The Genie's Curse

Chapter 12

 Tsuru floated in the lamp as she waited for her mortal life to commence, the thought of Evira and Allon didn't leave her mind. Where would they be? Where would she go back with her new body?

Shaking her head she remembered the paper from before, your original body or have a completely new life?

An old life would resurface to cruel memories of the past, but a new one would be like being reborn, having a blank slate, starting over... happiness once again.

So long ago she yearned for something like this and now it's finally in her grasp

Tsuru sobbed at a corner away from the other genies, she cowered away in that spot blaming herself for what's happening. Believing if she hadn't insisted on going out at night, none of this would have happened. Whimpering on the corner she couldn't bring herself to get up and do something.

Not noticed the genie who floated beside her, speaking so gently, "We gotta move on now... this is terrible."

Tsuru looked up at him with teary eyes clenching her teeth at his words, "Move on?! I had a brother to take care of! My family is waiting for me to get home..." Her sudden outburst came to a surprise but the genie only patted her shoulder.

"I had siblings as well, and I love them. Night caught up to me when I was walking back home. Long day of work and the lamp following up with it. Next thing I'm here, all because I wanted something better." he looked down at the ground, "I've accepted my fate, will you do the same?"

"Well then you know how it feels." Tsuru wouldn't look at him.

"My name is Keir, what's yours?" He asked smiling down at her, hiding the feelings of sorrow he so strongly felt.

"Tsuru." She replied, wiping off the tears with a deep breath, calming herself down.

"Everyone's scared, but what do we have to be afraid of? Death? That's something we've always dealt with, only now we know when it will be." Keir's words held so much truth, the type no one wanted to hear. Many would believe him heartless, but it was the truest thing one could say.

"I don't think that's why they cry, I believe we cry because we're not with our loved ones." She told him, this was her own opinion on the situation, how she felt and what she dreaded.

Giggling caught them off guard, for who would laugh in a time of lament? Their eyes catching that of a child who played with a toy. So innocent he wouldn't understand the situation, maybe he hadn't even been listening.

"Poor kid." her own comment caught her off guard, pity for the child who did not comprehend.

"It'll only affect him when he starts missing his parents." Keir added, staring at the boy not thinking much of him. Many genie's stared at the same child, so unknowing of everything around him.

Before she could notice she stood in front of the child who beamed a beautiful smile when seeing her gaze, "Hi." Voice as gentle and sweet as it could be.​

"Hi." The child so gladly answered bringing an aching pain to her heart.

"Do you understand what's going on?" Tsuru asked him as he continued to play with his toy.

The boy shook his head no, and continued to play, like none of it mattered, "Where's my mom?" The question left the room silent, all eyes on them.

Tsuru looked at the glances other genies gave her hearing the boy's words. With quivering lips, she'd attempted to tell him the news. It was better that he knew than endlessly hope for his loved ones to come back, "Listen... we aren't seeing our... family members again."

The boy looked at her intently, his head leaning to the side, "Why?!" He couldn't understand why a stranger would out of the bloom tell him such a thing. He threw the toy aside and grabbed Tsuru's arm, "Why?"

"Because we... we just can't, we need to move on." Tsuru lamented looking down at the boy who was about to break down in tears. His small and fragile hands holding on to her unable to comprehend what she meant well.

"I don't understand?" He cried out, tears slipping down his cheeks like waterfalls.

Before Tsuru could answer Keir spoke above her, "Because we're playing a game." he said all enthusiastically.

Genie's all around looked at the man, he lied to the boy, then again who could really have the strength to tell a child he was now a slave, "And you need to play master with an adult. He'll ask you for something and you must make it come true. If you lose you have to play it again."

The boy looked confused at Keir but, hearing it was a game his lips curled up to a smile, "Will you be playing?"

"Yes, try and win." A grin spread on Keir's cheeks, the child released Tsuru's arms and wiped his cheeks.

Tsuru stood there looking at a man who so clearly lied, all eyes were on them. She knew that eventually the child would know the truth... but for now a small lie was the best way to go.

Having achieved what she wanted for once, made her glad

Tsuru's eyes fogged up with red smoke covering her view even within the lamp. Red as roses until brown hair fell in front of her. Pushing it back the world finally appeared before her. Her instincts were going to look at where her legs should be, and they were right there.

She couldn't believe it, reaching down to touch them and actually feeling her hand on it. She couldn't even come to immagine she'd be able to walk around again, to run, to go for long walks anywhere she wanted. Wondered what it would feel like.

Tsuru was free, no more chains, no more wishes, no more curses...

So unreal the view before her, it felt so unknown as the endless void was gone she could actually see herself sitting at a bed. Finally taking in the things around her, what was this place?

A hand pressed on her shoulder making her look up. Seeing Allon sit besides her, "You're in the hospital Tsuru... and you'll have to answer by Evira..."