Scout Stories: Bruised Beginnings

Mist

Miach whimpered softly.

The hand paused and then withdrew. Miach's eyes followed it over her shoulder and, turning, she saw who the hand belonged to.

The kneeling woman was naked. No, this wasn't a woman. No woman could ever have a face like that. She had no lines, no blemishes. No hint of colour touched her cheeks or lips. Even her eyes were the palest of greens. She looked as beautiful and as dead as polished stone. Her hair was the darkest thing about her, and that was a striking silver colour and long enough to touch her knees.

"Aed..." said Miach. She tried to back away from the creature. She was unable to away. The Aed nodded and, for a second, it wasn't solid but fog and smoke. It reached for the book, which Miach clutched to her chest.

"It's mine," it said. It's voice was as harrowing as a wolf's howl.

"No," said Miach. "It's Grandmother's."

The Aed regarded Miach, focusing on the young girl's eyes.

"She didn't want anyone to have it," said Miach, wondering why she felt the need to explain.

The Aed smiled. It was wrong. It didn't make any lines on its face.

"Do I look like anyone?" it asked.

Miach shook her head.

"I can't give it to you," she said.

The Aed laughed. All the blood drained from Miach's face. She was going to die.

"You smell familiar," said the Aed, taking a step out of the circle towards her. "Have you been here before?"

Miach shook her head. This thing was going to kill her.

"I suppose you've come to explain to me why she's late," said the Aed. "Or are you filling in?"

Miach didn't know what it was talking about but it was waiting for her to answer.

"Nobody sent me," she said. "I didn't think anyone came down here."

"Yes." The creature stood and started to walk around Miach. It was circling her.

"It was part of the bargain," it said.

"Bargain?"

"Yes. Now she's late."

"Who?"

The creature paused for a moment and then laughed again.

"I don't know her name. I should go find her and kill her in a slow, pretty kind of way. Don't you think?"

"Why would you kill someone?" asked Miach.

The creature ignored her. "But we were so close to being done with the deal. So explain this insolence."

Miach opened her mouth to say that she couldn't when a terrible thought came to her.

"Is it an old woman who comes to see you?" asked the girl.

"What is 'old'?" it asked.

Miach didn't know how to answer that.

"Do you know Grandmother?" Miach asked. "She sometimes comes down here to gather herbs."

"I told you. I don't know names. You things are too short to bother learning them."

Miach nodded even though she didn't understand. The creature continued circling her and Miach could feel it's eyes travelling over her.

"The one who comes speaks of a little girl. I suppose that must be you. So tell her to come and give me her reason. If it is good enough and if I feel like being nice, I won't eat her."

"I can't," said Miach.

The Aed turned to mist and reformed in front of her, mere millimetres from her face.

"What?" it asked, it's eyes narrowing.

"I can't tell her," repeated Miach, shaking now. "I can't tell her anything. She died."

The eyes widened and it turned back into mist, which surrounded Miach.

"Then tell me, little one, what is your name?" said a voice from all around her.

Miach opened her mouth to speak but, just then, someone yelled. The mist vanished and Miach was left alone. She fell to the ground, very surprised to still be breathing. Her heart, which had felt close to stopping a moment before, now hammering quickly against her chest.

There was another yell, and the man from the gate ran into the clearing.

Note: Why are the prettiest monsters the scariest? 

I'm hoping to have the complete collection up in a day or two. Then I can start on the next one. So question-do you want more of these characters or new ones? Or a mix?

As always, thanks for reading! Don't forget to vote if you enjoy. Comments are appreciated even if you didn't enjoy and want to tell me why.