Nuturing Evil

4- Hex Of Death

I turned and saw a five years old girl, her dress was torn from places covered in dirt, designating she might be a slave or homeless looking timidly at me. Her dainty form had fresh wounds along with long dark brown hairs reaching her back and those shining green eyes, shimmer brightly under the pitch night with a strange glimmer.

“Who are you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her. “You are not from here.” I said, turning to her. Her innocent face lowered, moving back. “Hey!” I called her coming closer but then sensed the same terrible aura remained in Harley’s body and immediately understood it was her how brought the curse back. 

“So what? You will not become a hero, you were always not worth consideration.” I shut my eyes, covering my ears again, “Shut up.” I growled, shaking my head but couldn’t all I could think was- I don’t deserve to live. 

And I don’t see any falsification in it. Even if she is a curse, who cares? 

I got behind the tree and saw her peeking at me, seemingly afraid, sighing. I ignored that girl and turned to the mountain again to continue what I left. 

“Come on, do it, It will relieve your sorrows. You don’t have to mourn anymore.” 

My hands began to tremble by the intensity those words evoked in my heart, introducing my heart a new sort of pain I tend to neglect but it’s ripping my chest in incomprehensible agony. “That’s right.” I nodded, making a fist, glancing at the edge which was covered with fog because going down means you will never come up. 

I took a deep breath but saw that girl standing from afar just in the same gesture as me. Still giving me that depressed look, just standing, staring at her hands like me, again not paying heed to her I moved back and was about to jump of the mountain to end this loop of misery which is haunting me all this time but when I saw that girl is also jumping with me I stopped and turned to her, “Hey! Stop!” 

“Why did you stop? Let all evil die.” Ignoring that voice I rushed to her side, she jumped as I barely managed to grab her arm, preventing her from falling as well.

“Goddammit.” I cursed under my breath, lifting that girl up and threw her back. “What the hell do you think you were doing!?” I yelled, “I don’t care whether you are cursed or not, look at your f*****g size!” I shouted at her, grabbing both of her arms, sensing her flinching but I was too enraged to focus on her fear.

“Why did you jump!? You would die!” She made an almost crying fast as I realized I was too harsh on her and let go of her, She looked down and held her heart and gestured something with her hands, I suddenly realize she had no one so she can’t speak and she was telling me with her motions that-

'I thought I could be at peace by doing this.'

My eyes widened in horror for a second, “That’s not how you do it, i***t!” I whisper-yelled, contemplating her form. 

'You also did it.'

“I am old enough, you are too young.” I gave her a stupid explanation and got up. I glanced at the mountain again, the voices inside my head weren’t stopping. I had two options at that time,

One, end this voice and die.

Second, Kill this girl and end this voice.

I looked at the mountain for a long time and then turned to her. I don’t think my hands can take someone’s life ever again and if I told anyone at the Town about her, they would burn but as long as I am alive the curse won’t affect anyone.

Fine then, I will bear this curse. I took a deep breath and bent on my knee, “Listen girl, Shake your head in yes or no, okay?” 

“Do you have anywhere to go?” I asked, she shook her head in denial. 

“Do you have any family members?” I asked and again ‘No’

“Are you long in here?” She bit her lips and nodded and showed me her hands which were trembling, “You were transferring these voices to others don't you?" I asked, my tone softening. She nodded, not lifting her eyes in shame. She knew she was cursed and it was affecting her mind, she tried to get rid of it by giving it to someone else but I can sense it, she still carries it.

"Are you hearing it now?" I asked, She shook her head 'no' Because I am hearing it now! I sighed, not knowing what to do with this kid. I bet no one at Bougainvillea will recognize her as the core of affliction and she had nowhere to go.

“Are you hungry?” I asked, getting up. She shook head vigorously, eyes glimmering and letting me know she was starving. “Come with me.” I offered, walking away putting my hands on my pockets, 

“You will regret carrying a curse.” 

“Shut up.” I muttered, trying to ignore the voice hitting my sensitive nerves and forcing me to end my life. I was walking but then felt someone holding my shirt, I stopped and turned and saw that girl holding my shirt, still convulsing in fright, “Come on, you spent days in this monstrous forest and now getting afraid?” I mocked, turned again and continued my walk as she held my shirt and we walked out of the Sleazoid and I had nowhere to go so I took her back to Rachel’s bar.

“Huh?” All of them gave me the same expression. “Where did you get her?” Gabriel asked. “Found her on the streets.” I replied coldly, coming inside. “Can you clean her up and give her something to eat and wear?” I asked Rachel, pointing at the little girl hiding behind my leg. “Okay.. but.” 

“But?”

“It’s not an orphanage where you or a kid could stay, I have got a sick father to take of and dumb Mother, ya know.” She frowned, “Okay, okay, just deal with her now, I will take her with me.” I sighed, pushing her forward, “Are you sure you found her on the streets?” Hays asked, glancing at her, “No, My mistress gave her to me.” I replied sarcastically, “Hey girl, Go with her.” I said.

“Rylan, Is that how you talk to a kid?” Gabriel asked, “Do you have a problem with it?” I asked rudely but he sighed and got down, “Hey there.” He smiled softly at her, “It’s okay, let’s get you cleaned up, you must be hungry, aren’t you?” he smiled and I had no idea this piece of stone could be soft. 

Girl took his hand and he led her to Rachel and they left to help her. I expired deeply and sat down, “Hey man, are you sure everything is okay?” Brandon asked.

Brandon Jones, Local Doctor. My brother-in-law.

“Yeah, I was going home but found her.” I replied putting my head on the table.

“Why are you extending your worthless life?” Shutting my eyes, I pressed my forehead on the table, making a firm fist from where my veins become visible, “Rylan,”

“What!?”

“Woah man, calm down.” Hays raised a brow but I immediately calmed down, “I am sorry, what?” My voice calmed down, I was stressed out by the voices but there’s no way I could shut them out. “I was just saying if you feel like it, you can visit my hospital.” He smiled faintly. “Yeah.. I know but you charge me double.” I joked, “Well, who doesn’t want your money?” He chuckled. I chuckled and after a while Rachel came, “It was my childhood’s dress. Too big for her but she will manage.” Rachel said, “I didn’t know you have such a pretty dressing sense.” I said, looking at the green Victorian style frock and white shirt, perfect for her and compared to Rachel now who always wears a checked shirt and jeans she was quite pretty. 

“Shut up.” She snarled, “Rylan is right.” Gabriel nodded, taking a seat beside me. “See.” I smirked. “Hey.” She scolded and made the girl sit beside me, “So, what are you gonna do with her?” Gabriel asked. “Dunno.” I shrugged, looking at her. After she was cleaned up; she was an adorable child. “Maybe give her to an orphanage. She can’t speak either, it seems like no one taught her.” I shrugged. “I thought she is mute.” Rachel interrupted, “No, she isn’t.” 

“I see.” 

Rachel gave her some food and since she was starving she continued to eat for a while, “I had no idea she was starving.” She said in pity, patting her head while she was eating. I turned to the girl and watched her eat, it spilled over her dress and mouth but it's fine, she is just a child.

"You shouldn't have given her a white shirt." I said, pointing at her stain which made her stop eating and noticing she ruined the shirt. "Hey, it's fine." I sighed and grabbed some tissues, wiping it off from her lips and clothes, "Why did you stop? Are you full already?" I asked, making an eye contact with her, she shook her head, "Then eat." I said moving back and she began to eat again.

"Believe it or not, you can't take care of a child, Rylan. Better give her to the Orphanage." Brandon suggested. "I know." I hummed as they all eventually left late at night and luckily by paying rent for one night, That stingy Rachel lent us a room.

Girl laid on the bed and fell asleep instantly as if she was desperately aching for a sleep of comfort, finally gaining a slumber.

After she fell asleep, I stayed in the room, sitting on the chair in the corner reading a book until Rachel came, "Are you going to stay like this for the rest of night?" She asked. "Will you give me your father's deathbed?" I cracked a dark joke which made  her kick me down from the chair, "What the f**k!?" I whisper-yelled, "I got you a blanket, lay it on the ground and sleep too." She scoffed, throwing it on my face. "Thanks.. I guess."

"Also, where did you find her?" She asked again. "I told you, on the streets." I replied, laying the sheets, She narrowed her eyes, closing her arms at her chest. "What?"

"Her wounds tell otherwise."

"I found her lost in Sleazoid, I thought about leaving her there to die but she tried to kill herself so I brought her back." I told her bitterly cutting the part why she tried to kill herself because she followed me knowing her over reaction.

"Poor soul."

 "Maybe she was abandoned by her parents." I shrugged, laying down. She tried to speak but I cut her off, "Thanks for the blankets, turn off the lights when you leave." I said, covering myself and heard her mutter 'asshole' under her breath and leaving.

After she left, I tried to speak but couldn't. A strange sensation of pain was not letting it go. Maybe it was the effect of a curse but I can't sleep. These voices are hurting me severely. I got up and looked at the girl.

I wonder how she bore these voices when I couldn't. They originated from her after all.

But despite everything, there was something odd about her I was unable to encrypt, a deep anguish my mind can't decode. I could feel it under my fingernails but I didn’t know at that time-

What exists in her is a hex of death.