Ghàig San Fhiodh

Klaika

She sat.

She stared.

She really tried, but she just...couldn't feel it. She couldn't care. She stared at the pair of caskets, not feeling the tug she thought she would. She thought she should. She turned away, ignoring the pity stares she got from the elders.

Clack Clack Clack

The girl looked up, thinking that the knocking would escalate to intrusion. She stood, and spent the next five minutes pushing the dining table in front of the door. A concerned voice floated into her ears, and next there were sheets shoved into the windows. She didn't need light anyway. Her hair was enough. She laid on her bed,and her thoughts trailed to all the conversation snippets she heard, when her mother thought she wasn't in the room..

'You say she's just mute, doctor, but sometimes I hear voices late at night-yes, yes I know-, but have you checked her eyes? They always seem..deep, like she knows more than she should..'

'Yes, that could be because of her muteness. You told me she only watches the children, right? Never joins? Yes,well it's very possible that she does it with you and your husband too. Perhaps she catches things that anyone else would overlook.'

'Ah.....alright. Thank you doctor.'

=Some months later=

'Yes, Mandy, I understand. Thank you. Yes- er, yes, I know. I will. And once again, I'm very sorry.' Her mother turned to look at her, shutting the door. 'That was terrible, Klaika. Why would you do something like that? How could you do something like that? Mandy just told me it's permanent. Why ca-'

Her father bust open the door, absolutely seething.

'There you are,you little bitch. Do you have any idea of what you've done? You rotten hellspawn! You've almost completely ruined my reputation! Now I'm just going to be labeled as The Father Whose Daughter Hurt Another Kid. How the FUCK did you do that? If you can speak, now would be a great time to do it!'

Klaika's own sharp gasp snapped her back to reality. That incident. After that, that's when her parents' relationship got even worse... But did she really want to think back on it? It terrified her.

Her mom had asked all of her friends to bring their kids to her birthday. She hoped that, even though she "couldn't" speak, forced social interactions would bring her daughter out of her shell. That, however, would lead to an incident that would make her even more closed off, if possible.

Klaika knew she had high body temperature and that her hair was like fire. That's why she was sent to the doctor so often, everyone thought she was sick. She never minded her body temperature, until today. A boy, snobbish and very fed up with her lack of caring, grabbed her shoulder to get her attention. This snapped her patience, and the more she looks back on it, the more confused she got, so she reached around and grabbed his wrist.

Screaming.

Hellish, bloodcurdling screaming.

Klaika didn't know what was happening. She was lifted away by her mother, and everyone around was horrified. Her eyes widened, showing emotion for the first time in her life.

It smelled terrible.

It bubbled and popped, and she almost gagged. Red, charred, and bubbling flesh replaced what was before smooth skin, where Klaika grabbed the boy. Her body temperature was so high...it....it just,burned the boy on contact. It hadn't been that high before, had it? Was it because she was angry? Was it because she really was like a monster under the bed, like so many kids whispered? Was it because-

"Oof! Oh, hello! Sorry about that!"
Klaika jumped beneath her skin. She can't believe she did it again. That happened almost ten years ago now. She needed to stop.

Right.

She was by herself for ten years, why did someone crash into her? The sound of hubbub filled her ears, knocking her fully into consciousness. She was in the market, collecting food, and a short haired girl bumped into her. After a nod for the apology, she continued. The other girl had different plans.

The girl, Nyasi, she introduced herself,decided to follow Klaika around,making light conversation. Trying to anyway. By the time Klaika got to the Water Moore, she was about to ask to be left alone. As she turned however, Nyasi had stepped into a smaller quicksand pit, and out of instinct, Klaika snapped her arm forward to grab the shorter girls' elbow.

Then she froze.

And stared.

Waiting.

And listening.

This was a sweet girl. She didn't deserve this. She didn't need to be scarred she didn't need to-

"Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost!"

What?

Nothing....happened.

Klaika slowly pulled her hand back, staring at it. She hadn't touched any living thing since her parents died, and maybe the curse was gone? No, she was still abnormally warm but...Nyasi wasn't burned.

She took off.

In hindsight, it probably wasn't very rational. But she panicked. She threw open the door to the house, slamming it shut before letting out the breath she held all the way home. She sat for some time before moving. She put the food away before going to sleep. Nevermind.

The night was restless.

She got up the next morning, intent on going to The Milstralton, and opened the door to be greeted with Nyasi holding a box.

"Oh! Um, hi! Good morning! I think we got off on the wrong foot yesterday,but you seemed really lonely and scared so I brought these chocolates and was wondering if you'd be my friend?" Nyasi rushed out a several word sentence in a single breath, holding out the chocolates.

It took a moment, since her voice was quite unused, but she managed to push out a single word in a soft voice,thickly laced with her accent.

"Sure."

**************

"No you can't eat all the chocolate. No,Nyasi, stop being a hog!"
Klaika wrestled the container away, a faint trace of a smile lingering.
"But I made it!"

"And I'm eating it!"

*whoa 1000+ words go me I guess*