Gellistel: An Aquiscent Curse

Chapter 1

"Some things are just not the way you want it" exclaimed Rene, who sat by the window, brushing her hair and weeping.

"Everything alright, dear?" said her mother, who sat beside her.

"I am all ruined! I shouldn't have gone to school today! Wellie told me I shouldn't! Because if I did, she would ruin me! You know what she did, mommy? You know what she did? She cut off her own hand and told the teacher I had done it! She is a very bad person!" she screamed with tears in her eyes. It had been unfair to her.

"Wait, Rene-" the mother tried to stop the little girl. But she stood up and left the room, slamming the door hard behind her. The lady couldn't help but recall how she had forced her daughter to attend school that day.

Rene had come home crying at the way her teacher scolded her. Her clothes were messed up and her ponytail hung at the side of her head. Her shoes were torn and she was bleeding from her knee. She tried to speak but her heart seemed otherwise. Her mother quickly confronted her and helped her clean up. She didn't say a word. She was angry at her mother for forcing her in the morning. Angry and tired from the bullying she had to experience almost everyday.

The night had been a bad one. It rained heavily and Rene couldn't sleep due to the sound of the rain hitting on the window. Lightning and thunder kept her under her blankets. It seemed to create petrifying shadows in the room. The windows opened and closed due to the strong wind, creating a daunting scene. Rene stared into the darkness and kept mumbling, "mommy....mommy...mommy..."

She waited and waited, wondering if her mother would ever show up and cuddle her until she falls asleep. She missed her mother and started to hate that she had screamed at her that afternoon. Still, no mother.

Something smelled different in the air.

Rene had to move, but she was scared to get out of her bed. She widened her eyes in the darkness, her mouth constantly open with fright. It was growing quieter than ever.

'oh why did mommy not come yet...where is mommy?...'

Somehow, it had been more quieter since the rain stopped a few minutes ago. Rene finally had the courage to get out of her bed and run into her mother's room.

She slowly peeked out from her blanket, exposing one of her eyes. Lights from the street lamps outside seeped in through the window and painted the room a faint color of orange. Keeping aside her blanket on the bed, she touched the cold tile ground with her little feet and made her way to the door. Still barefooted, she crossed the hallway, standing at the top end of the staircase that led to her mother's room at the down end. Her heart was beating faster now.

It was dark and Rene had never walked in the dark hallways without her mother. She would feel the darkness would enthrall her if she was alone. And now she was...feeling uncomfortable.

Out of the blue, she heard a faint groan, as if someone was in pain. It sounded vaguely familiar.

She had this urge to go down and check and she descended down the stairs, feeling out of place.

The atmosphere was more colder than ever. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

The groan got closer and it was painful to hear. Pale as Rene's face grew, when she felt something sticky on the ground as she walked ahead.

"Mommy?....", she slowly called out."Mommy!", she said, rather loudly this time.

She had to get the lights on in order to see what was going on. But where were the switches?

With an uneasy beating heart, she begin circling the room, feeling the walls for the switch board. It had never been darker. The light saw no chance of getting in.