FAGEY McFAGEINGTON THE 5th
Title: The Letter of Change
Written for: Bell1 aka Aunt Bell
Written By: WhiteWolflegend
Rating: M
Summary: Jared struggled with everyday life, being poor never helped him. When he is about to give up on everything, a letter arrives inviting him to a well-known event that is well known in the community for people never returning from. Things are not what they seem in the Swan Mansion.
Prompt used: A "hermit-like" person with a difficult life (ex: little to no money, verbally & emotionally abusive family, one or two friends, lives alone with only has the bare-essentials, etc.) ventures out for an everyday errand. Unexpected things begin to happen starting with a mysterious invitation for a well-known annual event.
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3rd POV
Jared sat on the end of his rickety cot; in a ramshackle of a cabin. His hands tangled in his hair as he let the tears flow. Today was another day of starvation, of working his hands to the bone for little money.
From when he was little he lived a poor life, his mother a drunk and his father was never to be seen from again. He had asked his mother one day, when he was seven about him, only to be promptly smacked across the face.
People in the small community treated him poorly; he was native after all and lesser of them. Filth they called him, a bastard to a whore was another.
"Jared! What are you still doing here? The boss will have your hind if he doesn't see you in that field!" Jared's friend and only friend Paul rushed in; he was dressed fairly much as he was. Barefoot, dirty white shirt and brown pants.
"I care not…" Jared slurs before hiccupping. He had found a stash of moonshine out in the fields and snuck some. It would surely get him killed or whipped but he needed and escape from the day to day pain.
Paul gasped as he took in the odour of moonshine; it reeked from his friend strongly. "Jared! What have you done" he yelled hurriedly, eyes scanning around before he dashed inside.
He moved quickly to tilt Jared's head up, only for his hands to be swatted away harshly.
"Leave me be Paul, go! I do not want to see you punished!' Jared grumbled out, Paul was younger than he and helped him a lot growing up.
They were both natives, not slaves per say but work to buy means of food and other necessities. Their boss Michael Newton was a harsh man, not like his last one but still underpaid them than the others of his ethnic colour and race.
"Cameron," the voice was firm. Looking up he saw Mrs Newton at the door with a stern gaze.
"Ma'am" he slurred standing, causing her to tisk and clucks her tongue.
"It is almost noon and I need you to run into town again and bring back all that is on the list. They have been prepaid by my husband, I will check to see if everything is accounted for." She sneered at me, holding the immaculate sheet of paper with her thumb and pointer finger.
Nodding, Jared stumbled forward slightly and held his hand out; waiting for her to drop it.
"You can walk to town as punishment for being drunk and stealing my brothers moonshine" she huffs before dropping the paper on the ground and back towards her house.
Grunting, Jared begins his walk into town; eyes blinking rapidly due to the light. He muttered curses in his native tongue as he walked, the sweltering heat burning the bottom of his shoeless feet.
Several carriages and horses manoeuvres passed him, scaring him several times in the process. He hated horses, they scared him. It wasn't the size that bothered him that much as he was almost as tall as them, but it was the eyes. They seemed human almost – intelligent – and it scared him.
He didn't know how long it took him to get into town, but he knew it was far past noon. His shirt was dirty and drenched with sweat, his feet aching from the scolding path and cobblestone. Jared knew he was going to be sore tomorrow, maybe he should have worked today but when he saw the moonshine it was like he was compelled to drink it.
The whole town was decorated in Halloween decorations as in two days hallows eve was upon them.
Sighing he walked into the local grocer, Mr Cheney and his wife were a nice couple; probably the only ones in the town who didn't judge him.
"Jared. Mrs Newton sent you here again?" Angela asked with a surprised voice. She hated the fact that her friend treated him as such, her and Ben treated all her farmers the same and made sure they had food and clothes and some form of living component if needed. Unfortunately they couldn't hire Jared – or Paul – because they had too many workers as is.
"Yes ma'am for these," he told her, handing the crumpled and now dirty paper. Angela takes a look at the list and frowns.
"Jared… Mr Newton had just picked these up at noon." She told him with a frown.
He was furious; he knew one of the carriages looked familiar on his long walk here.
"It was a punishment." He uttered darkly, exhausted to Angela.
"A punishment? What on earth for?" She gasped outraged.
"I snuck some moonshine from Mr Stanley and drunk it." He told her with a sheepish grin, her laugh was instant; filling the little store.
Ben hearing the noise pokes his head out from storage; eyebrows raised in question.
"Oh husband, you missed the funniest thing. Jared here was made to walk to town for stealing and drinking Joe's moonshine" Angela giggles at the end, causing her husband to laugh.
"I remember my momma whoppin' my behind for doing the same thing with Eric Yorkie" He chuckled before suddenly stopping as a black carriage with red trimming stopped in front of his store.
They watched as a tall man – Carlisle – and his wife exit the carriage. They were pale and dressed in all black; they spoke in accented English and scared the beejeebus out of everyone in town. They ran the annual ball with the Swans on their property in the depths of Forks forest.
"I wonder what they want…" Angela whimpered as she hid behind her husband.
They watched as they walked past, her and Ben holding their breath in anticipation and fright.
Esme stopped, her eye catching the sight in the store. A tall man, a native stood tall, no fear shown. Smiling, she enters the store, her eyes never leaving the boy.
"What is your name?" she asked lightly; while pulling out an envelope.
"Jared Cameron, Ma'am" he tells the strange woman.
"See you soon Jared. I expect great things," she titters, placing the envelope in his hand and leaving.
"Oh god, no, Jared!" Angela cried out, Jared couldn't believe it, on the once plain envelope – now rested his name along with a Swan crest.
He knew his life was forfeited; he could not refuse the invite.
A/N: Well here ya go.