Heaven: A Maiden's Curse

02 - Heaven's Tears: The Truth Behind The Curse

I couldn’t move. My entire body froze as I heard the old woman’s words. The air around me felt suffocating, like a thousand invisible hands pressing down on my chest. My heart pounded so loudly I thought it might burst.

Her voice was raspy, filled with malice, and when I dared to peek at her face, I regretted it instantly. She looked like something straight out of a nightmare—her skin pale and wrinkled, her eyes hollow yet piercing.

“I-If that’s true… will I… will I die too?” My voice trembled with terror, and my heart thudded so violently I feared it might explode.

She tilted her head, her milky eyes glinting in the dim light. “You understand, don’t you? The curse. Everyone who waves back is doomed. And now…” Her grin widened. “It’s your turn.”

I shut my eyes tight, trying to block her out. The air around me grew colder, and the wind howled like it was alive.

“P-please…” I croaked. “There must be some mistake. I didn’t know…”

“There are no mistakes,” she hissed, stepping closer. I could feel her icy breath against my skin.

“But I am feeling… generous tonight. Would you like to pick when it happens? Now? Tomorrow? Or maybe… when you least expect it?”

“No… please…” My voice broke, tears streaming down my face. My body shook uncontrollably as I pleaded.

“Oh, there’s a way out,” she said, almost sweetly, leaning closer. Her breath smelled of decay, and I fought the urge to gag.

I opened my eyes slightly, desperate for any glimmer of hope. “W-what is it?”

Her smile grew more sinister. “The next time she appears to you—Heaven—you must pretend she doesn’t exist. Ignore her. Don’t look at her, don’t speak to her, and certainly don’t wave back.”

Her laughter grew louder, sharper, like nails being dragged across a chalkboard.

I felt a flicker of hope, but something about her words felt like a trap. I couldn’t trust her. Not with that face, not with that voice.

“If I’m going to die anyway,” I said through gritted teeth, “then just kill me now.” My voice was shaky, but my words were defiant.

Her smile vanished, replaced by a scowl. Without warning, she grabbed my neck. Her grip was strong, too strong for an old woman. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t fight back. My body felt like it was being drained of all its strength.

“You think you’re brave?” she snarled, her face inches from mine. “You think you can defy me?”

I gasped, clawing at her hands, but they felt like iron. My vision blurred, the world tilting as I struggled to breathe. My strength ebbed away, and a cold, numbing sensation crept through my body.

“You’re nothing,” she whispered. “Just another fool caught in the web.”

“Urgh…” I choked out, tears spilling freely as my vision blurred. This was it. My end. I was sure of it.

The world went dark.

---

When I woke up, I was on the cold, hard ground. My neck throbbed painfully, and my breaths came in shallow, ragged gasps. She was gone, but her laughter echoed in my ears.

Stumbling to my feet, I fought the dizziness that threatened to pull me back down. The world around me seemed warped and unreal. Shadows danced in the corners of my vision, and every sound made me jump.

Without realizing it, I ended up back in the alley where I first saw Heaven. The shadows were deeper here, the silence louder.

As I stood there, the air grew heavy. My skin prickled, and I felt like something—or someone—was watching me. From the corner of my eye, I saw movement.