His oppression

Hope

Chapter Ten: HOPE

“We can do this by ourselves. We don’t need help from other people.” 

“I agree wholeheartedly.”

“Huh?”

“I agree with you that we don’t need help from other people. You said before people can be deceptive. We can get tricked out of our pockets.” he told me with a slight smile on his face. 

I nodded my head, confused a little before walking into the library. Today, we both came into terms that we should do some scrutinising before going on to obtaining the things we should be needing. We could possibly summon a devil or something if we don’t do research and I really don’t want to deal with another unexplained entity-- especially an entity that is evil to the core. I’m reasonably lucky that Radcliff comes across as someone who has a warm heart and good intentions.

Or my life has been f****d the second I saw the doll.

Speaking of the doll, it’s safe in my closet. If something happened to the doll, it might create a stir and produce more problems for us.

Frankly speaking, Radcliff was right when he said I push people away. I’m in no right to tell him that he was an unfortunate encounter because believe it or not, I’m kind of happy that he’s around but no way am I letting him know what I really feel. He'll probably use that as an advantage against me and who likes getting manipulated like that. Though, he really doesn't look like that person who would do that.

He undoubtedly doesn’t complain at how passionately vocal I am about things that trouble me and at the slightest inconvenience in my everyday routine. That makes him a good person to be around with. But really, he's more likely laughing at how finicky I was being all the time. The guy never gets mad and understands my sentiments.

I tell you, he's really weird.

"So the dark magic section." I pointed to the few books on the shelfs that might contain what we needed to find out as we were approaching it. "I don't think they're legitimate books— some may be fictional."

"We can still give it a try." he smiled reassuringly, his finger caressing the spine of the books as he thought hard on what to pick.

And when it came to me, I just pulled out whatever book I can find, and in this case three books were chosen and taken out of the shelf. Finding somewhere to sit down, I went to the table nearest to the corner of the library. Radcliff was tailing behind.

Flopping down on the chair, I immediately turn the pages to view its contents. If it was just some story book, it may not be reliable at getting our solutions right now. What we need is what people from ages ago wrote to counter spells and hexes. Our first option was to browse the internet, sure, we still got that in mind.

But I remembered, it was the internet. If we run out of choices here we might need to turn to that. There are computers here anyway but the downside was that I'm too in touch with reality that I have no idea how to operate one, let alone Radcliff doing the surfing. It might take us forever seeing how oblivious the guy was.

I could be wrong. He might know how but just wouldn't tell me about it. I mean he would tell me if he does, right?

"Spell, hexes, curses.. the difference." I mumbled to myself as I turned to the designated page where I will see it.

I felt breathing close to my neck and noticed that Radcliff was trying to inch closer so he could see the page too so I positioned the book where we both could have a good view. It was just me ignoring how his arm was placed on the chair just at my back.

The context didn't seem too complicated for my small brain to comprehend about witches and where they originated from. There were bad witches but of course there were also good ones. One thing that really bothered me was that  the women that were accused of being a witch themselves and ended up confirming their innocence were just killed off like that because men just can't keep their hands to themselves. Radcliff had informed me about this before but my head was probably flying somewhere else at that time that I didn’t give much thought into it. 

The history just seemed so dreadful to hold knowledge of and knowing you can't do anything about it because it's already happened— it's already imprinted in the past, is just too overwhelming to handle.

This is one of the rare times I'm somewhat grateful that I was born in this generation rather than the earlier ones. I wouldn't think I could survive.

Anyway, now that I've to acknowledge the differences between terms I do recognise but can't distinguish until an actual research commenced later, I'm satisfied with the amount of knowledge that came to play. Just by reading two pages of information, I've learnt a lot and I think I'm ready to tackle on to the next topic.

It's like high school all over again. A time where I'm too absorbed in reading books of just about everything I find interesting.

"...salt bathing is the most recommended ritual to lift a curse. But I don't think it's that easy to remove one." Radcliff told me, his voice low, almost a whisper.

The library was quiet so we obviously had to keep our voices down.

I nodded my head before sighing, leaning back against my seat. "We have to consider other options too. But also be wary if whatever ritual we do has a consequence. Because that can happen. We can never be too careful."

"I've never met a woman so cautious." he told me with a slight chuckle.

"Huh? You'll regret not being cautious when it's too late. Whatever people have to say about you, you can choose to ignore them especially if the matter is your own safety. That's how you get through life." without worrying about pleasing others.”

“I wouldn’t know I was born to please people.”

No wonder you got cursed.” I tapped his shoulder sarcastically before looking at the book again. “Do you want to talk to paranormal experts? I don’t know how much they cost. And I just really don’t want to get scammed even though it’s your money.”

“We can give them a fright if you feel they’re going to scam us.” he suggested, stroking his imaginary beard.

He had a beard going on but it’s just a real disappointment if you’d ask me.

“You’re onto something,” my eyebrow raised a bit. “We can do that. Who said we can’t have fun whilst trying to take the curse out of you?”

“You’ve just been really serious about this and I think that can be a good thing for you. Do you like seeing people get scared?”

That was an absurd question. This guy had been really unpredictable and I don’t exactly know how to feel about that. He looked like he’s about to turn mad too when he had that certain look on his face and in his eyes.

“Why don’t you get serious about this? Aren’t you worried you’re not going to be able to lift the curse?” I asked, now getting something. “Oh I should be the one getting worried. I’m the one putting this effort to save you from eternal suffering or s**t like that.”

“And I’m truly grateful, Aria.” he beamed at me. It was unanticipated when he took my hand into his.

How big his hand compared to mine, I shouldn’t even begin to comment on that. And what is all with the sudden touching? Of course it’s going to make me sheepish, I’m not used to it and if he even thinks of using that against me I will kick him.

“I’m grateful that you’re taking this sincerely. But we can’t be serious all the time. Based on what I’ve seen you do and say, you’re a rather serious person.” he said like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“What am I even going to joke around for?” I just asked, taking my hand away from him before looking at the book again. “Oh hey you can also use a puppet!”

“A puppet?”

“It says that when you’re cursed and they induce physical pain to you, you can use a puppet so you can’t feel it.”

“That’s good but I don’t think that will be helpful. Firstly, I don’t have a physical body so they can’t harm me and secondly, whatever happens to the puppet, as it is my vessel, happens to me too. Poke it with a stick, why don’t you? And I’ll absolutely feel that.”

“I can poke you with a stick?” I asked, my eyes widening slightly.

“Please do not do that.” he told me with pleading eyes. “I can only go as far then I’ll be transported back to where the doll is if I’m too far away. The doll is the most significant.”

I nodded my head, heaving a sharp breath into my system. “The salt that we need is epsom salt but just in case, we can buy other types of salt too. And we could borrow this book too, it has a lot more ways to break a curse. According to this, generational curses are difficult to break.”

“I am quite conscious about that thought.” he said, taking the book from me. “I think it’s still as strong as it is from before and that’s an alarming assumption. I am afraid that when we have done everything in our capabilities but it couldn’t work, we’ve put our actions to nothing.”

“Hey,” I tapped his shoulder to comfort him. I’m not one to comfort people but he really appears to be distressed and needed those consoling words to keep his hopes up. Even if it’s just false belief. “If we’ve come to the point that I’m old and wrinkly and we haven’t really done anything to free you from the curse, we can find someone to replace me.”

“I’m not afraid of not doing anything despite doing everything, I’m afraid that I’m your curse.”

I laughed at loudly at that, not even giving a single f**k if I was being too noisy in the library. Everything he says and does is just really unexpected for me. One moment, I’m pissed at him and the next he can do what he wants and he can make me laugh. I do understand what he’s actually trying to say but he didn’t really have to put it that way.

“You’re afraid I might not live the life I want because I’ll be occupied with trying to help you. That’s the curse you’re saying.” I chortled, trying to get in a serious stance.

He nodded his head slowly but he looked confused. Did he really think I wouldn’t get that?

“Look, at first I minded you but I’m getting used to you being around.” I just said, overlooking it. “This is the only time I’ve ever done something consequential in my life.”

“Do not get upset when I tell you that you really don’t have the patience.”

I laughed again, holding my stomach as it started to hurt whilst looking at him. “Am I really that transparent that you can read me so easily?”

“It’s not hard.” he smiled a little.

“I really have no concrete plans for my future so if I was really set to help you, then I won’t mind. I’ll do what I can.”

“You’re amazing.”

“Yeah-yeah, keep reading you big baby.” I grabbed the rest of the books and stacked them in front of him, just wanting him to get distracted when his words had impacted me in a way I kind of liked.