Alone: My Cursed Fate

Research and Rainstorms

*Matteo*

It’s only been a few hours since Vienna disappeared into thin air, and I already miss her terribly. I feel unsettled, as though a piece of me went with her and now I am just half of a whole. We have always been inseparable, never straying far from each other.

Immediately after she vanished, I gathered my close friends, Jensen and Henrik. Jensen is a tall, slim goof-ball with shoulder-length wavy blonde hair and brown eyes. Henrik is much more quiet and serious and is incredibly loyal. He is shorter than Jensen and I, although still taller than average, and stalkier with his brown hair cut short. The three of us are usually a rowdy crowd. We grew up playing pranks on each other around the packhouse and getting into all kinds of trouble. Tonight is different though. Tonight the focus is on getting Vienna back. While her and I are the closest of all of us, the other two are also good friends with her and they were devastated by the news of what happened.

Together we are scouring the pack library for anything related to curses, witch craft, and spell reversals. Jensen is sprawled out on the couch reading A History of Witchcraft while Henrik and I sit on the floor surrounded by towers of dusty old books. I have already skimmed through Dark Magic, Potions and Spells, and The Ancient History of Spellcasting. It is already around 3 am and we are quickly losing steam. Jensen slams his book shut, releasing a cloud of dust and stands up, “Well gentleman, I think that’s about all I’ve got for the night. I need my beauty sleep.”

“We’ve got to keep looking, we haven’t gotten anywhere.”

“I want to get her back too, Matt, but we are practically falling asleep here. Being exhausted out of our minds won’t do her any good.”

“Your right, I just don’t want to give up on her. It feels so wrong going to sleep in my warm, comfortable bed while she is goddess knows where.”

“Let’s just plan on reconvening in the morning. We could ask Lydia and Cass to join us. A fresh set of eyes might do us good.”

“Yeah right, Jensen, you just want to spend time with Lydia. We’ve all noticed you practically drooling over her.” I quip back with a smirk and Henrik chuckles.

“Can you really blame me?” He shrugs and laughs as we leave the library.

…

With only a few more hours until morning, I lay awake in bed tossing and turning. I just can’t get Vienna out of my mind. This is all my fault. I wish I could turn back time and go back to this morning in the tree house. If I could take her place, I would in a heart beat.

As I finally drift off to sleep, I dream of a golden wolf with unfamiliar amber eyes. This dream wolf is strangely comforting, a welcome feeling after the events of the day.

*Vienna*

Curled up on the cold, damp forest floor, I lay awake trying desperately to fall asleep. I spent the last couple of hours wandering these unfamiliar mountainous woods. The wind up here is unrelenting, and it chilled me to the core. My teeth chatter and my body shakes. No matter what I do, I can't get warm despite Matteo's hoodie completely encompassing me. I finally start to drift into a dreamless sleep only to abruptly be woken up by a cold drop of water to the face. Ugh.. what was that? Another one hits my face, followed by another and another. Rain…

“You have got to be kidding me!” I scream out loud. “Ahhh, Fvck this, why moon goddess, why?!” I yell with my arms up and face to the sky. Huffing in anger, I kick the tree next to me, then yelp in pain, grabbing at my foot.

“Why don’t you just kill me now and put me out of my misery!” I scream again at the sky as the rain now soaks me completely.

A bolt of lightning streaks across the sky a little too close for comfort and I yelp.

“Okay, okay. I was kidding! Please don’t actually kill me!”.

Ugh, I better get beamed up to somewhere better tomorrow. Preferably somewhere with a roof and some food. Tacos would be great.

...

The rain finally dissipates and the sun breaks over the ridge of the mountain range. I now get a good look at the scenery and find that I am indeed in the middle of nowhere on a mountain with no civilization in sight. Great. At least it is starting to warm up and looks to be the beginning of a beautiful day. My clothes are completely water-logged and cling to my body in all the wrong places, my hair is a tangled mess, and my stomach is empty and gurgling loudly at me. What a great way to start the day.

We could shift and hunt for food?

That's a great idea! That way I can ditch these soggy clothes and let them dry somewhere too. Is it going to hurt?

Honestly, yes. The first shift is always the worse, and I think it may end up being harder on you because you are shifting a year early. I will be with you every step of the way and guide you through it.

Thanks, Keeta. We will get through it together.

After yesterday, how much worse can it possibly be?