Witches Curse

Family Matters

I waited for Rachelle to fall asleep before I snuck up to my mothers room. I gently knocked on her door.

“Come in.” My mother called. “Oh hello dear, you really should be getting some rest.” She said as she glanced at the clock on her bedside table.

“I will, but mother… there’s something I need to speak to you about.” She saw the seriousness in my eyes and sighed.

“I have a feeling I already know what this is about. Come, sit.” She patted the bed beside her. I obeyed.

“It’s about father and sister…” I began. “I’m so foolish, I just realized that they disappeared 3 years ago today, I need answers before I leave.”

She nodded slowly. “The government at play. We will never be safe.” She stared off as if she were in another time. Maybe she was.

“So I was right. They did have something to do with it.”

She nodded again. “Even after a century of loyalty our family has always been outcast. Your father and I had to claw our way up the ranks, just to get to where we are now.” She shook her head.

“So, what happened?”

“Well, after your sisters coming of age ceremony, the officials came banging on our door. Apparently there was a witness who saw your sister performing witchcraft.” My mother scoffed and shook her head.

“So they didn’t even investigate? Just took someone’s word for it?” My blood began to boil. If that was the case we weren’t safe at all here. They could come for me or my mother any minute.

She nodded slowly. “That’s the way it is here. I tried my best to fight the broken system only to meet dead ends and threats. I had to keep you safe. I’ve been trying to work in the background with these injustices but no luck there either. Everyone is too afraid of our government.” Her eyes filled with tears.

A dark, sickening rage filled within me. It was so powerful it felt as if my heart were going to explode, as if the blood was boiling in my veins. I stood up quickly, my mother stared at me in alarm.

“One way or another,” I said in a voice that was so dark I didn’t even recognize myself, “I will bring justice to our family.” With that I stormed out of her room, despite her calling out to me.

After that it was nearly impossible to sleep. I couldn’t help but to toss and and turn. I fluffed my pillow angrily a couple times as well. I sighed and glanced over at Rachelle who was sleeping peacefully. Her long hair sticking out in every direction. Eventually sleep came, but it was restless and I woke up exhausted in the morning.

I ate my breakfast like a zombie. I could feel my mothers eyes watching me with concern. Rachelle prattled on in excitement for the day. I listened and nodded but offered no input.

Before I knew it it was time for us to head to the career center. I gave my mother a loving goodbye, I didn’t know when I’d see her again and I didn’t want her to think I was angry with her. I gave her one last final look filled with determination. She gave a small smile and nod and sent us on our way.

This time the fire burning within me was one of certainty, of determination, and a knowledge that things had to change around here. There was absolutely no reason to treat anyone this way without valid concerns and evidence. Everyone was allowing fear to creep in and make them suspicious of innocent people. We had been at peace here for a hundred years now and still my family was being treated like outcasts, as if one look from us and we would blow this whole society to bits. Honestly, as angry as I was that didn’t sound like the worst idea in the world.

I played back every detail of the day my father and sister went missing. How had I not noticed? How had I never realized the foul play involved in everything? Why were my memories of that day so clear and yet so fuzzy at the same time?

Rachelle slung an arm around me, pulling me from my musings. I glanced at her and smiled. She quickly removed her arm before anyone noticed.

“You okay?” She asked as she stared pointedly ahead. A small piece of my heart broke. Could I even confide in my best friend? She seemed unhappy with the way things were around here but I simply could not risk putting myself or my mother in jeopardy.

I decided to lie.

“Yes, just nervous. I couldn’t sleep very well last night.” She glanced at me and sighed.

“I know, you have more to worry about than the rest of us.” She said sadly. Looking forward the career center loomed ahead of us. It was large and gray and ominous. It looked like an old courthouse. Actually, that’s probably exactly what it was a hundred years ago, they had just done the upkeep so it remained modern and boring like the rest of this place.

As we walked up the stone steps I noticed a familiar face standing outside the large glass doors. It was Maxwell, gaping at the size of the place.

“Hey!” Rachelle called. He turned and gave her a dazzling smile. She returned a friendly one.

“Oh hey, glad to see you two.” Even though he said “you two” he stared only at Rachelle. Man, was she oblivious.

“What job are you hoping to score?” I asked.

He dragged his eyes away from Rachelle to look at me. “Guard.” He said simply. For some reason my heart rate increased. Rachelle flat out laughed. I looked at her in horror.

“What?” Maxwell squeaked, his face flushing beet red.

She waved him off. “Oh nothing, just the fact that they’re going to brainwash you in training.” Maxwell’s face darkened.

“We should be getting inside.” I said, trying to avoid any conflict. I smiled at Maxwell. “We’re going more towards the internal affairs route, so we’ll see you later.”

“Later.” Maxwell said as he watched us hurry inside. My heart was pounding. The inside of the building was sleek and modern like everything else. The floors were tile and the walls were a boring gray. The ceiling had a few chandeliers here and there to make it all look fancy.

Before anything else could happen I dragged Rachelle towards the elevator. I tapped my foot impatiently while we waited. As soon as the doors slid open I shoved her inside.

“Are you out of your mind? Are you trying to get arrested for treason?” I said in a hushed whisper.

She crossed her arms and gave me a stern look. “You don’t think things need to change around here?”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course they do, but blatantly disregarding the government instead of following the proper channels is just going to get you in trouble! They do horrible things to people who commit treason I hear…” I shuddered at the thought as my dad and sister flashed in my mind. I shrugged it off.

“Did you not listen to a word your mother said? She said this is just the beginning, that that b***h from our class was right and that life is going to be an uphill battle for you. That’s not fair.”

“Well, not in so many words, but yes. I can handle hardship, but how bad can today be, honestly?” A knot of anxiety settled in the pit of my stomach as the words left my lips.

She opened her mouth to say something, when the elevator beeped and the doors slid open. Instead she gave me a look and stomped off. I hurried after her.

It was cozy up here and actually looked antique with deep green carpet and claw footed furniture. It definitely stood out compared to the modern style of the lobby. I admired the intricate details of the furniture and desks in awe. I was only vaguely aware that the low hum of conversation ceased as soon as I walked out of the elevator. I came to when I walked right into Rachelle’s back.

Glancing around her taller frame I saw one of the diplomats at the head of the room, his desk raised above all the others. He stared down at us with distaste. His lips pressed into a firm line once our eyes met. I shrunk back in response.

He was one of the younger diplomats, his hair was dark brown but you could tell his age was beginning to gray it in some parts. He had piercing brown eyes that felt like they could shoot through my soul. They were almost creepy to look at.

“What are you doing here?” A voice boomed through the room. I jumped and looked around. Who wasn’t supposed to be here? A chill ran down my spine when I realized the voice came from the diplomat, and everyone was looking at…

Me.

I broke into a cold sweat. Swallowing I stepped around Rachelle and stood as tall and proud as I could.

“I have come to receive a job in Internal Affairs, sir.” I said proudly. My voice didn’t falter, but on the inside I was terrified.

The diplomat glared at me for a moment.

And then he burst into laughter.

The rest of the room followed. A piece of my heart broke.

His laugh wasn’t filled with humor or genuine emotion. It was cold and cruel, devoid of any emotion besides hatred and disdain. It twisted my stomach and made me nauseous. My eyes began to burn, but I blinked furiously. I refused to give anyone further enjoyment by seeing me cry.

“HEY!” My eyes went wide as I realized Rachelle had shouted behind me. “Are you kidding me? Just because she’s looking for a job you’re going to talk to her like that you prick?” My heart jumped into my throat I grabbed her arm but she shoved me off. I nearly lost my balance.

“Who gave your crusty dusty ass the right to…” she was cut off when guards tackled her to the ground. She continued shouting incoherently as I begged them to let her go.

Chaos ensued.

Everyone in the room jumped up to shout their opinions and obscenities. Despite what Rachelle had done, they paid her no mind. They were shouting at me.

Ignoring the shower of insults and obscene gestures, I ran up to the guards carting Rachelle off.

“Please, you have to let her go! She didn’t mean it!” I yelled at one of the guards. I made the mistake of grabbing his shoulder. He jerked away and gave me a nasty look, as if a disgusting bug had just landed on him. Before I could react he had his nightstick out and whacked me in the face with it.

Black stars burst in my vision as I hit the ground. Hard. A wave of laughter ensued. I vaguely heard Rachelle screaming at the top of her lungs.

Even if I was able to get up, I didn’t want to. I was dizzy, and my stomach reeled as the room spun in circles. The laughter is what kept me on the ground. I was so embarrassed I just wanted to keep my face buried in the carpet until everyone left. I let a single tear flow down my cheek. My face stung so I knew the nightstick left a wound. I didn’t care enough to feel around and evaluate. I let the pain surge through me.

“Get that disgusting creature out of here before she bleeds on the carpet.” This was the last thing I heard before I tuned everyone’s voices out. I didn’t resist as my own group of guards jerked me up and began dragging me towards the elevator. My head began ringing and the room spun so badly only my willpower kept me from throwing up. I figured that wouldn’t get me any points with these people.

After another moment the black stars returned. They became bigger and bigger, swallowing up all my surroundings. I just barely saw the elevator doors slide open before the darkness swallowed everything completely.

But hey, at least the pain in my head was gone.