Cursed

Chapter 2

As I rode the bus home that day, I thought about what went down. I also questioned how I would tell my parents that I had to be rezoned. 

As I strolled off the bus, I  thought about Amelia. Who was she? How did she save me? Was she… even human?

As I walked into the house, my mom rushed over to me and squeezed me tight. 

“I heard what happened,” she whispered. ”You were in the school when the bomb went off.” As I struggled to get out of her grip, I responded, ”yeah, I know. I have to be rezoned now.” Letting go of me, she stood up and said, ”never do that again. You understand?” 

“Um.. ok.” Like that would happen again anyway. 

“Good.” 

A few days passed. My mom wanted me to get to know a new neighbor down the street. 

“They might have a kid your age,” she said. “Go on, and tell us what happens.”

As I walked out of the house, I saw it was pouring. I turned around to go back inside, but she locked the door on me. Sighing, I braced myself for the shower I would get. 

When I got to the house, I was drenched. I knocked on the door, half expecting some old couple to open it. 

However, a young girl with flowing brown hair appeared, and I gasped.

“Oh, umm…. Hey! I…I didn’t know you lived here!” I stammered. “My mom wanted me to meet your family.” 

“You live here?” was her response. 

“Oh, no. no. I live down the street with my family.” As soon as I said that, I realized what she was asking, and quickly said, “oh… uh… yes! Down the street!” 

“Ah.” 

I panicked, looking down, then  asked her again, “Can I meet your family?” 

She stood there, looking down. Suddenly, she pulled me inside.

“Hey!” I exclaimed. “What was that for? You could’ve just told me to come in!”

“You were in the rain.”

“And?”

She said nothing. Since I was already inside, I decided to look around. The house was larger than I expected. Everything looked new and expensive. Her parents must be really rich to afford all this…

“You want to know about my family, I guess I'll tell you.” Amelia started. I stopped looking around and focused on her.

“My parents… are dead.” She shook her head, clearly annoyed, and continued. “I’m the only one who lives here.”

I thought about this, confused. How was she able to live here? Did she have a foster family? Did the Government pay for this house?

“I’ve never been in a foster home. Being adopted is just not my style.” She spoke, reading my mind. “My aunt pays for the house so I have somewhere to live.”

Suddenly, she froze. Confused, I looked around. Suddenly, she whispered, “Get down.”

    “What? Why?”

    “Just do it.”

Hesitating, I lowered myself to the ground.

“What’s happening?” 

“Quiet.” 

Suddenly, there was banging on the door. I heard a man’s voice.

“Open up! We know you’re in there!” 

Amelia looked really calm, like she had been in a situation like this before. Suddenly, she put a hand on my shoulder and closed her eyes.

There was a banging sound as the door fell to the ground. A bunch of people in similar-colored clothing rushed in. They looked around, turning over everything.

    “If you don’t show yourself…” A tall guy, possibly the leader of the group, mumbled. He looked straight at us, but didn’t see anything. I started shaking, and she put another hand on my shoulder in an attempt to calm me. Soon enough, the men left.

Amelia took her hands off of my shoulder. “Ok. They’re gone.”

Still shaking, I was on the verge of tears. She saw this, and sighing, she reached down and pulled me up.

    “They aren’t after you. There’s no point in crying.”

I looked at her, unable to stop, and broke down in tears. Realizing her words wouldn’t calm me, she reluctantly pulled me into a hug. We stood there for a while, and when I stopped, she said, “It’s time for you to go.”

I nodded and left. Luckily, the rain had let up by then, so I walked home dry.