Wielding Fire

Inked

    After a long walk full of remorse and regret, I painfully reached the small gate circling the cabin we occupied, Opa and I.

    The night breeze blew through my hair and with it a chill rose along my spine while a few locks fleed gently to my peripheral vision. My legs repented carrying me any further, my shins ached, my body felt heavy.

   In a matter of seconds, my limbs found their way to the wire rack in front of me, grabing hold of the cool metal for support as the last reserve of energy which kept me on my feet drained from my skin, filling the air with an invisible flickering steam. I watched as its particles vanished away, carried by the wind. Meanwhile, I could already make out the frame of a faint shadow dandling from afar becoming denser and bigger. By the time it towered over me, the familiar spirit -- or demon -- drew from both sides a pair of wobbling... hands? That, I couldn't tell. How do these species even have human limbs? In my utmost confusion, the thing pointedly scrutinized me -- or specifically, my left shoulder -- before landing a cold bony hand on my skin. I flinched to the contact but my body refused moving, numb under the spell this ghost doomed me with.

   THEN I felt it. The same torturous pain I once hid under a cart to weep about in the middle of the hubbub of a market day. I still can hear the shouting of the merchants trying hard to attire customers to their goods, the gallop of horses, the echoing foot stomps of passers as they approached the vehicle I was under. An excruciating martyrdom revived my tired cells as the spook pierced my skin and seeped its poisonous venom inside my veins. The feeling sent swats to my skull which threatened to burst open my torso. I immediately drew both my palms to my mouth to muffle silent screams as floods of tears kept streaming down my enflamed cheeks.

    It'll be over soon...

    My blood kept freezing and boiling alternatively. Even my immune system lost its sense of balance after the unrecognization of this outsider element that infiltrated my vessels unexpectedly.

      Patrons, all those normal people around me sleeping tight while I'm taken vengeance of for an accident I didn't mean to commit. What an unfairness !

     As if the evil demon finally decided to respond to my beggings, the pain stopped instantly. On the other hand, the sore flesh on my shoulder stang. Bother didn't I, my mind could already picture the new drawing my skin carried.

    The key rested under the mat, like the usual. I drew them into the lock, but I didn't need to turn the object since it seemed like the door was already unbolted.
    
    Strange, Old Domsay never forgets to close every opening before even the sun sets.

     "Pa? Pa? I'm home." No reply.

      Maybe he's still out. I won't need to worry as long as he returns within the first lights of dawn. During the season of harvest -- which is the case now -- he spends his nights in the fields when he tires. They expand in the other side of the town. Long is the distance between our cabin and there, but Opa surely couldn't refuse such an opportunity to have a job. Thus, he can at least provide us with enough to finance our living even if it means profitting from another gallantry of Mr Shelbey's.

      I could use a fresh shower right now.

      Without any more mopping, I quickly shoved my muddy boots aside and trailed to the bathroom. It wasn't much one, just a couple of feet of lenght on some six feet of breadth to make just enough room for a sink and a bathing pit. A cracked mirror hung above the washbowl and a few towels dangled from a rusted steel hanger.
It was a miracle that we could afford running warm water from the tap.

     I trew my soiled clothes on the floor -- they will serve as floor cloth to wipe my dampened feet later. Fighting the urge to inspect my shoulder now, I hurried past the faucet but my eyes didn't obey to my mind's commands. They darted to the broken glass and stole a glance at my back. Limping closer, the image of the carved snake became clearer, and with it my vision fuzzier. Black ink stained my bruised flesh, recreating the shapes of the reptile next to the ones of an obscure kitten that laid on four beneath my nape.

      The reflection of an equally soiled soul stared back at me. Who is this monster? What did it do to me? They've never been wrong, it is true that I'm a wicked being, that I'm to be sent far from innocent people who have to be inflicted such viciousness. I'm bad luck.

     I staggered for the shower, cranking the valve. Lagoon water spewed from the showerhead, and I scrubed at my skin hysterically, watching the remains of my nasty crime run off my body and down the drain. I slid to the floor, every ounce of me stinging and burning and aching.

     I wanted to wash myself away, scrub myself to ruins. My sobs drowned in the pouring of water, soon transformed to dithering breaths.

Ayy it looks like Becca is having a hard time T~T. Whatever it is, it will get better (hopefully). Provide me with feedback in the comments. Xoxo ♡