OTA - I should be so lucky

[cleptes]

WHO: Bela Talbot
WHERE: Bela's house and the forest
WHEN: 3rd - 5th February
OPEN TO: OTA
WARNINGS: Swearing

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Background - no prompt: - 3rd

Bela had come across the letter whilst she was out gathering firewood near the outskirts of the forest. She saw a flash of red poking out from beneath the brush and went to investigate it, in the hope that it was something useful.

That was several hours ago.

Now she was seated by the fire in the inn, turning the letter over in her hands and trying to decide whether or not to open it. Was it a test? The letter was addressed to her and she was the one who just happened to find it outside; dismissing it as just a coincidence didn't feel right to Bela. She was worried that there may be consequences if she didn't open it, but there may also be consequences if she didn't.

She frowns, lifting her gaze to the roaring fire. There is a pause, and then Bela tears up the envelope, tossing the pieces into the flames and watching it burn. Choice made. Now she won’t know the contents and they won't affect her.



(i) House #33 - 4th

The next day, Bela found another envelope. It was lying outside her home on the porch, like someone had placed it down for her to find. But there was no one around who could have left it there so her natural conclusion was that the 'Observers' were playing a trick on her. With a shake of her head, she bends down to pick up the envelope and look it over, noticing the seal. It's the same as before, even her name is written exactly as it was on the previous envelope that she had destroyed.

A finger traces over the letters of her name before she flips the envelope over and cracks open the wax seal with a fingernail, pulling out the contents. Bela reads the letter, only to re-read it to make sure that was she saw wasn't just imagining the words.

She could go home.

Of course there was a catch to it. Bela had to follow the instructions as depicted in the letter. And yet, there is doubt. A little voice nagging at the back of her mind, telling Bela that it wouldn't change a damn thing, even if she does end up doing as the letter says. The voice tells her that she is stuck in this village indefinitely.

Which is why Bela finds herself seated on the bottom step of her porch, much like she was months ago when she first arrived. In one hand is the letter. The other rests on the steps, fingers drumming an anxious beat on the wood.

What to do?


(ii) Forest - 5th

On the following day, Bela rises early and slips into the inn to grab a sharp knife before heading into the forest. She's got her backpack with her, containing some food supplies, water and extra clothing in case it became a long night. Part of Bela thinks that it's a stupid fucking idea. The other part of her really wants to go home.

Even if it meant killing something.

A rabbit wasn't enough according to the letter. She would need to go after something larger and arguably, more difficult to hunt. Which was just her bloody luck. Bela didn't know how to hunt and even if she did, the only weapon she had on her was a knife. A firearm would make the job easier (and cleaner) but why should it be easy for her?

By nightfall, Bela still hasn't killed anything.

If anyone happens to find her, she's leaning against a tree, backpack beside her and a small fire lit about a foot away; at least Bela knows how to make one. Her coat is pulled over her body like a makeshift blanket, and she is wearing several layers to keep out the chill.

"For fuck's sake!"

She yells out into the surrounding darkness, contemplating on giving up and going back to her home or the inn. Stamp out the fire and take her things with her, forget about the damn letter and the trouble it had brought. But she wants to go home. That thought alone should be enough to keep Bela going. Maybe the forest wasn't a good idea. There had to be an easier way to fulfill the request of the letter.

Not yet though. She will sit a little while longer.

Comments

[cleptes]

She watches him settle down the dog, noticing how well-trained the animal was. Maybe Bela will find a pet of her own one day - or maybe a pet will find her. Preferably a cat.

Major could possibly give her some more insight into the letters, more than what anyone else has told Bela so far about them. So she is quiet when he speaks, taking everything in and making sure to actually listen to him carefully to not miss a word. When he asks her about the letter itself, she doesn't answer him right away, letting out a sigh.

"For me to kill another living creature. If I do that, then apparently I get to go home." Bela replies finally, turning the letter over in her hands. "Although, now I am starting to doubt that after hearing what you’ve just said."

[majorlyugh]

"... Oh." That's .. different. It seems like the letters and the demands are escalating in violence, and Major isn't quite sure how to feel about that. It isn't good, though, he thinks, regardless of the motivation behind it. Is there motivation behind it? Or is it just some sick game the watchers or whatever are playing? What's the point?

"Yeah, I would, um," Major starts, glancing down to the puppy before looking back up at her, "I wouldn't take what it says at face value. Don't take anything you ever get at face value. There's .. usually something else going on. Some ulterior motive, or some hidden trick. Like, we have these feasts every so often. Remember? I wasn't here for it, but I heard that there was one feast where all these people got really sick for no apparent reason, but then all these other people had this .. temporary ability to "heal" those who were sick. The last one, where I saw you, I think was just .. food. But I don't know what the motivation was behind it. They don't .. really reward us for things, you know? They might make you think that they are, but they aren't."