Chapter Text
Amity shivered. This forest gave her the creeps. Why was she even wandering through the woods in the first place? It’s a long story.
One day, while passing through the market, a rather loud voice wandered into her ears. “Hey, kid! You look like you got money. Care to take a look at my wares?” The culprit was a fairly tall woman, her hair gray and extravagant. Her red dress was adorned by a golden gem that matched a fang extruding from her mouth. “I sell the finest human treasure you’ll find in the Boiling Isles! How about this key-like object that’s actually a deadly weapon? Or perhaps the skin of a dog that humans would wear into combat? They sure like violence, don’t they?”
Despite neither of those articles sounding anywhere near appealing to Amity, she found herself drawn to the artifacts the lady had presented on her table. There were many strange devices laid out: a box with a side made of glass; a strange set of rocks with numbers on them; some rainbow-colored snakes, as well. Nothing particularly caught her eye until she noticed a book. The tome was rather thick, and was adorned by a pink cover. Amity recognized it immediately.
The Good Witch Azura was Amity’s favorite series, though she’d never admit it. A book of a witch who goes on life-threatening adventures simply to save the ones she loves. The writing, the dialogue, the characters; Amity loved every bit of it. As such, she kept the only known copies of it in a very secret place in the library. Not secret so that no one would destroy the books, but secret so that those who want to ruin her wouldn’t laugh at her for reading such a childish series.
Grabbing the book, Amity was excited until she noticed that it was a copy she’d already owned. Her ears slightly drooped, and the stall owner noticed. “What’s the matter, kid? Not what you thought it was?”
Amity was snapped out of her mind. “Huh? No--er, yeah, I was just hoping this was the next book in the series. You wouldn’t happen to have the fifth book, would you?”
Without even looking for it, the lady shook her head. “Sorry, kid, nothing. Better luck next time!” Saddened, Amity placed the book back on the table and began to walk away.
Eda was never one to care about what children thought, but she was in a good mood and hadn’t done her good deed of the day yet. Thinking quickly, she remembered a tale she’d heard every so often around the market.
“Hold on, you. There may be hope for you yet. I think I know someone who can get you that book.”
Amity turned around, and despite trying to control her joy, her eyes lit up. “Really? You do?”
Eda was surprised at the witchling’s outburst. “Well, not personally, but I’ve heard tales about them doing favors for people.” She looked around, making sure no one else was listening in on their conversation. “Word around here is that there’s a person deep in the forest north of Bonesborough who grants wishes. Don’t know what their name is, but they’re usually called the ‘Harrow’. Weird, huh? According to the stories, they live in a small cabin. If you present them with something you value, then they’ll grant any one wish you request, no matter how outlandish. Pretty sure if someone told them to off the emperor, they’d do it.”
Amity was skeptical, to say the least. She wasn’t usually one to listen to rumors in the first place. Not only that, but the thought of going out through that forest, all alone, with one of your most prized possessions only to give it away for a single favor didn’t really do anything to ease Amity’s anxiety.
“Even if it turns out to be fake, doesn’t hurt to try, right?” Eda brought up a fair point as she practically read Amity’s mind. She was right, of course. Trying never killed anyone (well, almost never killed anyone), and she could easily back out at any time if she felt uncomfortable, right?
And so, Amity stood among the overgrowth, as lost as she’d ever been. The foliage had blocked the path long ago. She turned around several times in the same spot, eyes peeled for anything that might give her a clue.
There wasn’t a lot.
Amity began to grow more and more frustrated. With a flick of her wrist, her Abomination rose from the soil and smashed a tree to pieces as she threw a rock in a random direction.
“Why am I even going through all this trouble?! All I wanted was some stupid novel!”
As Amity prepared to leave, she realized that she didn’t know the way back. Refusing to let anything stop her at this point, she picked the direction the rock flew and began walking. She took three steps before she was stopped by a voice.
“That wasn’t very nice, miss witch. That was my favorite tree, after all.”
Amity quickly turned around as a chill went down her spine. The voice was calming, yet it put her on edge. Spying nothing behind her, she put it to rest as a figment of her imagination, spurred by the spookiness of the woods. Turning back to her walking direction, an upside-down face greeted her. It grinned. “Hello, there.”
To say she was surprised wouldn’t be doing the picture justice. Amity’s skeleton nearly leapt out of her skin, causing her to fall back at least two yards. As she backed away, Amity could tell that it was a full figure that appeared, not just a face. The… person laughed and folded their arms. “Do you get frightened often? That reaction tells me ‘yes’. Or does it tell me ‘no’? For a price, I might answer that.”
Amity stared, still on the ground, mouth agape. How had this person appeared so suddenly? Where did they come from? And why are they hanging from a branch? Though dark, Amity noticed a few glowing spots on the figure’s body. Each of them were red, and seemed to drip from the figure’s own skin.
One of their eyebrows jerked up (down?). “Well? Are you going to speak, or are you going to sit up there and gawk at my dramatic appearance?” They were certainly proud of themselves. Amity processed the question, then stood up quickly, dusting herself off. She attempted to meet the person’s intimidating gaze, but instead found herself looking just slightly below their eyes.
“I, erm… well, you see, I’m here for…” Amity sighed, summoning what courage she had. She remembered that she still had her Abomination ready, in case this person tried anything. “I’m looking for someone known as the Harrow. Would you happen to know where they are?”
The person’s smile grew wider. “Know them? Girly, I’ve known the Harrow my entire life. I know where they are this very instant. Want me to take you to them?”
“That won’t be necessary, thank you. Just directions is all I need.” Amity felt both at ease and extremely uncomfortable. Anxious? Something along those lines.
“Aw, really? I was looking forward to it. Not many people come this deep into the forest, so I get lonely easily. What’s wrong? Scared I might do something to ya?” They flashed their teeth at Amity, who, despite being seven feet away, flinched. The figure laughed. “Well, to each their own, I guess. You’ll want to look for a small cabin deeper into the woods, off in that direction. They pointed in the opposite direction of the rock Amity had kicked. Sighing, Amity thanked the figure.
“No problemo.” The person unhooked their legs from the branch and fell to the ground, landing somewhat ungracefully on their feet. They picked up Amity’s rock and began walking away. Amity did the same. She walked for a little while before the same voice startled her once more. “So what’s your name?”
Amity jumped as she saw the same person at her side, staring at her intently. “I--what?” Amity stumbled across her words. The figure slapped their face with their own hand.
“Sorry, I guess I should introduce myself, first. The name’s Luz. Luz Noceda. My first name means light. Interesting, huh?”
All Amity could do was nod, her mouth hung slightly open, until she realized what Luz’s growing silence meant. “I’m, uh, Amity. That’s my name.”
Luz’s smile was everlasting. “So, Amity, why are you going to see the Harrow?”
She had to think for a moment before answering. "There's a book I want, but I can't get it anywhere on the Boiling Isles. I was curious as to whether the Harrow would be able to find it for me."
"Are you certain that the Harrow will be able to obtain this book you oh so desperately desire?" Amity was uncomfortable with how dramatic Luz's words were. She sounded like a poet, but her tone of voice resembled something more like a rude bard's.
"Of course not. Rumors are rumors. No one knows for sure."
"Yet here we are."
Amity found she didn't have an argument for that.
Luz kept at the attempts to start a conversation with Amity, but she found Luz to be quite draining, so Amity did her best to stay quiet. She would occasionally say something, but nothing to reveal anything about herself. Eventually, the two came to a bleak cabin on the verge of collapse.
"The Harrow lives there." With a point and a wave, Luz turned on her heel and left. "Hope you can get whatever it is you want!"
Amity sputtered. "Aren't you coming inside with me?"
"Why would I? Anything I would wish for can't happen at all, so why bother?" Amity wondered what Luz meant by that as she disappeared into the forest. She turned back to the cabin. Inhale, exhale. One step, two steps, three, four. Amity wasn't sure why she was counting the steps she was taking. Perhaps it helped keep her mind off of the spiders in her stomach.
The wicked door opened with a screech. Amity cringed as she opened it. Even as her hand lingered on the doorknob, it remained cold to the touch, unyielding to Amity’s clammy hands. The interior of the cabin seemed smaller than it should’ve been. To Amity’s left was a lit fireplace with two comfortable looking chairs. An elegant yet worn carpet decorated the floor. There were several picture frames on the walls, yet they all appeared empty. A rather bright chandelier hung from the ceiling.
A vaguely kitchen-like arrangement sat to Amity’s right. She spotted a fridge, a stove, and even a dishwasher. Amity questioned how any of it worked in a cabin this deep into the woods. This building was at least an hour away from any civilization. She wondered if any of Bonesborough’s technicians even knew this place existed. Ahead of her, a small doorway opened into a hallway that went left and right.
Each step Amity took caused the floorboards to creak. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Goosebumps rose from her arms. Amity couldn’t help but wonder what the Harrow must look like. Perhaps they were an old man, cast out by society and forced into the woods, granting wishes to those who visit him. Or maybe the hermit was a demon who found entertainment in the struggles of other people.
“Well, well, it seems I have some fresh meat on my hands tonight.”
Amity jumped at the voice. It was nothing she could’ve prepared herself for. It sounded deep and hoarse, but also as if it wasn’t the person’s real voice. Turning around, Amity could see the top of someone’s head behind one of the chairs. She meant to speak, but her throat went dry.
“So, what brings you here, witch? What do you desire more than anything else?” Finding her words, Amity tried once more.
“I--I need you to get a book for me. It’s pink, big, and it’s called The Good Witch Azu-”
Amity was interrupted by the figure stomping their foot on the floor as they stood up. She was surprised the plank underneath didn’t split in half. “Now, what makes you think that I would--” the person cut themselves off as they broke into a fit of laughter. They laughed harder than Amity had ever heard anyone laugh. “Ah, creepy voices never get old, you know?” She recognized that voice.
“Luz?!” Amity did a double take as Luz turned around to face her. A small grin spread across Luz’s face grew wider. In the light of the fireplace and the chandelier, Amity could get a better look at her. Her hair was disheveled. Amity guess it hadn’t been properly brushed in months. Her clothes were worn and dirty, consisting of a small hoodie, jeans and white shoes. Along her arms and legs, Amity saw various markings carved into Luz’s skin. She saw a hint of one of them poking out from the collar of her shirt, as well.
“In the flesh.” Luz put her hands behind her back and slowly walked towards Amity. “So, Miss Blight, to what do I owe this grand visit?”
“Wait, hang on a second. I don’t understand--you’re the Harrow?” Amity almost couldn’t believe it.
“Is that what they’re calling me?” Amity was pretty sure Luz knew the answer to that question. “You think they would’ve picked a better name for someone who can literally grant wishes. That’s why you’re here, right? You wanted me to find some book?”
Amity was slightly uncomfortable as Luz got closer than she should’ve been. “Y-yes, that’s right. It’s called the Good Witch Azura. In particular, I need the fifth book in the series.”
“And where might I find this book that the young Blight deemed so important, she came to the Harrow for help?”
"Wait, what? I have to tell you where it is?"
“I’m a miracle worker, witchling, not a miracle maker. I can’t create it out of thin air. You have to give me a lead to work with, here.”
Amity gulped. “Well, I’m not sure exactly where, but I’m pretty sure you can find it in the Human Realm.”
That was the first time Amity had seen Luz’s smile drop. She expected Luz to go back to the creepy smile she had, but instead, she heard Luz’s voice full of disdain and hatred.
“The Human Realm, huh?” Luz walked back to the chair. As she placed her hand on it, the fabric burst into flames, blasting Amity with a wave of heat. She covered her face. The heat eventually died down. Amity lowered her arm and saw Luz faced away from her, staring at one of the nonexistent pictures on the wall.
“And you understand my price, right? I don’t do this for free. Something you care deeply about must be given up.”
Amity nodded and reached into her bag. “I brought this.” She presented a book with a purple cover, a blank name plate on the front. Her diary. “All my thoughts, feelings, emotions, ramblings, and anything else are in this book. I imagine that’s worth some fiction book from the Human Realm.”
Luz faced Amity. Her smile was still gone, but her face had become unreadable. An eyebrow perked up as she observed the book, stepping closer to Amity. Following an uncomfortable silence, Luz snickered.
“Bring your little payment this time again tomorrow. I’ll have the book by then.” Luz then patted Amity on the head and began walking to the hallway. See you soon, Little Blight.”
Amity left the cabin feeling put off for some reason. She narrowed it down to three options: this whole situation was horrible; she never even told Luz her last name; or she realized that she was blushing when Luz got so close to her.
It wasn’t her fault. Anyone would be nervous if someone like that was two inches away from them. It was not because Amity thought Luz’s brown eyes were pretty.
Wait, what?