AINO
A crawling sensation started up between Aino's shoulderblades, skittering up and down there as the implications of Sah's story sank in. A stranger in the house... in many ways it was more terrifying than any undead or ghost, because it encroached on something very vital. The security and comfort of ones living space, where a person was the most vulnerable.
"I hate it," she murmured with an intensity that suggested his story had the intended effect of creeping her out. "My turn."
Settling down better, Aino searched her memory of every spooky story she'd ever heard. Ilma was full of them - full of stories in general - but it took some time before she settled on one. Unsure of what sort of things Sah might be unsettled with.
"Did you ever notice that big old house at the end of our street?" she began, and let her gaze come to rest on her brother. Searching for signs of unease. "It is empty now, but many years ago a wealthy family lived there, that had much influence over the dealings of the Citadel. They had only one child, a daughter, who was much respected for her hunting skills.
"Well, one day misfortune struck and during a trip beyond the walls, she was injured terribly. Broke both her legs, so badly that she could never walk well again. She had to carry crutches, and hobbled along the streets with a 'thunk, thunk', so slow and pained - a ghost of her former self.
"Now, that might have been the end of it, but she had a boy she fancied at the time. Tall and strapping he was, and though he said to love her anyway, despite her crippled legs and ugly crutches, he grew gradually more distant with her. Until one day, when a group of youths decided to throw ice on the girl. They called her names, and shamed her for becoming useless and a burden... and when she looked to her beloved for comfort and aid, he turned his back on her, and said nothing."
Pausing, Aino wet her lips, letting the suspense grow.
"She locked herself into the house after that, and refused her meals. Refused to leave house or room as well, because she would not make herself a target of such contempt again. She would pace the floor endlessly, and the 'thunk, thunk' of her crutches drove everyone who heard it mad. Slowly she grew weak enough that she could no longer pace. As she laid there in her room, hatred for her twisted legs and for the crutches festered in her heart. She cursed them, so that if anyone should try to take them, or her, from the manor house, it would surely burn.
"She died there, that poor girl. Starved herself to death. Her family grieved terribly for her, and decided to give her a pyre for the funeral. They brought her out, along with the crutches... but even before they could lay her on the logs, a pillar of smoke could be seen rising from that old manor house. It had caught on fire. They had no choice but to bring her back, and her crutches too, and as soon as they did, the fire went out.
"It is said that she still lies there, inside the house. Seveal attempts have been made to bring the crutches and the girl away from the building, beacuse it is a fine house. But every time, that fire starts up again.
"And on some nights, people passing by swear that they have seen a light move in the windows. And that they can hear the 'thunk, thunk' of crutches moving within... though there is never anyone there. No one ever believes them either, because everyone who claims to have heard the sound has been quite, quite mad."
Aino quieted, and watched the young man for a reaction.
"I hate it," she murmured with an intensity that suggested his story had the intended effect of creeping her out. "My turn."
Settling down better, Aino searched her memory of every spooky story she'd ever heard. Ilma was full of them - full of stories in general - but it took some time before she settled on one. Unsure of what sort of things Sah might be unsettled with.
"Did you ever notice that big old house at the end of our street?" she began, and let her gaze come to rest on her brother. Searching for signs of unease. "It is empty now, but many years ago a wealthy family lived there, that had much influence over the dealings of the Citadel. They had only one child, a daughter, who was much respected for her hunting skills.
"Well, one day misfortune struck and during a trip beyond the walls, she was injured terribly. Broke both her legs, so badly that she could never walk well again. She had to carry crutches, and hobbled along the streets with a 'thunk, thunk', so slow and pained - a ghost of her former self.
"Now, that might have been the end of it, but she had a boy she fancied at the time. Tall and strapping he was, and though he said to love her anyway, despite her crippled legs and ugly crutches, he grew gradually more distant with her. Until one day, when a group of youths decided to throw ice on the girl. They called her names, and shamed her for becoming useless and a burden... and when she looked to her beloved for comfort and aid, he turned his back on her, and said nothing."
Pausing, Aino wet her lips, letting the suspense grow.
"She locked herself into the house after that, and refused her meals. Refused to leave house or room as well, because she would not make herself a target of such contempt again. She would pace the floor endlessly, and the 'thunk, thunk' of her crutches drove everyone who heard it mad. Slowly she grew weak enough that she could no longer pace. As she laid there in her room, hatred for her twisted legs and for the crutches festered in her heart. She cursed them, so that if anyone should try to take them, or her, from the manor house, it would surely burn.
"She died there, that poor girl. Starved herself to death. Her family grieved terribly for her, and decided to give her a pyre for the funeral. They brought her out, along with the crutches... but even before they could lay her on the logs, a pillar of smoke could be seen rising from that old manor house. It had caught on fire. They had no choice but to bring her back, and her crutches too, and as soon as they did, the fire went out.
"It is said that she still lies there, inside the house. Seveal attempts have been made to bring the crutches and the girl away from the building, beacuse it is a fine house. But every time, that fire starts up again.
"And on some nights, people passing by swear that they have seen a light move in the windows. And that they can hear the 'thunk, thunk' of crutches moving within... though there is never anyone there. No one ever believes them either, because everyone who claims to have heard the sound has been quite, quite mad."
Aino quieted, and watched the young man for a reaction.
For the good times that we share,
and the bad times that we'll have
and the bad times that we'll have
