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Description
Name: Salem
Gender: Demigirl (she/her)
Emotion: Fear
Personality: (after arrives at Shop Street) Salem is a pretty quiet necrobie, trying to stay out of the spotlight at all times. She also doesn't speak to others that much, mostly writing in her grimoire that she carries with her 24/7. She also has a fascination with magic, sigils, and things of that nature and has a hobby of making potions, reading the future, and even charms that can help with good luck or fortune.
Be sure to include that if you do not win if it is OKAY or not for the winner to use your image as a gift!: NO BECAUSE IT IS HEAVILY BACKSTORY RELATED

Their Traits:
2 Eyes (C)
Black Sclera (C)
Slit Pupils (C)
Down Ears (UC)
Crystal Insides (UC)
Caged Opening (R)

Backstory:
(at the end when she's at Shop Street listen to this for optimal effect: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_z07C… )

    The night was dark as Amber rounded the corner which lead to a row of quiet storefronts which faced the dark paved road. The rain thudded down on the pavement, echoing out over the silence and the muffled sound of cars passing on by. She was one of the only people who were walking on such a dreary day, usually staying in cars or in their houses, but Amber didn’t mind. Her appearance, a mid-aged teen dressed in a black hoodie, dark jeans, and gray sneakers, seemed to fit the gloom that hung in the air with the melancholy and mist that seemed to not go away. In her right hand, below the wrist littered with thick rubber bracelets, was a small black cat plush with two different kinds of eyes. The poor thing seemed to have gone through a lot of wear, from the worn parts of its body to the messily restitched slit that stretched down it stomach. A purple collar with a tainted gold tag hung from it’s neck and it’s stitched smile seemed to be a reminder of days long gone. There, on the back of the golden surface, was the cat’s name: Salem.

  Amber hugged it close for a second, her black hair that hung over part of her face almost unnoticeable from the black of the plush. She closed her eyes for a bit as she walked, breathing in from her nose lightly. The plush smelled slightly of lavender, a smell that seemed to brighten up the dreary reality around her a bit. Each streetlamp seemed to brighten a bit more, cutting through the darkness. A laugh echoed out from her right; one that seemed to emanate a feeling of happiness and tranquility. Slowly she opened her eyes to see a smiling woman and man to either side of her. They were both so happy as they laughed and smiled at Amber. The woman had her color hair and eyes while the man had a similar facial structure to Amber’s. She knew who they were immediately: her parents, though she let out a sigh of sorts and walked on past them. She knew that they weren’t there, that they never were, but she quickly peeked behind her to confirm it. No one was behind her and no one ever was.

  So she continued on down the road, Salem in hand. The tvs from the one store echoed out the news.
   “-and that’s the weather.” The newscaster said, Amber keeping her sight on the path in front of her. “Now in other news, little Amber Devereaux is all alone again. Though, that isn’t that surprising due to the fact that no one loves her.”
  Amber just continued on like she heard nothing, though the words resonated through her as the newscaster continued.
“Orphan for 17 years now, which is all her life. If no one wanted her before this, no one ever will.”
  Suddenly she quickened her pace to a dart, trying not to cry as the rain poured down. Salem was clutched to her chest as she ran away from the news she knew no one else heard but was so true.

  She was alone.

  A few hours later, Amber was sitting on her small creaky bed. It was more of a cot then a bed, which had springs which creaked with every rocking motion she made. Her knees were curled up against her chest, with Salem clutched against her chest. She could see them in the corners of the room, feel them behind her but she knew they weren’t there. The shadowy hands that seemed to reach out for her, wanting to pull her into the void with them. She clutched Salem tighter to calm herself down as she told herself again that they weren’t real.
    But they felt real.

  It all did.

  Though she brushed the thoughts away of what she saw and closed her eyes tight. She could still hear the other kids downstairs chanting the horrible name they made since she was old enough to see what she saw.
  “Skitz.”
  That single word was repeated over and over in her memory since before she could remember. The orphanage wasn’t the nicest of places to grow up and it proved to be worse. It was a nightmare.

  Her eyes were still closed and, right when she thought the chanting had stopped, she heard it.
“You’ll never be loved.”

  He eyes shot open and she saw a shadowy figure standing in front of her bed. It seemed almost inhuman, with it’s razor-like fingers, skeletal dark figure, and disjointed jaw that clacked together periodically.
  Amber shuffled backwards on her bed, using her feet to pedal herself backwards. She had known of the figure that she was seeing in front of her, it was the same one that snuck behind her and hid in the corners of rooms and allyways, but she had never seen it so close.
  “W-what are you-” She started to stammer. In her panic she dropped Salem on the floor, her sweaty shaking hands unable to hold the plush’s felt limb. Her mind thought for a second about grabbing her from the ground, but she knew that it was not wise to take her eyes off the figure that stared relentlessly at her. In an effort to fight back, she grabbed her pillow and held it in her hands in such a way as to threaten to hit the figure with it if it got any closer.
  Suddenly the lights in her room started to flicker and cracks formed in the walls, coming from the corners like branches from the dead tree that stood outside her single, broken window. More of the figures came from the darkness that billowed slowly from the cracks. The voices got to be too much, and Amber tried to close her ears to make them stop, along with the piercing pain that came with their voices.
   “No one loves you.”
   “Why don’t you die.”
   “Your parents didn’t love you, why will anyone else?”
   “Just die already. Everyone will be happier for it.”

  With her ears pressed tight against the palms of her hands, she let out a scream to try to make them all go away or at least stop talking.

**************************************

    From the floor Salem heard the piercing sound of Amber’s scream echoing through the air. She could see her, curled up hyperventilating with her hands pressed against her ears. Salem knew that Amber had psychosis attacks now and again, but they never got this bad before. Her fear heightened as she saw Amber pull something shiny from her bedside dresser. Her eyes widened as she realized what it was: a knife from the kitchen.
    “STAY AWAY FROM ME!” Amber yelled, pointing the knife shakily at the empty space in front of her.
    Panic and fear rising, Salem knew that she had to do something. Anything. If she didn’t, she was afraid that things would get worse. The fear seemed to grow inside of her as Amber’s screams echoed out again and again. The knife started to shake even more and Amber’s eyes turned from the empty space to herself. Her voice came out soft, a shaky whisper, as her eyes seemed to glaze over.
    “Just die already.”

    The fear surged through Salem as she knew what was about to happen. That feeling spread through her, giving her new life and a surge of energy.
    As the knife cut through the air towards Amber’s chest, Salem burst forward, stopping it at the last moment.

    The air grew silent as Amber turned her head towards Salem. She had now grown between four and five feet tall with long purple and orange hair that was tied in two twin braids in the front. Her face also had become human-like, despite the black sclera that bordered her two different colored eyes.
    She smiled at Amber. It was the kind of sad pleading smile that still seemed happy.
    “It’s okay, Amber. It’s okay.” She said, tears in her eyes. Taking the knife away from her shaking hands, Salem threw it gently across the room and took Amber’s hands in her large plush ones. Though, something didn’t seem right. Amber’s eyes pierced into her as if Salem was as horrible as the horrors she saw. Quickly, she pulled her hands from Salem’s, her breath still quickening.
    Salem noticed the fear in her eye. “Amber? It’s me. It’s Salem.”

    In an effort to comfort her owner, Salem reached out but instead was greeted with not a hug but a slap across the face.
    Clutching her cheek in shock, Salem slowly looked up at her owner. Somehow she knew that in her eyes she was no longer her friend.

    “I-I should’ve known.” Amber stammered, grabbing the knife as she backed up. “I should’ve know you were causing this. That you were o-one one them.”
    “Amber, pleas-”
    “NO!” She faced the knife at Salem who started to back up in fear. Slowly, Amber directed Salem towards the door with the knife pointed at her. Tears were in both of their eyes, both from fear.
    As they continued out the door, Salem’s hands above her head in surrender, Amber picked up her plush that was still on the ground.
    Panic filled Salem’s eyes. “What are you doing?!”
    Amber looked at the doll before looking back up at Salem, her eyes hard like stone.

    “Something I should’ve done years ago.”

    With that she led her to the one panel of the wall which Salem knew pulled away to access the attic. The main door to it was sealed shut years ago so the panel, unknown to everyone else, was the only way up there. Her and Amber usually went up there to play but Salem knew that this time they weren’t going to play make-believe.
    As they entered the attic, Amber pushed Salem hard, causing her to fall to the floor.
    She started to get up when she saw Amber go to the one chest against the wall and pull out a few chains.
    “W-wh-” Salem started to stammer but Amber hit her again before attaching them to her leg and tail.

    The job done, Amber walked out of the attic, towards the board.
    In a last moment of desperation, Salem called out. “Amber! Please!” Her eyes were filled with tears and she tried to move forward but the chains kept her in place.
  Amber looked back one last time, throwing Salem’s plush at her, and spoke in a stone-like tone. “Goodbye, Salem.”

  And with that she left, nailing the plank shut behind her.

    Years passed as Salem lay in the attic. Tears constantly filled her eyes and stained her cheeks and she quietly wept. She was alone and somehow the constant memories of her and Amber made it worse. All those days and nights together…….everything brought pain.
    Though, one night she closed her eyes and thought a single thought.

    “I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

    When she woke, she found herself lying on a cobblestone path. The breeze felt alien on her face and skin as she got up and saw something she hadn’t seen in years.
    Trees.
    Sky.
    Sun.
    They all welcomed her happily as she got to her feet. The broken chains clinked on the stones as she moved, which confused her even more. How did they break?
  Though she moved forward to see a quaint town lying beyond a painted wooden sign that she read.
  “Welcome To Shop Street”

  The town seemed to welcome her, it’s warmth reaching out to her though she looked back one time.
  Part of her hoped that Alex would be there, smiling like she remembered.

  Thought it was just a wish and, seeing no one there, Salem left that wish behind and heading into the town.

FUN FACTS ABOUT SALEM:

- There is a similar plush made from the same company that Amber had, which was considered Salem's older brother. They had the same original owner, being a set, though they were separated thus leading to Salem being given to Amber. Though the current whereabouts of that push are currently unknown, he will appear at some future time. I have a design started for him and even a few storyboards.

- I have outfits designed for both Salem and her brother. I took inspiration from wica and other Halloween and witchcraft things to make hers. Her brother's has a similar inspiration.
- She has an ability to attract bad luck. This effects her and the people around her and, when she gets good luck, the bad luck to those around her gets worse. It is possible that this ability was the reason for Amber's parents, orphan status, bullying, and even psychosis.

- Salem can also see the future and will most likely have a fortune telling job of sorts or one making and selling charms and incense and hand-carved sigil charms for whatever they're needed for. Also, her shop sells home remedies and such for headaches and other ailments.

- Also, her abilities are dampened when she's near her brother and, without him, they tend to get out of control.

DEAR READER
This story was very hard for me to do. You see, every character I write is a part of me and, to write Amber and Salem, I had to go back somewhere that I would never had ever wanted to go back to.
Amber's psychosis episodes are ones that I've had in the past. These episodes got so bad that they landed me in the hospital after multiple attempts on my life to end them, the nightmare I couldn't escape.
Salem's agony and sorrow was also my own. My mom constantly outcasts me and hates me for something I can't control, being trans. In order to write Salem, I had to face those feelings and emotions which was very painful. I had to remember why I was a failure and why she would never love me . Though, in the end I got what I needed.
This piece of work put me in a horrible state for days, in which I could not draw or write. In these days I felt all those feeling over again, because I opened some doors that I had shut long ago. These doors led to the nightmares and agony that I had tried to forget, but needed to complete this correctly and to my best ability.
If I have acted wrong or strangely during the past days, I apologize.
- James

Description
Name: Salem
Gender: Demigirl (she/her)
Emotion: Fear
Personality: (after arrives at Shop Street) Salem is a pretty quiet necrobie, trying to stay out of the spotlight at all times. She also doesn't speak to others that much, mostly writing in her grimoire that she carries with her 24/7. She also has a fascination with magic, sigils, and things of that nature and has a hobby of making potions, reading the future, and even charms that can help with good luck or fortune.
Be sure to include that if you do not win if it is OKAY or not for the winner to use your image as a gift!: NO BECAUSE IT IS HEAVILY BACKSTORY RELATED

Their Traits:
2 Eyes (C)
Black Sclera (C)
Slit Pupils (C)
Down Ears (UC)
Crystal Insides (UC)
Caged Opening (R)

Backstory:
(at the end when she's at Shop Street listen to this for optimal effect: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_z07C… )

    The night was dark as Amber rounded the corner which lead to a row of quiet storefronts which faced the dark paved road. The rain thudded down on the pavement, echoing out over the silence and the muffled sound of cars passing on by. She was one of the only people who were walking on such a dreary day, usually staying in cars or in their houses, but Amber didn’t mind. Her appearance, a mid-aged teen dressed in a black hoodie, dark jeans, and gray sneakers, seemed to fit the gloom that hung in the air with the melancholy and mist that seemed to not go away. In her right hand, below the wrist littered with thick rubber bracelets, was a small black cat plush with two different kinds of eyes. The poor thing seemed to have gone through a lot of wear, from the worn parts of its body to the messily restitched slit that stretched down it stomach. A purple collar with a tainted gold tag hung from it’s neck and it’s stitched smile seemed to be a reminder of days long gone. There, on the back of the golden surface, was the cat’s name: Salem.

  Amber hugged it close for a second, her black hair that hung over part of her face almost unnoticeable from the black of the plush. She closed her eyes for a bit as she walked, breathing in from her nose lightly. The plush smelled slightly of lavender, a smell that seemed to brighten up the dreary reality around her a bit. Each streetlamp seemed to brighten a bit more, cutting through the darkness. A laugh echoed out from her right; one that seemed to emanate a feeling of happiness and tranquility. Slowly she opened her eyes to see a smiling woman and man to either side of her. They were both so happy as they laughed and smiled at Amber. The woman had her color hair and eyes while the man had a similar facial structure to Amber’s. She knew who they were immediately: her parents, though she let out a sigh of sorts and walked on past them. She knew that they weren’t there, that they never were, but she quickly peeked behind her to confirm it. No one was behind her and no one ever was.

  So she continued on down the road, Salem in hand. The tvs from the one store echoed out the news.
   “-and that’s the weather.” The newscaster said, Amber keeping her sight on the path in front of her. “Now in other news, little Amber Devereaux is all alone again. Though, that isn’t that surprising due to the fact that no one loves her.”
  Amber just continued on like she heard nothing, though the words resonated through her as the newscaster continued.
“Orphan for 17 years now, which is all her life. If no one wanted her before this, no one ever will.”
  Suddenly she quickened her pace to a dart, trying not to cry as the rain poured down. Salem was clutched to her chest as she ran away from the news she knew no one else heard but was so true.

  She was alone.

  A few hours later, Amber was sitting on her small creaky bed. It was more of a cot then a bed, which had springs which creaked with every rocking motion she made. Her knees were curled up against her chest, with Salem clutched against her chest. She could see them in the corners of the room, feel them behind her but she knew they weren’t there. The shadowy hands that seemed to reach out for her, wanting to pull her into the void with them. She clutched Salem tighter to calm herself down as she told herself again that they weren’t real.
    But they felt real.

  It all did.

  Though she brushed the thoughts away of what she saw and closed her eyes tight. She could still hear the other kids downstairs chanting the horrible name they made since she was old enough to see what she saw.
  “Skitz.”
  That single word was repeated over and over in her memory since before she could remember. The orphanage wasn’t the nicest of places to grow up and it proved to be worse. It was a nightmare.

  Her eyes were still closed and, right when she thought the chanting had stopped, she heard it.
“You’ll never be loved.”

  He eyes shot open and she saw a shadowy figure standing in front of her bed. It seemed almost inhuman, with it’s razor-like fingers, skeletal dark figure, and disjointed jaw that clacked together periodically.
  Amber shuffled backwards on her bed, using her feet to pedal herself backwards. She had known of the figure that she was seeing in front of her, it was the same one that snuck behind her and hid in the corners of rooms and allyways, but she had never seen it so close.
  “W-what are you-” She started to stammer. In her panic she dropped Salem on the floor, her sweaty shaking hands unable to hold the plush’s felt limb. Her mind thought for a second about grabbing her from the ground, but she knew that it was not wise to take her eyes off the figure that stared relentlessly at her. In an effort to fight back, she grabbed her pillow and held it in her hands in such a way as to threaten to hit the figure with it if it got any closer.
  Suddenly the lights in her room started to flicker and cracks formed in the walls, coming from the corners like branches from the dead tree that stood outside her single, broken window. More of the figures came from the darkness that billowed slowly from the cracks. The voices got to be too much, and Amber tried to close her ears to make them stop, along with the piercing pain that came with their voices.
   “No one loves you.”
   “Why don’t you die.”
   “Your parents didn’t love you, why will anyone else?”
   “Just die already. Everyone will be happier for it.”

  With her ears pressed tight against the palms of her hands, she let out a scream to try to make them all go away or at least stop talking.

**************************************

    From the floor Salem heard the piercing sound of Amber’s scream echoing through the air. She could see her, curled up hyperventilating with her hands pressed against her ears. Salem knew that Amber had psychosis attacks now and again, but they never got this bad before. Her fear heightened as she saw Amber pull something shiny from her bedside dresser. Her eyes widened as she realized what it was: a knife from the kitchen.
    “STAY AWAY FROM ME!” Amber yelled, pointing the knife shakily at the empty space in front of her.
    Panic and fear rising, Salem knew that she had to do something. Anything. If she didn’t, she was afraid that things would get worse. The fear seemed to grow inside of her as Amber’s screams echoed out again and again. The knife started to shake even more and Amber’s eyes turned from the empty space to herself. Her voice came out soft, a shaky whisper, as her eyes seemed to glaze over.
    “Just die already.”

    The fear surged through Salem as she knew what was about to happen. That feeling spread through her, giving her new life and a surge of energy.
    As the knife cut through the air towards Amber’s chest, Salem burst forward, stopping it at the last moment.

    The air grew silent as Amber turned her head towards Salem. She had now grown between four and five feet tall with long purple and orange hair that was tied in two twin braids in the front. Her face also had become human-like, despite the black sclera that bordered her two different colored eyes.
    She smiled at Amber. It was the kind of sad pleading smile that still seemed happy.
    “It’s okay, Amber. It’s okay.” She said, tears in her eyes. Taking the knife away from her shaking hands, Salem threw it gently across the room and took Amber’s hands in her large plush ones. Though, something didn’t seem right. Amber’s eyes pierced into her as if Salem was as horrible as the horrors she saw. Quickly, she pulled her hands from Salem’s, her breath still quickening.
    Salem noticed the fear in her eye. “Amber? It’s me. It’s Salem.”

    In an effort to comfort her owner, Salem reached out but instead was greeted with not a hug but a slap across the face.
    Clutching her cheek in shock, Salem slowly looked up at her owner. Somehow she knew that in her eyes she was no longer her friend.

    “I-I should’ve known.” Amber stammered, grabbing the knife as she backed up. “I should’ve know you were causing this. That you were o-one one them.”
    “Amber, pleas-”
    “NO!” She faced the knife at Salem who started to back up in fear. Slowly, Amber directed Salem towards the door with the knife pointed at her. Tears were in both of their eyes, both from fear.
    As they continued out the door, Salem’s hands above her head in surrender, Amber picked up her plush that was still on the ground.
    Panic filled Salem’s eyes. “What are you doing?!”
    Amber looked at the doll before looking back up at Salem, her eyes hard like stone.

    “Something I should’ve done years ago.”

    With that she led her to the one panel of the wall which Salem knew pulled away to access the attic. The main door to it was sealed shut years ago so the panel, unknown to everyone else, was the only way up there. Her and Amber usually went up there to play but Salem knew that this time they weren’t going to play make-believe.
    As they entered the attic, Amber pushed Salem hard, causing her to fall to the floor.
    She started to get up when she saw Amber go to the one chest against the wall and pull out a few chains.
    “W-wh-” Salem started to stammer but Amber hit her again before attaching them to her leg and tail.

    The job done, Amber walked out of the attic, towards the board.
    In a last moment of desperation, Salem called out. “Amber! Please!” Her eyes were filled with tears and she tried to move forward but the chains kept her in place.
  Amber looked back one last time, throwing Salem’s plush at her, and spoke in a stone-like tone. “Goodbye, Salem.”

  And with that she left, nailing the plank shut behind her.

    Years passed as Salem lay in the attic. Tears constantly filled her eyes and stained her cheeks and she quietly wept. She was alone and somehow the constant memories of her and Amber made it worse. All those days and nights together…….everything brought pain.
    Though, one night she closed her eyes and thought a single thought.

    “I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

    When she woke, she found herself lying on a cobblestone path. The breeze felt alien on her face and skin as she got up and saw something she hadn’t seen in years.
    Trees.
    Sky.
    Sun.
    They all welcomed her happily as she got to her feet. The broken chains clinked on the stones as she moved, which confused her even more. How did they break?
  Though she moved forward to see a quaint town lying beyond a painted wooden sign that she read.
  “Welcome To Shop Street”

  The town seemed to welcome her, it’s warmth reaching out to her though she looked back one time.
  Part of her hoped that Alex would be there, smiling like she remembered.

  Thought it was just a wish and, seeing no one there, Salem left that wish behind and heading into the town.

FUN FACTS ABOUT SALEM:

- There is a similar plush made from the same company that Amber had, which was considered Salem's older brother. They had the same original owner, being a set, though they were separated thus leading to Salem being given to Amber. Though the current whereabouts of that push are currently unknown, he will appear at some future time. I have a design started for him and even a few storyboards.

- I have outfits designed for both Salem and her brother. I took inspiration from wica and other Halloween and witchcraft things to make hers. Her brother's has a similar inspiration.
- She has an ability to attract bad luck. This effects her and the people around her and, when she gets good luck, the bad luck to those around her gets worse. It is possible that this ability was the reason for Amber's parents, orphan status, bullying, and even psychosis.

- Salem can also see the future and will most likely have a fortune telling job of sorts or one making and selling charms and incense and hand-carved sigil charms for whatever they're needed for. Also, her shop sells home remedies and such for headaches and other ailments.

- Also, her abilities are dampened when she's near her brother and, without him, they tend to get out of control.

DEAR READER
This story was very hard for me to do. You see, every character I write is a part of me and, to write Amber and Salem, I had to go back somewhere that I would never had ever wanted to go back to.
Amber's psychosis episodes are ones that I've had in the past. These episodes got so bad that they landed me in the hospital after multiple attempts on my life to end them, the nightmare I couldn't escape.
Salem's agony and sorrow was also my own. My mom constantly outcasts me and hates me for something I can't control, being trans. In order to write Salem, I had to face those feelings and emotions which was very painful. I had to remember why I was a failure and why she would never love me . Though, in the end I got what I needed.
This piece of work put me in a horrible state for days, in which I could not draw or write. In these days I felt all those feeling over again, because I opened some doors that I had shut long ago. These doors led to the nightmares and agony that I had tried to forget, but needed to complete this correctly and to my best ability.
If I have acted wrong or strangely during the past days, I apologize.
- James