Into the grey.

Her eyes opened rapidly. She could barely move. Even with her eyes opened everything was pitch black. She felt her breath bounce back at her. Her hands touched what felt like wood, she moved her shoulders and felt the same texture. Her breath now started bouncing back more rapidly, the tip of her nose becoming moist with condense from her panicking. The damp typical smell of earth penetrated her nose.

“This isn’t real, this isn’t real, this isn’t real” she whispered.

Isabis felt something move, at the tip of her feet.

“No, no.. No.” she stuttered.

It crawled on her leg and moved up to her stomach. The legs of the creature felt like little needles piercing her skin.

“Get off! Get off!”

The way it moved and the multiple legs immediately reminded her of a centipede. Whatever it was, it made a strange sound, it reminded her of a cricket at night, but less volume.
She panicked; she threw her body to all sides, smashing her hands against the wooden planks. She tried to grab the creature, but the box was too small for her to be able to do that. The creature stopped at her bellybutton. It dug its fangs in it, and slowly ate a way inside. The creature had to be at least five hands long. .

She screamed in absolute terror. Time seemed to have almost halted, the seconds felt like eons. The powerlessness and the pure horror generated by this happening made her snap.

She felt as if she had left her body. For the first time she couldn’t care anymore. Though still in pain, she felt as if she was there to observe it and not to experience it. In a flash she saw the old woman, even though it seemed Isabis finally found a way to deal with this, the expression on the hag's face stated other-wise.

“Finally” the old woman said.



Ding – ding – ding – ding – ding – ding – ding

Seven hour, the sun rises. Isabis sat upright. The Redridge bell sounded different. More unpronounced, as if the bell wasn’t of the best quality. She ran her hands through her eyes and just sat there for a moment. She touched her stomach, and rubbed it.
She looked at Corleth, still asleep. She touched his hair and kissed him on the cheek.

“I’m sorry, Corleth. I promised to find a solution, and so I will.” Isabis whispered.

She carefully got up, not to awake him. She took her staff and her hood. From the countless necklaces and jewels she only took a gold ring. The rest of her belongings she left behind. Simply put, she didn’t care. The books she favoured for so long didn’t mean anything to her anymore. Material couldn’t help her where she was going.

“Good morning, madam. Might I interest you in some lovely breakfast? You seem like you could use a bite” a man said.

Isabis nodded her head at the innkeeper.

“If it’s not too much to ask, I’d like to take it with me, Sir. I’ve a long road ahead of me, and the next inn could be quite far away” she said with a weary tone.

“But madam, I would not be a gentleman if I wouldn’t advice you to not travel by yourself. These roads are filled with creatures and bandits. Surely you mean a travel to Stormwind then? For I’d advice to go with a gryphon if so.” the worried innkeeper stated.

Isabis looked at the man, irritated. The man quickly picked this hint up and pulled a linen bag from one of the cupboards.

“Forgive me, Madam. I meant not to stick my nose into your business. Let me rap this up for you. I’ll add a skin of water – on the house.”

Isabis quickly felt sorry. The gentleness of the man was appreciated, but Isabis wasn’t as patient and calm anymore. She took the bag and thanked the man.

More to come later this evening.

It's taken me some time to catch up with all the stories, but all I have left to say is "marvelous". Simple marvelous. The whole lot of stories, that is.
An intriguing story, well structured and a joy to read.