To Reverse a Curse

Chapter 8

    "So..." I mutter to myself, standing in front of a map at a bus station, "...Blackwood is here, and Chris' house is here...and I'm here...where is...?"
    "Can I help you, sir?" the woman behind the desk asks me.
    "Uh...yeah," I say, walking up to the information desk, "do you know where any Cree communities are?"
    "Do you mind if I ask why?" she says, briefly glancing at my scarf that I'm using as a face mask.
    "No," I say, running believable cover stories through my head, "It...It's for...uh...a college class,"
    She nods. "What class?" she asks, typing on a computer behind the desk.
    "Uh...history," I said, trying to sound casual, and not nervous.
    "Oh, cool," she says, totally buying my story, "There seems to be a Cree community at the base of Blackwood Mountain,"
    'Of course there is,' I think to myself.
    "It's kind of hidden in the woods," she continues, "but there is a dirt road that leads to it. One of our buses should be able to take you to the dirt road,"
    "Thanks," I say, "What bus goes that way?"
    "The 2:05," she says, "It leaves in ten minutes,"
    "I'll take a ticket for that one, then," I say, getting out my money. I buy a bus ticket, and I start to walk away.
    "If you don't mind me asking," the woman says, "Why...why do you hide your face with that scarf?"
    I pause. "I...uh...I had a...motorcycle accident," I say, "It tore up my face real bad. I...I don't like people staring at the scars so..."
    "Oh," she says, "I'm sorry. That sounds painful,"
    "It was," I say, "but...it's okay now,"
    "Well," she says, "Safe travels,"
    "Thanks," I say, and I exit the bus station. I sit on a bench to wait for the bus. It feels wrong to lie, but it needs to be done. No one will believe the truth.
    Two kids walk by me: a girl, about twelve, and a boy, about seven, holding hands. Both of them have a darker complexion.
    The girl's ebony hair is pulled back into a long braid, tied at the end with a string of colorful beads and a black and white feather. Other than that, she's dressed normally, and so is the little boy.
    The little boy's hair seems to be long as well, tied into a small bun at the back of his head. He looks at me, and smiles.
    I smile back, and wave slightly, realizing he won't be able to see the smile because of my scarf.
    "Finn," The girl hisses to him, "what have I told you about talking to strangers?"
    "I didn't say nothing, Cora," Finn whines.
    "Anything," Cora sighs, "You didn't say anything,"
    "Yeah," Finn says.
    Cora pulls him away, and they sit at a bench a little bit away from me. Cora takes out a bag, and takes out two plastic wrapped sandwiches.
    My stomach growls. I had eaten my sandwich a while ago, and I don't think the bus station sells food. I cross my arms over my stomach, trying not to think of how hungry I am. I'm already constantly hungry, as a wendigo, and there's always a pull, like a tiny voice, urging me to pounce on the nearest person and tear out their neck with my teeth, but I won't.
    Chris had gotten me so far I can't just give up now.
    My stomach growls louder. I cross my right hand over my left, and I grab and hold my bracelet that Chris gave me between two fingers.
    Finn walks up to me, and holds out his sandwich to me. "Here," he says, "you hungry?"
    I stare at him, and then the sandwich, then back at him. I lightly push it away. "You need it more than me," I mutter, "you keep it,"
    "But you're hungry," he says, pushing it toward me, "take it,"
    I shake my head. "I can't," I say, "It wouldn't feel right, taking a kid's sandwich,"
    "Not if the kid is offering it to you," he says, still smiling, "Cora packed extra. I'll just grab another,"
    I chuckle a little. 'He reminds me of Chris,' I think. "Okay," I say, taking the sandwich.
    Finn walks back over to Cora, grabs another sandwich, and then walks back over to me. He sat on the bench next to me.
    I loosen the bottom of my scarf, so I can reach underneath and eat the sandwich. I take a bite of the sandwich, and I chew, slowly.
    Chris kept reminding me that humans don't just scarf down their food. They eat slowly, so that's what I try to do.
    "Why do you wear a mask?" Finn asks, voice muffled by a mouth full of sandwich.
    "My face is scarred," I say, "I'd rather people not judge me for what I look like, but what I do,"
    Finn nods. "Wise," he says, "You sound like Mama Ostell,"
    I chuckle, and nod. "Thank you," I say.
    "Where are you going?" he asks.
    "A...uh, Cree community at the base of Blackwood Mountain," I say.
    Finn turns to me, eyes wide. "That's where we live!" he says, excited, "We can sit together on the bus!"
    I smile. "That sounds nice," I say, "I've been traveling alone for a bit, it would be nice to be able to sit with someone. If Cora would allow it, that is,"
    "She doesn't matter," Finn says, "She thinks she's in charge, but really, Mama Ostell's in charge. She's a shaman, see? She can do some cool stuff with nothing but leaves, chicken bones and water,"
    I get excited when I hear the word "Shaman". 'Maybe this is fate...' I think to myself, 'Like Beth asked someone where she is to send someone to help me on my way...'
    "Finn!" Cora calls, "The bus is about to leave!"
    "Coming!" Finn calls back, "The Stranger is sitting with us!"
    "What?!" Cora yells, "No, He's not!"
    "Yeah, he is!" Finn yells back, "He's going to see Mama Ostell!" He turns to me, "That's why you're going there, right?"
    I chuckle and nod. "Yeah," I say. 'This kid is smart,' I think, 'Or maybe a lot of people go to see this Mama Ostell,'
    He smiles and grabs my hand. He pulls me with him, and onto the bus.
    Cora follows us, a very sour look on her face.
    Finn leads me to a seat by the window in the back of the bus. He sits me down, and then sits on my lap, looking out of the window.
    Cora sits next to me, arms crossed.
    "What's your name?" Finn asks.
    "Josh," I say.
    "Nice to meet you, Josh," Finn says.
    "Nice to meet you, too, Finn," I say.