House of Aftermarks
About the Story
In a small town where memories gather in objects, Mara becomes the chosen Anchor—taking on shared recollections to stop a private collector from erasing lives. As public rules and quiet rituals reshape custody, she learns to carry community grief, rebuild ties, and face the cost of holding what others cannot.
Chapters
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Frequently Asked Questions about House of Aftermarks
What are “aftermarks” in House of Aftermarks ?
Aftermarks are residual memory imprints lodged in everyday objects. They store sensory fragments—laughs, gestures, smells—that can be read, transferred or contained, shaping identity and communal memory in the town.
Who is Mara and what does becoming the Anchor involve ?
Mara is a conservator who can perceive aftermarks. As Anchor she accepts many communal aftermarks into herself, sacrificing a keystone memory to stabilize and preserve the town’s shared recollections.
How do aftermarks affect the town’s sense of identity ?
Aftermarks link personal moments to public memory. When fragments are removed or hoarded, neighbors forget names and relations, eroding social witness; returning marks restores recognition and civic continuity.
Who is Silas Vireo and why is he a threat to the community ?
Silas, the Curator, collects and stabilizes aftermarks privately. His practice concentrates memories for personal sustenance, risking erasure and exploitation by removing traces from the town’s collective record.
What solutions does the town adopt to protect memories and prevent abuse ?
They create a municipal archive with transparency, witness protocols, audits, cooling-off periods and a caretaking team. They also establish legal safeguards and an Anchor ritual to stabilize fragile networks.
Is House of Aftermarks primarily supernatural or allegorical in tone ?
The novel blends supernatural mechanics—visible aftermarks and ritual binding—with allegory. It uses uncanny elements to examine memory, ethics, community custody and the costs of communal care.