#wip chapter 2

[the-inkwell-variable]

𝔉𝔯𝔬𝔪 ℭ𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔳𝔞𝔩 𝔱𝔬 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔪𝔬𝔪𝔦𝔩𝔢

CHAPTER 2

ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ'ꜱ ɴᴏᴛᴇꜱ - - - ʜᴇʀᴇ'ꜱ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 2! ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴀᴍᴀʀᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇɴᴅʀʏᴋ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇʏ'ʀᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ꜰʟᴇᴇ ꜱᴜᴅᴅᴇɴʟʏ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ! ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀ ꜱᴄᴀɴᴅᴀʟ! ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ɪɴꜱᴛᴀʟʟᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴄᴀʀɴɪᴠᴀʟ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴀᴍᴏᴍɪʟᴇ!

ᴛᴀɢ ʟɪꜱᴛ - - - ᴘᴍ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀᴅᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀɢ ʟɪꜱᴛ!

p r e v i o u s . c h a p t e r | n e x t . c h a p t e r

She wouldn't call herself 'depressed', exactly. She still enjoyed the rise of the morning suns, one after the other, like schoolchildren in a neat row. Slop tasted the same as it always had - oily, yet somehow dry, with a hint of grassy aftertaste. Even her nightly act in the big top was running smoothly, which was saying something because, though illusions, tigers were still tigers.

No, if she sat down and had a logical think about it, all of her stress boiled down to the discrepancies in The Book.

Money missing from the ledgers was nothing new. Luc Poirier had been skimming from the top since long before he'd dragged her and Hendryk from the swamp a decade ago. But recently, it was getting harder and harder to hide the increasing amount of missing money in the ledgers. Fraudulent arithmatic may have been her strong suit, but the numbers were pointing to a worrying crimson flag that would alarm even the ever-optimistic Hendryk.

Or it would, if he would stop and listen for a moment.

"Hendryk, I'm telling you, something isn't right."

His axe slammed into the log, splitting it cleanly in two. "Luc's skimming is the worst kept secret in the carnival. Even Truffles knows about it, and she spends most of her day with her nose in the dirt. You're getting your tail in a twist over nothing."

"You're not listening to me. He's taking more and more every time, and he's disregarding the patterns we use to hide it! It's like he doesn't care if he gets caught anymore!"

He set another leg on the stump before dropping the head of the axe to the ground with a dull thump. His coal red eyes studied her as she paced back and forth in front of him, wringing her hands with every step. "Amara," he drawled, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "You're wearing a groove into my grass. Take a breath."

She wanted to stamp. To scream. To grab him by his curved horns and shake some sense into his thick skull.

Instead, she took a breath.

"You'll see," she warned him in a voice so quiet it forced him to meet her gaze. "Something bad is about to happen. I can feel it." With that, she turned and walked away, ignoring the way his eyes burned the back of her head.

It didn't take long. She'd no sooner snuffed the candle in front of her caravan when the door burst open. Hendryk's face was ashen rather than its usual state blue. "Necessities only."

Amara blinked at him, hands frozen in place over her half-undone braided bun. "What?"

He grabbed her arms.

"Hendryk, you're hurting me!"

He released her to shove an empty travelling pack into her arms. "Mother says Lolth is due her prayers."

Amara's eyes widened as her blood ran cold. She'd always known she'd hear their secret passcode to flee again, but here? Now? "Whats happened?" she gasped, throwing herself to her feet.

"Not now. No time." He grabbed things, seemingly at random, and thrust them into her pack - a toothbrush, a plush Octopus, a worn notebook. She joined him in his panic, throwing off her dressing gown to snatch the closest outfit. He didn't look and she didn't care. Apparently there was no time for modesty.

No sooner was her bodice buttoned than he threw her cloak over her shoulders. "Out the window," he ordered.

"Lantern!"

"Do you want to be followed? C'mon, we gotta go!"

He jerked the bay window open, knocking over a small stack of books. Amara clambered over the bench beside them and out the window. Her skirt caught on a splinter - she tore it free, leaving a patch of wool behind. When she paused to look behind her, Hendryk shouted, "Keep going! I'll catch up! Don't look back!" Her gut told her not to - told her to turn back and find him.

She kept running.

It didn't take long for shouting to reach her - not the angry shouts of pursuers but panicked cries. Once again her instincts urged her to stop, but she forced herself onward. Thistles tore at her ankles. Branches scratched her face and blocked her view. All around her, the sounds of the night pressed closer and closer, suffocating her.

She kept running.

It wasn't far to the river - perhaps a forty-five minute casual stroll, half an hour if the walk was brisk. Tonight, at a full sprint, it felt like hours. Amara collapsed onto her knees in the first dredges of water, soaking her skirt clean through. Her breath came in agonized wheezes. Each inhale burned her chest like hot sand. Her hands shook as she scooped some icy water to her lips.

But she couldn't focus on any of that. All she could think about was her brother. Where was he? What was taking so long to get here? Why had he rushed her away like this?

Was he okay?

As her breathing slowed, she realized that the air was stale, rife with mildew and a hint of smoke. The eastern horizon glowed crimson, but the suns had only set an hour ago. Fire? It had to be. The carnival was ablaze.

She had to go back. Hendryk's warning rang in her ears, yet her feet forced her upright, forced her forward. She couldn't leave him behind. It had always been the two of them against the world - leaving Hendryk behind was not an option.

The bushes before her rustled. She froze for a moment, staring into the darkness behind the leaves. "Hendryk?" she called softly. It could be him - but it could be something else. These woods were still wild, untamed by the local lord. It was just as possible that she was walking into the maw of a bear. Or a direwolf. Or a minotaur...

Thick red arms shot out of the bush. A large hand camped over her mouth, blocking her startled scream. The other gripped her bodice and jerked her into the bush. It pulled her flush against what felt like a muscular body and didn't let go. "Quiet," rumbled a voice in her ear. "Don't let them hear you."

Amara tried to thrash, but the man gripped her far too tight. Her teeth snapped fruitlessly against the hand over her mouth. Whoever this was much larger and stronger than her - was this the threat Hendryk had sent her fleeing from? The very thought sent chills across her body.

Before her, a wood elf barreled into the clearing. Even from behind, she recognized him as Luc's newest security guard, though she couldn't recall his name. She dug her nails into her attacker's wrist and screamed until her throat cracked.

His grip tightened. "Quiet, girl - that elf is not your friend."

The elf glanced around the clearing, his silver eyes sweeping over the bush she was sequestered in. See me! she silently pleaded, but he turned to stare over the river instead. A strange chirp interrupted his reverie, and from his belt he procured a flat slab of stone with glowing blue sigils etched upon its surface - a sending stone.

"Footprints stop at the river," he said into the stone. "It's possible she tried to cross here and drowned, but I find it more likely that she's following the river south to Boltangate."

The voice that responded, though distorted and crackling by the magic of the stone, was intimately familiar. Amara's heart leapt into her throat as Luc Poirier's voice echoed through the clearing. "She's brighter than you give her credit for, Eloetin. She's still alive. Follow the river. Don't come back without her or my money."

Her assailant held her until they could no longer hear Eloetin's footsteps, then released her unceremoniously. She staggered back to balance. It took a moment for her to realize that it was not a man that had grabbed her but a tall stout woman - one she recognized. Anne Twoorb stared down at her with no malice in her brilliant cyan eyes.

Amara took a step back, magic tingling her fingertips. The crimson half-orc before her had been working for Luc for years. Yes, she'd saved her from Eloetin - but what if she just wanted full credit for the capture? Her magic would be no good against Anne's natural magic-repelling skin. She was defenseless.

Anne raised her empty hands, her expression as stoic as ever. "I have no intention of turning you in. I know you didn't take the money."

"What are you talking about?" Amara demanded, taking another step back.

Before Anne could speak, another figure stumbled into their brush. Hendryk grinned down at her, ashes darkening his cobalt face. "I knew you'd make it. Had every confidence." He glanced up at Anne. "Anything?"

"Eloetin. He believes you are fleeing to Boltangate."

"Then we'll go north to Verthurst." Hendryk adjusted the sack in his arms. Amara shot it a frown - it was no travel pack and too heavy to merely be travel supplies. Surely it wasn't... surely Hendryk hadn't...

But before she could ask, Anne shoved another pack into her arms. "Go, before Luc sends more people after you. Move carefully, and leave no tracks. You carry precious cargo now." She gave Hendryk an affectionate pat on the shoulder and vanished down the path he'd come from.

Amara snapped her attention to her brother. "Will someone please tell me what is going on here?!" she demanded, hating the way her voice cracked and wavered. "You send me running through the forest in the dead of night - Luc's guards are after us - the carnival seems to be on fire! And now we're on the run, and I seem to be the only one who's been kept out of the loop!"

Hendryk reached out to brush an ivory curl from her forehead. "Amara, you're hysterical."

"Yes! I am! My entire life has been turned upside-down again, and this time, I don't even get the courtesy of knowing why! At least when we fled the Underdark, I knew why!"

Hendryk stepped forward and clasped her cheeks hard enough to pinch. "Amara. Do you trust me?"

"With my life." But the words rang hollow in her ears.

If Hendryk noticed, he didn't show it. He flashed her his trademark lopsided grin and hefted the suspicious bag to his shoulder. "Then let me handle this. I've got this. Let's go, before he sends someone else." He offered his hand.

She took it, feeling rather like she's just taken a leaky lifeboat in a typhoon.

[evilrwbyfan]

mini out of context comic i thought of that i will not be sharing my ideas for

[infamous-if]

✮ CH. 2 PART I ✮ 92k (+86k) -> 178k ✮

PLAY CHAPTER 2: PART I

It's here! First, sorry for the long wait. Chapter 2 has proven to be a behemoth, and I'd gotten sick this past week, my computer broke, my documents went kaput and I had to do some Frankensteining for the last few pages of this part. I'm not too worried, as Part II update can help smooth out all the kinks. I will definitely be looking for beta testers once chapter 2 is complete ha

Anywho! Enough about my problems. This demo update adds 86k words (86, 818 to be exact) and is the first part of a two part chapter. Which means the narrative in this chapter is not complete, but I kind of closed it off at a pretty satisfying place. As with every Infamous chapter, this is very character driven. So have fun!

What to expect in Chapter Two PART I:

get on the bus & deal with the consequences of your actions lol

arrive to your first tour stop and do your first gig...which might get messy (both literally and figuratively)

hang with a familiar father and daughter duo

have some heart to hearts/ some cheeky little POV passages

meet more BOTB crew and learn exactly what's in store for you this season

get roped in some ValenReign mess !

Maintenance:

this chapter has a lot of flavor text, or at least, more than the demo did, so if there are any errors or if there are lines that don't correspond with your choices, please let me know so i can fix that!

you will no longer be forced to write your own lyrics and the update will offer you pre-written lyrics by yours truly. im not t swift so i would advise you not to expect professional level songwriting, but they work well enough lolol

lyrics page is up as well as stats, but i don't really like the system i used to balance it, mostly because new...stat things will be added as the story goes on, so that's still getting reworked. still, good enough for now, as there are some personality stat checks!

Prologue and Chapter 1 errors/typos/grammatical bits fixed. (Wouldn't be surprised if I missed some though...) + variables updated.

Scenes not showing up fixed. hopefully, that huge error in which it throws you back to the fight after returning to the house is fixed (It was a bit wonky for me, hopefully it works for everyone else)

Stat and relationship pages updated ( + lyric page to look back at all your lyrics).

Can choose to be asexual and any sexual scenes will be skipped or replaced with romantic scenes. Flavor text in which MC displays any sort of sexual desire will be skipped. (This option comes up during Dakota's party scene. If not, it will show up when it presents itself again.) (Nothing sexual has come up yet, but if there are any scenes or even lines/ internal thoughts that should be skipped or changed for Asexual MCs, please let me know!)

If there are errors or anything, im always open. I've play tested but you girl is always prone to errors. As always, thank you for your love and enthusiasm! It makes me really happy and motivates me to keep writing ! <3

(Also, if you're thinking "omg amy how did you go from 65k to 86k?!" i don't want to talk about it /j)

See you on tour!

[windfalling]

THE FALL [1/5]

"You can unlearn what was taught to you," The Stranger said, his voice almost gentle. "We will do it together." Osha discovers her strength in the Force with The Stranger to guide her.

[brightest-stars-if]

The Update Is Here

So y'all know how I said the update was coming out on the 31st? Well surprise, it's coming out 2 days early! I had more time on my hands than I was expecting these last couple days, and I managed to wrap up chapter 2 sooner than expected.

Please let me know if you find any bugs/typos. Knowing me, my brain probably skipped over all of it even with my editing rip. Chapter 2 is 22.5k words long, bringing the demo to a total of 44k words. I advise playing with both a male and female Lux to get the full benefit of variation/branching.

In Chapter 2, you:

Flashback to the MC getting their prophecy

Seek comfort from either Alaric or Eulia

Have lessons with Lux

Meet Arjun, if you haven't already

Have tea with Isolde

And make an impression on Lux, if you haven't already

Here is the link to the demo and here is the link to the forum page. Happy reading!

[marshmellopie]

over a year ago, i made an inabakumori lagtrain parody with spamton:

and now i want to get back into animating (i made an entire minute-long animatic of a project, before realizing i was too rusty to rush face-first into animating the entire thing) so i'm remaking it! :D i'm definitely over-exaggerating the hair but SHHH i like it that way LOL

i'm not sure if i'm actually gonna finish it, but it would be nice to see it done!

[yuveim]

THE SPIRITED: ORIGINS v2.1.7 (Chapter 1)

PLAY THE DEMO ON ITCH.IO

CHAPTER 1 RELEASE

(Re)release of Chapter 1 with multiple text, visual and mechanic changes. Read full update notes on itch.io.

PLEASE NOTE: Some v2.1.6 saves may not work correctly. If you experience bugs or errors while playing a loaded v2.1.6 save (or to avoid those) please restart the game.

Wordcount: 58,700 words​ (+ 42,400​)

The Spirited: Origins is an interactive fiction horror game. In TS:O you take the role of an amateur paranormal investigator who jump-starts their career with a case of a demonic entity, while being haunted by their own inner demons.

This game is rated 18+ for mature content and graphic descriptions of violence. A list of trigger warnings has been included in the title screen.

DEMO ✦ ITCH.IO ✦ TIP ✦ CHARACTERS

If you enjoyed this game, consider making a donation to Palestine Solidarity Campaign

[transformers-synergize]

transformers synergized sneak peak

page 13, no context

[toon-topaz]

rough draft of an animation idea I did in a frenzy

will it get finished one day? who's to say?

[deeversuswords]

Sneak peek (unedited as hell) from my current WIP because this has got my heart racing for whatever reason.

...It's Katsuki, of course, my heart goes insane. Who am I trying to fool here?

Context is 28 years old Katsuki talking about his 16 years old self.

He glanced at you, lips parting just enough for you to peek at his teeth biting down on his tongue. “Let’s just say I liked my wins to come from takin' down opponents who gave it their absolute best.” “Did that change?” “Sure did.” He closed the lid slowly with one finger, setting the box aside before turning you around and leaning forward. The atmosphere instantly became charged as he trapped you against the desk, in between his arms. “I care about more than just showin' off my prowess now. Yeah, I’m into winnin' and get a kick out of it, but it ain't everything.” “Sounds like you did some growing up.” “Be glad. That Katsuki? You wouldn’t have liked him.” Sliding your hands upwards over his firm pecs and onto his shoulders, you pushed back his open hoodie. “Why not?” you asked, voice barely above a whisper. “He was an asshole.” Katsuki lowered his head to your neck, placing a whisper of a kiss on your skin that made you shudder. He chuckled softly. “Before you ask, ‘And this one isn’t?’ I’ll tell you straight. That guy was just a taker. This one,” he raised his head, locking eyes with you as he traced your bottom lip with his thumb, “is both a taker and a giver.”

[tales-of-wocdes]

Chapter 2 is live! In total (including code inside text), it is about 48 k words. This brings the total word count to ~103.5 k.

This chapter takes off right where chapter 1 ended. The main part is about character customization. I have tried to make it make some sense and be a part of the narrative. I am not sure I succeeded, but I leave that up to you all to decide. And MC may meet someone new, maybe someone in silver :D

Let me know what you if you find bugs/errors! Also if there is something you would really want in the character customization! Please do note that stuff like height and body type will be left for later, when MC is older.

I updated twine and some stuff got messed up in the template, so there could be stuff wrong.The "resume game" button in the main menu stopped working but since saves seem to work, I just took that out.

Other things:

Some typo fixes

New character profile menu structure implemented (barebones)

Codex structure slightly updated

Notifications are now a thing, they appear to inform you about new things in the menu (like a character profile)

Rudimentary approval system added (so far Havard and Lexia): it is not actually possible to make them dislike you (at least for now), only worried about you.

The prologue has some added visual effects in the repetitive parts.

Font on chapter screens has been changed

Minor chapter 1 additions to a few scenes.

The character profile menu and approval system mean that starting a new game is needed for them to work properly (skipping to C1 is fine)

Rough word counts per chapter have been calculated and added to the itch io page and demo version page inside the game.

Please report any bugs, mistakes etc. See feedback page at the end of the demo.

[jtl-fics]

Can I get some TBD please

10/9/24 WIP Wednesday (Closed) | TBD AU

Aaron grabs him by the shoulders and Andrew hates that his expression likely mirrors his brothers in this moment.

Desperation paints Aaron’s face.

“Yes you are! You were! You were happy - before!” Aaron insists, “You are meant to be happy because you were! You were so fucking happy before the accident Andrew. I didn’t understand it back then, I didn’t realize it but you were and I swear to God if you don’t give up you can be happy again.” his hands shake as they squeeze Andrew’s shoulders and there are tears falling from his brother’s face.

It always feels like the closest Andrew will ever get to being able to cry himself and the sight of Aaron crying always brings Andrew back from whatever ledge he had found himself staring down from.

“Aaron-”

“Josten’s a fucking liar and he’s stupid as hell because he definitely fucking likes you. Did he say that he doesn’t fucking like you? Actually say it?!” Aaron demands.

Andrew pauses.

“I’m sorry Andrew, I can’t accept your feelings.” it still hurts to even think about it but…

“He didn’t say that.” Andrew looks at his brother.

“What did he say?” Aaron demands.

“He said: ‘I’m sorry Andrew, I can’t accept your feelings.’ not that he doesn’t like me but-”

“Fucking Neil. Fuck him for real. This is why I can’t stand that guy, he’s such a constant pain in my fucking ass. I swear to God!” Aaron bitches mightily. “That asshole likes you Andrew, he likes you so much that he’s absolutely fucking stupid about it.” Andrew blinks, thrown off by his brother as his tears dry up from the heat of his anger. “You are going to be happy.” 

Andrew, for the life of him, feels threatened.

(End of Chapter 2)

[nextinline-if]

Chapter 2, Part 1 - Out Now!

Hi! I was going to release this in the morning but I'm doubtful that I'll be able to get out of bed in time so....here's the update! Chapter 2, Part 1 is now playable on itch.io.

I've done my best to fix errors but please remember it is a WIP so I'm 100% sure someone will find some. If you have time, please let me know and I can do a bug fix :)

Word count: 59,479 (old) + 63k (this update) = 122, 479 total word count of the demo

This demo ends when you reach Invictus (end of trip).

I won't answer any spoilers for a couple of days. When I do, I'll use the tag "ch2 spoilers" in case you want to avoid it.

I hope you like the update. (or at least don't hate it LOL)

[anto-pops]

The Serpent's Paramour - Sebastian Sallow x Female!Reader

Summary: For the past five years, you've been traversing the Highlands in pursuit of ancient magic sites to master the all-consuming power from the repository. In the midst of your travels, you find yourself forced into an uneasy alliance with none other than Sebastian Sallow. He wants your help, but you want absolutely nothing to do with him.

At first, that is.

While the two of you learn to coexist in the same space again, you’re left wondering if you truly will be able to aid one another, or if your past mistakes will finally come to head after all these years and ultimately lead to your long awaited downfall.

Word Count: 3k

Warnings: 18+. aged up characters, canon-typical violence, kidnapping

Chapter 1 can also be found here on Ao3

You were getting really tired of running for your life. 

During your fifth-year turning tail and booking it was often heavily warranted, especially because it was usually being done as a result of you waking up hordes of Inferi, or stealing important artifacts from dark wizards that would then be out for blood. You liked to think you had grown out of that habit, but tonight was proving to be something of a trip down memory lane. 

You were being chased. Again. 

Tucking your knees to your chest, you ducked down and rolled through mud at the same time a Bombarda curse blew up a chunk of the tree ahead of you. It was a close call, but you could hardly stop to survey the extent of the damage when you could still hear the thugs behind you giving chase. 

“You daft idiots, grab her!” 

Another spell struck the ground where you’d landed moments before, but you were already on the move– dipping and weaving in a bid to dodge the attacks that were fired blindly at your back. It made no sense; you had never been intercepted at an ancient magic site before, and as far as you were concerned, there was no reason for anyone to take interest in a dilapidated ruin. Aside from using the crumbling fortress as a makeshift base, no Ashwinders or poachers had ever been lying in wait in what was otherwise deemed an unremarkable location. 

They had been this time, though. To make matters worse, they were looking for you specifically. 

Your name had been like a battle cry from their lips as you’d exited the rundown site, and you hadn’t bothered to stick around to find out whatever the hell it was they wanted with you. If you weren’t so tired and weary, you would have apparated yourself to safety in a heartbeat, but splinching yourself as a result of your carelessness wasn’t exactly at the top of your to-do list. So, you had bolted straight for the edge of the forest, doing your best to avoid colliding with the low hanging branches that scratched at your cheeks and ripped at your cloak. 

There was more yelling from behind you, only this time it sounded distinctly farther away. Chancing a look over your shoulder, you discovered that there was now ample distance between you and the goons chasing you, and you pivoted on your heels to head north for the river that separated the Clagmar Coast from Cragcroftshire. If you could reach the water, you would have a better chance of getting away and concealing your tracks in the process. 

At least, you hoped you would.

Lungs aching, you pushed yourself harder, your arms pumping at your sides as you lept over a fallen log in your path, and though you stumbled a bit upon landing, you remained upright and pressed on. Another spell whizzed past your head– the heat from the Confringo curse nearly singing your matted hair– but you ignored it and focused wholly on running. It felt like an eternity had passed when you finally reached the colossal ravine, immediately trying to formulate a plan that would result in you on the other side with your pursuers left behind. There was no bridge to repair, no loose boulders to form into a levitating staircase, nothing. Panic began to fester in your mind for a heartbeat before you steeled your nerves and banished the feeling entirely. Hysteria wouldn’t help you right now– it never had. 

“There– up ahead! Move your asses, dammit,” came the same voice from before. You turned to watch as a handful of masked assailants slid down the muddy embankment roughly fifty feet from you, and that sight alone spurred you into action. 

Your wand was ripped from the holster on your thigh, and you channeled every bit of magic in your body into it as you aimed for the largest tree across the daunting trench in front of you. The Accio charm wrapped around the top of the monstrous trunk, and with every ounce of strength you possessed, you pulled. It seemed impossible at first, but desperate times called for desperate measures, and the foreign power from the repository surged to life to give you the assistance you gravely needed. There was a deafening crack as the wood began to splinter and give way under your ministrations, muting the onslaught of footsteps that grew nearer and nearer. With one final pull your efforts were rewarded, and the massive evergreen tipped towards you slowly before gravity caught up to it, sending it plummeting towards where you stood. 

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? It was a philosophical question– one that you had never thought about much before– but you had always assumed that with no one around, there would never be any way to know. Presently there were multiple people around, and as it turned out, a falling tree did make a sound. 

As you dove out of the way, the pine covered top of the tree arched past where you had been standing, stretching over the shrinking space between you and the encroaching strangers behind you. Most of them saw the gargantuan tree heading straight for them and jumped out of the way, their shrill screams echoing throughout the forest and bringing a small smile to your face. A few others weren’t so lucky, and you watched as the peaked top of the tree swallowed them whole and buried them beneath a heavy thicket of pine needles. 

Seizing your opportunity, you ran for the makeshift bridge and hauled yourself on top of the rough trunk, shoving and kicking at the spindly branches that stood in your way as you practically clawed your way through to the other side of the ravine. You didn’t dare look back, keeping your eyes trained ahead as you focused on maintaining your footing and not getting thrown off balance by your satchel. 

It looked like a hurricane had torn through the earth when you finally emerged at the base of the tree. You hopped down and landed in the deep, root-riddled crater that had previously held the evergreen upright before running to the side to gauge where your attackers were. Most were still gathering their bearings while others attempted to drag their comrades out from under the suffocating weight of the branches. You hardly spared their survival a second thought as you pointed your wand at the center of the tree and cast, “Confringo!” 

The flames grew rapidly and without mercy, frantic calls of “hurry” and “get them out of there” reaching your ears as you spun towards the forest and disappeared into the treeline. There was no knowing how much time you had bought yourself, but you weren’t about to squander any of it for a second. 

You ran, and you did not look back. 

***

One would assume that after two years of living in abandoned hovels and scrounging up scraps to eat with your bare hands, you’d be used to being cold, wet, and miserable. Hell, you had learned more about yourself since leaving Hogwarts than you’d ever thought possible, including just how resilient and resourceful you could be. Rain storms, stale bread, and a lack of clean water had never deterred you for long, and through all the trials and tribulations you found yourself facing, you always managed to pull through. 

Tonight, however, you allowed yourself to be sullen. 

The torrential downpour you’d been caught up in somehow managed to slip through the canopy of trees overhead, and as a result, you were encased in a cold, wet, dreary darkness. It had been two hours of trudging through mud and frigid temperatures, and by now you were caked in a thick layer of grime that you desperately wanted to rid yourself of. Charming away the mess was pointless– it wouldn’t be long before you were covered in muck once again– and you’d learned long ago that using magic while in the middle of a void forest was a bad idea, especially when you were trying to remain undetected. 

After the events from earlier in the day, you had decided to head straight for the next site marked on your map to make camp and settle down for the night. However, you were still a day away from reaching the location, no thanks to the dark wizards that had chased you in the opposite direction. Your stubbornness and desire to reach your destination is why you currently found yourself on the outskirts of civilization, trying and failing to fend off the elements to get the journey over with, but the bone-deep chill that wracked your body was beginning to weaken your resolve. 

You were exhausted. 

Thunder rumbled overhead, long and loud amidst the sound of raindrops pelting against the dirt, and with a disappointed sigh, you made up your mind. If memory served you correctly, the town of Bainburgh was roughly a two mile walk west of the forest. Your paranoia told you it was too risky to set foot in a legitimate establishment, but your numb limbs and wet boots squashed your fears before they could come to head. Staying outside for the entire night would likely leave you dead, and there were few other options to choose from. 

So, you marched. It took roughly forty minutes to traverse the jagged, rocky landscape in the dark, slowed down by the stray roots that stuck out of the ground and worked to trip you in your haste. By the time you made it into town, you were soaked to the bone and shivering violently enough that you were certain passersby could hear. The tavern was helpfully the largest building at the end of the road, and you headed straight for it without sparing any of the town’s denizens a second glance. 

The warmth that greeted you as soon as you entered was beyond welcoming, and you tugged the door shut behind you before beelining straight for the firepit in the middle of the room. Your hands were so numb that you practically had to submerge them in the flames to feel any semblance of reprieve, and a few onlookers cast wary glances your way. Between the mud that coated your lower half and the water that dripped from every fiber of your clothing, you realized you had to look like a walking disaster, and that sobering thought had you tucking your hands under your armpits as you hurried to the bar at the back of the room. 

The older gentleman wiping down the counter turned to face you, his aged face showing obvious alarm and concern when he caught sight of you. “Merlin’s beard girl, you look like you’ve been dragged straight through hell.” 

You flashed him a bashful smile, though you were certain it looked like more of a grimace. “You could say that. You wouldn’t happen to have any rooms available for the night, would you?” 

With practiced efficiency, he tossed the rag he’d been holding over his shoulder and shuffled over to the cabinet at the edge of the bar, opening the squeaky glass panel that housed the keys for the rentable rooms. “Ordinarily the answer would be no, but that damned storm blowing through has business movin’ slow. I’ve got two rooms left, one with a bath and the other without.” 

Your heart soared as you hastily replied, “The one with the bath, please.” Without missing a beat, you snatched your weighty coin purse from your belt and dropped it on the wooden surface. The barkeeper raised his white, bushy brows in silent surprise as he tentatively picked up the drawstring sac, plucking ten gold pieces from within before handing it back to you. The bronze key he deposited in front of you had a wooden tag dangling from the end that read ‘13’, and for the first time in nearly two weeks you found yourself genuinely smiling as your fist closed around the cool metal. 

“Up the stairs and on your left,” he instructed you. “Kitchen is open for another hour if you’re tryin’ to grab a bite before bed, but I’d wager you’re more interested in the runnin’ water.” The way his eyes fell to your soiled clothing didn’t escape you. You almost felt bad for tracking all the mud and water through the lobby.

Twenty minutes later, you had a warm loaf of bread and a small wedge of cheese tucked away in your bag as you ascended the rickety staircase. The decor within the aged tavern was modest, save for the silver plaques that adorned each door with their respective room numbers. Finding your own was a non-issue, and as soon as you were inside the sanctity of the rented space, you let loose a breath that you’d seemingly been holding since setting foot into town. Now wasn’t the time to let your guard down, but you weren’t about to turn your nose up at clean linens and running water. 

Moving quietly, you stripped down to your undergarments and tossed your ruined clothing in the corner of the bathroom, then cranked the tub’s faucet to the highest setting and left it to fill. The bread from the kitchen had cooled some, but it hardly made a difference to you as you ripped off a piece and ate it with the cheese you’d purchased. Fresh food was a rarity for you these days, and you savored every bite as you paced the length of the room. With your hunger sated and your looming bath just around the corner, you allowed yourself to think back to the last few weeks, and you pondered just why dark wizards were looking for you.

Understandably, the whole situation reminded you of your fifth-year. Suddenly you were fifteen again, being hounded and hunted by Ranrok and Rookwood alike for simply existing. At that time they had wanted something from you; your abilities, your information, and most prudent of all, your silence. You’d known too much back then, but those times had passed, and both Ranrok and Rookwood were now dead– at your hands, no less. 

So why would anyone be looking for you? Who were they to you? What did they want? 

It wouldn’t surprise you in the slightest to discover that you had more enemies lurking in the shadows. The stunts you’d pulled and the things you’d gotten away with back then were bound to catch up with you, but you hated not knowing. The whole reason you’d left Hogwarts after graduation without so much as a word to anyone was precisely because you didn’t want your whereabouts known. The line between friend and foe had started to blur towards the end, though you acknowledged that it was mostly your fault.

You hadn’t turned Sebastian in, but you also hadn’t moved to stop Ominis from doing so. 

With him imprisoned in Azkaban and Ominis reeling from the decision, it was no wonder the two of you had drifted apart in the years that followed. Anne’s curse worsening had only exacerbated Ominis’ feelings, and you’d graciously stayed out of his way anytime you saw him around school. Natty had never fully recovered from Harlow’s use of the Cruciatus curse on her, and your guilt had in turn driven you further away from her. Poppy was the only person you’d stayed in touch with for the remainder of your academic life, but she was too good a person to drag down with your… issues. You’d ultimately been the one to cut contact with her following your seventh-year, and while you’d felt bad about it at first, you knew it was for the best. 

After tonight, that decision had proven to be the right one. If you really were being tracked, were any of your former friends targets for information? Did this impromptu, wild goose chase have anything to do with your volatile abilities from the repository? Had you unwittingly put them in harm's way simply because they knew you? 

The bread in your mouth had gone soft, and you shook the pointless thoughts from your mind as you finished off your mediocre dinner and made for the bathroom. The warmth from the water was divine and single-handedly chased away any lingering doubts about holing up in a public place for the night. For just this once, you would gladly trade sleeping in the cold, wet dirt for the pending restlessness and paranoia that was bound to greet you, and greet you it did. 

After climbing under the itchy but clean blankets, you stared wide eyed up at the ceiling for what felt like hours. Every squeak of a floorboard, every booming laugh that echoed up the stairs, every shadow that darted past your window, all had your heart racing. Even after checking twice that the two points of entry were indeed firmly locked, your nerves wouldn’t steady. Your skin crawled with unease at the prospect of being blindsided in an unfamiliar place, and at one point you even began pacing the length of the tiny room just to tire yourself out. 

Eventually, you came to a grinding halt at the foot of the bed, your hands curling into fists as you sucked down a slow, deep breath. “You’re fine,” you murmured to yourself. “You’re fine. It’s okay, you’re safe, you’re fine.” 

Maybe if you repeated it enough times you would start to believe it. 

The second time you crawled beneath the prickly sheets your brain was still running in overdrive, but you were far less fidgety than before. You had no clue how you managed it, but eventually your eyes drifted shut– and even if it ended up being a fitful bout of sleep, you would be grateful for the few hours of shut eye you managed to acquire. 

Gratitude went right out the window, however, when you were startled awake by a whispered, “Petrificus totalus.” 

Your body locked up– stiff and unable to move an inch below the scratchy covers– and before you even had the chance to glance in the direction of the disembodied voice, they whispered a different sort of charm. 

One that made your world go dark.

[chaptersleftunwritten]

🤭🤭🤭

[peppermint-whiskers]

That moment when you realize your hat's a fucking snitch-