Ariel Irene
Feeling much better today, and quite reflective. It’s been a long while since I spent this much time outside. I finally found some seeds and berries that I think are safe to eat and some broad-leafed trees that offered meaningful shade, and I believe I might just live to see another day. I’ve mostly stayed by the creek, following its babbling and trying to identify anything edible, but it started to feel foolish to keep walking when I didn’t recognize anything. That’s all your wisdom, Esther. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” Isn’t that what you’d always tell me? I think you were quoting someone, but I can never remember who.
The terrain further from the creek reminded me of that camping trip we took a few years ago, right after you graduated. Do you remember it? The cicadas and the bullfrogs sang all night, and the light danced with the trees all morning.
I wish I could see the world the way you did.
I saw the others again today. Not surprising, I guess. It seems like they may also be moving eastward, propelled by some unknown force. I know Lilo saw me, but I moved away quickly, and she offered no pursuit. I wandered off for a little while to give them time to get some water in the creek, but I’ll be heading back soon. I don’t want the others thinking I’ve ceded the territory to them. I found it first. It’s mine. I can’t go without food again, and I want to get back before the sun sets so that I can gather something for the coming days.
-
Hours have passed since I last wrote. It’s dark now, and I’m writing by moonlight. I couldn’t find the creek again. In my wandering, I found myself in the middle of some sort of ravine, and I can’t seem to make my way out of it. It isn’t deep—perhaps ten feet on each side—but steep enough that I struggled to find a foothold in the quickly-growing darkness of sunset. I decided to curl up in a little inlet in the rock, with some big trees around that may have some edible fruit on them. I’ll have to see in the morning.
I can’t shake the feeling that I’m not just choosing a place to sleep. I’m choosing a place to die.
Lilo Talei
I rifled through Thaddeus’ things earlier, while he was off relieving himself. I found a picture of a woman and two children. I didn’t know he was married. Makes me feel bad for stealing the ring I found in his bag earlier. Not bad enough to ‘fess up, not even really enough to slip it back and just not mention it, but a little bad.
I wonder what he’s in for. He hasn’t let on. I’ve told him about a dozen times already that I’m a thief, so if he even bothers to notice that his wedding ring is gone, he can just ask me for it. I’d give it back if he asked. But I don’t think he’s paying attention to me at all, so I’m not going to just let him get away with that. He can have it back when he’s ready for it. Until then, I’ll just keep it safe for him.
I also found the mother lode today—the gemstone to end all gemstones. It was just lying there, half-covered by some dirt, as if someone had left it for me to find. Maybe a previous prisoner dropped it? Imagine not noticing you’d lost something like this. Stupid.
I’ll need to have it verified by a gemologist if we ever make it out of here alive, but my instincts on this are pretty good. I don’t even want to write it down, for fear of jinxing it, but I think I’ve found the largest musgravite I’ve ever seen. Easily a carat and a half, if not bigger. I didn’t even know they got this big. I’ve got it tucked away in a safe place to make sure I don’t lose it. If I ever make it home, this pretty purple lady will take care of me for a year while I plan my last heist and prepare to retire in style. Prison can’t hold me down, and with this kind of luck, I won’t need to keep stealing for much longer.
Thaddeus Diggory
You would have loved this place, Elena. I would have hated it, back in the day, and it kills me to know that. But you would have loved it, and Charlotte and Henry would have absolutely adored it. They would never have left. It’s shockingly beautiful, when I stop to look around. Paper-thin flowers floating down on gentle breezes. Red foxes darting across our path. A veritable rainbow of insects I don’t recognize, and the ravens, of course. Omens, watching us silently from the trees.
I’ve almost convinced myself that I see fairies out of the corner of my eyes. Fairies! Just like Charlotte prattled on about all the time in the months before I left. I never thought I’d miss those little stories, but I do.
What else did I miss, in those years?
I think Lilo is stealing from me. I can’t find my wedding ring. I haven’t worn it consistently, not since… you know. But I’ve kept it carefully guarded in my bag. I often notice things out of place after I step away for a few minutes, and the ring has been gone for almost two days. I haven’t yet worked up the courage to confront her about it, but I will soon. I promise.
I won’t betray you again.
You’re reading The Ravenswing Report, a rapid-fire, limited-run serial from Sara Dietz at Blinking Blue Line. To learn more and access the Table of Contents, click here.
This format is incredible and the slow trickle is even more painful this way. Incredible, great work!
I’M LOVING THIS