The Curse Awakens

The First Flicker

The night was thick with fog, a typical Halloween evening in the town of Everbrook. As the air grew colder, the streets began to empty, the usual chatter and laughter replaced by hushed whispers and hurried footsteps. Raven Evermore stood at the edge of the town square, her breath misting in the cool air as she watched the townspeople hurry past.

Her deep blue eyes, framed by the dark red streaks of her hair, glowed faintly, a flicker of something ancient and dangerous stirring deep inside her. She adjusted the dark-rimmed glasses perched on her nose and pulled her coat tighter, feeling a sudden chill that had nothing to do with the autumn wind.

It was on nights like this that the curse inside her awakened—whispering in the back of her mind, urging her to give in to its power. But Raven had learned long ago to keep it at bay. She had no choice. The curse was an uninvited guest, ever present, lurking beneath her skin, a constant reminder of a mistake she had made years ago.

"Raven!"

The voice came from behind her, sharp and clear, snapping her out of her thoughts. She turned to see Ashen Bloodstone approaching. His dark brown hair, streaked with light brown, swirled with the wind. His brown eyes, usually so calm, were now dark and serious, reflecting the same unease she felt.

"Are you alright?" he asked, stopping a few feet away from her. There was concern in his gaze, a softness that made her heart ache, though she quickly masked it with a forced smile.

"I'm fine," she replied, though the words felt hollow even to her own ears. "Just a little... off tonight."

Ashen tilted his head slightly, studying her with a mixture of understanding and frustration. He knew the curse was more than just a feeling—it was a force. And he knew it was getting harder for her to control.

"You don’t have to do this alone," he said, his voice low but firm. "We’re in this together, remember?"

Raven wanted to believe him. She wanted to let him in, to lean on him. But part of her recoiled, afraid that getting too close would put him in danger. The curse had already taken so much from her. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing anyone else.

"I know," she said softly, looking away, her gaze falling on the flickering lights of the nearby shops. "But I have to handle this myself. It’s my burden to bear."

Ashen didn’t argue. Instead, he stepped closer, his hand brushing against hers. The simple touch sent a surge of warmth through her, momentarily calming the storm inside. But it was fleeting, and the ache in her chest returned.

Before Raven could say anything more, a loud bang echoed through the square, followed by the faint sound of laughter. People started to scatter in panic as a shadow moved across the street, too large and too dark to be natural. Raven’s pulse quickened, and her breath hitched.

"Do you feel that?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Ashen’s eyes narrowed, his senses on alert. "Something’s wrong. That’s not just the curse. That’s... someone else."

Raven turned, her heart racing as she scanned the fog-choked streets. And there, just beyond the shadows, she saw him—the figure cloaked in dark robes, his eyes glowing a faint red.

Morgana Vex.

The name was a whisper in the back of her mind, a name she had heard too many times in the years she’d tried to bury her past. Morgana was no ordinary enemy. She was the one who had cursed Raven, the one who had shattered her life. And now, after years of silence, she was back.

"She’s here," Raven murmured. Her grip tightened on the hem of her coat. "The curse... it’s waking up again."

Ashen’s eyes flicked between Raven and Morgana, realization dawning. "It’s not just you. She’s... doing something."

Raven’s stomach twisted. Morgana wasn’t just here to torment her. She had a purpose—a dark one. And Raven knew that the curse wasn’t the only thing that would be awakened tonight.

A burst of energy filled the air, a surge so powerful that it almost knocked Raven off her feet. The curse inside her stirred, reacting to Morgana’s presence, threatening to break free. Her hands trembled as she struggled to contain it, but it was getting harder. The very ground beneath her seemed to hum with dark energy.

"I need to stop her," Raven said, the words slipping from her lips before she could think. "Before she gets what she wants."

Ashen nodded, stepping closer, his hand reaching out to steady her. "We’ll stop her together."

But Raven knew the truth. It was only a matter of time before Morgana’s plan unfolded. And the curse that had been dormant in her for so long was about to break free, unleashing a darkness none of them could control.