The Haunted Midwife's Lullaby: A Lullaby of Death

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over the cobblestone streets of the village of Eldridge. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the distant sound of a church bell tolling the hour. At the edge of the village, the old birthing house stood, its windows dark and its doors sealed with rusted hinges.

Eliza had always been a woman of curiosity, but her latest venture was one that even she found unsettling. Her husband, a local farmer, had passed away suddenly, leaving her with a newborn and a sense of unease that she couldn't shake. The villagers spoke of the old midwife who once practiced here, a woman known for her uncanny ability to deliver even the most difficult births. But they also whispered of her tragic end, and the lullabies she sang that carried the promise of death.

Eliza pushed the pram through the heavy wooden gate of the birthing house, her heart pounding in her chest. The air inside was musty, filled with the scent of aged wood and something else, something... forbidden. She approached the dimly lit room at the back of the house, where the midwife's chair stood, covered in cobwebs and dust.

A creaking sound echoed through the room, and Eliza turned to see a shadowy figure standing in the doorway. The midwife's eyes, hollow and empty, met hers. "You have come for help," the voice was a low, haunting whisper.

Eliza nodded, the words catching in her throat. "I need you to deliver my baby. My husband... he didn't make it."

The midwife's eyes softened, a rare flicker of emotion passing through them. "I will help you, but you must listen to me. The baby you carry is not like the others. It is born with a curse, a curse that has haunted this place for generations."

Eliza's eyes widened. "A curse? What do you mean?"

The midwife stepped closer, her voice dropping to a hushed tone. "The lullaby I sang was not meant to soothe. It was a spell, a spell to protect this place from those who would seek to harm it. But the curse is not just on the baby; it is on you, as well."

Eliza felt a chill run down her spine. "What curse?"

"The lullaby of death," the midwife said, her voice taking on a sinister tone. "It will call to you, and when it does, you must resist. If you do not, the curse will consume you and your child."

Eliza's hands shook as she reached out to the midwife. "How can I resist?"

The midwife's eyes held a strange, knowing glint. "With courage, Eliza. With the courage to face the darkness within and the strength to protect your child."

As the midwife began to sing, the room seemed to close in around Eliza. The lullaby was a cacophony of sound, a mixture of whispers and wails, a haunting melody that seemed to resonate deep within her soul. She felt herself being pulled into a vortex of darkness, her mind clouded with fear and confusion.

Suddenly, the room was filled with light, and the midwife was standing before her, her eyes filled with compassion. "You have done well, Eliza. The curse has been lifted, but you must be vigilant. The darkness will not rest, and it will come for you again."

Eliza nodded, her eyes wide with gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered.

The midwife smiled, a ghostly image in the dim light. "Remember, Eliza. Remember the courage you found within yourself. And remember the lullaby of death."

As Eliza left the birthing house, she felt a strange sense of peace settle over her. The curse was lifted, but the lullaby of death remained a constant reminder of the darkness that had almost consumed her.

Weeks passed, and Eliza's baby grew strong and healthy. But the lullaby of death continued to haunt her dreams, a persistent reminder of the darkness that had been lifted, but not banished forever.

One night, as she rocked her baby to sleep, the lullaby began to play in her head once more. She felt the same pull, the same sense of being drawn into the darkness. But this time, she was not alone. The baby in her arms stirred, and she felt its tiny hand grasp hers.

"Remember," the baby whispered, its voice a soft, comforting melody.

Eliza's eyes flew open, and she looked down at her child. The lullaby had stopped, and the darkness had receded. She knew then that the curse was still with her, but so was the strength to face it.

And so, the lullaby of death continued to be whispered in the village of Eldridge, a haunting reminder of the courage that lives within even the darkest of hearts.