What Not To Do In The Valley

Kimber's Body

Kimber didn't shower. She still had the dirt that buried her grave under her nails. 

Hive tried to minimise the smell of blood wherever possible when guests were over. 

On the two prior times it had happened, Kimber was annoyed Hive didn't think the pure stench of decay and sweat was enough to mask her clothes. 

She was met with a different outfit hung on the handle of her bedroom door. It was still dirty - Mrs Hive had been trying to make her feel more at home in the suggested clothes  - and it was still good and comfy for hiking and climbing. 

She just didn't see the point if she'd be sitting up on the roof anyway. 

Opening the door, she took the clothes and scrunched them in her fist tightly. She hated to admit that Hive was starting to get it right. 

She got changed and stuffed her good clothes in a box under her bed before coming out to watch from the top of the stairs. 

People passed her on their way down the hall to the window with the best climbing vines. Will hesitated as he approached her.

"I just want to help you figure it out," He insisted. 

Her mood instantly soured. She didn't like how he did things. He was rushed and loud. 

He sighed and passed by slowly. "Your body was dead for longer than you were..." He said, hoping to spark up conversation. 

"Not right now." Kimber looked back down the stairs, scratching her neck softly. 

He'd gotten her to think about it now. Death had destroyed a lot of their memories. It made sense with how messed up her perception of time was now.

She started to wonder where everyone else was and realised they had already walked past her. She was the last one down here and the house was nearly pitch black in the late hours. 

The door groaned and two red eyes looked inside. She was worried it would see her if she moved. 

Mrs Hive emerged from the wooden wall and greeted the thing warmly. She struck a match and lit a candelabra on a shelf. 

While the thing's attention was drawn to her, Kimber crouched down, hoping to hide behind the railing.

She could have crawled away if she was slow enough, but she feared the groaning floorboards would rat her out.

Mrs Hive welcomed the towering shadowy beast inside. Its large sweeping wings brushed the sides of the doorway even while closed. The two glowing eyes transfixed on the flame in her hands as she guided it away from the door and into the living room.

Kimber leaned to the side to begin the crawl when she lurched. Her arm holding tight to the railing as the body's voice whispered to her. "Those lights."

"Were red," Kimber reminded it. They had agreed the lights had been gold, these ones were too small to illuminate half as much as what they remembered.

"Wings like an angel," her body said. She hesitantly let it carry her down the stairs. 

She crept past the locked doors and peeling wallpaper, hearing the intent conversation being had through the walls. The open doorway was hard to look around, but she could make out the scene from their reflections in the living room window. The guest was silhouetted by the candlelight as a hunched, short-furred creature with feathers. 

It reached out a sharp hand to accept the offered tea.

"...and your 'work' is specific to my forest?" Mrs Hive asked through Micheal, who Kimber hadn't seen until he straightened in his seat. 

The creature made a low buzzing noise and then let out a long whining squeak. 

"I appreciate your kind words," Hive continued. "but I am impartial to the arts and well aware of the pain it may cause if you misstep. As an outsider, you must understand my reservations."

The creature let out another, more thoughtful shriek. 

"My condolences. That is a lot of planning. We would need to discuss this further at your intended location."

The creature reached into its wings like a cloak and pulled out some kind of wooden animal. Handing it to her gently. Micheal let out an amused breath as Hive turned it in her fingers.

"You need not write me such alarming letters. I know it's hard for you to hold a pen." Mrs Hive rose from her seat with an outstretched hand. "Come, artist."

Kimber scrambled backwards as the duo walked past. The floor groaned under her as she squeezed herself behind an overgrown pot plant.

Hive's head spun around, but Micheal had followed her and seemed to take the blame for the noise, though he did spot Kimber and shoot her a disapproving stare. Her neck mouth smirked.

The sound that beast made sounded so familiar. She followed it as Mrs Hive continued to speak, seemingly surprised by the creature's words. 

Eventually, Hive left the creature to go fetch a fragile plant as she used Micheal to talk for her. Kimber knew she'd had enough spying and used this chance to sneak around to the staircase. 

The creature turned and looked at her as she passed, pointing the beams of light into her face. 

There was a tense bout of staring between the two.

Micheal noticed her but chose not to interrupt Hive's explanation as he glared her way. 

"Um... oh no..." Hesitantly stammered the creature. 

Kimber shook off the shock and ran up the stairs and down the hall. Climbing out the window while breathing hard and thinking to herself.

She'd now seen that thing properly and it looked nothing like she'd hoped a fallen angel would. 

It looked far more like a moth.