The Grimm

From Rotten Roots

                             —1—

       Deep in the woods, hidden in a small shack-like cabin, a girl lives in fear of being found, and her secret being exposed. 17 year old Agatha has been alone since she was five years old, just old enough to understand her ability. She was born with death's touch, and because of this curse she has lost everyone, and been thrown out of her home. Left in the woods to be killed, but because of her ability, she never was.

       Years passed and Agatha grew up, but also grew lonely. Several times she tried to enter the village she once called home, but she never could. Her fear would always get the best of her, so she never made it out of the edge of the woods.
       One day, when she was about twelve, as she stood at the edge, afraid to cross, then she heard the cries of a woman. She slowly creeped toward the small house on the edge of the forest, and glanced through the window frame. She saw a woman curling toward the floor, and her husband stood over her, hitting her with anger and power. Agatha took a step back, shocked that a person would do that. She was no stranger to evil. She had been thrown out of her birth home, because of her terrible ability. She had been left to be killed in the woods, so she knew that people could be evil, but this was different. How could a person hurt someone they had loved enough to marry.
       She heard the woman's screams stop, and became worried for her. She walked close to the window again, and saw the young woman on the floor crying. She was covered in old bruises and scratches, hidden under a layer of new red blotches. How long has this been going on? Agatha heard the door to the house open, and footsteps approaching.
       She tried to run back into the woods, but it was too late. The man saw her and grabbed a hold of her shirt, he pulled her towards him harshly, causing her to fall. He stood over her ready to fight, and her fear doubled. She knew that if he made contact with her skin, he would die. She tried to dodge his swings, and keep herself from trying to block his arms with hers. But her fear took over, and she raised her arms in front of her face in an attempt to block his attacks. Within a matter of seconds the man's hand hit hers, and he collapses on top of her. She knew he was dead, and she was trapped under him. She couldn't believe what happened, she had just killed another person. It had been seven years since she had killed a person, and she never did it on purpose, it always just sort of happened. She slowly pushed him off of her, then stood up. She stood over the body of the man, frozen in disbelief. She knew she had to get out of there, she looked back at the house, and her eyes widened. This had all happened in front of the window.
       She looked into the house and saw the woman standing there staring at her, with tears in her eyes and fresh bruises forming on her face. Agatha stared at the women, worried that she would start yelling, or try to hurt her. Her body began to shake with fear, and she didn't know what to do. All she could do was stare at the woman in fear and shock. The woman gave a weak smile, and more tears began to flow down her face. Then from the corner of the room, which was not visible to Agatha, a young baby's cry grew louder. The woman glanced in the direction of the baby and then back at Agatha, and said faintly, almost like a whisper, "Thank you."

       Agatha was shocked by the woman's actions, but in a way they made her not feel bad about what had just happened. Agatha gave a small nod, still overwhelmed, then ran off, back into the woods.
       This was a turning point for her, as it was the first time her cursed gift had been useful to others. It made her wonder if it could be used for good, and not just something that had ruined her life.
       After that day, she would travel into the town, dressed in all black, and hide in the shadows. Waiting for a chance to get rid of another person that was evil, and she did get rid of them. The town caught on fairly quickly, and came up with the story that would be forever told, the story of The Grimm.