Inner Stone

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

                Old Lady Muriel was watching the crowds gather outside the crusted window of her rented room. She, of course, was the Old Hag the two young boys had been speaking of. Her appearance was no different than an elderly lady who had lived many years. She had deep silver hair that was secured in a knot at the base of her neck. A few pieces escaped the bun were flayed wildly around her weary, bone-wallowed face. Her face was wrinkled like a dry prune and her deep-set robes hanging limply off her aging body. Spidery pale hands were shaking slightly as she picked up her mahogany cane from the bed side. Muriel slowly pushed herself into a standing position as her bones protested loudly. She gradually walked down the creaking steps to the front door of the building. Outside, she could hear the many intertwined voices of the curious, foolish folks. Mad, was she? Ha, they could think what they wanted…they would find out soon enough for themselves. And they would be sorry. Oh, they would.

                She pushed open the cracked door and hobbled into the open street. The people became silent as if by switch. Their inquiring eyes gazed heavily upon her tiny frame. She deliberately raised her head to meet the eyes of all her audience. Many looked away from her haunting gaze. Her sunken eyes seemed to look into your soul and scorn upon it. Few kept her stare. Those who did backed down once they realized they would not win. Her gaze was too heavy to match. Her eyes were ones that had seen horrifying things. They were filled with sorrow, madness and emptiness.

                Muriel’s haunting gaze landed on two young boys, probably in their adolescent years. They both met her gaze head on. Their bodies tightened, but they did not back down. After a minute or so, the crowd shifted uneasily and the boys blinked and away. Deep down, Muriel was impressed. Her heart felt a stirring tug. She turned away and cleared her throat.

                “People of Listow, I beckon you to listen to me. It is for your benefit. If you do not, the unbecoming horrors will be upon you. I shall tell you a story you will want to listen very closely. You may never hear it again in your life. It is important, though many mistake it as a myth. I have traveled through and through among all ye nine islands. They all believe it false. You must believe for your sake it is not. Listen and understand through your pitiful minds and you may have a chance of living. If not, you will fall.

                “I tell of a story that happened around two decades ago. Back when the sun rose with song and good was still free in the world. People sang and danced in jubilant ways and people strived for their dreams and goals. Life was filled with emotion and ambition.

                “However, bad also existed in the world. Evil, wickedness, darkness were all submersed under the good. Between the cracks, wicked would slip through and bring ruin to the unknowing people. Good and bad were balanced. Everything was alive and real. Everything strived to live.

                “Then the day came. The Great War began in the world. Everything that was anything fought against each other. Friend turned on friend. Brother turned against brother. Innocent blood tinged the corners of all four corners of the world. Children, families died in bloody massacres. The horrors is something you people’s small minds cannot even begin to wrap around! Nothing was balanced. It seemed that bad had overtaken the world.

                “A young sorcerer lived by the name Judith. He was powerful in the arts of sealing and summoning. Quickly, he rose to power and tried to bring peace to the earth. Trying and failing many times, he finally came to a conclusion.

                “His conclusion was that evil and good were both a cycle. Lest bad and good. Red and blue. Ying and yang. Evil continued in evil, where good continued in good. There was not a way to end either one without the other. Young Judith studied many books and spells. Finally he found a spell that was strong enough to seal both good and bad away into a single stone. A stone was chosen and the sorcerer sealed away all emotions into the rock. The days and nights were added to the enchantment, but soon it was all over.

                “The reaction was immediate. All life stopped fighting. Peace was finally awakened. However, the joyfulness and happiness were also sucked into the void. The world was a blank piece of whiteness. It was reborn and we the people started over. Life was anew, yet both bad and good were gone from the earth. All that was left was a shell. Tis the earth in which we live today. Pitiful as it is, we are safe from everything. Both good and bad.

                “Young Judith died soon after. He was buried next to the stone as a memorial of his power. Now, centuries later, no one knows where he is laid. No one knows where the stone is still. Good and bad are trapped within, yet we do not know where it is. This is the world we live, one that is void and blank. How can we begin to understand anything?” Muriel cried the last line in crazy agony. Her shriek brought shivers to her listeners. Slowly, people began realizing that the hag’s story was over. They began to chatter and go back to their business. The crowds cleared as people began to move along their daily workings. Soon, only two boys were left standing in the middle of the street. Muriel watched them under hooded eyes. Each looked like he were in a trance. The dark-haired one was looking at the sky in deep thought, while the redhead looked worried about something. They both seemed lost in their thoughts in the middle of the busy roads.

                Muriel heaved a scratchy sigh as the wind blew some of her silver strands aside her face. Wobbling a bit on her staff, she began walking back to the inn. Suddenly, the brown-locked boy started out of his trance and began running towards her. Though seeing him run, Muriel did not stop. Instead, she walked in and let the door slam in the boy’s face.

                Tawryn needed to speak to the Old Hag. He could hear mutters of people writing her off as crazy. No one actually believed any of her tall tales, but they were interesting to listen to nonetheless. But something had struck the young boy hard. He didn’t know why, but he had a strong urge to speak with her. Something seemed off.