shadows and stones - an original fiction series of gothic, horror, dark fantasy

Slowly at first, then more quickly, a tingling sensation stirred at the base of Hannah’s neck, forcing her to wake from a deep night of slumber. She recognized the Feeling, it made her long to burrow deeper beneath the blanket of sunlight under which she lay and not rise again for another month of days.

Somewhere in her lands an Unexpected Happening had occurred – those were never good. The tingling changed to a burn while she ignored it in the hopes it would go away. When it became so powerful she couldn’t deny it any longer, Hannah flung herself upward through the sunlight, exploding it into a brilliant cascade of fireflies who drifted away on the breeze.

Naturally, her first course of action would be to locate the Unexpected Happening; however, an investigation of any sort was akin to an Adventure, and one always required companionship for Adventures. Exploring between the roots and among the branches of the great Sleeping Tree, Hannah called out an invitation for her dearest friend to join her.

“Singing Bird, Singing Bird, it’s time for an Adventure!”

Irritated, Hannah stamped her foot: her faithful companion was nowhere to be found. None of the other creatures of her land were remotely as dear to her as Singing Bird. Big Turtle bumped urgently against her leg, but Hannah did not wish to have the slow and rather dull animal accompany her. Gently lifting Big Turtle, she set it out of the way. Then, smoothing out the wrinkles in her chemise, Hannah made a decision.

“I shall simply investigate alone.”

Somewhere nearby a little voice murmured, how very brave you are to do so. Even closer a second voice called out, fool. Tears welled instantly, making little runnels down Hannah’s cheeks to the soft curve of her chin, slowly dripped onto the chemise, leaving dark spots on its white surface. Clenching her hand into a fist, she smeared the tears away.

“I hate you.” Hannah whispered.

Leaving Big Turtle, a concerned expression on its amphibian face, Hannah slipped down the damp grass of her hill towards the valley below. Determined footsteps carried her past the swirling mists of the Golden Meadow and set her skirting along the edges of the Evershining Brook. Unexpected Happenings would never occur in these places, but she avoided even thinking the name of the place she suspected. There was plenty of pleasant ground to cover first. Enjoying the tickle of soft heather between her toes, Hannah danced as she moved ever forwards.

Melanie, the housekeeper, sighed in relief when the nurse, who was also her daughter Brigid, finally arrived.

“She’ll not sit still for a moment, and I cannot get her to change into her dress.” The object in question, a light flower patterned sundress hung limply from Melanie’s hands. Impatiently she waited while Brigid placed her purse and coat in the locked closet. Before Brigid had even a chance to bid her mother good morning, Melanie passed the dress into her hands and left the room, having more important things to do with her time.

A cry of joy burst suddenly from deep inside Hannah’s heart: Singing Bird had arrived! Now she would not have to face the Unexpected Happening alone – now it would be a real Adventure. Laughing, she spun like a dervish beneath the fluttering creature, who scolded profusely as it tried to drop a pretty dress around her.

Relenting, Hannah raised her arms obediently, allowing the dress to slip smoothly down. Now, properly attired, she could continue the investigation.

“Come on, Singing Bird, let’s hurry!” she called out, racing ahead of her flying friend.

How very wise you are to find a companion. offered one voice. Coward, called the second. The voice of Singing Bird blunted their tones enough for Hannah to ignore them.

Soon the ground began to change from springy turf, so pleasant to the toes, to rough gravel, treacherous to bared feet. A moment of indecision, a pause to reconsider held Hannah in place: she had arrived at the edge of the Dark Place. Black, hard paths ran endlessly between boxes built of icy grey stone. Three holes were the sole decoration on each grey box; one near to the ground where a person could enter, and two above where something could see out.

Hannah hated the Dark Place, hated the black pathways, hated the stone boxes, and most of all she hated the holes. Terrible enough when closed, they were a thousand times worse when open. Then they stared at her, daring her to come to them, to come in and see the unseeable. None were open now, but their mere presence held Hannah immobile with fear.

You are never alone, go forward in safety. If you look into their eyes they’ll burn your soul away.

Panicking, Hannah plucked Singing Bird deftly from the air. Cradling it carefully in her hands, she stroked its wings with gentle fingers, rubbing the dampness of her tears into the feathers.

Brigid settled uneasily in a nearby chair while Hannah sat upon the carpeted floor tearing apart blossoms the gardener had just delivered. It was a certain sign of distress in her usually calm charge, though Brigid could not fathom the cause. In a cascade of petals, Hannah leapt from the floor to her nurse’s arms. Violently Hannah began petting and stroking Brigid’s hair. It was a command to be read to. Lifting the book from the small table beside her she lost no time in beginning the story.

“Today we shall begin the tale of a little bear with a big heart.” As she read Brigid found herself wondering what could be causing such sudden, inexplicable fear.

After what felt like hours of reading, accompanied by Hannah scattering more and more mutilated blossoms, Brigid was interrupted by a knock upon the bedroom door. Since it was not locked while she attended, she merely called for the visitor to enter.

“How is she, Brigid?“ the young man in the doorway inquired.

No answer was given by Brigid, however, for Hannah leapt once more in a shower of plucked petals, throwing herself into his arms. Clinging with a wrestler’s grip, she burrowed her head deep into his chest.

“As you see sir, she seems a bit agitated today.”

“Indeed.” Carefully, the young man gathered Hannah’s slight figure into his arms while she continued to cling fiercely. With gentle movements, he settled them both upon the unmade bed. Leaning back against the headboard, he cradled her upon his lap.

“I thought you might like to take lunch now, have it outside perhaps, or in the kitchen. I’ll stay with Hannah so you can take your time.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Returning the book to the table, Brigid moved silently out of the room. As she closed the door carefully she thought how lucky Hannah was, to have a brother like Michael, who cared for her so much.

“Gentle Bear, Gentle Bear, Gentle Bear!” Hannah sang out ecstatically, leaping into his embrace. How her other most beloved friend had known of her need she was not certain, but now that he was here, she would have to fear nothing in the Dark Place. As he had sworn long ago, he would always protect her.

Of course he will, now you can move forward. He’ll betray you now, like he betrayed you back then.

For just a second the voices echoed through Hannah’s heart, then a soft growl from Gentle Bear blew them away into the air. Grasping his large velvety paw, Hannah pulled him towards the Black Paths of the Dark Place. It was time to discover the truth of the Unexpected Happening. It was time to end it so the tingling of her neck would go away.

Bare feet were not made to walk the hot stones of the Dark Place, so Hannah climbed upon Gentle Bear’s back. Beneath her body she could feel him vibrate with the tune of a song he was humming in his deep furry voice. Slapping him hard, she made him stop.

“No Sleepy Songs now, we need to move forward!”

In accordance with her wish they continued in silence, stopping at the entrance holes of each cold stone box. Twisting her head this way and that, Hannah listened carefully at each, but the tingling at the base of her neck did not respond. Box after box they stopped at and passed, until Hannah began to fear that she knew exactly where the Unexpected Happening was hiding – the one part of the Dark Place she most feared to go. Laying flat upon Gentle Bear’s back, she began to cry.

“Gentle Bear, I’m afraid.”

You will always be safe while he is with you. Turn around, you little Fool, Dark Places should be left to Dark People.

Michael stopped singing the moment Hannah lashed out, though he remained unmoving during her squirming motions which followed. Guilt always tore through him at moments like these. Guilt that after all these years he was no closer to bringing her back to reality, though he had tried so hard, so often, to reach her. She always hovered just beyond his touch.

When Hannah began to weep, Michael wrapped his arms about her slender body again, pulling her into a tight embrace. It was risky, Hannah seldom responded well to unsolicited contact, but now she remained unmoving, seemingly content. Encouraged he sang to her again, not the lullaby from earlier, but an old Gaelic love song he had learned long ago. He didn’t believe she would understand the words, but hoped somehow she would feel the emotion behind them, and be calmed.

After a long time Hannah slipped out of Gentle Bear’s comforting embrace. As always, he had known precisely how to help her; it was why she loved him. She knew that he loved her too, he had just finished telling her in his furry song. Wiping her tears onto the flowered dress, she gave him the present of her brightest smile.

“I’m ready now. Thank you.”

With growing confidence, Hannah steered Gentle Bear towards the blackest part of the Dark Place. Two of the largest boxes stood close together there, so close they almost touched. One of the boxes was tightly sealed, not just with closed holes, but with locks and boards covering each potential gap like a gag and blindfolds. Relief flowed from her heart to the tips of all her extremities when she saw the locks remained firmly sealed.

The second of these two unusual boxes was the only one in all the Dark Place which stood always empty and always open. Hannah never, ever, ever looked into it. She concentrated her attention on the narrow path between the boxes.

It was only just wide enough for her to fit in. Gentle Bear protested softly when she slipped away from the protection of his paws. A small box lay alone on the ground. Unlike the stone boxes, which had always been here, Hannah had put this in place herself, after sealing IT inside. This box wasn’t stone either, because she had been certain IT could escape from stone. This box was made of metal. Daddy had told her metal was the hardest thing in the world.

Daddy? Daddy?

“NO!” The metal box was open, the lock broken on the ground. Someone had set IT free!

“Hannah, what are you doing out in public in such a disreputable costume?” Shocked, Hannah whirled about. A beautiful woman stood in the alley entrance, disapproval marring her perfect features.

“Mother?” A word, a sound, a collection of sounds without meaning. The very act of saying it threw Hannah into confusion. She knew this woman, yet the woman couldn’t – shouldn’t be there at all, let alone in the Dark Place. Suddenly realization hit her; she knew where IT had gone, where IT had to be. She had to stop IT before IT went any further.

Ignoring the pain of the hot Black Path, Hannah raced from the alley, passing through the woman as though she were no more than a shadow cast in dim light. Only a single glance was needed to confirm her worst fears, the door to the Memory box – now its name came unbidden to her tongue – was unbolted and open. Things she had not seen in years flooded out in a cascade of shadows, joining the image of Mother on the dirty street.

“Gentle Bear, help me!” Hannah screamed, racing to the Memory box, grasping the doorknob firmly and pulling it closed again. Within, the still trapped memories were crying out, longing to be released, to be seen once again.

They will not hurt you, let them free. Idiot, I told you not to journey here, now you’ll pay.

“Gentle Bear!” she called again. Her strength was sufficient to hold the door shut, but not to lock it at the same time. If she relaxed her hold even a fraction, more of them would escape. Already those that were loose clawed at her for attention. Frantically she sought a sign of Gentle Bear, but could not see him, only fleeting glimpses of memories that had gained their freedom; the statue of a boy in the park, a large woman wearing a crown, puppies running in the snow.

Michael was trying desperately to avoid being injured as he held Hannah’s struggling form in his arms. He had never seen her so violent before, never been so uncertain as to what to do. He could feel her terror as though it was his own, yet could not follow it to its source. Just as he was about to carry Hannah to the door so he could call for help, Brigid returned.

“What’s happened?” she asked, rushing to his side.

“I don’t know, she simply went wild. She struggles as though in a fight, but will not release me.” Looking helplessly to the nurse he dodged another flying fist. “Brigid, what’s wrong?” There was fear in his voice.

“I don’t know sir, this has never happened before. Let me call the doctor for advice, meanwhile try to keep her calm. Talk to her, she likes your voice.” Brigid ran from the room to the nearest phone in the hall.

“Hannah,” Michael called soothingly, “Hannah, I am here for you. I will always be here for you. I will always protect you. I will always love you.”

A Presence was behind her. A hand reached up to grab the door, swiftly pulling the bolt home; Memory box was locked again. Turning to give her thanks, Hannah saw a young man standing there, a man she knew…maybe? Where had she seen him before?

“Hannah, I am here for you. I will always be here for you. I will always protect you. I will always love you.” he said, and then she knew.

“Gentle Bear!” Furry and lumbering he stood before her again, ready to aid her in discovering where IT had gone.

Brave clever girl, find IT quickly. No more sense than an ass – leave IT and go!

Their search was a brief one. The pathway ahead of them was no longer black, but the deep red color of fresh blood. IT was that color. IT had to be near. Hannah examined every nook and cranny, peered down each dark pathway and into every crevasse until the sudden intensifying of the tingling sensation alerted her. Turning, she discovered IT had been behind her all along.

“Pleasssssssse?” IT whined in a voice which was no voice Hannah had ever heard before, and yet every voice she had ever known, all at once. “Remember meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Beeeeeeee agaaaaaaaain.”

YES! NO!

“No!” Hannah backed into Gentle Bear’s warmth, wishing he could trap IT back into the box for her. She didn’t have the strength to do it again – yet she had to, it was a task only she could perform.

“Pleasssssssse?” IT moved towards her, rolling, sliding, oozing. IT had no shape. IT had all shapes. IT had terrible eyes into which Hannah knew she would drown if she looked too long. “Rememberrrrrrrrrr.”

Her head hurt. The paths weren’t paths, they were streets lit by gaslights and the boxes were now houses with brightly lit windows, the sounds of music and laughter spilling out of them. Some of the musical notes fell like raindrops, splashing onto the cobblestones before pouring over to the empty gutters. Hannah didn’t like it here, she didn’t want to be here, she didn’t want to see this. She wanted to run, but her bare feet had become fixed to the sidewalk by tendrils of weeds which poked their way through the cracks.

“Stop this! Gentle Bear, help me!” she screamed.

He wants you to remember, he wants you to come back again. It’s going to hurt, it’s going to burn, but you never listen, do you?

“Remember meeeeeeeee. Be againnnnnnnn,” IT whispered in ITs sibilant voice.

“I don’t want to remember, I don’t want to leave!” Hannah screamed at IT. “I don’t want to leave here anymore, I’m happy!”

Echoing in her ears were new voices, muffled as though heard through the thickness of a pillow.

“Brigid did you hear, she said something!“

“Yes sir, maybe she’s finally coming back!“

“Come back to us, Hannah, come back.“

At her side stood the young man again, nothing more than a thickened shadow, though she could make out some details of his face. Ever so slowly he reached his hand to her, his eyes pleading for her to touch it. IT, meanwhile, continued to croon ITs refrain, creating more shadows from the substance of ITself; shadows of a man, also moving slowly towards her, menacingly.

“Come back to us, Hannah.” the young man called.

Go back. You can’t handle going back!

“But if I go back I will have to set IT free!” Hannah wailed. “If IT’s free, then I’ll have to leave this place.” Confused, uncertain she backed further from both the young man and the shadow man. Placing her hand behind her for support, her finger came in contact with the metal rail of a basement stair. The cold metal struck her like cold truth.

“No! You can’t make me remember. You can’t make me leave the Evershining Brook and the Golden Meadow and all my beautiful places. I put you in a box before, and I can put you in a box again!”

IT started to cry, a high pitched noise, while the shadow IT created became more solid, more menacing as it approached. As though being moved by an unseen hand Hannah’s head twisted upwards to see a sky full of stars. Beside her was the young man suddenly, and his voice, one she remembered loving, whispered “Look, there, that one is called Cassiopeia.”

A cry of pain and he fell upon the cobblestones – blood staining his hair. But he couldn’t fall – he had promised to protect her; he couldn’t have lied. A hard, painful hand grasped her by the wrist. Sour wine stench invaded her nostrils, along with the odor of more blood. “Don’t worry, ducks, you’ll like it plenty fine.”

IT can’t hurt you again. IT always hurts you, Fool, can’t you see that?

Screaming Hannah used her free hand to rip the metal bar from the railing, tossing it high into the air. With all of her will she envisioned the bar reforming into a box, and as her will was strong, it shaped itself at her bidding. Soundlessly the shadow man released her, melting away into the darkness. Whimpering, IT tried to run, but Hannah was no longer frightened, no longer willing to be controlled. Pulling the box from the air, she thrust it on top of IT before slamming home the lid.

“You can’t make me remember. You can’t make me do anything.”

As though she were touching the body of a dead thing, Hannah gingerly carried ITs container back to the narrow dark path between the tightly sealed box and the empty one. A single thought repaired the broken lock, which she snapped closed on metal latch. With one hand she thrust IT in ITs prison as far as she possibly could into the narrow space, then wiped her palms upon her dress.

“Why so sad, Gentle Bear? Why look, here is Singing Bird too! Come on, let’s go see if there is time to play in the Evershining Brook before bedtime.”

For a moment Michael could have sworn she had seen him, could have sworn she saw his face. For a moment he had hope. Then Hannah relaxed again, once more oblivious to all that surrounded her. Brigid wiped a tear from her eye, helping him tuck the girl into her bed beneath the soft feather filled cover.

If only, Brigid thought, if only…

It was, of course, too late for a swim in the Evershining Brook, so Hannah did as Singing Bird and Gentle Bear insisted and curled upon her bed of flowers beneath the great Sleeping Tree. As Singing Bird pulled a new blanket of sunshine into place, Hannah yawned mightily.

“Tomorrow we’ll go swimming.” she muttered while drifting off.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow.

�

episode i: journey into darkness - episode ii: tea party - episode iii: awakening
episode iv: the book of grief - episode v: paterfamilias - episode vi: breaking points
episode vii: the dark of the mind - episode viii: decisions
episode ix: momentary distractions - episode x: exorcising demons i
episode xi: porcelain visions - episode xii: the nature of jackals
episode xiii: exorcising demons ii - episode xiv: the invitation
episode xv: body & soul - episode xvi: mothering sunday
episode xvii: imbalance of power - episode xviii: interlude
episode xix: between life and death

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