The Curse - Book 1 (Completed)

Chapter 18: The Confrontation

Leeroy hears Sophia's hurried footsteps on the stairs. She didn't tell him she was leaving. She is so disobedient. Always sneaking out. Even when she doesn't have to.

​He opens three layers of thick black curtains to look through the window. Sophia is walking towards her car. She is wearing her usual black. Black leather leggings, black booties, and a black shirt.

​The sky is full of stars. The streets seem brighter than they are when lit by the Sun. Nights like these would always remind Leeroy of Sophia's childhood. She was such a stubborn child, so defiant. She used to think she was so special, and everything she would see, she would consider a sign from God. One day they were walking home from school and she insisted on holding his hand. Leeroy did not allow it.

"You have to learn how to take care of yourself," he had said.

"Why, daddy, when I have you to take care of me?"

Leeroy didn't laugh. He wore a strict face. "Because you never know what can happen. Tomorrow I might be gone, and you will be on your own."

"No, daddy, why would you leave?"

Leeroy never had much patience. "I'm not saying I will leave by my own will. I am saying that you have to be prepared for everything. For life."

Sophia's big eyes looked at him curiously. "Life? But life is good, daddy. The lady teacher in our school told us that good things happen to good people! And you're a good person, daddy! Don't worry, you won't be taken away from me."

Leeroy shook his head. "Your teacher doesn't make much sense."

"She does! She said that some people don't believe it. They don't have faith, no belief in God. But if you do believe, if you follow signs he sends you, you will be a much happier person!"

Leeroy stopped in the middle of the road to kneel in front of Sophie. "Listen, Sophia," he said, "You can only change how you look at things. If you make yourself believe, you will find a silver lining in every dark cloud, even if you don't see it – via assumptions. But the reality is, bad things happen, without a reason and you're not special. Nobody is. You're only one dot in a thick line made out of seven billion of them. And shit just happens."

Sophia's eyes were wide, but she didn't say anything. Leeroy thought she realized his point. But when he straightened, she covered her mouth, not moving.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"You said the s-word," she whispered.

Leeroy had to laugh. Of all the things... He then realized she doesn't believe him. How can he prove it to her? He will prove it to her.

He turns and sees a gang of people walking towards them. His eyes sparkle with excitement. "Look," he said.

Sophia furrowed her brows, her cute little face crinkling as she observed her father.

Leeroy reached out his hand and the guys were instantly brought closer, as if pulled by an unfathomable force.

"What the hell," they yelled, "What's going on?" They found themselves strained. Nothing was holding them in place, yet they could not move. Their faces were left pale, as if their souls were sucked out of their skinny bodies.

Leeroy paid no attention to them. He only observed Sophia. He was staring at every crinkle she would make, every flinch, or lip movement. He intensely gazed at her as if he was reading a book. That was the way he learned people's traits. He knew no better.

But Sophia was special. He had problems decoding her behavior. He never knew how to read the signs she was sending. Maybe it was because she was a child? Maybe she experienced different emotions from adults?