nightlights;

[Samantha Monroe]

"We used to live in a village not far from here" she continued, as for some reason her life story was being told to this stranger whom she'd met about fifteen minutes ago. She almost wanted to drop the sack and strangle herself. She ordered herself to stop, but her body would not comply. It was as if her physical and mental state had split into two separate persona, neither being in control of the other. "It was called Peach Town, because we grew delicious peaches. It was our main source of income. We engaged in trade with Stratwater. Up until a few years ago, all peach products were made with our fruit."

"Then we were attacked" she said, her voice lowering as her mental persona revisited the events that took place nine years ago. "A group of monsters invaded, slaughtering everyone and burning everything to the ground. I lost consciousness under a pile of debris and woke up one day in a trader's caravan. I've lived on my own since then."

She somewhat felt a bit awkward, as people usually didn't introduce themselves in such a personal matter, but maybe it was because she never confided in anyone about her past, and once she did she found it impossible to stop. It actually felt relieving to get it off her chest, but at the same time she felt slightly embarrassed. However she continued. "It's basically why I do what you've just witnessed. Some say I want revenge, others say I want to avenge my family's death. But really, I just want to prevent what happened to me from happening to anyone else."

[Kee Montgomery]

Kee loved to listen. She wasn't like most people, eager to butt in, quick to remark. She was content simply with hearing a story, whether it lasted two minutes or fifteen. It went hand-in-hand with her appetite for literature: a good plot could keep her hooked for a thousand pages or a thousand words. Thus, as the woman adopted the halting speech of someone reminiscing, like a reiteration over campfire smoke, Kee visibly perked up, inclining her head to the side in a catlike fashion. I enjoy peaches. Perhaps I should purchase some from the market tomorrow morning, she thought, though of course she wouldn't. If she could help it, Kee kept away from places bustling with people. Crowds made her awfully uncomfortable.

Oh no, her common sense crooned. She has a grudge against monsters. If you show any sign of your inhumanity, she will cut you down in a heartbeat. Keep your secrets for once, Keelie Marie Montgomery. For once, Kee decided to listen to her intuition. Nothing good would come from complete openness this time, though she did feel awful about hiding things. Don't. It is self-preservation. By keeping this little tidbit to yourself, you are ensuring survival. After tonight, you will most likely never see this lady again, and then you can keep on the down low.

Still, what a nightmare. Kee couldn't imagine monsters slaughtering people in reality. That belonged in fantasy novels and science fiction movies. Yeah. Look at your own heritage. "That's horrible," she mumbled belatedly, lost in thought. "I'm, um, sorry you had to go through that."

[Samantha Monroe]

The town began revealing itself, the thick branches no longer offering protection from vision. There was a faint smell of salt water lingering in the air, but it wasn't that uncommon around these times of the year, especially since a pricey species of fish migrated here during the winter, and fishing became more common. The streets were empty; no one stayed out late anymore, as night time became rumored as what was referred to as Monster Hour, where the creatures prowled through the town looking for a midnight snack.

The Inn was perhaps one of the tallest and most popular buildings in Stratwater, not because of its service but because of all the crazy shit that happened there. Tales of beasts raiding the drainage system and inhumane experiments being conducted in one of the rooms spread like wildfire. Of course none of these had any solid evidence, but that didn't stop people from passing it on to one another. Nevertheless, business seemed to flourish for the place, so it decided not to say anything about rumors, deciding to keep them as free publicity.

Samantha hated the building. She wished it would burn down one night and no one would bother to rebuild it. So many dark secrets hidden behind it's many doors, most of them best left hidden. But tonight the place seemed to be darker than usual. A gather of gray clouds hung over the place, almost ominous. She felt a tad bit guilty of leaving the timid girl alone here. After what she'd seen superstition became debatable to her, and maybe she took the storm above as a warning. "You know..." she muttered, keeping her eye fixed at the Inn as if it would spring to live and devour her whole. "My house is just a few steps away. You could stay there with me, if you want... You know, just in case fish wolf's family comes for revenge..."

[Kee Montgomery]

Kee observed the unfolding of the town beyond the cover of trees with masked distaste, mostly covered tracks disappearing behind her in the sheet of snow. God, she hated Stratwater, and the more she thought about it, the hotter her resentment flared. I cannot believe Father simply left. Leaving me with other members of the tribe to watch me would have been kind, but instead, the government had to figure out where to send me. Our people are notoriously hard to find. She couldn't understand what drew her uncle here, and whenever she asked, half curious but mostly irritated, he always chuckled and told her that time revealed all secrets. I cannot stand secrets.

One day, she would travel back to Alaska and raise wolves or something equally "hardcore", as a boy in high school once called it when she revealed her hidden ambitions. As soon as I graduate from college, or maybe just after high school. I can live with distant cousins there until I gain my footing. Of course, these were all quixotic plans, and even Kee knew that they would probably never come to pass. From what she heard, those that lived in Stratwater never found their way out.

At least the Inn was nice, and Kee regarded it with piqued curiosity. It was illuminated with firefly windows, the red, Oriental exterior a refreshing splash of color in the shades-of-gray night. However, when the stranger voiced her offer - Kee found it amusing that they had yet to introduce themselves - her spine chilled. "W-would they really?" she stammered, looking up at the hunter with wide eyes. She is quite tall.

[Samantha Monroe]

The cold hand of the night air gripped Samantha, goose-bumps popping out of her skin as her spine seemed to shiver. The Inn had that air of coldness handing around it, as if the thing was alive, possessed. She thought of that one film about a haunted hotel that was in itself a living thing, and drove the inhabitants to do unspeakable things to each other and their families, then kept their ghosts to itself. In a way, the Inn was almost a bastard child. The apparitions, the mysteries, the violence, the certain inhabitants themselves. It was something straight out of a generic horror story. Only this horror story was real.

Samantha was ready to leave the girl to her business and spring off before she lost consciousness. But an instinctive feeling told her that letting go of this girl would bring much regret - but holding on to her would also bring many problems. Sam knew things. She had no idea how this knowledge blossomed in her mind. Maybe a guardian angel. Her lips bent into a smile whenever she suggested that to herself. The idea of a spiritual guide assisting her through the obstacles was always something that she thought possible, and liked. Maybe due to her history of isolation from society, a hand on her shoulder was something she grew to long.

"Yeah, they could be on their way right now." she lied, shrugging. She was well aware that the idea was preposterous. That monstrosity was probably the first and only kind of his species. For now. There was a million to one chance that it somehow found a partner and reproduced. But sometimes, lies were the best tools used to convince someone that your proposal was to their benefit.

[Kee Montgomery]

There wasn't much that couldn't scare Kee, and since she was rather gullible and overly trusting, the woman's response chilled her spinal vertebrae like ice waterfalling down her back. "O-oh," she mumbled, glancing at the Inn and then towards the dense woods behind them. Any manner of creatures could be hiding in the shadows, waiting to attack and exact revenge. I might not be completely helplesss, but there is no possibility that I can win against another one of those. And... wolves liked to... propogate with their subordinates. What if she deferred to these hypothetical werewolf-fishmen to save her life and they filled her with their awful seed?

Shivering, she timidly remarked, "I'd, um, rather not be eaten," which was her own way of accepting the invitation to enter the woman's home. For a half-second, I thought about telling her my name, but until she asks, I suppose it doesn't matter. What's in a name, really? Language means nothing. Kee glanced up at the sky, snowflakes catching in her eyelashes and melting on her red cheeks, and wondered how good of an idea this was. Uncle's home isn't that far. I could go there... He was much more cunning and physically capable than his neice. However, Kee didn't mention this, keeping the tidbit to herself.

Kee was a firm believer in intuition, and a small voice in the back of her head informed her that this was good. It seemed slightly unorthodox and maybe a little crazy, but that was the essence of Stratwater, anyway. Plus... she really didn't want to be around if the monster's family came around.

[Samantha Monroe]

The entire town was a system of chains; that is, everyone had a chain and it was holding everyone to the town. Plain and simple. No one who had ever resided in Stratwater ever left. Perhaps they found the feel of the town to be alluring, mysterious. Maybe it gave them a sense of adventure. Or many everyone was too terrified out of their wits to ever pack their backs and flee, never to look back on the chaotic playground.

Samantha always had the urge to be the first to break this unspoken tradition, but never did she follow that urge. She was not aware why her chains wouldn't brake, however. She had long since proved to herself that she had the capabilities to mow down anything that prevented her from stepping outside the border and start anew. She had no one she cared for in the vicinity. In fact she barely knew anyone's name in this godforsaken road of building. Sometimes she felt she could compare herself to Robert Olmstead navigating through the lifeless town in Innsmouth. She almost smiled. With that said, she would add Cthulu to the list of creatures she wanted to witness before her final breath.

"Let's go then" she muttered, dying to step away from the grasp of the Inn and all it's devilish mutations and concoctions most likely residing only in her subconscious, or perhaps those which had experienced what horrors the humble-looking building could conceal behind that blanket of love and safety.

[Kee Montgomery]

For most of her time in Stratwater, Kee had led a safe existence. She avoided contact with "monsters", evaded that wily mistress named Dangerous, and carefully picked her way down the Path of Life. Honestly, she didn't need people. She was content on her own, wrapped up in her own little world of books and music and midnight walks in the snow with something half-animal twitching underneath her skin -

and honestly, what were humans really but animals? They tried to cover up their primal instinct with the illusion of "civility" and "society", blocking out past lives spent as cavemen, hunched around dying fires and blood staining fingers, but despite their hardest attempts, the wilderness could never be broken. Who said that? Jack London? Kee tried to remember but, for once, couldn't. She would definitely have to reread all of his good novels.

"Lead the way," Kee mumbled, uncomfortably glancing from the stranger to the Inn. What was she doing? This could be some kind of demented scheme. Date rape or a kidnapping. She forced the thought from her head and rubbed her arms briskly. Despite her infatuation with the cold, she was still partly human.