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I was born
Chatterbox: Inkwell
I was born
I was born many years ago. I am very old. Not as old as the Grand Lady Kristina who I get to see on my birthday and hers, or Patty who comes to bring me food and bedclothes and things, but I have still lived for a long time, and I know many things. I know that the plural of cactus is cacti, and that polar bears live in the Arctic while penguins live in Antarctica. I know the names of all the birds that land outside my window. I know that my name comes from the titaness Rhea who was the mother of the first gods, and that her mother’s name was the same as mine. I know that my mother lies inside of her mother now, down in the realm of her child. I know that I am going to marry someone named Kronos or Cronos and that they are not going to eat my children. I know that I have seen a hundred and forty-nine full moons, and that something very special is going to happen on the 150th. But I don’t know what it is yet. That’s a secret. I know a lot about secrets.
I like to sit by my window and talk to the gods and their grandmother. I also like to read books. I have read many books. Even the ones that aren’t made up. This is much of how I know so many things. I know that someone is coming tomorrow. Apollo told me this. He did not tell me who. I don’t mind. I would like a surprise. I think it will be the Grand Lady Kristina, though.
~I’m not really sure what this is, or how ot’s going to end. I guess we’ll see.
submitted by Viola?, age Secret, Secret
(December 24, 2018 - 2:56 pm)
(December 24, 2018 - 2:56 pm)
I really love this story, Viola? It's so interesting and intruiging - I love how you've only given us a tiny glimse into this person's life from their point of view, in sort of a cloudy, topsy turvy way (if you know what I mean, which you probably don't but whatever). I can't wait to see what happens next!
(December 25, 2018 - 7:25 pm)
^ This
(December 26, 2018 - 11:53 pm)
(December 25, 2018 - 7:25 pm)
This is really intriguing, I like it!
(December 30, 2018 - 9:17 pm)
Thanks, guys!
*ahem*~
This is not at all what I expected. I think I am angry, but I am too surprised to act like it.
When I was born, it was here in the castle. I was brought to my room before I can remember. I have always been here. I was always going to be here. There. It doesn’t matter.
My mother lived in a room like mine, with four walls made of stone, two doors made of metal and wood, and one window made of glass. Like mine, in it was a bed, a table, two chairs (pointlessly; no one ever comes in), a carpet and a wardrobe, and through the unlocked door was a bathroom with toilet, sink and bathtub. Through the locked door was the castle.
My mother’s door was unlocked twice in her life, once when she went in and once when I came out. The third time was after she was dead. My door was unlocked once.
Today it was broken down.
The—human, I think—well, they walked in over the broken splinters, and I listened from where I was hiding in the bathroom. My bathroom door doesn’t lock. Why would it? There’s no one here but me. Until now, of course. Then. Whatever.
They walked in and told me they had come to free me. I yelled at them to go away, that today was supposed to be a special day and they were messing everything up. They said today was a very special day, but maybe not the way I’d expected, but to not be afraid. They picked me up and carried me out.
“What’s your name?” they asked. I didn’t answer. They went on anyway.
“Mine’s Cronos.”
~Haha, what perfect timing! I have to go!
(January 3, 2019 - 8:20 am)
*folds Post-it into a paper airplane* *tosses it* *gets distracted folding origami flowers*
(January 3, 2019 - 8:50 am)
*boops thread* Come on, up you go. If you’re in signt I’ll be more likely to remember you.
(January 3, 2019 - 11:14 am)
Tippity toppity tip top TIPTOPTIPTOPTIPTOPTIPTOPTIPTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP
(January 4, 2019 - 3:16 pm)
As soon as Chronos carried me out the door, I heard shouting.
“She deserves a life outside of these walls! She deserves to be free!”
“She is free, you idiot! Free to do whatever she likes in the safety of her home!”
“This is no home! It is a prison!”
Slap!
Squinting through the strangely golden light of the sun, I saw Patty standing with her face turned away in front of an enraged Grand Lady Kristina.
“Stop!” Chronos roared, and charged forwards with me still in their arms.
Patty whipped around. “Chronos! Run! You can’t take her with your hands full!”
“And you can do it alone?” they replied, leaping up and kicking at the Grand Lady. I shrieked, but it was too late.
”Have all of you turned against me?” the Grand Lady Kristina flared. She swiped, I think, with her hand, and Chronos toppled to the floor as Patty threw herself at her exposed back. I struggled out of Chronos’ grasp and breathlessly spoke.
“No, no, I haven’t! And I’m sure Patty doesn’t mean it! We just—”
“Shut up!” the Grand Lady barked, throwing Patty to the ground.
”I do mean it, miss,” Patty gasped, before the Grand Lady planted a sharp-heeled shoe on her chest. Stunned, I stumbled behind Chronos, who rose with a groan and unsteadily waved an arm out to the side.
“You.” The Grand Lady pointed at Chronos. “Return to your monastery at once, and I will forgive this transgression. Do not, and I will kill you and your precious Patty right here.”
“Shan’t,” Chronos panted, swaying less now. I started praying for the gods to keep all of us safe. “It’s boring there. And you can’t kill me, remember? Fate—“
“But! Patty has no such protection!” the Grand Lady shouted, her face almost gleeful. Suddenly it switched to absolute grimness. “Go. Home.”
“You wouldn’t,” Chronos said.
”I would. And I will if you don’t—aah!” Her face contorted as Patty lurched up, seizing her leg and biting. Chronos ran forward, but flinched from the blow the Grand Lady Kristina aimed at them.
“Run!” Patty repeated, now bloodied and croaking. This time, Chronos obeyed, scooping me up as before and sprinting away, out of the stone courtyard and into an impossibly wide space with towering green and gold slopes stretching down and away under blue, blue sky. I fought, futilely and halfheartedly, with protests I do not remember.
“I’m sorry!” Chronos told me. “I’m sorry.”
Hours later they explained the plan.
~
Hey, guess what! I had an idea I thought would be cute and it fit perfectly with this! I, uh, I haven’t gotten to the cute part yet. Maybe soon. Probably soon!
(February 16, 2019 - 3:47 pm)
Oh right, I forgot: I changed the spelling to Chronos because I liked it better. That is the only reason. It is still pronounced the same way.
(February 16, 2019 - 3:49 pm)
(March 3, 2019 - 3:45 pm)