Allye/Performances/The Widow's Walk

Real Date	2019-10-09
Game Date	423-04-21
Event	Tavern Troupe's Night of Frights Storytelling Contest
Point of View Character	Unknown

Allye clears her throat.

Allye recites:

  "She didn't intend to go in."

Allye recites:

  "The rain fell in sheets around her, and she placed a hand upon the exterior of the dolmen. Her gaze lifted past the structure to the lighthouse some distance away, and off towards the tumultuous sea. She blinked away the moisture that clung to her eyes."

Allye recites:

  "There wasn't even a grave, she thought bitterly. There was nowhere she could go, nowhere she could find him."

Allye recites:

  "Why was she here, at the resting place of some nameless, forgotten soul? What peace could she possibly hope to find? She shivered, the cold rain having long before soaked her clothing. The chill seeped into her."

Allye faintly says, "My love..."

Allye recites:

  "It was a whisper from within the dolmen, nearly lost in the sound of the storm. She gasped, taking an unintended step forward. Her foot slipped in the slick mud, and she tumbled down, landing painfully on her knees in the darkness. Slowly she climbed to her feet, crouching to stand in the cramped space. Silvery lines traced into the stone above her seemed to glimmer in the scant moonlight that filtered only a short distance past the entrance."

Allye shakily asks, "Who's there?"

Allye recites:

  "Her words seemed to tremble, barely escaping her lips.  The wind howled outside, but a heavy silence cloaked the dank air within the tomb."

Allye recites:

  "She was hearing things. Grief was playing tricks on her. She sank to the cold floor, hugging her knees. Dropping her head into her folded arms, she hiccuped and sniffled. Shadows shifted around her, unseen."

Allye faintly asks, "Have you saved me a place in your heart?"

Allye recites:

  "She lifted her head. Two pale green eyes smoldered before her, wavering mere inches from her face. Breathless, she reached out, and the vision dissipated. She clambered to her feet, stepping further into the dolmen in a panic."

Allye clumsily says, "I have, of course I have. My heart is yours, my love."

Allye recites:

  "The darkness was still."

Allye desperately says, "Please! Please, come back to me. Our parting words were so- I am sorry, I'm so sorry..."

Allye recites:

  "Her tears flowed then, messily sliding down her cheeks and onto her clothes, splattering upon the ancient floor. The musty air was taut with some anticipation."

Allye faintly says, "I am no longer in your heart. You have forgotten me."

Allye frantically exclaims, "No! No, I haven't. I swear it!"

Allye recites:

  "The voice spoke no more: not as she fell to her knees then, nor as she made herself hoarse sobbing anguished pleas into the empty tomb through the night."

Allye recites:

  "She awoke, huddled in a corner of the now unremarkable dolmen. The silvery lines she remembered coursing around her had disappeared, and the stone appeared dusty and dull. She wondered if she had simply dreamed it.  She trudged back to the lighthouse, dragging herself up the stairs to a small room tucked into the space below the widow's walk that ringed the beacon fire. The room that used to be theirs."

Allye recites:

  "After a bath, she donned a set of warm, dry clothes, but she still felt drained. The mirror at the far end of the room reflected an image of her, dull and muted, sitting upon her bed and gazing out her window at the ever roiling sea.  What would she have given to believe he was still out there, still making his way back to her as he had promised that night so long ago? She dropped her head into her hands. Unable to cry any more, yet unable to move forward."

Allye leans to her left.

Allye recites:

  "Creeeeak. Creeeeak. Creeeeak."

Allye recites:

  "She raised her head, her eyes flitting to the ceiling in confusion. Footsteps? No one lived in the lighthouse save herself and... well, only herself now that he was gone. The movement continued above her, shifting with purpose, as he used to do when he would light the beacon every evening."

Allye recites:

  "Her eyes widened. Forgoing her shawl, she rushed up the stairs and threw open the door to the top level of the lighthouse. Her gaze swung from one end of the walkway to the other... but no one was there. She stood in the doorway, breathing heavily. As the realization dawned that she was still alone, she grimaced. What was she doing?"

Allye recite:

  "With a sigh, she made her way to the railing, leaning against it and gazing out over the churning ocean. The wind whipped at her hair, merciless."

Allye faintly asks, "Am I still in your heart?"

Allye recites:

  "Cool air brushed the shell of her ear as the voice echoed right behind her. She spun around, her eyes crinkling in confusion at the empty space where a person should have been for just a moment before her face twisted in horror. The reckless motion had stolen her footing, and her leg slipped through the railing. She screamed, barely managing to grasp the edge of the walkway to stop her fall."

Allye recites:

  "She dangled from the edge precariously, her grip tenuous on the slick, sea-worn wood. As she kicked her legs and tried to gain purchase against the slippery side of the building, one of her shoes flew off of her foot. With a panicked glance behind her, she watched it fall and fall, until finally it was dashed against the craggy rocks below and swallowed by the ravenous sea."

Allye faintly says, "Let me into your heart, my love."

Allye recites:

  "She choked in panic, her fear and grief threatening to overtake her as the cold wind whirled about her. Two of her fingers slipped off of the edge of the railing."

Allye recites:

  "Her breath came in short spurts, and spots filled her vision. She tried to look up toward the voice, but she was beginning to feel dizzy. A pair of pale green eyes, luminous against a slithering cloud of shadow, seemed to fade in and out of her view, she thought. Two more fingers slipped."

Allye faintly says, "Let me in, and I will save you."

Allye recites:

  "The air felt thick and smothering despite the constant onslaught of salty wind. She closed her eyes and imagined herself crashing to the rocks below, to be swallowed by the sea. To be swallowed by the cruel, unforgiving waters, just as he had been."

Allye recites:

  "She nodded, almost imperceptibly."

Allye recites:

  "A rush of cool air buoyed her up as the door above her burst open. Then strong arms grasped her wrists and lifted her, pulling her against a soft, familiar warmth. She looked up, dazed."

Allye soothingly says, "You're alright, I have you. I have you, my love."

Allye recites:

  "Her fingers pressed against his arms, the taut muscles solid and real beneath her touch."

Allye incredulously says, "It's really you. You came back to me."

Allye ardently says, "I promised you I would."

Allye recites:

  "She collapsed against him, her palm splayed against his chest where the steady beat of his heart thumped comfortingly. He gave a fond smile as he gathered her up in his arms. Gently, he carried her back inside and down to the room that was theirs."

Allye recites:

  "The mirror on the far wall faithfully reflected their reunion, and she looked up at it in awe, shocked and grateful as her arms clung to the familiar shape of him."

Allye recites:

  "She didn't notice the faint glint of pale green that flashed across her eyes as she closed them and sank into his embrace."

Allye exclaims, "The end!"