Village Of Shadows

No Seconds Chances

Jason immediately turns around, coming face-to-face with an old woman who, to his complete regret, was too well-known.

-"I know it's you. Mother Miranda". He exclaims at last, with a cold, scathing look.

-"No more mom for me?. I see you're still the same...". The old woman began, turning into a flock of crows.

The young man observes with haste the rapid course of the crows, until they are placed in front of him. There, she transforms herself again; this time, in her supposedly usual form. The way he remembered her.

-"You know. I never thought you'd become a grudge, my son". She spoke again.

-"What's all that clothes?". Jason interrupted her, slightly surprised by the mask, and the all-black dress with crow's wings.

-"Actually you're interested?". His mother replies in a mocking tone.

-"No". Jason decides to be frank and direct.

A small pause occurs, with both silent, until the young man cuts it off.

-"So... What's the point of all this?". He says, obviously pointing to the sudden interaction between the two.

-"You'd believe me if I told you I missed you. All these years... Despite all my fake children, none of them could even come near to replace you". She responds, softening her voice.

In these moments, it could easily pass like a mermaid, that mythological beast that sweetened with its voice those who dared to cross the seas.

Of course it didn't end well for them. The so-called beautiful mermaid was a horrible monster who only sought to satisfy his hunger with the unwary sailors.

-"No. I will not fall for your false words, nor for your little-sense affection". The young man exclaimed coldly, earning as a reward a proud look from his mother.

-"At least I tried. You can't blame me for that". She smiled.

-"What do you want?". He practically spat out the hair.

-"You know more than anyone what I want. My children next to me. It's the only thing I've ever wanted". She replied, starting to surround Jason.

-"Do you even know why I let you go that time? I only did it because I knew you'd come back one day, I knew you'd get tired of the world, that it wouldn't be enough for you".

-"And what do you know about that?". Jason interrupted with animosity.

-"You always wanted this place, my son, this will always be your home, here are all the people you ever wanted...".

-"No. Not all...". It practically slipped Jason's way out.

It was a mistake, a small slip I couldn't allow, especially in front of her.

His mother only smiled sideways, enjoying a little of her pain.

-"Poverty. Did my little Jason lose a love?". She exclaimed with feigned pain.

-"Don't talk about things you don't know!". He shouted back.

-"Besides, it was all your fault". He added, almost in a whisper.

-"How can you blame me for something like that?. It's always my fault, isn't it?. Who is the villain?. Me?. No, Jason, I was never the villain. The only villain here is you!. It's always been you".

-"If you'd stayed with me, you wouldn't carry all that useless burden on your shoulders. But no, the young man just left, believing that if he left everything would be all right. That's pathetic".