𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓, 𝐏𝐉𝐎 𝐱 𝐇𝐏

𝟎𝟎𝟏.𝟏

The house bustled with unrestrained energy, summer having just hit France, and the tourists already flocking the streets made it noisy both inside and outside. The Laurents were a well-endowed family living in Lyon. The couple had adopted nearly a dozen children, creating a lively and loving household that thrived on chaos.

Laughter and shouts echoed through the grand, sunlit home. Children ran through the halls, their footsteps a steady drumbeat against the polished wooden floors. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted from the kitchen, where Genevie Laurent supervised the preparation of a grand breakfast.

Sixtine Laurent, now 7 years of age rushed down the staircase of the house, an aggravated Francis running after her.

"You're going to die Six!" Francis yelled, sopping wet as he chased her.

Sixtine's laughter echoed through the hallway as she dashed into the living room, her eyes dancing with mischief. "I didn't do anything, Franc!" she exclaimed, feigning innocence.

Francis, still trying to shake off the surprise of the sudden drenching, managed to regain his balance just in time to see his sister vanish into the next room.

"So a puddle appeared out of nowhere in my room?! Get back here!" he called after her, his voice a mix of frustration and amusement.

But deep down, both twins knew there was more to these occurrences than mere coincidence. It wasn't the first time something inexplicable had happened around them. Objects would move seemingly on their own, or things they imagined would manifest in the physical world. It was as if their thoughts had a strange power of their own.

Their parents chalked it up to their active imaginations and their ADHD, but Francis and Sixtine couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to it. They had seen things others couldn't, experienced phenomena that defied explanation. And as they grew older, they began to realize that they were different in more ways than one.

Their emotions seemed to have a direct influence on the world around them, shaping reality in ways that were both fascinating and frightening. It was a secret they shared, a bond that bound them together even as it set them apart from the rest of the world.

As they entered the living room, their parents looked up from their conversation, concern and amusement etched on their faces.

"What happened, you two?" Genevie asked, her brow furrowed with worry.

Sixtine and Francis exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. Some secrets were best kept hidden, even from those closest to them.

"Nothing, Mom," Sixtine said with a reassuring smile. "Just a little prank."

"She drenched me with water," Francis added, wanting to hide the truth from their parents.

"Of course, she did," Callum Laurent ruffled his daughter's hair, "Ce petit ange est un fauteur de troubles,"

"I'm hardly any trouble," Sixtine huffed, doing a double take when she spotted something black moving outside their window, "Are we all forgetting the time when Franc added sugar in my steak?"

"What is it, Six?" Genevie asked, her voice tinged with worry, when she saw her gaze widening as she stared at the window.

Sixtine hesitated, her heart racing as she tried to make sense of what she had seen. "I...I thought I saw something outside," she said slowly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Callum crossed the room in a few strides, peering out of the window to see what had caught Sixtine's attention. But when he looked, there was nothing there, just the peaceful landscape bathed in the golden light of the setting sun.

"Are you sure, ma chérie?" Callum asked gently, turning back to his daughter.

Sixtine nodded, her hands trembling slightly. "I...I don't know. It was probably nothing."

But even as she spoke the words, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. It was as if a shadow had passed over their idyllic home, leaving behind a sense of foreboding that sent shivers down her spine.

Callum pulled her up in his arms, carrying her, "Lets go out and check, don't worry, papa and mum will keep you safe,"

Genevie exchanged a troubled glance with her husband. The twins, there was something different about the twins. The orphanage they had adopted the children from had stated that the twins never stopped crying, and when the babies started growing up they started babbling about snake ladies and monsters. Things would appear and move on their own.

Strange gifts started appearing on the Laurents doorstep, addressed to Sixtine, sometimes Francis as well. All wrapped up in yellow.

The family had talked to psychologists, doctors even bloody shamans and occult priests. But there was no explanation for their children.

"See, nothings here, mon ange," Callum soothed Sixtine, showing her the garden.

Francis clutched onto Genevie's hand as they walked before he screamed and hid behind her, "Francis?! Francis what is it?"

Sixtine pointed to a poodle dog, and cried too, hiding her face in her palms, "Monster, papa! That's a monster!"

The parents sighed in relief, the kids were just scared of a dog.

"It's just a puppy, a small poodle, Six, nothing else," Genevie held Francis while trying to soothe her daughter.

"It's the snake lady!" Francis exclaimed, "She'll eat us!"

Sixtine cried louder at her twins words, Genevie tried to shush them but Francis just kept yelling in panic.

"Enough Francis!" Callum snapped, "Stop spewing such nonsense to scare your sister, inside now!"

Genevie gave him sharp look, but Callum sternly pushed the crying boy inside leaving the girls outside.

"Six, come here sweetie," Genevie crouched, her arms open waiting for Sixtine.

Sixtine took a step forward, the stray poodle paddled forward coming to stand infront of Genevie.

There was silence as Sixtine stood frozen for a second, the sun seemed to blare harsher, the water in the harden fountain seemed to rise and then Sixtine screamed throwing her arms up.

The scream was one of pure terror. Sheer horror filled Genevie before her eyes snapped shut.

Callum rushed out as soon as he heard the scream, and his steps faltered. Eyes filling with panic as he saw the crumbled form of his wife, next to the blasted fountain.

The fountain was in total splinters, everything broken, and in the midst of the wreckage stood a sobbing Sixtine.

It was in that moment Sixtine earned the name of a cursed child in her family.