Louise McCallister

Lending Library , Genealogy Archive

Written by rubyodegee

Following her college years in Otherwhere, Louise McCallister returned to Crooked Mile during the Six Year War. Her sister, Annelise McCallister, has been the Lending Librarian for a long time and never married her high school sweetheart. On her route home, Louise uncovered the news of Annie's intended passing away in a mine explosion at Westwreck. Louise was uncertain if her sister held resentment towards her for leaving Crooked Mile or for returning with bad news. There is tension between them, regardless of the reason. They argue often.
During the war's onset, Louise was involved with a team focused on medical care and evacuation. It was clear by the fourth year that she couldn't remain in Otherwhere any longer. After her initial arrest for loitering, the Otherwhere police released her, but she heard they were planning to apprehend her once more, this time for espionage. She did spy for the Hale Military. She knew someone sold her out.
Without Dr. Dean Quincey, her face would have been left with severe burns and scars. She endured 7 months in the sanitorium, fluctuating between sanity and agony. Till this very moment, she has no idea that her sister financed her hospital stay and medical expenses required by Dr. Quincey. He was in the middle of constructing the Crooked Mile Free Clinic and couldn't even buy an extra band-aid, let alone skin graft knives and safe anesthetics. She opts for buttoned-up attire to hide her scars and burns. It's rare for anyone to notice what she is concealing.
Tomb Room

Louise McCallister's Artifact by ROD w/Midjourney

Along with concealing her skin, she also brought back a sizable stone artifact.

Annelise is aware it's a mummy tomb, yet she never asks Louise to open it. Instead, she opted to house the tomb in a seldom frequented library chamber, granting access to the Crooked Mile Circle researchers for the study of its glyphs and material. It was expected to be opened the day after Crooked Mile Independence Day, but events that shattered the Circle’s plans interrupted the tomb’s opening. Louise and Annie experienced a wave of relief. What they will uncover is a fear that the sister’s share.

Louise McCallister, Family History Desk

Louise McCallister by ROD w/Midjourney

Due to Crooked Mile's growth, the volunteer staff at the Lending Library is swamped with orders. Annelise hired her sister to manage one of the tasks she can’t find time to perform. Louise is employed in the archival and family history department, documenting genealogical data on Crooked Mile locals. In this work, she comes into contact with Melody Rice, a gossip and recently elevated travel author for the Gazette. Their professional relationship is characterized by ambivalence. Melody's mixture of facts and fictional stories harms and annoys residents, making them reluctant to cooperate with Louise, who genuinely cares for their well-being. At least that is how Louise sees it, so Louise began sending out a newsletter of her own. Annelise ensures that a stack of newsletters is available at the library lending desk for literature lovers and pulp fiction readers to take for free.