Dancing With You

Sophie placed her finger on her chin, (“There are only a few reasons why Demons would turn on the members of the providers. If they dared to escape the caravan without a proper ceremony and the other one is if they tried to get their psychopathic leader killed- Jack O Lantern.”)

Her body shivered at the thought of Jack O Lantern.

He was one of the worst things you could come across while traveling by yourself.

Hell, she thought that it would be better to run into a Monster than to run into the likes of him.

Just like his name indicated, he has a pumpkin for a head that glowed with yellow eyes and a crooked smile. On his tall thin body was a black-tie suit with a red carnation coming out of his chest pocket.

His voice fluctuated between high pitched and just perfect as if there were two would within one body and they couldn’t agree on anything.

However, there was one thing they could agree on.

Your fate.

It was his mission and his life calling to play God. Depending on his mood, you would be sold to a Demon or tortured for his own sick pleasure.

Suddenly Flannery gasped for air and she screamed wildly, “spi is coming sno mush tshu khima!!! Smaw khima shmo knǐ kses! THE”

With a deep gasp, she stopped and her body went limp.

The Sentries around her started to chant a peace-be spell to calm her down and 4827 vigorously scrambled down everything she just witnessed in her notepad.

(“She is coming to kill us all. We are at her mercy….The…”) Sophie translated, (“The ….what? Why do old ladies always feel the need to be super cryptic and end their sentences suddenly.”)

She glanced up at Head Swans' face that stared at Flannery.

He was thinking about the words that Flannery had spoken and wondered if that had anything to do with the Demons from the North. If that was the case, then there was someone far worse than the Monsters but what could it be? A Harbinger perhaps? Or is it something that has yet to be reported? Despite the curse only happening 100 years ago, many oddities have appeared before.

“I hope you got all that.” Head Swan scratched his head.

“I did sir. When we get to the city, do you mind if I interrogate her?”

“No. Once we hand her over to the city, she is out of our care.” He shook his head.

Sophie chuckled. Luckily for her, she could question the old lady.

She wanted to know what she was talking about and hopefully, when she came too, she would be able to answer some lingering questions she had.

He set his hand on his right hip, “How is the girl?”

“She is sleeping.” 4827 glanced over to see her not awake but sitting up with her back against the tree's bark, “Was sleeping.” she corrected her words, “I believe she is speech impaired sir and it appears her entire family is dead.”

Head Swan stepped over to her and their eyes met once more, “You believe? Were you not able to speak with her?” His attention turned to her once more.

With her face flushed red, 4827 shook her head, “No sir. I have not learned that skill set…”

“Did you check to see if she has tags?”

Tags were the silver necklace that everyone was required to carry on you. It was so that, if you died within a forest or a valley at the hands of monsters, they would tell those your information such as your name, birthday, the city you currently reside in, and your emergency contact name that would be contacted if and when you passed away.

“I….I forgot about tags sir…” she practically whimpered.

“4827.”

“.....Yes?” she held her head down and her shoulder slumped. She had been yelled at many times before in the Academy of Sotolas by her superiors for being absent-minded.

“I know it’s your first day with us but always remember to check tags if you are unable to speak to the person. Okay?” he gently smiled at her, catching her off guard.

“Yes sir!” she nodded her head, “Truly sorry sir! It won’t happen again!”

Head Swan stretched out his arms before sitting down in front of the girl.

“What is your name?” he stated.

She pressed her hand against her chest and tapped both of her pointer and middle fingers on top of one another. Then with each wave of her hands, she began to fingerspell out her name; "--Sophie Hemingway--"

“Where are you going and where have you been, Sophie Hemingway? I’m curious to hear how you got here.

With an inhale, she pinched her thumb and finger together, and moved her hands in front of her, “--My family and I lived within the Shortal District in one of the small Ring Towns called Wonda--” Sophie paused, giving off a look of grief.

“The Shortal District…” Head Swan gasped.

Six months ago, the once-prominent wooded land that contained tall pine trees, snowy mountains, rare animals, and bright yellow Styx flowers was taken over by a storm of what witnesses say was Monsters being led by Demons; something that has never happened before.

Demons are those who have succumbed to the second “curse”; a disease that turns those with hatred in their heart and revenge in their mind into immortal killing machines.

Black blood fills their veins and their appearance changes. They are able to move faster and stronger than normal folk, and their morals of what is right and what is wrong are thrown out the window, just like the Monsters.

They crave nothing but blood, death, and violence.

Everyone had assumed Demons and Monsters could never mix with one another. They were cut from the same cloth of evil yet hated one another.

“Was your family impacted by the disaster?”

“--Yes they were. I am the only survivor of the Hemingway Family--”

“My apologies for your loss. It must have been hard.”

“--It was. I was found underneath the rubble of our collapsed house. Luckily, the Notchings had passed me during the raid. Weeks later, I awakened within the City of Winter in the Eldenor Providence. I was under the care of the Celect until my Aunt Doe sent me a Raven by the name of Luci to find me. He gave me a letter that stated I may live with her in the City of Books--”