Misery's Child

Chapter 1: Original

Once upon a time, there was a Demon named Misery, of the sort that fed on people's worst thoughts.

The only way to defeat Misery, they say, is to hold on to a thought good and comforting long enough to drive fear and sadness away.

It was for this reason that Misery preyed only on those with little to no good memories, for they couldn't fight its power.

One day, Misery stumbled upon a young girl from whom it could sense nothing. This was so out of the ordinary that Misery had to show itself and ask (Demons and Spirits are both curious creatures, whether good or bad).

"Little girl, little girl," Misery began, surprised the child did not try to flee its fearsome appearance, "why are you so empty? Little girl, little girl, why do I sense nothing from you?"

"I do not know, I do not know." The girl answered from the bush in which she sat. "I do not know anything at all."

"Little girl, little girl," Misery sang, more curious than ever, "where is your mother? Little girl, little girl, where is your father?"

"I do not know, I do not know." The girl answered, standing from her bush. "I do not know anything at all."

"Little girl, little girl," Misery followed as the girl danced along, "how did you come to be? How did you come here?"

"I do not know, I do not know." The girl continued along her own path. "I do not know anything at all."

"Little girl, little girl," Misery paid no attention to their path, following the girl, "where is your memory? What is your name?"

"Oh, that's easy, that's easy!" The girl laughed. "My name is Memory, and I'm right here!"

Misery realized too late that it stood in a circle of stone, unable to escape as Memory opened herself up like a box and flooded the Demon with all the best memories of men, women, children, and beasts. It fell to its knees as the best moments of Spirits and Demons and Gods joined in, howling with rage as they filled its mind.

And so Misery was bound in stone, unable to use its frightening power, singing out in a wind whisper:

Little girl, little girl, why were you so empty? Little girl, little girl, why did I sense nothing from you?

Little girl, little girl, where is your mother? Little girl, little girl, where is your father?

Little girl, little girl, how did you come to be? Why did you come here?

Little girl, little girl, what are you? Little girl, little girl, how did you do this?

And Memory answered:

"I am unknowable unless I wish otherwise,

I was born from the minds of all living things.

Hilarity begged my help, for you were killing her.

I am a creature of purity and happiness,

I am a being more ancient than you can conceive."

And no more was the girl, in her place something that cannot be described, for it would drive a normal person to madness. She cried a tear over Misery's prison, leaving behind a silver key, just in case its soul ever turned to good.

And let this be a lesson, and a warning; do not believe the words of those who seem weak, do not follow someone who is harmless, do not assume your prey is at your mercy. You never know what their true face could be.