Chapter 12: The Hagraven

Chapter 12: The Hagraven

The rest of the walk across the field was uneventful, even if it was unsettling. The closer I got to the Farmhouse, the more I couldn't help but notice the neglected state it was in. Is there really something in there I need? I thought as I looked at part of the roof that had caved into the building, and the way the walls bulged in places looking ready to collapse.

Would I have been directed this way if it wasn/t important? I shook my head answering my own question. Something was in there, in that ruined Farmhouse. Even the front stairs leading up to the front porch of the house had issues. I couldn’t just walk up the stairs, each of the wooden planks had been broken in two.

!Alert!

//A Player (Timothy Hedricks) Has Been Eliminated//

He has risen anew as a SHADE and is free to roam the land until taking a host from which to spawn into a ghoulish state of undeath known as the GHAST. Be wary for there are many types of undead.

***********

More monsters? That’s going to have to be a problem for me later. I thought wearily as I grabbed on to the rail of the staircase, and hoisted myself up and over the ruined planks and landed on the porch. Landing hard enough to break a few boards. I didn't land easily either and almost fell backward, but managed to catch myself.

After being attacked by the Skeleton, I made sure to check my surroundings to make sure I wasn’t being followed by anything, or that something hadn’t managed to sneak up on me. Behind me, out in the meadow, I couldn't see anything. But not wanting to draw any attention, as quietly as I could, I walked around the porch, trying to look into the front windows of the Farmhouse, but all I could see through were all blackened from soot.

I peered out over the porch to check out the side of the Farmhouse and the only thing I was able to see was a pile of hay next to an old chicken coop that I’d somehow missed seeing from further off. Probably hidden by the building. I reasoned.

“Fel?” I asked, hesitantly wanting the Wisp's feedback as I felt myself drawn to the Farmhouse and knew I needed to go in, but some animal instinct inside of me drew me back screaming at me not to go. “Do you see anything? Or should I just go in?”

Christopher, I am a Sol Guide. I am not your watchman. But yes, I saw an ax near the front door. I do not know what you may find inside, but any weapon is better than continuing unarmed always assume there is danger. The Wisp replied with a hint of amusement. I have made more allowances for you then might be allowed. Be careful.

I nodded, figuring it was something like that, and walked back around towards the front door and picked up the wooden hand ax I saw leaning against the porch railing. It felt solid enough in my hand. Fel was right. It was better than being unarmed.

!Alert!

You have found a wooden hand ax. The wooden handle has begun to crack from age and the iron ax head is loose. While still sharp enough to cut, this ax is likely to come apart with repeat use.

*********

So not so dependable after all. Nothing I’m not used to, I thought to myself knowing the ax wasn’t going to be dependable. Holding the ax in my hand, I pushed open the front door, ignoring the grating sound of the one remaining hinge and the way the door wobbled, hanging loosely as if it could break off at any moment.

For a brief moment, I felt resistance on the other side against the door before that resistance gave way, and I stepped through the doorway into deep gloom. It wasn't just that, I'd somehow managed to keep up quite a bit of dust that got into my eyes, I'd even managed to breathe some in and it burned pretty badly. The room seemed to spin for a moment, though I couldn't see anything, I felt confused and disorientated for a moment. As soon as the burning stopped, I opened my eyes and looked around. I’d been expecting to find a burnt interior, but what I found instead surprised me.

The most mouth-watering smell of cornbread and honey filled the air as I stepped into an old-time kitchen. The sort me and my mom used to talk about getting one day if we ever had the money, I smiled at the thought as I watched the steaming coming off of a hot pie that had been laid across the table. Almost as if in invitation a chair was pulled out with a plate, napkins, and silverware for me.

“This is absolutely amazing isn’t it Fel?” I asked the Wisp as I sat down. But if Fel heard me, the Wisp didn’t answer. It’s your loss then Fel. I'm not sharing any. I thought.

“Chris is that you? How was school? Who are you talking to? I left pie for you on the table. I'm sorry about working so late. I'll make it up to you soon, I promise” Came a familiar woman's voice from the next room. I recognize that voice, I think I had forgotten it. That's my mom.

“Yeah, it's just me mom, sorry I didn’t mean to worry you, just talking to myself. School was ok, I'm keeping my head down and doing what I have to do. Made a few friends too, so don't worry about me or about working late, I know we need the money ” I responded the confusion in my thoughts getting worse before settling. I just had the weirdest dream, didn't I?

“It’s alright honey. You’re here now and that all that matters. Make sure to eat all the pie you want, I made plenty. I’ll be right back. I need to go get ready” My thoughts were fuzzy and I barely registered a reply as she fluttered past me through the kitchen on the way down the stairs into the basement. My attention was fully fixated on the pie. I went to cut myself a piece and set it on the plate and sat down. Red filling oozed out and wriggled. For a moment, I hesitated and didn't take a bite.

A searing pain went up my side, and I jumped up out of the chair with a silent curse as I felt a trickle of hot blood and reached down to check and see what happened. Standing up and moving away from the table, I noticed that somehow I’d managed to cut myself, a minor cut, and nothing more. What did I even cut myself on? I wondered There’s nothing here. I should ask mom if we have any gaze and medicine to disinfect.

“It’s the ax your carrying. You cut yourself on it. Though I did help you a little bit” I looked over across the table to see a pale girl with long black hair, just a little younger than me looking my direction

.

“Who are you, how did you get in here?” I asked the girl, wondering what was going on. How did she get into my house? “Wait? What ax? I'm not carrying an ax."

But even as I denied it things began to change, I felt a weight in my hands and looked down and saw a wooden handle, changing back and forth between an ax and a spoon. When did this happen? I wondered as slowly the mental fog that had come over me began to lift.

“You’re welcome.” Said the girl as she disappeared into a puff of smoke and the illusion within the farmhouse disappeared along with her. No longer was I holding a spoon, but an ax, and this wasn't my home.. Try not to get trapped again, you need to train your mind or find an artifact. That’s twice in one day I’ve had to get you out of an illusion, Fel remarked critically.

“Fel,” I asked. “Was that girl you? I thought I was home with my mom.”

You didn't go anywhere, and that's not your mother. Did you see where the monster went? The Wisp asked ignoring my question. The monster that was going to consume your soul after you'd eaten what it had prepared for you.

I’d forgotten about the pie in the moment, figuring it had been another illusion and looked over to see the blood-soaked table I'd been sitting at. Most of the blood wasn't mine. On the plate, I'd left behind was a maggot filled slice of pie, crawling and writhing in a mat red that I knew to be coagulated blood. That almost went in my mouth, I thought, fighting back an urge to vomit.

Hagraven's Pie. If you had eaten it, the Hagraven would have consumed your soul, and controlled your body like a golem. They do not usually show themselves so early. This bodes ill for you Christopher. Lamented Fel cryptically.

"Fel..." I asked quietly as I turned around away from the pie. "Whats a Hagraven? Because I'm pretty sure its in the basement over there."