The Curse

Prologue

Note: This story is currently being updated into a better, more cohesive story. As you read, you may surpass my current updates and notice a drop in quality. Keep this in mind, and know I will finish updating it all soon enough. Thank you.

Now, on to the story.
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I am running through a forest.
I can hardly see the trees due to the thick blackness surrounding me. It's as if the sun and moon have left the earth in darkness to fend for itself.
Whispers suddenly start to invade my senses, causing me to scream as loud as I can: "Somebody...somebody help me!"
I then trip over something, falling into a warm puddle of what I instantly know is blood.
It's...my blood.

I jump, suddenly awake.
Thank goodness...it was just a nightmare.
I sit up and check the front of my shirt; in my dream, there was blood there. To my relief, it is just as bloodless as it was before I went to bed.
I sit myself up, stretching as I see my mom has let me sleep in way too late for the first time in perhaps ever. Either she's in a great mood today, or she's sick.
I groggily walk down the wooden steps, trying not to trip and fall down the stairs.
"Good morning, Mom..." I mumble.
"Happy birthday, honey!" Mom says, giving me a big hug.
"...Thanks." I smile, a warm happiness starting to replace the cold fear I woke up with.
"I had a strange dream last night." I converse, sitting at the table.
"Oh? What was it about?" she asks.
"I was running through this forest...like the one we have nearby. Then I tripped and fell," I say, yawning. "And...I think I was wounded, or something. There was a lot of blood."
Mom continues smiling, though she doesn't say anything.
"I guess it doesn't sound that scary saying it out loud, but it is when you're...in the dream, y'know." I explain.
Her lack of reply starts to creep me out a little, so I awkwardly scoop a few pancakes she has made me onto my plate.
"That...is scary." she closes her eyes, but retains her smile.
"Sorry, I know you get freaked out pretty easily about that kinda stuff...ha," I say, teasing her.
But my smile fades as she doesn't laugh along, and she's frowning now.
After a moment, she smiles again.
"Haha, I suppose you're right!" she replies.
Okay, that was strange.
Though, I mean, she does stuff like this sometimes...especially around my birthday.
"Thanks, Mom. For the pancakes," I say, pouring on some maple syrup. "They look delicious!"
"Of course, it's what you wanted!" she smiles, nodding.
As I eat, I think about my past birthdays.
I swear I've had a nightmare almost every year now, and...Mom is always a little off. I think she's always just been uncomfortable with the idea of her only kid growing up.
"I am thoroughly satisfied," I sigh, putting down my fork. "Thanks again! I'm gonna go get ready now."
"Okay, honey. Hurry back!" she says.
As I get up, I expect her to start clearing the table, but she just...sits there.
I shake my head as I walk toward the stairs leading up to my bedroom.
I only get half way up when I trip and fall, crashing down the steps.
"Ahh...ah," I cry, trying not to shake.
What happened?
My legs, they just...went numb.
I then realize they aren't numb, they...they are in severe pain, and it's just hitting me.
"Mom! Something is wrong!" I yell, clutching my thighs as if that will help.
I start to feel a similar soreness in my back.
"What...the hell?" I groan, trying to straighten it out.
And then I hear a snap.
What?
Why is my face pressed to the floor?
A warm liquid rushes over the wooden surface around my face.
Bent over completely, I reach back in an attempt to touch my back; instead of a smooth surface, or bumps from my spine, I feel a large, gaping crevice.
"My back...!" I gasp. "Help, Mom! Help!"
My back has split open, blood gushing onto the floor.
I look up as Mom finally steps into the room.
She covers her mouth with her hand, tears pouring from her eyes onto the floor.
"Mom...Mom!" I yell, but that's the last of the words I can form.
I scream until I can't hear myself screaming anymore.
I cough violently, blood from my lips adding more to the puddle beneath me.
My screaming and crying and coughing eventually fades into quiet groaning as my body grows cold, and the world around me floats away.
I notice my mother is still crying, now sitting on the floor in my blood. She comfortingly runs her hand through my hair, the way she always has.
"Please..." she whispers as I let my eyes close.

"Just die."