Cursed

Chapter 8

I had my eyes squeezed shut as tight as I could. Dreamir held me by my hair. "Do it!" He said harshly, shaking me.

"No!" I said. "I won't!"

He forced my eyes open so I was staring right into the eyes of the woman. She screamed in agony and fell, dead, to the ground. The sound sent a shiver down my spine and I bursted into tears.

"Oh, stop that!" Dreamir growled. "You're useless."

"And you're heartless!" I shot back. I was seething with hatred. This was the third person he'd forced me to kill and it was getting harder each time not to lose my sanity.

I shoved Dreamir off me. "I'm done doing your dirty work. I'm going to bed." It was nearing midnight and this was that last thing I wanted to do. I put my spectacles back on.

"Just wait," he said. "I've got one last victim I want you to take care of." The doors opened and in walked a giant of a man with flame red hair and a scar running down the left side of his face. He growled at me and it sounded oddly familiar.

"Asher, I think you remember Canus."

I gulped, remembering how we had kidnapped me a few months ago. I shook my head. "Don't tempt me."

"I want you to remember how angry and sorrowful you felt when you were kidnapped," Dreamir said. "Didn't you want to kill him for the pain he caused you? You still have the scars..."

I swallowed, not sure what to do. I fingered my spectacles, knowing that if I took them off, I would be willingly killing someone. "But it was your orders," I said through a dry mouth. "The one I should be really upset with is you."

Dreamir threw up his hands in exasperation. "Just get rid of him!"

"Why," I asked. "Has he murdered anyone?"

"No," Dreamir said.

"Has he tortured anyone?"

"Well, no," Dreamir said.

"So why the death penalty? Why the death penalty for anyone?"

"Because I want to see how your power works on different people!"

"So it's just some sort of experiment?"

"Yes!" Dreamir said. "Now do it before I make you do it!"

I swallowed and turned towards Canus. He looked completely calm, like he couldn't believe I could kill him. With a shaking hand, I gripped the skepticals, and froze. I couldn't do this.

"Remember how he hurt you," Dreamir said. I still didn't move. "He brought you here."

I shook my head. "Like I said, you're orders."

"For once in your life will you do as you're told?!" Dreamir exploded. There was suddenly a sharp pain in my head. I yelped and grabbed my head. When the pain subsided, I looked towards Dreamir. "W-what was that?"

He looked surprised. "I had no idea I could do that. It must only affect you."

I shuddered at the thought of having to feel that again. My head was still ringing and it throbbed. I turned towards Dank again. He was smirking now.

"Do it, boy," Dreamir said. "Don't make me hurt you again."

I gulped, closed my eyes and took the spectacles off. There was a slight prod at my brain and my eyes flew open in panic. I was staring right into the eyes of Canus, dark and terrifying as they were.

Canus gritted his teeth and fell to the floor, writhing in agony. He didn't scream, but it took his longer to die then the woman on the floor next to him did. I closed my eyes and turned away as he grunted, then was still.