Chasing Darkness Part I

Prologue

On the 30th of December, in the cold icy winter, so chilly that you were able to feel the cold breeze shiver down your spine, a beautiful moment was upon the Greenford family. As the baby and her family lay in their house breathed in the essence of blessing upon their family. They had been privileged with a beautiful baby girl. Mrs Greenford held her daughter tightly in her arms. The baby smiled up at her mother and father. The family glanced upon their shack of a house and gave a deep sigh.

"Oh, she's beautiful isn't she?" said Mrs Greenford to Mr Greenford.

"Have you decided on a name?" asked Mr Greenford.

"I was thinking, maybe Alisia, but maybe not. I want her to have the perfect name,"

"We'll think of something that reflects her personality and spirit," replied. Mrs Greenford held the unnamed child tightly in her arms.

"You must be tired, do you want anything to drink or eat?" asked Mr Greenford to his shattered wife.

"some water would be nice," said Mrs Greenford with a slight smile.

Mr Greenford rushed outside with a bucket to get water from the river. When the Mr Greenford came back with a bucket of crystal clear water, something was waiting for him. With the bucket clutched tightly in his fist, he ran to his wife. Once he had finally got to his wife's bed he saw something that was most unpleasant. A tall dark figure was standing before him, clutching his wife and his child in its arms. The figure then sharply turned it's head and saw Mr Greenford. It then disappeared, leaving only the baby in the middle of the bed. Mr Greenford held his daughter securely in his arms.

Mr Greenford clenched his fists so tight it hurt. He began to curl into a tight ball and fell to the ground within his house. He then heard a shrill cry. He went towards the bed and saw the figure had left his daughter unharmed. He picked her up and held her.

"Never again," he said to his daughter. "Never again, Alisia,"

Eighteen years had passed since the death in the Greenford family. Since then the war between the spirits and mankind had become worse. The pain and suffering had been haunting the world. The battle was between the Main Land's army and the Spirit World's strongest spirits. Children couldn't play outside, and the atmosphere was full of hate and despair. The small town of Lembert where life was more humble and the war was known yet lesser talked of. And within Lembert was the Greenford family bakery which had been running for over fifty years now. Alisia Greenford was presently the only child of the Greenford family. There was nobody else to take on the business. Alisia was in the bakery making fresh hot cross buns ready to sell the following morning. Alisia looked at the clock. It was late. She got her cloak from the hook behind the counter, and was just about to blow out the candles and call it a day. Suddenly and without a sound, the door opened. A mysterious woman came in. She wore a big, magenta colour fur coat and a large hat the same colour that was covering the majority of her face.

"I'm sorry Miss; we are closed for the evening. I'm afraid you'll have to come back tomorrow morning," said Alisia and she put on her cloak. After she did so she saw that the woman still hadn't gone. "Please Miss, we are closed for the evening you will have to leave the way you came in," said Alisia firmly. The woman then lifted her head just enough so Alisia could see her dark eyes.

"You're rather plucky to stand up to the Spirit of Darkness," grinned the woman. She then let out a gust of wind and charged through Alisia then headed for the door, leaving a bruise on Alisia's palm "Just so you know that spell can only be broken by your true love, and you want to know the best thing about that spell? The bruising on your palm will spread across your entire body and will kill you slowly from the inside. It can take years sometimes and sometimes even seconds," she said and left without another word.

Alisia found herself in a crouched position. She glimpsed up and scanned the bakery. When Alisia saw that the spirit had gone she rummaged in the top counter draw for a mirror. When she found it and saw her reflection she saw no difference, just the scar on the right side of her neck, it hadn't been there before. This scar was no ordinary scar this was the scar of the witches. The scar was a spiral shape and seemed somewhat elegant. She then saw her right palm, there was a bruise that was a deep purple all over her palm. It was causing her deep pain. Her face wrinkled up with the aching sensation in her palm. Alisia didn't want to believe that due to what it represented. Alisia was now a witch. Suddenly a card appeared in flames before her. The card read:

'You have been cursed with the Witches Curse. The curse may only be removed by your one true love, or you will forever be a witch.'

The card then burnt to a crisp in the flames. Alisia touched her scar. She began to cry, as the tears ran down her face and to her neck the tears burnt her scar.  Alisia got up and wiped her face clean from her tears. She thought for a moment. Then grabbed her cloak and ran out of the door. Alisia ran faster and faster, with tears forming as she got further away from her home.

Once she got about a quarter of a mile out of Lembert, Alisia found a tree stump and leant against it. She forced herself to stop crying. Alisia's heart was racing Alisia then looked to her left. She saw the next village it wasn't too far away. Alisia couldn't return as the person she was. That evening she slept on her tree stump and awaited the next morning.