Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 8

Through the dark void shines a light. A pinpoint at first, far into the eternity. With every step it grows, the pinpoint becoming a dot on a page, a fly, a child’s fist. Once its illuminance is big enough, a woman stands in the center of it. A cat’s eye, white and bright and hopeful.Continue reading “Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 8”

Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 7

In the waning dusk, the Everglow Wood shows the world why it has been named such. As the sun lowers itself for sleep, the leaves come alive. The greenery illuminates a periwinkle, the host of trees lighting the path that winds through them. Up above, between the gaps of the glorious canopy, the sky turnsContinue reading “Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 7”

Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 6

On the outskirts of the looming forest sits a building, just off the road. A path ventures from the main vein, leading up to the steps of the porch. Two-tiered and wooden, its four windows watch the road like unblinking eyes. The chimney lets loose a stream of smoke. Save for the sign sitting outContinue reading “Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 6”

Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 5

“I don’t know whether to laugh or vomit,” a voice wakes me. Max, sitting up and watching from his bed, sends a humored disbelief my way. The candles on the dresser are relit, and Max slides back into his boots. Nana still has her arm around me, right where she left it, and her eyesContinue reading “Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 5”

Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 4

True to the stablewoman’s word, as we round the hill, a cluster of buildings comes into view. The galloping horses slow as we draw near and pass under a great wooden sign declaring the area as Fiona’s Rest. Small houses line the street, giving way to a strip of commerce. Though most have closed theirContinue reading “Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 4”

Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 3

Our trek ends amongst the quiet peace of the Hemwood trees. The thick canopy keeps most of the rain out; the drops that make it through phase into a mist. The carriage stops along the trail, a long stretch of road left ahead of us. We file out, the siblings helping the old woman onceContinue reading “Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 3”

Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 2

The boards creak as we head up the stairs and into the hall. Doors line the walls on either side, each a private place to catch one’s forty winks. The space between each door gets wider the further down we go, the room requiring extra space for an additional bed or, as we progress, more.Continue reading “Rokkoh and the Old Woman, Chapter 2”