...
A voice comes from nowhere, slowly getting louder, slowly taking form.
''-Sister, i promise you, nothing of harm will come our way. You know how often i take the boat out to fish with Father.'' - The voice is soothing and mature, familiar. A voice that feels like it's been with her most of her life.
She can predict every word he says, every move he makes, yet she can't move, can't look away - A spectator watching a play - her body moves on it's own, words come from her mouth without her permission.
''I know that Brother, it does not make me any less nervous that you foolishly believe you have control over the waves'' - It's her voice, but different. Softer, younger.
''I may not control the waves, but i do control the boat. Please Sis, you'll like it. You'll see how it calms you, being away from everything every once and a while. Just us, the fish and the songs of the sea.'' - He scratches his hair, looking towards the horizon, as if just the thought of it made him happy - ''Pray, are you that afraid of the ocean?''
''I'm not afraid! I shall get fishes twice the size of the ones you catch, if you catch one at all! You shall see.'' - Every word she says twists her stomach, makes her want to vomit. Her tongue moves without her, betraying the claustrophobic feelings she has. Unable to speak, to move, only following the script, having it forced down her throat.
The small pier they're walking towards has a couple of wooden platforms heading towards the water, two big ships, one small one. The horizon offshores is clear, with the sun starting to set, casting an orange glow on the surface of the water. Yet Ashes doesn't pay attention to it.
Something deep inside her tells her she already knows how this ends. She can't tell what it is, but it terrifies her. She desperately tries to yell, to pull him back, sink the fishing boat if need be. But her body doesn't answer, her voice doesn't come.
The man gets into the boat, sits on one side, and glances at her directly, inviting her in. He doesn't have a face, or eyes, they're blurry. Each time she blinks, his clothing changes, from formal attire, tunics, coats, to bed clothes, simple white shirts with laces near the neck. His hair keeps moving, as if someone's hand were messing with it.
''We shouldn't go...'' - Whispers that never leave her mind echo within her. The effort she puts into pulling her own body away is in vain.
She climbs aboard, sitting opposite him. The boat is well kept, yet she feels it is fragile - like anything could simply turn it over. He loosens the rope with ease and with a single push, the pier drifts away.
He rows from both sides, making the boat move away from shore, the water is calm, too calm. Silence swells until the splash of each oar sounds like a loud heartbeat.
''I must tell you, this is quite enjoyable'' - She says, looking into the distance, nothing but water in sight. But she never looked back, didn't pay attention to how far they've gone offshore.
''Damn sure it is, just wait until we start the best part, catching fish.'' - He points to two crates, one with fishing gear, the other with fresh bait, worms, mostly.
They both pick a rod, and slowly he shows her how to use it, how to throw it, how to equip the bait, how to pull the fish from the water once it has bitten the line. And finally, they throw.
His line goes a lot further, a practiced, well put throw. Hers is weak, clumsy. Doesn't go too far from the boat.
Her brother's mouth moves, but it's another voice she hears. He grabs her shoulder, but they are another's hands she feels. And after her next blink, she's somewhere else entirely.
...
''Oi, what's with ye and dazing off?''
Phi'lip is standing right in front of her. Holding her shoulders with both hands.
''I am sorry, Phillip. My mind went elsewhere for a while.''
She regains her composure and keeps moving, slow paces on the planks below, looking at the water peacefully flowing beneath. Her hands shake but not enough to be noticed by Phi'lip.
On the other side, they move towards the old stone road, cross it and keep walking forward. The path they take is crude, but it seems to be there far longer than the path through the forest near the manor.
''I had thought that once we crossed the river, we'd follow the stone road.''
''Nay, leads to no'ere. Followed it once, it goes for a h'while, then it stops. Like someone tore it down on purpose.''
''That is... Odd. Why would someone dismantle a road?''
''How'should i'know? I'm not omnicent''
''Omniscient'' - she corrects, smiling despite herself.
''What?''
She chuckles - ''You meant to say omniscient.''
''Ta, that's what i said''
The woods after they cross over the old stone road are more lively, birds calling, flying above in flocks, unseen insects buzz from all directions. The path they take through the woods is along a set of coarse dirt marking the right way to go, but the rest of the ground she can see, has plenty of grass, flowers, small berries in the distance. But the black clouds get closer and closer.
Soon the smell arrives, burnt wood and something else she can't quite tell what is. When they approach the village, the source of the fire becomes clear; many of the houses there are on fire.
They are simple cottages, small even from a distance. Made out of wood and some other woven materials she doesn't recognize. Two of them are already dismantled, burnt to the ground. The screaming gets louder and louder the closer they get.
The village has many entrances, many openings, many ''roads'' leading outside - They're all small and not really built with a specific purpose, they're the aftermath of trampling and desired paths. The houses are mostly aligned as a circle around the middle of the village, where a couple of tables and chairs sit alongside a big well. Behind houses, fences cover large areas, goats, chickens, a few cows.
Ashes doesn't have time to entertain her curiosity, the active burning houses are still there. People are screaming, walking back and forth. Stone grabs a nearby boy running around by his arm and asks.
''Cá is Uncail Calas? 'Tis his house burnin' there'' - He asks the boy, desperately, which himself seems lost.
''I-i don'-kno Uncail Phi'lip. Me máthair's missin' too. Máistir Ewan tol' to find Máistir Boulder outside.''
Ashes finds herself deeply confused, they use weird words she's never heard before, Phi'lip already seemed strange, but the locals...
''Go on then, Finn'' - The boy continues to run past them as Phi'lip lets go of his arm.
Almost disregarding Ashes, he moves forward to the burning houses, where a couple of people, mostly old folk, walk around trying to desperately move the collapsed roofs off the door to free whoever is inside.
Ashes follows him up until the middle of the village. A sound reaches her ears, amidst all the chaos, yelling and crying, a middle aged woman pleads for aid. Ashes knows where it comes, it seems clear, too clear. To the point it's strange nobody else is giving her any attention.
The house the voice comes from is already burnt down, completely collapsed on itself. She moves towards it, kneels down to check if the voice isn't a trick of her mind, but it isn't, the voice only gets louder.
''Someone...''
Her eyes light up, the woman's still alive. She gets up, looks around, but the people are trying to put down the fire on the other houses, further away from there, Phi'lip is nowhere to be seen. She decides she's got to do something, so she attempts to move the piles away.
But her arms are too weak to move the pieces of the roof, or any part of the torn down house.
Slowly, the sound of rain creeps in behind her. Thunder cracks loud and close. Wind lashes her hair - though the skies above the village were clear. Then the salt hits her tongue. Her lips shrivel, trembling. Cold follows, needling her skin until she shivers.
She turns back, but the village is gone. There is only the ocean, choked with floating wreckage from the boat, a thick fog around her. And being held by her hands, her brother, barely awake. His face rests on the same plank of wood she clings herself to. The plank is starting to sink, too much weight dragging it down.
...
''Let go...''