bjornwilde (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bjornwilde) wrote2015-03-14 08:08 pm
bjornwilde) wrote2015-03-14 08:08 pm
Luidaeg fic - Not canon
An idea that hit me yesterday.
15 years ago...
Marcia knew better than to approach the strange house at the end of the block. The one that sat near the alley no one ever entered either. All through the neighborhood it was well know as the residence of the witch. No one knew when she came, she'd been here as far as anyone could remember. Even Marcia's abuela had stories of the dares the foolish boys of her age gave each other; touching the gate of the yard or even the front door.
But Marcia was desperate. Her baby was so sick the doctors just shook their heads and suggested ICU but Marcia had no insurance and couldn't pay. "I will give you medicine to make her comfortable then. I'm sorry I can't do more." They said.
Now she stood before the Witch's door, rooted by childhood fear. Ultimately, it was a mother's fear that got her to raise her hand and knock. The door jerked open, just a crack, but so fast Marcia stepped back in fear. An eye stared at her through the crack, assessing.
"Please," Marcia said, voice cracking. "My baby is sick."
"Why the fuck is that my problem? Take her to a doctor." The Witch's harsh voice replied.
"The doctors say she is too sick. They want to put her on machines but I don't have the money. Can you help her? I will do whatever it takes."
The eye stared at her for a long time and then the door slammed. Marcia stood for a few moments, tears welling up in her eyes; grief at this last hope taken from her. Then an anger burned and she kicked the door. Couldn't the Witch at least have told her to go away?
The door jerked open again and the glaring eye was back. "Why the hell did you kick my door?"
"Can't you have the decently to tell me to go away instead of just slamming the door in my face," Marcia yelled back. "I deserve that much!"
The Witch blinked and Marcia almost thought she saw a smile in the dark of the door crack. Then a tiny bottle was being pushed through the door. "Mix this with some warm milk and make her drink it at twilight for the next three days."
"What is the price?"
"Wise girl," the Witch said with obvious admiration, closing her fist around the bottle. "Your child will come back when she is thirteen and work off the dept."
"No. I will pay the dept."
"The debt is your daughter's, not yours. Take it or leave it."
"What will she do?"
"How the hell should I know?" The Witch snarled. Spotting Marcia's crucifix, she added more gently. "I swear she will do nothing to break your sacraments."
Sighing, as she really had no other choice, Marcia nodded and held out her hand for the bottle.
15 years ago...
Marcia knew better than to approach the strange house at the end of the block. The one that sat near the alley no one ever entered either. All through the neighborhood it was well know as the residence of the witch. No one knew when she came, she'd been here as far as anyone could remember. Even Marcia's abuela had stories of the dares the foolish boys of her age gave each other; touching the gate of the yard or even the front door.
But Marcia was desperate. Her baby was so sick the doctors just shook their heads and suggested ICU but Marcia had no insurance and couldn't pay. "I will give you medicine to make her comfortable then. I'm sorry I can't do more." They said.
Now she stood before the Witch's door, rooted by childhood fear. Ultimately, it was a mother's fear that got her to raise her hand and knock. The door jerked open, just a crack, but so fast Marcia stepped back in fear. An eye stared at her through the crack, assessing.
"Please," Marcia said, voice cracking. "My baby is sick."
"Why the fuck is that my problem? Take her to a doctor." The Witch's harsh voice replied.
"The doctors say she is too sick. They want to put her on machines but I don't have the money. Can you help her? I will do whatever it takes."
The eye stared at her for a long time and then the door slammed. Marcia stood for a few moments, tears welling up in her eyes; grief at this last hope taken from her. Then an anger burned and she kicked the door. Couldn't the Witch at least have told her to go away?
The door jerked open again and the glaring eye was back. "Why the hell did you kick my door?"
"Can't you have the decently to tell me to go away instead of just slamming the door in my face," Marcia yelled back. "I deserve that much!"
The Witch blinked and Marcia almost thought she saw a smile in the dark of the door crack. Then a tiny bottle was being pushed through the door. "Mix this with some warm milk and make her drink it at twilight for the next three days."
"What is the price?"
"Wise girl," the Witch said with obvious admiration, closing her fist around the bottle. "Your child will come back when she is thirteen and work off the dept."
"No. I will pay the dept."
"The debt is your daughter's, not yours. Take it or leave it."
"What will she do?"
"How the hell should I know?" The Witch snarled. Spotting Marcia's crucifix, she added more gently. "I swear she will do nothing to break your sacraments."
Sighing, as she really had no other choice, Marcia nodded and held out her hand for the bottle.