The Curse - Book 1 (Completed)

Chapter 8: The Welcome

​Ian frowns as he pulls to a curb in front a high iron fence that resembles a fortress.

​"What's wrong?" Victoria squints.

​The crease in his forehead deepens. "You never answered my questions," he gazes at her. "How did you end up there...and why are you dressed like this?"

​Victoria freezes. He's unnerving. Why does he have to pry? She wishes he just let it go and let her walk out of here. It's too much. "I...I can't tell you. It's-" she tries to make something up, but he cuts in.

​"It's your dad, again, isn't it?" he shakes his head and Victoria notices he's angry. "Why are you always so mysterious, Soph?" He grabs her wrist and caresses it. "Did he make you do this?"

​Her lips part. She doesn't know what to say. Is that girl Sophie being abused by her father? The thought is unsettling and she shakes his hand off. "No! Why would you say that?"

​Ian takes a sharp breath. "I don't know...just thinking of a reasonable explanation..." he stares at her, and there is no humor in his voice, "I swear...this is all so weird, Sophia."

​Sophia? So that's her real name. Very beautiful. Sounds foreign. Although, Sophia isn't a foreigner. She just moved a lot. If she is to trust Ian.

​She doesn't know what to reply and wants to leave the car, but isn't sure they've arrived to the right place. She gazes at the high fence again and an unpleasant feeling enfolds her. Why does she feel like this? Her insides gnarl. This place has a bad vibration. She really hopes this is not the place where Sophia lives. With a possibly abusive father. Poor girl.

​"Sophie!" Ian brings her back to now and here. "Are you even listening to me?"

​She licks her lips. "I'm sorry..." she mutters. "What were you saying?"

​"Nothing important..." He shakes his head in disapproval. "Do you want me to escort you in?"

​"Um...I'd rather you didn't..." she looks shyly away. "I...need to do some stuff, I'm busy..."

​He lifts an eyebrow, but doesn't protest. He seems uneager to leave the car. "Okay, call me later?"

​She nods. "Sure, Ian." She grabs the door handle to leave, but then turns back to him just before she opens the door. "Thank you," she whispers.

​
#

​Christopher stands in front of the high fence, arms crossed, lips pouting in deep thought. "I've no idea. We obviously can't ring the bell...And the fence is definitely too high to jump over it."

​"Wait...why can't we ring the bell? It's not like we're enemies or anything... The worst that can happen is they don't let us in."

​Christopher narrows his eyes. "No," he says determinedly. "We can't ring the bell. I have a weird feeling about this, Vic. The girl...the girl will not be happy to see us."

​"Sophia," Victoria says. After all that's happened today, she feels like she knows her too well to refer to her as a girl. On the other hand, she agrees with Chris in one thing. Sophia will definitely not be happy to see her. She kissed her boyfriend, for crying out loud. Multiple times! I hope she never finds out, she thinks. She still hasn't told Chris. Even though she knows she should. But she doesn't want to.

Why? Is it because she feels embarrassed that it happened? Or because she feels guilty she liked it?

​Suddenly, they hear a cracking sound and the large iron gate opens. They are both abruptly awakened from their thoughts and they shoot looks at each other, wordless.