Moonless World [EDITING]

Chapter 4 - Caelie

"The curfew starts at sunset, at 4 PM and goes until the dawn, at 9 AM."

- Rules of Survival, Rocco Government

203 A.F. (After the Fall)

"I'm not feeling good," Caelie mumbled. Her body slid on the wall until it reached the ground. She was pale, and it was difficult to breathe. Her hands were trembling so much she barely managed to finish wearing her clothes.

"Hey girl, are you alright?" The spirit asked. No, she was not alright. She was far from alright. For starters, there was a ghost in her bathroom.

Everybody knew spirits were dangerous creatures, mischievous and trickery. However, ordinary people were not able to see ghosts, at least not like that. For all her life she saw small spheres of light across the town - some bright white, others red or black. Caelie knew what they were, but only people with magic were able to see their real forms. She wasn't one of them. She couldn't see ghosts, let alone interact with them.

That could only mean one thing. There was magic inside her. Somehow, she woke up being able to see spirits, something she was sure she couldn't do yesterday. And she definitely didn't want that.

And who would want it? Magic was rare and extremely dangerous. People who had magic were always chased away and killed for what they had. There were hundreds of bounty hunters only waiting for someone like her - magical and clueless - to show up. She was as good as dead now.

Caelie knew what it was. It was that woman's fault. The one she had seen the previous night, on the streets, walking alone. Something happened there, although she tried to convince herself it had only been a crazy dream. That ghost did something to Caelie, and now she was the thing she had feared her whole life. She should have never left home at night, damn curiosity. She had to go out. Now she was dead!

"That's not real," Caelie said. A few times, to be accurate. The spirit stood there staring at her, not saying anything. After sometime repeating that like a mantra, she took a deep breath and got up. Caelie didn't look at the creature, nor she acted like it was really there. It was not there. Who said it was? She couldn't see anything.

She merely went to the sink, washed her hands and left the bathroom without a word. She didn't need a bath so bad, anyway. A few days without one wouldn't kill her. She didn't intend on going back to the bathroom anytime soon.

"Hey girl, I was talking to you. I know you can hear me," he followed her.

Caelie stopped in the middle of the hallway. She covered her ears and closed her eyes. "There's no one else here but me," said Caelie. There wasn't. Spirits? No, she couldn't see them, she never could.

"Yeah, you right there. Just hear me out," he insisted. That was one persistent creature.

That spirit could do whatever he wanted she wouldn't lose control. No. Not much. Oh my God, why me? There was no one else in the hallway, but her. And the spirit. Well, since it was all only in her head, she could definitely say she was alone.

Caelie turned around and stared at him. Her eyes burned with anger. "I don't want to talk to you, or see you again," She said, a bit more bitter than she planned. She bit her lip, feeling her cheeks blushing. The girl had heard somewhere that you have to face your demons to win the battles. If that thing was in her mind, she would make it go away. "Please, just leave me alone," the woman closed her eyes and stayed like that for a few seconds. She opened them again. Caelie sighted. The corridor was empty again, except for a little girl glancing at her, suspiciously.