THE INTRODUCTION ⸻ One swallow does not make a summer

Eleanor Kerek was born in the woods. Her first memory: sixteen years old, covered in blood and morning dew.

That was June 12, 2003. The end of a week long searched for Ellen Kerek. Instead they found Nellie, who had not been missing at all (right?), where they expected to find her twin. They were certain Nellie would be the key to the whole mystery.

Maybe she might have been. Maybe might have seen something that would have found her sister in seconds. Except Nellie Kerek was born in those woods. And like any birth – even of the metaphorical kind – it is impossible to remember before you even existed.

Twenty years later, and Nellie Kerek still didn't remember. Anything.

She has been told what her childhood was like, who she once was. But is it your own memories when they're handed to you on a platter?

Enter Carmunnock. It was old when Nellie lived there, and it hasn't changed since. It exists somewhere between past and present. To the outside world, Carmunnock exists almost solely in the memories of those who were born there and left (and those who somehow wondered into its grasp.)

Oh. And those missing people. It's so easy to forget those missing people – those twins of many ages that disappeared in the twenty years after Ellen Kerek – when no one talks about it. Because Carmunnock isn't a town. It's a ghost. And Eleanor Kerek isn't the only one it's haunting.

THE RULES  ⸻ I am creation, both haunted and holy

One – Don't Play With Dead Things

So, for those who don't know, this is a semi-rewrite of another apply fic called Don't Play With Dead Things. Basically I combined that idea with a later book I was planning called One Swallow, which this book got its name from. Where those two things merge will be a little bit hard to see because I didn't get to the point in DPWDT that this is taking from (and also it's part of a very, very big plot twist in this book, so I can't just tell you) and, obviously, I never wrote the original One Swallow.

Like...I think the biggest thing I kept was Carmunnock because I'm obsessed with that name. I just transplanted it to Ohio, because honestly I think the American midwest has an underutilized sort of horror to it. I honestly don't think even Stranger Things really captured it, because it was more focused on small town horror that happens be in Indiana. All I'm saying is the Duffers clearly have never driven between states and not been able to tell because everything around them was just corn, one singular cow that materialized out of the sky or something, and a field of windmills that look like they were copy pasted there by God himself.

The existential horror of the midwest's boringness aside. While this isn't only open to people who got into DPWDT, I will admittedly try to include them again. Obviously I'm not going to choose entirely on that, it's going to be based on what works with my plot, but I want to be upfront with that. They are not required to apply again, nor are other people banned from applying. I'm just doing this for fairness to them since they lost out on the last book, and fairness to new applicants so they know what they're getting into.

Also, to the DPWDT people: I do think most of you could re-use your characters, though with various levels of editing, obviously.

Two – Applications

Applying to this is pretty typical to other apply fics in function, but a little more complex over all.

This is because I'm choosing three types of characters: 2003 only characters, 2023 only characters, and the people who are in both. Obviously the people who are in both will be getting more attention because they're in both time periods (the time periods will be explained in the next section, btw) but also they're going to need more information and will have higher scrutiny.

On the bright side, there's something for everyone. People who only like making teens can make characters for 2003, people who want to make adults can just make characters for the 2023, and people who are cool with either can make a character for both.

Or...they could just make one for each. You can apply as many times as you want, but I do try to limit myself to two characters at most from one person.

The way this works is that there is eight main slots. Emphasis on slots, because of those characters that only appear in one time period. So there's like four characters in both time periods, and then four slots that will be filled by a 2003 character and a 2023 character. If that makes sense?

So technically it's twelve characters. Which feels insane, but also it's less than I've made for some fan fiction...and it is a cast for an entire book...it doesn't seem that crazy with that in mind.

Again, there's more or less depending on what I get. The due date is to be decided based on how quickly people apply, so make sure to keep updated on this and let me know if you need extensions. Google doc are accepted. Application should be in the form of:

[Original Comment] ⸻ Character's Name

[Reply] ⸻ Either begin with your comment form or link and accessible Google doc

Anyone not chosen for the main cast could possibly be used for background characters. 

EDIT: Due date has been updated to August 12th!

Three – Time Period

As as been mentioned multiple times at this point, there is functional two stories going on:

1. The summer of 2003, specifically the days leading up to Ellen Kerek's disappearance, and then the week after.

2. The summer of 2023, specifically the days after Nellie returns to Carmunnock, focusing on her finding out what happened to Ellen (and similar disappearances that happened since she was gone.)

Speaking of those similar disappearances, I mean one of a pair of twins disappearing. As far as anyone knows, nothing has happened specifically like Nellie and Ellen.

Most of the characters in 2003 only are most likely to be friends with the twins. Characters in 2018 only, though, can be a wide variety of reasons. I definitely think it could be fun to have a parent with twin child given...you know...there's clearly something going on with twins. But implications aside, you literally just need a reason for them to move to a small town between 2003 and 2023.

Characters in both time periods get a little harder, because you really have two options: they stayed in Carmunnock the entire time or they returned for some reason. There's a lot of reasons that can really be built around who your character is.

Four – Faceclaims & Diversity

Don't need 'em! Hurray. Just write a description of your character in appearances.

Hopefully, this will help some with diversity in characters, at least physically. Obviously the time period is limiting, but not as limiting as, say, the 80s and 90s (IDK I just thought of what time periods I've seen in apply fics recently.)

And, of course, diversity in personality and life experience and all those things. It's really useful to have a wide variety of people, instead of them all being the same person in different wigs. It just makes writing hard.

Password is a smiley face :) Any smiley face.

Five– Love Interests

Romance is a large part of a lot of applyfics, but it isn't really that big for this one. There isn't really enough time for romance to develop, since the 2003 plot takes times place over a little over a week and the 2023 plot takes place a little under one. So if you want your character to be in a relationship you'll either have to put them in one yourself by making them a partner, or (if you want an OC x OC relationship) work with one of the other applicants to set up a backstory so it's not going from strangers to relationship within... *checks notes* 5-8 days?

I'm not good enough at romance to make that make sense, let alone have an impact.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

THE FORM ⸻ God loves you, but not enough to save you

* = Optional

TIME PERIOD ⸻

(2003, 2023, or both. Just so it's clear, right away)

FULL NAME ⸻

*NICKNAMES ⸻

Obviously only necessary if they have nicknames.

*PREFERRED NAME ⸻

Same as above, only needed if it's different from their full name.

AGE & BIRTHDAY ⸻

For reference, the twins are 16 in 2003 and Nellie is 36 in 2023. Characters in 2003 would be in high school, and the main ones would probably be around the twins' age. Characters in 2023 can really be any age over like...twenty? Assuming they aren't in 2003, and then of course it would be based off their age then. I do want the 2023 characters to be adults.

GENDER & PRONOUNS ⸻

SEXUALITY ⸻

For this and the one above, if they aren't cishet, include if they are out or not by the time of the story. This includes if they came out or not between 2003 and 2023, if they're for both time periods.

APPEARANCE ⸻

You don't need to be super detailed, if that's not your forte, just enough that people can visualize them to some extent. Also, if you're character is for both time periods, you can also address how their appearance has changed over time.

PERSONALITY ⸻

Again, you do have to have at least enough detail that people get an understanding of who they are as a person.

INTERESTS ⸻

Basically things they enjoy and hobbies.

DISLIKES & PET PEEVES ⸻

Same as above, but basically the reverse.

FEARS ⸻

Try to think of stuff unique to your character. Obviously this applies to all of these, but especially fears and dislikes.

BACKSTORY ⸻

As much detail is as necessary to explain how they got where they are at the start of the story. Depends on how much you feel necessary.

FAMILY ⸻

Please at least include their names and at least a smidgen on how the character feels about them. Things like "they have a father and mother" don't really help. The point of this is so I can at least mention them, possible include them in the story.

*REASON FOR ENTERING THE PLOT ⸻

2023 only characters.

It could be because they moved to Carmunnock after 2003 and just weren't around at the time. It could because they lived in the town at the time, but weren't involved in the 2003 plot for various reasons – too young, not connected enough to the disappearance, etc.

*REASON FOR LEAVING THE PLOT ⸻

2003 only characters.

The biggest reason I can think of is that they just...moved out of Carmunnock? It's been twenty years (which just hit me so hard when I was writing that, yikes) people leave, especially in small towns. Though I'm sure people can think of other reasons. Include a little snippet of how their life went afterwards, mostly so I can mention it throughout the 2023 section.

*REASON FOR STAYING IN/RETURNING TO CARMUNNOCK ⸻

2003 and 2023 characters.

Pretty much what it says. If you can't tell, these last three are basically different character types.

CONNECTION TO/OPINIONS ON THE KEREK TWINS ⸻

They don't inherently have to be friends with them, but it's a small town. Even those who moved in after Nellie leave will have heard about the disappearance and seen their brother and mother around. Hell, they might know people who went missing after Ellen's disappearance. So they're going to have thoughts on them.

*PLOT IDEAS & INSPIRATION ⸻

If you've got plot ideas for your characters and stuff you like to see. Basically a place to spill out all your inspirations. It's a little random, you don't need to write it, I just know I'd, personally, love a spot like this for almost every character I make.

EXTRA ⸻

Anything extra you want to include that there isn't space for above.

AESTHETIC ⸻

This is mostly to help me make aesthetics for the cast list. This can range from listing an aesthetic style that fits your character to listing some concepts/images that you connect to your character to literally making a Pinterest board.

QUOTES ⸻

Also for the cast list, but surprisingly helpful at getting an understanding of your character's "voice" for dialogue.

PASSWORD ⸻

*TAGS ⸻

Only if you're cool with that! I know some people like tags, some people don't.

⸻ Empty Forms

⸻ Apply Here

⸻ Questions

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

THE KEREK FAMILY ⸻ But there are witches in these woods

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 ELLEN ADA KEREK 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

𖡼 16 years old 𖡼 Cis Female (She/Her) 𖡼 The Lost 𖡼

Not much is known about Ellen Kerek, which is ironic given the fact she did exist for at least fourteen years. She is kind and loving and everything good in the world. Though that's not a surprise. No one wants to speak ill of the missing – likely dead – girl. But there seems to be a genuine lack of knowledge of who Ellen was.

    Often questions about her will earn a comment about how she was popular in high school and nice...they guess. Forcing them to go further will earn a story about her – everyone seems to have a story about Ellen Kerek, good or bad – and then some confusion about why they can't really think of anything else. Not her friends. Not her boyfriend. No one really seems to know about anything. Eventually they'll fumble out something about how "good" she was, just to comfort themselves.

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 ELEANOR "NELLIE" NAN KEREK  𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

𖡼 16/36 years old 𖡼 Cis Female (She/Her) 𖡼 The Returned 𖡼

          Everyone remembers Ellen, but don't know her well. Nellie is the opposite. Throughout their childhood, everyone seemed to forget she existed. The closest people seem to remember is that Ellen Kerek had a twin (especially when twins seem to be a theme with the Carmunnock disappearances.)

       Nellie herself never fought that hard to get out of her sister's shadow. The shadows always seem safer. She left Carmunnock as soon as she could, and then built her own life. Nellie Kerek is entirely average. Everyone can agree.

Entirely average except, of course, the fact she can't remember sixteen years of her life. Nellie's been told what she was like as a child. Many times, actually. She was shy, always spending more time by herself. Never took up space. Became anxious if she even had to talk to people, let alone a group of them. Nellie was stubborn, they said, and refused to bend to the will of anyone. But she doesn't believe that. She feels more like a leaf in the wind than anything, known more by the world than herself.

Maybe that's why Nellie came back to Carmunnock. That was where everything began, maybe it will be were it ends.

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 MARSHA KEREK 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

𖡼 40/60 years old 𖡼 Cis Female (She/Her) 𖡼 The Blind 𖡼

          Years ago, Marsha was a powerhouse of a woman. Despite being a single mother, she somehow had time for a job, her children, and every single community event she could get involved it. According to some people she was just overbearing as they came. A control freak in the making.

   So, it's no surprise that Ellen's disappearance shattered Marsha into pieces. It was no surprise who was the favorite child of the three. Perfect Ellen, innocent Ellen, fragile Ellen; a mirror of her mother. If you asked Marsha, it was Nellie that disappeared that night. The poor girl, too wild for her own good (a description only she ever assigned to Nellie.) Ellen, though, Ellen was still out there. She would come home to her mother one day.

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 THOMAS "TAM" HENRY KEREK 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

𖡼 18/38 years old 𖡼 Cis Male (He/Him) 𖡼 The Sighted 𖡼

Tam Kerek is wasted potential. Everyone knows it. From child prodigy headed for the Ivy League to mail carrier who spends his days getting chased by dogs and his night keeping is mother from climbing out the second story window (Ellen is calling to her, she claims. Ellen needs her.)

  Not that anyone cared. At this point they don't really have the energy to keep up with yet another Kerek tragedy. Besides, he probably deserves it. They always do...

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

THE END ⸻ On some level, I think I always understood

Big thanks to everyone who read this far! This is...I feel a little insane for taking on such a "big" project, but also I've literally been planning it for years so...yeah. I think it helps that I have this strong plot with Nellie, which I can build other stuff around it.

If you can't tell, there is a big twin/reflection motif, especially with the Karaks. Their last name and the twins' middle names are all palindromes, Nellie's name is literally one letter from being Ellen backwards, and Tam's full name means "twin." I will just leave you with that.

Also, for anyone new wanting ideas for their characters:

— I mentioned already a parent with twins

— Ellen had a boyfriend (though I can just make him, I feel like someone could do something fun with that)

— Possibly someone related to the twins that went missing after Ellen? Not the surviving twin (for plot reasons I can't get into because ✨spoilers✨) but like a older/younger siblings, cousins, or even children (because it's not limited to children/teens. They are the most common, but that's partly because it's more noticed when children/teens disappear than adults)

— A friend of Ellen's who ended up the center of the search (either because they were just close or because they actively looked for attention)

— Someone who came to Carmunnock to look into the disappearances (I'm imagining true crime podcaster vibes)

— Someone who knows...a little more than they should, and as such is in Carmunnock for more malicious reasons (I'd have to spoil a LOT for you to do this, though, lmao. I thought I'd offer, though, because, like with Ellen's boyfriend, I feel like new perspectives could get fun characters that I couldn't get myself)