The Amaryllis Curse

Chapter 3

(Note: any and all comments throughout the story by readers are welcome as I am a new writer and would love some constructive criticism :) )

The only thing about this park that I found unsettling was the number of crows and ravens that took residence in it. Since the city had built the recreation center right around the corner, this park had been forgotten about.

Looking around as I pushed open the rusted fence gate, all of the playground's equipment was rusted and aged. The swing set only had one swing still fully attached, the other two laid on the ground.

The monkey bars seemed to be still stable but I wasn't going to test that theory. With a sigh, I sat on the lone swing as I pondered why I was even in this park.

I knew part of it was so I didn't have to go to detention, but something still didn't feel right. Who was the woman in the basement? What did her words mean? So many unanswered questions and no one to go to.

The crows and ravens that took residence here seemed to pay me no mind when I first entered the park but now they seemed to glare into my soul, their eyes a crimson red.

I automatically gripped the swing chain a bit tighter as of not looking at them would lessen the ominous chill in the air.

I wasn't sure how long I was staring at the ground before reality came crashing in, reminding me of why I was here in the first place. The shadows grew longer on the dry ground so I knew it was at least around 5.

School had let out two hours ago and that meant my parents had to be searching for me, leading to them finding out I skipped school. I knew I shouldn't go home, I mean how could I? I skipped school, got detention, dyed my hair, not to mention my powers were uncontrollable.

The longer I pondered these thoughts an insatiable urge to just destroy the school and my home became, the image was so vivid in my mind that I now realized I was standing right outside the school gates. Had I been walking?

As I shook my head the feeling left me and I turned to the sidewalk again. The air came swiftly out my lungs as I was slammed into the ground, blinking to see three boys standing over me, a freakishly amused grin on their faces.

"Not so tuff now, huh?" One said as he kicked me, my body curling into a defensive position as I coughed.

I knew that the kids at school hated me because I was different, but ganging up on me? I recognized the boys from my third-period math class but I didn't know their names, not it mattered.

As one of them moved their leg to kick me again I tried to stand, my right hand touching the ground. As it did I felt that dark ominous feeling again, with which the ground responded with a deep rumble before red vines erupted from a circle around me.

The razer thorns cutting one of the boy's arms, the other two seeming to almost jump out of their skins before dashing off and leaving their friend behind.

The vine shield I created acted with a will of its own as one of the larger pieces wrapped around the injured boy, enveloping him in a dark mist before opening itself up again. The boy... vanished. The mist placing him in a dark and lonely oblivion.

It took me a while to realize the noise that penetrated the air around me was my own body shaking sob. Wiping my eyes I noticed the vines were gone, the only sign they had existed were the gaping holes around me.

Looking at my hands they were trembling, my clothes seemed to be unscathed and weren't even dirty. The blaring sound of police sirens suddenly rang on the air, apparently close by.

Looking up I now saw a few people murmur amongst themselves as they stared at me, one on the phone. They must have seen what had just transpired.

I unsteadily stood and tried to gather my thoughts, but there was no time. Instinctively I turned to the large cornfield on my left and began running, the crops shaking in my wake. I had no idea where I was even going, my feet were just moving.

As I looked at the path in front of me I noticed the crops beginning to wither, the ground turning a dark grey; a sign of death.

The air echoed with barks and howls off police dogs that seemed to grow nearer with every passing second. Looking over my shoulder I saw nothing following me.

Turning forward again my feet failed me as I slammed into the now dry and dusty ground. A yelp escaped my lips as I felt my ankle twist. The deep growls of the dogs could be heard circling me now as if they knew their prey was trapped.

Sitting up I scanned the field, still unable to see them, before hearing a snarl behind me causing me to swiftly turn as one of them lunged.

An ear-deafening noise rang suddenly in my ears as smoke filled the air. I was too busy covering my ears to see what it was, but I knew by the ring in my ears it was a smoke grenade.

The air was so thick I couldn't see, but I felt someone grab me. Immediately I started to fight, I couldn't let the police catch me.

"Ow! Dang it lady stop! I'm not them!" A male voice said.

I stopped fighting but I was still tense.

A frustrated huff was heard as if I was overreacting. The male's hand took mine and pulled me forward to move before letting go as I felt my mouth open, I must have yelled in pain since the huff was heard again.

The sounds were muffled but understandable. I felt myself be picked up and thrown over his shoulder as he began to run to the woods that were just past the field.

Once I regained my full hearing I realized I had no clue who this guy was or where he was taking me. I began to hit him in the back with my fist.

"Put me down, you weirdo!"

Giving a huff of my own as I hit the ground I looked up at him.

Dark brown hair and green eyes just stared at me as if I was bothering him. "Weirdo? Shouldn't I be saying that about you? You just killed the mayor's son Victor with magic, and I'M the weird one." He said as he yanked off his bandana. He had a perfect short cut goatee with a pale white scar line from his left ear down to his chin.

I was shivering a little from the cold as I watched him pick up a few large sticks. Looking at him, he wasn't from my town. His clothes consisted of a white shirt, black leather jacket, and black jeans with some kind of combat boots, which were of course black. No one from my town besides me wore black.

"I didn't sign up to babysit, get up and pick up some wood. I'd like to be warm tonight." He said as he now made a stack of the wood he was holding.

Standing up I was a bit hesitant. Sign up? Was he told to save me? A better question is who had told him to. With that thought, I began to pick up a few pieces of wood and laid them on the stack.

The man began to make a fire as I sat down and stayed quiet, then realized I never did get his name. "Um ..." I said softly. The male looked at the fire, seeming to be ignoring me.

I'm not sure how long I had been sitting before I realized it was dark. My eyes felt heavy as I heard him finally speak. "Pararu." He said, poking one of the sticks into the fire.

"What?"

"My name, you asked."

"No, I didn't...?"

He smirked as he continued prodding the fire's embers. My eyebrows scrunched as I thought. Did he... read my thoughts?