Blank

Chapter 3

Black outs... constant and consistent. My mind seemed like a mess as I got up from bed and tried to push myself to keep going. No longer did begging help me survive... no longer could I continue depending on the sympathy of others, so I resorted to running errands for mere peanuts, each day. My days were now filled with fatigue and desperation...I didn't want to go on. I couldn't bring myself to lose my determination, however. 'Oh, how the mighty have fallen.' I thought with a sigh as I tossed a bag of rotten vegetables into the dark alleyway. I took in a deep breath and stretched, my eyes locking on to a shadow flying right at me. With a yell, I dodged out of the way.

I opened my eyes and groaned as pain exploded in my head. I hissed and looked around, trying to get a sense of where I was. My eyes landed on a shadow-like creature standing in the corner, its eyes on me. I took in deep breaths as I shook my head, the pain an afterthought. I had to be seeing things. There was no way that such creatures existed... they were myth and legend, like the very creatures that communed with them. Seeing one alone was said to be a sign of witchcraft... There was no way that I was a witch. I refused to believe it.

I opened my eyes with hesitation and wished I had kept them closed. Right in front of me, with its face close to me, stood the creature. A scream built up in my throat but I kept it in me. My heart raced as I stared at it, my eyes stuck on the hollow gaps on its face. It opened its mouth and a foul stench choked me. I held my throat as I struggled to breathe, the smell making its way down my throat. I tried to hold my breath but it didn't work. The burning in my throat didn't let off. Soon, my eyes started to water and I became dizzy, the pain in my head now a deafening banging as I proceeded to lose consciousness, welcoming the comforting darkness...anything to take me away from that thing.

I woke up with a start, air rushing into me without abandon. I began to cough as the burn in my throat reminded me of the shadow-like monster. As I coughed, my eyes scanned the room, looking for traces of the monster but got none. My breathing went back to normal and I let out a sigh of relief, my eyes burning with tears. "It was all a dream, Jane.", I tried to reassure myself as my throat burned some more. I didn't believe my own words as I tried to...recall...
There was nothing...not even a sense of the monster in my mind. So...what exactly was I looking for? Why was I so scared? What was going on?
I shivered and got up from the bed, straightening up the covers before leaving the room and going down the set of stairs I found at the end of the hallway.

The warmth hit me and I hummed. Seems like Kammie had found me after I blacked out again. I walked up to the counter and called out to her. She whipped around and gasped. 
"Goodness child, you scared me. I thought you were dead when I found you behind the tavern on the east side. You're lucky I was going on a grocery run, child, or I never would have found you."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Oh please, child, call me Kammie."

"Yes, ma... Kammie."
She smiled, a warm one as she bagged a few loaves of bread and pushed them across the counter to an old lady, who groaned out her thanks and placed a few copper coins down. I took the money and placed it in the money box in the drawer behind the counter, wondering if I should slip one into my sleeve. Kammie wouldn't mind...I was sure of it... she'd be more than willing to help me out...

With a sigh, I closed the box and placed it back. I couldn't,  wouldn't, stoop so low... yet... It would be my last resort, a final goodbye to my dignity and grace as a proper lady of court. I made myself busy, taking orders, as Kammie went to the back to put in the next batch of bread.

Time went on and we found ourselves getting ready to close the shop... when the debt collectors walked in, lighting up with smiles as soon as they saw me.

"If it isn't the fool's daughter."
One of them said with a cruel laugh as he took a step towards me. Kammie's expression soured, her eyes boring into the man, daring him to take another step. He chose not to.
"It's better to leave dead men alone, boy." She hissed as her hand reached for mine to pull me to safety.
I stepped out of her reach and shook my head. The fewer people I depended on, the fewer people got hurt.

The men saw this and smiled, a chuckle escaping from one of them.
"What about the one to pay a dead man's debts... surely, you don't think I should let our boss's money disappear, do you?"

"She's just a child."

"She's old enough to work the streets, ma'am."

Kammie took a step back as if struck, her face a smoldering red as she stared him down. She balled her hands by her sides and gritted her teeth as she shook. I was surprised. I hadn't expected her to get enraged on my behalf.

"Or you could be the boss's call girl, popping out young 'uns for him and whatnot. A pretty lady such as you shouldn't be working your arse off for nothing."

"Get out!"
The explosion was unexpected and I flinched when it came. The men looked startled by her outburst but laughed it off as Kammie yelled at them to leave the bakery. With a huff, she picked up her rolling pin and charged at the men who dodged her blows and ran around as if it were a game. She yelled and threw the pin hard, hitting one of them on the head, earning her a push. I rushed to stop her descent and glared at them as she continued to curse at them. One of them chuckled darkly before tipping over a table and throwing a chair across the room, narrowly missing me by an inch.

With a laugh, they cursed my father's name again before leaving. I helped Kammie onto her feet, with a huff and let out a sigh.
"Those brats are lucky the procession is tomorrow or else I'd have them pay for the broken chair."
She grumbled.

"Procession?"

"You haven't heard? The royal family is going to ride through the town in a carriage. They'll toss around gold coins too. Everyone's going to line up around the main road tomorrow. You could get a small fortune if you pick enough."

A light went off and I beamed. Why didn't I think of it? The procession was going to be my way out of the crippling debt left on me. I could finally be free. Joy bubbled within me as we cleaned up and locked up the store. Kammie passed me a few copper coins for my help and walked me back home. The weight of the coins in my hand grew with each step, my mind convincing me that they were polished gold.

With a parting goodnight, I made my way to the small place I called home, my eyes  fixed on the dark night sky as the stars filled me with hope.