Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Never stray off the path, or else the monster will attack.”

That was what the town doctor had told her before Rachel left for the woods. It wasn’t the first time she had heard these words, and it was far from the last. Everybody knew about the monster; mothers reminded their too-curious children of it constantly, irritated shopkeepers yelled it as a threat to trouble-makers.

The grass was green, the sky was blue, and there was a monster in the woods.

Nevertheless, her father pushed a loaded basket into her hands with a whispered set of instructions before sending Rachel off into the dark green depths. He regarded the rumors as “absolute bullshit, they’re probably trying to hide something in there. Trying to get all the good stuff for themselves, eh?”

Because of that, Rachel often noticed her father sneaking off in the middle of the night. He had been coming back scratched up and bruised lately, although she supposed he had finally gotten what he wanted when he came home with a triumphant grin.

In the basket was an unfamiliar bottle of perfume and six baked pastries, as well as some of her own belongings for the trip. It was for her mother, who had recently moved to live in those dangerous parts after the messy divorce. It was an action of recklessness and spontaneity, but Rachel’s mother had stuck to it.

“Foolish woman,” Rachel’s father had scoffed lowly, rubbing at a wound. Narrowing his eyes at her, he had said, “Make sure this gets to her. I’ll be checking to see that you do. Oh, and do tell her to try the perfume quickly. It took a lot for me to get my hands on it.”

And that was that. Sent off with a woven basket and a white shawl, Rachel went to the place where all the rumors had taken root from.

Now, Rachel stood in front of the main opening of the woods. A fence gate squeaked sadly as it swung back and forth, barely keeping together with rotten wood and rusted hinges. She carefully stepped around it, skirt brushing against moss.

The path ahead could barely be told apart from the rest. Plants intruded on the borders; Rachel made a note to keep an eye out for herbs and poisonous greenery.

“Stay on the path,” Rachel told herself. She took a wavering step forward, and then another. Soon enough, she found that it was quite easy, nothing like the terror-filled journey she expected it to be. There was hardly a thick, depressive air. It was pleasant, actually. And instead of a withering, sickish yellow-green, the grass was a springy viridian spotted with clovers and puffy dandelions.

As Rachel went further in, more flowers lined the sides of the path, blooming in a variety of vibrant colors. Off to the side were even more beautiful, but Rachel didn’t dare go that far, even if the woods seemed peaceful so far. All rumors come from a grain of truth, Rachel thought, firming her resolve.

And so it went.

Chapter Text

“Your music,” Zack says to the empty, doll girl, “is shit.”

Irritatingly, Ray tilts her head to the side. “I’m pretty sure I didn’t miss a single note,” she says, peering at him through dull eyes.

“What the hell does it matter that you’re getting every note, it still sounds like shit.” Zack stretches from his seat on the stool. He then narrows his eyes at Rachel. “It’s as dull as a white sheet of paper.”

“I don’t...I don’t understand,” Rachel says like a quiet confession. Her face looks lost, as if she doesn’t realize how much her music makes Zack want to sleep. It’s boring. Empty. Kind of fitting, Zack thinks, considering her personality. This whole thing was one huge fucking mistake.

It began when Zack was told he had an examination coming up for his major in timpani. Okay, whatever--as annoying as they were, he just had to tap something out and he was golden. But then his goddamn accompanist, Catherine Ward, decided to bail.

Who even does that? What kind of fucking attitude is that, to leave without explanation? But no matter how much Zack bitterly complained, it wouldn’t change what happened so he set out to find a violinist soon after.

And so he now has...this thing. Rachel Gardner. “Prodigy violinist” at the age of thirteen; apparently she’s won first place in several competitions so Zack had figured that she was good, right?

Haha, yeah right. Her music sucks . His examination is in a week so he can’t even swap out for another one, considering the time constraints.

“Mr. Isaac?” He’s broken out of his thoughts by the annoyance’s voice.

“Who the hell is Mr. Isaac? I’m Zack. Ugh, if I get a failing grade on this, I’m blaming you.”