3 January 1906From Joanna's bed, she could look out the window and see the river as it returned to normal over the last few days. She was still on bed rest, recovering from the hypothermia she had when the driver brought her to the doctor's home. The driver had told the doctor that he saw her walking along the shore when she slipped and fell into the river. She had decided it best to let them accept that story. Across the river, news had reached Allegheny that Dr. Price, Rev. Halzberg, and Old Tom had been lost in Madison and three bodies that seemed to be theirs had been found, badly burned, in what remained of the Matteson estate. The city was in uproar, many blaming the Wozniaks for the deaths and others trying to defend the family. Either way, there was rumor that the Wozniaks were looking to leave Allegheny out of fear, and other whispers that Pittsburgh was filing paperwork to absorb the city while the populace was too fractured to stop it. It was too early for the doctor to confirm Aaboukingon's words about Joanna, but she rested a hand on her belly and wondered what she would do all the same. As she watched the water, she noticed her ring on the nightstand beneath the window. It looked odd today, almost as if it was growing dull. Hesitantly, she reached out and touched it, only to watch it collapse into a small pile of sand. She choked back a tear, then turned to ring the bell beside her bed. "Please," she asked, when the doctor's wife opened the door, "could you find me a small container? I should like to collect that." She indicated the sand, and the other woman looked at it puzzled for a moment before slowly nodding and leaving the room. She returned with a small glass vial, which had previously held some medicine or another but had since been cleaned out, and Joanna carefully gathered the sand into it. After making a crude label for it, she marked it "Abe" and strung it onto a necklace. She would need to have it available if she expected Aaboukingon to turn it back into her wedding ring. 12 April 1929As the evening crickets began their songs, the water of the Ohio River stirred. The water began to rise, and slowly form into a more human shape. As it stepped toward the shore, the look of it changed until a Native American man stood on dry land. He looked around, then knelt and scooped up a handful of sand. He smelled it, then turned back to another mound of water rising from the river. "How long has it been?" he asked. "You've been gone twenty three years, Aaboukingon," a voice from the trees answered. He turned and looked, finally spotting two ravens sitting on a branch. One of them had a faint blue glow to it. "No, no, that-that doesn't make sense! I was only gone a moment!" "For you. Humans do not operate on our timeframes." Aaboukingon dropped down, sitting on the ground and looking out toward the water for a long moment. Finally, he turned back to the trees, his eyes beginning to water. "You. You saved her. Is she still alive?" "Yes," the black raven said. "Where is she?" The two ravens looked at each other, and then the blue one sighed. They flew down to the ground, changing into human forms just before touching down. One was a man, dressed in a hooded robe that cast a shadow across his entire face except his mouth and chin. The other was a woman, floating above the ground, composed entirely out of flowing blue energy. "I'm sorry," she said, floating over to Aaboukingon. "You're too late. She's been forced to leave the river." Aaboukingon stood and wiped at his face as he began to pace. "No, no. I came back. I told her I'd come back!" "She couldn't stay." "Does she know? Will she know I came back?" he asked, stopping in front of the woman. "Not yet," the robed man answered. "Will you tell her?" "She will know." Aaboukingon covered his face with his hands. The woman came beside him and wrapped her arms around him, letting him cry. Finally, he stepped back, and turned to the robed man. "Will she return?" "After a fashion." "Can I wait for her?" "Not here. Your river still needs you. But ask the others, and they will tell you what they see." Aaboukingon wiped his face again and stood for a moment, before nodding. "Of course. I will do as you say." The robed man nodded, and then Aaboukingon turned and walked back into the water, vanishing beneath the surface. After he was gone, the woman floated back to the robed man. "When does she return?" she asked. "Too soon," he said, turning and walking away from the shore.
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28 December 1905Joanna was wrapped in the few blankets the driver had on hand, trying to fight off the cold from kneeling in an ice-locked river. Aaboukingon, on the other hand, actually seemed to be doing somewhat better. Color had returned to his face and his bleeding had slowed, and Joanna refused to put anything on him that would pull away the water from the river. He finally opened his eyes as the car came to a stop near the bank of the Ohio River, then called the Allegheny by some, on the shore opposite the city where the pair had met.
"Joanna," he whispered, slowly reaching a shaking hand to her cheek. "Abe, oh, are you recovering? Did the river save you after all?" He shook his head slightly, and she brushed the hair away from his face. "Then rest, please. We're here." The driver opened the door and helped Joanna out before lifting Aaboukingon and carrying him to the river's edge. Again, Joanna broke the ice, and slid his legs into the water. The driver went back to his car and waited. The ice in the river began to rise, and a single spirit formed from it. "Aaboukingon," it said, slowly moving toward him. "Can you help him?" "I must ask the others." A column of water formed from the side of the spirit and stretched out, wrapping around the back of Aaboukingon's head and lifting him into a seated position. It wiped across his face, and he took a deep breath as his eyes flew open. "This will buy you time. But only very little." With that, the spirit vanished into the ice again, and Joanna fell to her knees beside Aaboukingon, who leaned on her chest. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his hair. "Joanna," he said, his voice still soft and weak. "Yes, my love?" she asked, pulling back to look at him. "You must know. I can only recover now by returning." "Returning...to the river?" He gave a weak nod. "I feared as much." "I must be a spirit again. But if I go, know that I will return. Once I am well, I will come back for you." "Where? Here?" "Anywhere on the river will do. I will go where you are." He slowly reached up and wiped a tear from her cheek. "Must you leave me here alone?" "You will not be alone. Not for long," he said, lowering his hand and touching her abdomen. "I felt it when I was healing you." She began to buckle, falling forward into his arms. "Don't make me do this without you." The ice rose again as the spirit returned. "He may return," it said. "We will see to his recovery." Joanna kissed Aaboukingon before pulling away from him and standing to face the spirit. She wiped her eyes and stared at it. "You send him back to me when he's well." "This is not my decision. The gods must allow his return." "You tell any god that dares take my husband from me that it can come deal with me itself." Aaboukingon chuckled and then groaned, grabbing his gut and leaning forward. Before Joanna could react, the spirit was on him, water covering his form as he began to drift toward the center of the river. "I will be back for you," he said reaching out his hand toward her before vanishing beneath the ice. Joanna stood, watching the river for a few moments, before she began to shiver. As she tried to take a step back, she stumbled and collapsed. The driver jumped out of his car and ran to her, scooping her limp form in his arms as he turned and made his way back. 28 December 1905"Help us!" Joanna cried, seeing the car waiting. The driver turned to see her emerging from the woods, dragging a man who was softly muttering to himself. Beyond them, the smoke from the house was just visible through the trees, with the glow of the fire casting long shadows.
"Holy shit lady, what's going on?!" "We need help!" "Look, I'm not really--" "Why are you here?" "I was hired! Asked to pick up three men, a reverend and--" "They burned down my home and have nearly killed my husband, and if you don't let us in this car not only will he die but I will make every remaining second of your life a waking hell, do you hear me?" The driver looked from her to the distant fire a few times before putting his hat on and jumping out to open the door and help her get Aaboukingon inside. "There's a doctor in town," he offered, climbing back into his seat and throwing it into gear. "I fear it's too late for that. Take us to the river." "The river? What are you on about, lady?" "Drive!" He grunted and stomped the gas. The car wound its way to the Youghiogheny River, a tributary of the Monongahela and the closest river the driver could think of. Joanna spent the route trying to comfort Aaboukingon as he stared off into space and shivered. When they arrived, the driver helped carry him to the water and then stepped back. Joanna broke the ice and made sure Aaboukingon was mostly in the water, then knelt beside him. The driver removed his hat and began wringing it between his hands as he watched. Joanna sat for a moment, waiting for a response that didn't seem interested in coming. "This is Aaboukingon!" She finally yelled at the river. "He is one of yours! Come to his aid!" There was a moment of silence before the ice in the middle of the river began to crack and bulge. As two mounds of water began to rise through, the driver screamed and ran back to his car. Once in, he laid down and peeked his eyes over the edge of the door, watching. Joanna remained unmoved. "What is the meaning of this?" the spirits asked in unison. "This is Aaboukingon, of--" "We know who this is. He is no longer our concern." "But he's like you! He's a river spirit!" "He has abandoned his river and chosen mortality. So mortality he shall have." "Please, no, there has to be something you can do!" "Only his own waters could accept him now. If you must beg of the waters, let his own determine his fate." With that, the spirits returned to the river. Joanna stood and yelled at the river for a few moments, before kicking the water and then dropping back to Aaboukingon's side and crying. Slowly, the driver emerged from his car and made his way to the riverbank, holding his hat. "Pardon me, ma'am, but what--what was that?" Joanna sniffled hard and stood, smoothing out her soaked dress. She continued to look out into the water. "Drive us to the Allegheny River. Near the town of the same, preferably." "Oh, but ma'am, I--" "I'll need your help getting my husband into the car, and then we shall be on our way quickly. There is no time to lose. If we go to Allegheny City I'll see to it you are properly compensated." "That's rather outside of--" "I'm sorry, sir," she said sternly, turning to face him. "Did I ask a question?" "I--no, ma'am, you did not." "I fear I will lose my husband today, either to death or to his own kind. If I must make that choice, then I cannot advise you to interfere with it." "Of course, ma'am," the driver said, putting on his hat and kneeling to lift Aaboukingon. 28 December 1905The property owned by Aaboukingon and Joanna Matteson housed a beautiful yard bordered by a creek and a number of old, strong trees. A great many animals made their homes in the forest that stretched beyond their land claim, and little attention was paid on most days to the birds who gathered nearby but did not sing. The pathway from the road was largely in shade, a place of quiet serenity opening to the estate where both husband and wife were asleep late into the morning. Abe had only just mustered the energy to move about the house unassisted, and Joanna was busy fretting over him. He probably could have been more active, if Joanna wasn't so insistent on his need for a little more rest to ensure he didn't strain himself. All things considered, it was little surprise they did not pay mind to the ravens watching the shadows from their perch beside the house, even though one raven had a faint blue glow to her. It was less of a surprise they did not see the men who moved through those shadows this morning. I would have warned her, if I could. I made to move, to go to the window and speak of all that was coming, but the other looked at me with knowledge and pain in her eyes and I knew I could not. We knew what was to come of this day, and the need for it to happen as it had always happened. When Old Tom, Reverend Halzberg, and Dr. Price arrived in Madison the afternoon prior, they began to ask around after Miss Wozniak. Few in the small town knew her name, but on further questioning did mention rumors of strange recent occurrences centered on one estate. The trio were able to gather enough information to be certain they were on the right track, and spent the night making their plans. The doctor brought his gun, the reverend a glass flask of grain alcohol, and Old Tom an early-model lighter and enough malice for the lot. The door was unlocked as Joanna had last entered in haste. Quietly and slowly, the three crept in to find any sign of magic. After what they'd found at Manfred's house, they expected the usual sort of things, stacks of demonic books and runes carved into wood and circles painted onto floors. They heard someone moving around upstairs and made their way to the study. Once there, they set about digging through for anything that looked arcane and, turning up nothing, began to bicker about whether this was even the right house. Meanwhile, we flew around the property until we found a branch to see through the right window. "You already remember this," my companion said. "From every perspective there." "You're just as connected to this as I am." "Yes. But I don't need to watch. Why do you?" "I have to know," I answered. "I have to know it from my own perspective." She began to preen, occasionally glancing up to watch. "I'm sorry, I don't believe I heard you knock," Joanna interrupted, standing in the doorway with a folded sheet. The men stopped and turned. "Now, Miss Wozni-" Reverend Halzberg began. "Mrs. Matteson, actually." Joanna stood just a little more upright as she glared at the reverend. "Shall I fix you gentlemen a pot of tea before you go?" "I'll recognize no union between you and some red devil!" "I suppose it best I never asked that of you, then." She cocked her head slightly, peering at his hand. "Is that a flask, Reverend? I do hope you've not soiled your gut on my account." "S'not fer drinkin, you harlot!" Old Tom shouted. "I'm afraid you're being very rude. Please, what brings you all here?" Dr. Price held his hand out toward Old Tom as if to stop him and stepped forward. "You must know, young lady, that your...consort appears to be at the center of some very troubling events in Allegheny," he offered. "As do you three. The difference being that we left Allegheny." "The problems, you see, did not." "Perhaps you should look for a more local cause, then." Old Tom pushed past the doctor and pointed violently at her. "It's that boy you brung round! He hexed the damn river, s'what he done!" "I assure you, he's done no such thing." "Then why's it--" "Dying," Aaboukingon said as he walked around from the stairs. "The river is nearly dying, elder. But have no fear, it will recover. I'm not the only soul it has." "You should be resting, dear," Joanna said, rushing over to him. He waved the concern off and turned his attention to Price, who had raised his gun toward him. "Have you come with such violent intentions, doctor?" Joanna, seeing the gun, gasped and stepped back. "I mean to save my city. I don't intend to do anything unnecessary," Price answered. "This entire journey is unnecessary. The river will survive, and so will you, if you respect them." 'What do you mean, calling yourself a soul of the river?" "Exactly that. I am one of the spirits that call the water home; we push the floods out, we sing a song only the fish know, we have watched tribes come and go." He began to step forward, with a gaze so steady that all but Price stepped back away from him as he advanced. "I saw your fort rise and your city grow, your boats and your trains and your bridges, what are they to me? Trinkets, passing like everything else. The river is stronger than you know, gentlemen, and though we pass through dark times now, we will outlast every building you could ever hope to raise on our shores." Price fired a shot, the bullet passing through Aaboukingon's head unhindered, leaving momentary ripples on his face. Joanna screamed as the round shattered an ornamental vase in the room across the hall. "Devilry!" Old Tom shouted. Price stumbled backward, cocking his revolver for another shot. Halzberg scowled and began praying, clutching his flask tight. "You should go," Aaboukingon growled. Joanna noticed a bit of blood dripping from his slightly shaking arm. "I'll take no orders from demons!" Halzberg shouted, throwing the flask at a nearby bookcase. The glass shattered and the alcohol splashed across the books and onto Halzberg's sling. Price raised his gun again, and Joanna dove forward to shove Aaboukingon aside. She made contact just as Price pulled the trigger, the bullet ripping through her chest. Aaboukingon hurried to her side, frantically checking the wound. She stared at him, eyes wide in shock and trying to catch her breath. He was trying to encourage her, begging her to hold on, promising to find a doctor or someone, anyone, some way to help. She reached up, slowly, and wiped a tear from his cheek. Price leveled the gun at him, firing again, and hit Aaboukingon's shoulder. There was no ripple this time, just lead tearing into flesh and blood, causing Aaboukingon to fall forward onto Joanna. She let out a soft whimper, and he met her gaze, then scowled. He turned and stood, his whole body trembling, staring at Price with a gaze that pierced to the bone like the cold of the river under ice. Price frantically tried to cock his gun again, but before he could, Aaboukingon's hand shot up and Price choked as he rose off the ground untouched. Aaboukingon yelled as he slowly closed his fist, Price shriveling and gasping for air as water began to seep out of his skin. Blood began dripping from Aaboukingon's eyes as the other two men tried to inch away from Price, crying out for Aaboukingon to stop. Price let out one last breath as his skin began to crack and tighten like leather. Aaboukingon fell to the ground, coughing up blood. Price, now a dried husk, fell with a dull wet thud into a puddle of the water from his own body. Old Tom ran over with his lighter, striking it until he had flame and setting it to the books hit by the flask. As he turned to run out, he bumped into Halzberg, whose sling quickly caught flame from the lighter. The Reverend began to shout and stumble backward, and Old Tom took that as his queue to run. Aaboukingon pulled himself up to one knee. As Old Tom went to pass Aaboukingon, the younger man grabbed him by his ribs with one hand and threw him back into the room. He slammed into Halzberg and both collapsed into a heap. By now, Joanna was taking sharp, shallow breaths, and watching Aaboukingon as her eyes began to glaze over. He grunted as he forced himself to his feet, then lifted Joanna and carried her out of the house as the fire spread behind them. We flew around the house again, using the smoke to mask our movements as other animals left the area. Not that they were watching us, anyway. I watched as Aaboukingon tripped and stumbled, shaking his head to maintain focus and looking around as though lost.
"He isn't doing it," the other warned as we passed overhead. "I know! But he has to, how else-" "Do you remember what she saw?" "Nothing! She has no memory of this, and his mind is..." I landed and tried to think. She landed next to me and nudged me. "Hey. Hey! They don't remember. We know what needs to happen." I took a deep breath and watched as Aaboukingon fell to one knee and began struggling to stand. "You're right." We flew down and landed in front of him, and he staggered for a moment as he stared at us. "You...you're the Two!" He said, his eyes growing wide. "Yes." "Why are you-" "No time. Just follow us." With that, we took flight again, and began leading him on. He struggled, but kept pushing forward. Sometimes we had to circle back, make sure he didn't lose us, but we knew the journey wasn't far. Joanna looked like she was already dead, but we could all feel her barely hanging on. We landed on the far bank of the creek, and watched as he dropped to his knees and lowered her in. Running his hand over her, he called the water to follow. The water flowed up and over her chest, washing over the wound and glowing. Finally, her breathing returned to normal, and as she sat up she saw him briefly smile before passing out on the bank next to her. By that point, we were back in the trees, out of her sight. "What now?" I pointed toward the car that pulled up to the edge of the property. "The trio arranged an escape," I answered, "But they aren't the ones who'll use it." 27 December 1905PORTIONS OF THE DAMAGED DIARY OF JOANNA WOZNIAK, AS RECOVERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF ERIE, PA, ON THE EVENING OF MAY 28, 1974.On Christmas, I introduced Abe to the traditions my family brought over from the old country. We had a wonderful day and made merry into the afternoon, whereupon Abe collapsed rather suddenly. I was barely able to rouse him, and found he had developed a terrible rash. I summoned a doctor, but he could find no cause. I knew then that the matter was beyond his ken, thanked him for his attempt, and allowed him to leave in certainty he had done all he could.
I tended to him as best I could over the night, and with the help of a carriage driver brought him to the Monongahela in the morning. He was able to muster some strength on reaching the water, but not as much as I had expected. The river spirits came, and informed us that Abe was growing too attached to mortal life, and it was only a matter of time before he was fully severed from the water, and warned that his river must be dying without him. They refused to help, claiming that he was too far gone now, and only his own river would have him. We returned home and I helped him back into bed, and saw that the rash had grown. He insists that he will survive this, given time, and that he wished to stay with me. I was able to convince him to agree to return to the river if this seemed like it would kill him. I do not know if God still hears me, but I prayed over him all night. It is now just after dawn, and I must rest. He is comfortable, and there is little more I can do for him in my current state. 26 December 1905EXCERPT FROM THE DAILY RECORDS OF DR. HAROLD PRICE, OF ALLEGHENY CITY, PENNA.The Reverend brought Old Tom to the clinic after lunch. They agreed to wait as I tended to the youngest Parnitski boy, and we spoke in my office. It seems that he had a regular meeting with some local clergy, and a colleague asked after young Miss Wozniak. It had come to this man's attention that she was married by a judge late last week to a man with a foreign name, and he, having remembered her as someone Rev Halzberg had mentioned as a member of his flock, was wondering why he was not tasked with such a ceremony. The Rev was able to dismiss the other's concerns and gather some information on the whereabouts of the pair. Old Tom made his urgency clear, citing the river running red over Christmas. I agreed to help, if we were certain this would set things right in our city. Both insisted it would. I have cleared my schedule for tomorrow, we shall depart at dawn.
21 December 1905PORTIONS OF THE DAMAGED DIARY OF JOANNA WOZNIAK, AS RECOVERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF ERIE, PA, ON THE EVENING OF MAY 28, 1974.Brandon and Marilyn arrived yesterday and we had a celebratory dinner. It was a lovely evening and we all retired well into the night.
In the morning, Marilyn helped me select a nice dress and we went to speak with a judge. He agreed to perform the ceremony, after we filled out some simple paperwork. Abe has not learned how to read and write, so a court clerk assisted him. It seems there was some confusion, Abe did not have a surname and when asked for one he noted that he is from Madison. The clerk took that as a name, and spelled it in a manner similar to a family he knew. We took our vows, and I became Mrs. Aaboukingon Matteson. Afterward, the four of us went and had a nice day in town with discussed the future. A splendid time was had by all. We parted ways after supper, each returning to our homes. I am eager to put the troubles of the past couple months behind us and make a new life for ourselves. 17 December 1905EXCERPT FROM THE DAILY RECORDS OF DR. HAROLD PRICE, OF ALLEGHENY CITY, PENNA.Took morning constitutional by the river and was met with a most foul odor. Met with Old Tom, who reported that the river began clouding up with silt over-night and there was talk of many dead fish washing ashore downstream. It has become apparent that whatever curse that redman brought upon our community has not been absolved. We must finish this. Old Tom assures me he is working on a solution. I have pledged my support to whatever he can find.
16 December 1905PORTIONS OF THE DAMAGED DIARY OF JOANNA WOZNIAK, AS RECOVERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF ERIE, PA, ON THE EVENING OF MAY 28, 1974.Abe was feeling much better to-day. We have made a journey to the river every day and the time spent in the water seems to be doing him much good. I stay on shore, but the cold don't seem to bite him. Today, for my birth-day, he insisted on taking me somewhere more private, along the Allegheny. We left early to find a place he knew north of Pitsburg, where we could enjoy the water in peace. He surely knew this land well! Even covered in snow, it was magnificent. It looked like no one had been to that place since God Himself shaped it.
The water was still moving, despite the ice on the edges. Abe asked for my hand, and gently led me to the water. I told him I was hardly dressed for a swim, and anyway, there was no way I could handle freezing out here. He assured me there was nothing to fear, and I carefully kept to his side. Much to my surprise, we were not going into the water, but onto it! I felt like Peter himself, standing on that river as it ran away under me, and on memory of how that went for the good apostle I grabbed tight to Abe. He laughed, and led me to the middle of the river. He asked me to let go, just enough he could grab something. I was sore afraid, but slowly let go of all but his hand. He knelt down and put his free hand into the water, and when it emerged again it had a small pile of sand in it. As I watched, he clenched his hand around it, and when he opened it again, he was holding a most beautiful ring! He asked me to be his bride, to stay with him as long as we both should live! Well. After a stunt like that, I could hardly say no. 16 December 1905Marilyn,
I have just returned from a most beautiful day out with Abe, and I would like to inform you that I have accepted an offer of marriage from him. I understand that you may have concerns you would wish to speak with me about. You have expressed as much before. I would welcome a discussion with you when next you visit, but I would ask also that you support our decision. Brandon and yourself have been the only friends who have stood by us through everything, and I would be shattered to know something that brings such joy to me would mean the loss of your favor. As such, I ask that you both come quickly. There is little reason for us to delay such a ceremony, as I need not wait for family that will not come or a reverend who will not perform the rite. The two of you will likely be our only witnesses, and we would be delighted to share the experience with you. I will tell you all about his proposal on your arrival. Patiently yours, Joanna |
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