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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:10 pm
Lor took the mirror from Ro, peering into it in the full light. Nothing.
She glanced at the girl. "I... maybe there was nothing..." she murmured, finally. "Maybe it was one of those waking-dreams. Perhaps I'm just imagining things... first night in a new bed..."
She bit her lip, looking down to the floor.
"I'm sorry for waking you up, Rojiza. Thank you for checking for me.... you can go back to sleep now. I suppose nothing's really wrong, after all. I'll be fine."
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:50 am
Rojiza nods and gives Lorelei a little hug before heading back to Mountain Air. She smiles a little, knowing that Caroline wouldn't have noticed her absence--Mother sleeps through thunderstorms.
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:05 pm
Sighing, Lor shut the door behind Ro. The wagon was lit rather well by the flickering lantern light, and Lor felt it was safe to kneel and close the box, tucking it back under her bed. That done, she sat down on the edge of her bed, looking at the mirror.
"Must have been a nightmare. But... Vanna? Why are you so scared, then?"
Vanna chirped nervously, burying her head in Lorelei's unbound red curls.
"Shh..."
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:29 pm
The presence moved slowly towards the little bird, using her ability to sense it to its advantage. It grinned under its invisible mask, moving swiftly around the girl, occasionally whispering something to the bird or blowing a cold wisp of wind its way. It was nothing harmful, but the intent was indeed malicious.
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:07 pm
Vanna shrieked, shivering and burying herself deeper in Lorelei's hair. Lorelei yelped and reached up a hand to shielf the bird, feeling the cool air herself.
"Stop it!" she suddenly yelped, closing her eyes. "Whatever you are, stop bothering us!" She drew her knees up onto the bed, scooting back into the corner of the wagon. "Leave us alone!"
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:16 pm
Lo and behold, the presence did stop, rather abruptly. Not out of sympathy, but out of sheer shock of being addressed directly. Moving slowly and purposefully, it came to rest (it couldn't really be called sitting) on the bed in the same place as before, right above the box. There it stayed, unmoving, monitoring the other occupants closely. It would send out the occassional puff of air to warn of its presence, as if sending out the message I'm here to stay.
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:23 pm
Lorelei wished the light had made it go away. But at least she knew she wasn't dreaming, now. Though... she could still be losing her mind. But then why was Vanna so disturbed, as well?
Perhaps madness was contagious?
If so, then Ro...
No, that wasn't it.
Still... at least the ghost had listened, and the light was vaguelly comforting. She curled up a little more comfortably in her corner, stroking Vanna as she closed her eyes, adrenaline fading and leaving her exhausted. Soon, she was asleep.
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:27 pm
Noticing the girls deep, even breaths, the presence settled down for the night as well. One could almost sense that it blew out the candle with a smile.
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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:29 pm
Entry the Seventh
I don't know what's going on anymore.
I'm starting to wonder if I'm losing my mind... but if I am, then Vanna must be losing hers, as well. The very thought frightens me...
Last night, while looking through my wagon (after a very fun afternoon spent with Rojiza and Caroline - such wonderful, cheerful people!), I found... I found a box, stuffed under the bed. Why did I open it? It was latched. I forced it open. There was this mask - it was so frightening - I still don't know where it is-...
I closed the box and pushed it back under the bed. I think I forgot to latch it again. What happened next...? I think I fell asleep...
I heard something talking while I slept. Who it was, I have no clue... it couldn't have been Aleysius, right? It was probably a dream. It said something about danger... deceit...? I don't remember.
I woke up when Vanna shrieked. It was so dark - the middle of the night, no lanterns lit. There was something... something in the wagon. The box under the bed was rattling. I couldn't see Vanna. Then I saw her, staring at the bed, not moving... I got down, opened the box. The mask was gone! Where is it? I don't... I don't know...
The box had a false bottom. Under it was a mirror. When I looked in the mirror... when I... Oh God there was the mask, staring at me. I think I screamed. So did Vanna. I think this whole thing has affected her more than it has me. I'm scared, she's... paranoid, almost.
We got outside. Whatever was in the wagon didn't follow us, thank god... Rojiza heard the screaming, came over to see what was the matter. She looked in the wagon for us... saw nothing. Whatever it is can disappear in the blink of an eye. Maybe it doesn't exist?
I lit a lantern... thanked Ro for coming to help. Vanna stuck close to me, nestled in my hair, on my shoulder. The... thing was doing something to her. I don't know what, but she started shrieking and trying to hide in my hair. I tried to shield her, felt cold air...
I yelled at whatever it was to go away, to leave us alone. It listened. We somehow managed to fall asleep, curled up in the far corner of the bed...
Now in the daylight, I can't help wondering if it was just some kind of perverse nightmare. But whenever I look at Vanna... she looks at the other wagons uneasily. She's become very silent, and stays on my shoulder, ready to hide, constantly. She tenses up whenever others come near or we go into the wagon.
I'm worried for her.
I'm worried for me.
What's going on?
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:22 pm
The young rabbit girl sat on the floor of the wagon, painting some goose eggs. Once they were dry and she was content with their appearance, she placed them in white cloth bags that her mother made. Opening the door, she snuck out into the night and secretly delivered each egg. drawn and colored by kojiro <3
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 3:47 pm
We're currently staying in the town of Seinheph, in a small inn. Thank god for a few nights outside of the wagon... I still need to talk to Valelldia or Oqaia about the... the thing. The mask.
I checked in my wagon earlier today, actually, when Voltaire, the kids, and I returned from our little adventure (which I shall relate in a moment). It seems Vanna and I have been left a little gift! Not quite sure who left it, but it's very, very pretty. Thanks go to whoever brought it! It shall be put in a safe spot, no worries. I just hope it doesn't hatch - I have quite enough birds, thank you.
Now, on to the matter of relating the adventure. It's certainly given me time to collect myself, if nothing else! Voltaire and I took the girls out exploring, and on our way, I told Voltaire about the little haunting problem. He's the one who told me to go to Valelldia. Why hadn't I thought of that before?
Anyway - we then ran into a small girl named Elizabeth. She was selling butterflies on the side of the road. I bought one for myself and one for Annjette. As it turned out, she was selling them to help her mother, who was in some sort of monetary trouble.
Well, Voltaire and I couldn't leave them to suffer! We went to Elizabeth's house, where we had a run in with the debt collector - a very rude man named Nathaniel. We scared him off, and then Elizabeth's mother, Elaine, came to see what the matter was. After explaining, Lizzy asked if we could spend the night. Elaine agreed (who would have thought she would allow unknown gypsies into her home like that?). Later that night, Nathaniel came to visit - with a different plea. Apparently, he was Elaine's ex-husband and Elizabeth's father! He was also still very much in love with her.
We probably shouldn't have, but Voltaire and I interfered. We managed to help Elaine talk him around to sense - that love was more important than... than...
Than keeping a woman caged. Like mother.
Anyway. They made up, Nathaniel agreed to change. They're going to try it again. I wish them luck.
I'm sitting in the wagon at the moment. Perhaps I shouldn't be - I should stay out of here until Valelldia has checked it, made sure it's safe. But I had to check on the animals I admit that I'm curious. Very curious. Absence hath made me bold, as it were...
I wonder where I put the mirror...
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Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 2:05 pm
I shouldn't be doing this. That was Lorelei's thought as she rummaged around under the bed, searching by touch alone for that ellusive mirror. But Vanna was safe with Voltaire and Annjette in the the inn, and it was bright day out.
Bright day. That might get in the way.
Standing, she went to the door and closed it. Following that was the curtains, pulled tightly closed, heavy fabric blocking out the light.
There.
In the gloom, she got back on her knees, resuming her search. "Ahah!" she shouted, happily, then went quiet, looking around sheepishly. Pulling the mirror out, she sat down on her bed.
Really should have just gone to Valelldia...
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Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 2:12 pm
The presence "awoke," as not many things can describe a ghost's slumber. It looked over Lor's shoulder, into the miror. After a few moments, he made his mask visible to her in the dim light, grinning eerily.
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Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 2:17 pm
Lor whimpered, seriously considering throwing the mirror back under the bed and leaving the wagon at once.
But at the same time, her interest was growing. Inch by inch, it crawled in and engulfed her, wrapping itself around her mind and heart. This wasn't a dream - it was there in full light.
The curiosity blocked her words in her throat, though, and all she managed was a small squeak of a sound, staring back into the mirror, held in trembling hands.
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Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 2:27 pm
If Lor could have seen under the mystious mask, she would have seen a smile spreading slowly across the face of the unknown presence. It moved around to her other side, careful to keep its reflection in the mirror so she could always see its movement. There seemed to be no reason to its actions, only solidifying its reality to the girl.
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