Casper
I knew something wasn’t right when her phone wouldn’t stop beeping.
At first, I thought it was a call from some horny bastard chasing after her, but when I stretched my neck to have a view of the name of the caller flashing on her phone, it confirmed my doubt.
Doctors don’t call persistently, especially by this odd time, except it was to deliver bad news.
My mind did a flashback, and Raphael’s words rang in my ears.
Her mother was sick. The call was definitely to deliver some bad news.
My heart plummeted when her emotions came crashing hard on me.
A great deal of uncertainty overwhelmed her heart, and from the corner of my eyes, I could see her fingers shaking.
I wish there was a way to console her.
Her happiness was directly proportioned to mine.
I wanted to stand by her to assure her that she wasn’t alone in times of trouble, but the unending vibration from her phone interrupted the moment.
The nervousness in her voice wasn’t hidden anymore as she baded goodbye and dashed out of the room.
I tricked her into believing that I was asleep so that I could get a hint of the message.
Although I couldn’t make out some of her words, I knew her mother wasn’t dead yet, but I sensed she was having a huge trouble paying off the medical bills.
The amount wasn’t stated clearly, but I knew it was somw couple of grands.
Transferring $30, 000 into her account, I attached a note so that she wouldn’t understand how much she meant to me.
I still couldn’t believe she thought I was playing with her feelings and using her to pass time.
It didn’t take long before sleep sank into me.
After falling asleep for a couple of hours, my eyes snapped open from a sharp, painful howling inside my head.
It sounded like the roars of a wounded beast.
“Max,” I called, swallowing as fear seized my heart.
It can’t be. It can’t happen now. I still had a couple of months until my nightmare happened. Plus, before it happens, it comes with a sign that lasts for a week.
Another agonizing howl sent heavy aches down my head.
I grabbed my head between my two palms, grinding my teeth as I bit my trembling lips.
“Talk to me, Max,” I said, almost crying.
“It’s happening…run…run…to the.. dungeon…”
“No!” I screamed, banging my fist against the headboard.
“Do it…I can’t hold on…much longer. You have to save…Lilith. We will hurt her if she stays with us…” he winced as his voice cracked in severe pain.
Tears dropped from my eyes freely as reality set in.
I couldn’t believe it was happening now. It was only a matter of minutes before the pain started to seep into my system.
Max was my wolf, so he absorbed the pain. He was afraid I could die because of the intensity.
Fuck this stupid curse!
“I’m sorry, Max,” I pleaded, sniffing as I felt his energy sapped out of him, making him slump hard as he couldn’t bear the pain.
My head rang as the effect of his fall caused me a banging ache.
The curse was coming for me.
Grabbing my phone, I texted Raphael, hoping he would get my message and rush to the estate in time before I went violent on everyone.
As I was about to get up my feet to go to Lilith’s room, a strong wind hit me back, making me fall heavily on the bed.
It happened all of a sudden and my energy was drained. I was too weak to speak or move a finger. It felt like I was under the huge foot a giant that pressed me hard against the floor. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t fight back.
Thunderclaps shook the building to its root.
The impact made the room vibrate as if an earthquake was happening and scary lightening scattered all over the sky, like angry words scribble in the dark cloudless sky.
The curse came off strange this year. It started earlier and more powerful.
It would be a miracle if I would be able to survive it. It would be 10 times stronger that the previous years and I knew my body couldn’t bear it anymore. I was yet to recover from last year’s torture.
The rain of intense pain scattered all over my body in the blink of an eye. It was a blend of stabbing, biting, burning stinging feeling.
It was like a burning hot knife dipped in a bowl of habanero pepper was buried deep under my flesh to create a large wound, then a bucket of acid was smeared all over it.
I was in anguish. My body burnt as my temperature skyrocketed. Even the air conditioner in the room wasn’t enough to make me cool.
At once, I felt squashed between two giant rocks. It felt like my head was about to explode. I shut my eyes, opening my mouth to scream, but my strength failed me.
I wasn’t given time to recover when heat started radiating off my skin. It felt like I was thrown into a furnace.
I twisted on the bed like an earthworm undergoing osmosis, except my body wasn’t smeared with salt, but with fire. I was in hell.
Sadness crushed my heart into pieces as the thought of my family flooded in my head. I couldn’t believe this was what Marina and ny kids went through while being burnt alive in the building.
Unable to bear the mixture of the intense pain, plus the guilt I collapsed. The last thing I thought of was the bright smile on Liliths beautiful face.
Even if I died, I did one right thing by making Lilith happy and making her feel loved again.
My eyes slowly clasped together and a satisfactory smile plastered on my face.
The curse took a different turn, it didn’t make me go violent, but it was slowly taking my life.
But I didn’t mind, as long as I was finally reunited with my family again.
When I thought all was over and I started to embrace peace, I was charged by another wave of pain, 10 times hotter than the one I experienced earlier.
Except this time, I was trapped in another realm, dealt by the vicious curse.
The cycle repeated again. It was only a matter of minutes before I dropped dead.
“Step into the light, Casper, be free and join us.”
A familiar voice echoed throughout the barren space.
I lifted my head, craning my neck towards the direction.
“Marina? Is that you?!”