowed from windows and in between the cracks in the walls as she made it to the inn. Rain threw the door open violently which startled Zane who immediately jumped up in surprise. She ran inside feeling something slick and sticky try to wrap around her ankle. Once inside she slammed the door behind which gave a noise so loud it awoke Fiala from her passed out stupor.

"What the hell do you want," Fiala slurred with droopy eyes. She tried to get up only to fall down and pass out again, this time the creaky floorboards were her abode.

Rain felt warmth return to her bones, the thin layer of frost melted from her skin, "Somethings out there!" She proclaimed.

Zane raised an eyebrow and moved toward the door, "Catch your breath and stay here little diva," he was a little drunk but still clear headed enough to ascertain that there was a threat.

"Diva? Are you kidding me?" Rain asked him with a rising voice.

"It's what we decided to call you, Rain is so bland...so sad. Besides Diva just had a ring to it. Just like the little Sparrow upstairs, or the little Minx passed out on the floor." He pointed to Fiala.

"I just said there was something outside and you choose now to give me a ridiculous nickname? And why is everyone a little something to you!" She was surprised by the anger in her voice.

"Because your all so little, and adorable." He was obviously trying to annoy her. He approached the door, counted to three, and opened it to reveal a drizzling skyline and a light fog. There was nothing else relevant, no specters or shadows with eyes. There was no rotting smell or corpse like human giving him a nasty sneer. There was nothing at all.

"I think you let your wits get the better of you 'little' Diva." He emphasized the word little on purpose. Rain glared at him disapprovingly. But as soon as he closed the door all the candles went out making the room pitch black, and the sound of a hundred hands began scratching at the door.

Chapter end