THE WITCH'S CURSE

Episode1

"Angeline..."

I looked up to take a glance at my Mom. I can't wait for her to disown me. She rushed at me and slapped me hard. It felt like my face felt paralyzed. But still, I remained emotionless. She doesn't deserve to see any emotion of me... even a bit.

I stiffed. How did I end up this way? What if I ran away? But it will be useless. They will trace me immediately. I saw some mini-dolls, candles and some books around me. After I scanned the place, I looked up at her again.

"What did you do?" She asked with so much frustration.

I kept staring at her. Watching her shouting furiously. I can't even remember when I did the right thing because, in her eyes, I'm always wrong. I don't want to be like her in the future.

"What?" I asked. I received another slap but, unlike the first one, it hit so hard.

I chuckled. I ruined her ritual, she deserves it though. She's forcing me to do some ritual with her. She thinks that I'm easily to manipulate like I was before. But not today... I'm done with all the bullshit.

"And now you have the guts to fight back, Angeline?" She was about to slap me again when five men barged in. They all look strong and powerful. I started trembling... their faces were really familiar to me. A lot of memories came back to my mind and senses. I want to vomit.

They were the men... who I hated the most.

I saw how my Mom smirked. She really looks like an angel, but looks can be deceiving... She's a f*****g devil. She ruined everything. I remember how I proudly told my classmates how blessed I am to have a complete family and a thoughtful mother, but now, I'm kinda embarrassed. If I could go back to the time when I was a child, I would slap myself.

"The Master wants to see her," a man said.

This time I wanted to please my Mom to let me stay by her side. But, I couldn't talk. I don't have any energy to talk or to fight back. Fear is the only thing I feel right now.

"Get her." My Mom pointed to me. How dare you, Mom? I wanted to shout until my throat hurt, but I lost my voice. f**k this.

The two men held me in my arms. They forced me to stand up. My knees were trembling as f**k. The strong girl I'd been showing to my Mom earlier was gone. I'm back to being weak... being defeated.

I looked down. I don't want to see my Mom's face. If I had a chance, I would cut her throat without hesitation.

Ever since I was a child, I have obeyed her rules and looked up to her so much. I adore her for being strong and powerful, but now, I don't want to end up like her.

I let the men take me away. I don't have a guts to ask, it wouldn't change a thing. We stopped in the middle of the forest. I know how it will go. Just like the old days.

"Pray here and do the rituals." The man said and stabbed my left thigh. He pulled out the stick and my blood started to flow down. It's so damn hurts, but I didn't move... any single step. I endured the pain.

"Be a good girl, okay?"

I didn't answer them. They left and I was all alone there. I lay down and heard some cracks of dry leaves, it sounded like music to my ears. I watched the sky. This is so peaceful. I could do this all day, even though it brought me so much pain.

I noticed how the trees changed. Their faces showed up. I stayed calm and let them stare. We can all do anything for now.

"Princess Angeline... we know that you suffered too much, but please, don't abandon us. We need you." The tree pleaded.

"Your Highness, we are willing to protect you from them." The other one whispered, but I can still hear it clearly.

I laughed a bit. I realized that I didn't know their names. They have been there with me from when I was 5 until now.

"Don't do anything. If you help, your lives will be in danger." I stated the fact.

Silence was all over the forest. I don't want them to sacrifice themselves in order to protect me. I don't want them to get involved. I feel dizzy when the ground shakes for a minute.

"Angeline... let me treat your wound."

I didn't bother to look at her. It was Kai. I feel her cold palms. I'm still staring at the sky and letting her see what she wants to do.

"I envy you so much," She whispered. Despite what she said, I couldn't feel the anger in her voice. She said it casually like it's not a big deal.

"Why? You have a better life." I whispered.

I didn't get any response from her in a few minutes. I thought that she would not be going to talk, but I was wrong. She responded after she finished treating my wound. It will heal in a short time because she's a mermaid. She was trained to treat witches.

"You know... you have beautiful and long legs while I had a tail. You can walk, fly and swim, but I don't... only swimming is the exception. I have envied you for years, but now I realized... you were the one who should envy the life I had." I looked at her hazel brown eyes. The forest ‘makes a way for her.

I sat down and glanced at her tail. It was hazel brown and perfectly shaped. She had long and curly hazel brown hair and pinkish lips.

"Yeah. You have a perfectly shaped tail and a gorgeous face... I should be envious but... I don't." I said frankly. She just smiled. "How's the ocean?"

She sighed. "Same as before. Humans try to destroy it."

"How's the forest?" I asked the trees. They sighed, too. And give a way to make me see humans cutting down some trees. "They didn't know the consequences they would commit in the end. Trees were very important, they would help them to avoid landslides and floods, but they were cutting it." I stated the fact. I didn't know if I should pity them or be mad at them. "And the ocean... some humans can get their food in the ocean, but they kept bombing it without thinking the corals and the effect on the fishes."

"The humans were too stupid," Kai stated as she grinned.

"Their ignorance was leading them to danger," the trees exclaimed.

I chuckled, they looked at me as if I was thinking of fun in the middle of a serious conversation. They might think I'm weird or something.

"They weren't innocent... they just don't care." I said.

I stood up and watched the humans. I shook my head. At some point, I wanted to be like them... living normally and far away on magical things.

"What should we do?" they asked. I just smirked.

"Let them do what they want," I said with finality.

I bid them goodbye. When I came back home, Mom was waiting for me. I gave her a lazy stare; I didn't want to argue with her right now.

She pulled my hair. I could feel some hair had fallen off of my head. I let her.

"They told you to do a ritual! But what did you do? Talking to your friends, ha? Do you want me to kill them?" She asked furiously. I didn't answer.

She forced me to lay down. I did. If I disobey her today, she will kill my friend. She sat down beside me and started chanting.

"Ape ape ape, disuko marani..." she chanted and chanted.

I was gasping for air. I knew what she was doing. She's trying to drain my energy. A tear escaped from my eyes. I don't want this life anymore. I want to escape... I want to have my own freedom.

While she was busy on her s**t, I grabbed the mini-book. I put it in my pocket. I felt strange when I touched it. It must be an important thing to her.