Cursed

Just Emerald

Everybody needs to believe that they are wanted. That somebody out there will stop at nothing for them. That they have family. Mine used to be Greta and everyone in my village. When I was exiled, my thoughts shifted to the idea of the family that Greta had told me about. The James. Now, I didn't have either. What was more is that after a little bit of walking and a little bit of crying, I found that I didn't care. I had arrived at the village alone, I had left alone, and maybe I was just meant to be alone. I could do it. I could be alone. It wasn't the end of the world.

That's why I wiped my eyes, raised my chin, and started back to where I was supposed to meet Aidan. I sunk down on the steps of the town hall, and watched people walk up and down the streets. They were all different. I saw the rich and poor all together. That's when I started to notice the colors. There were pinks, purples, greens, blues, and every other color you could ever imagine. There were different varieties, shapes, and sizes. Some I could see through. Some were so thick that I couldn't understand how people were walking through them. They were beautiful, but I don't think anyone else could see them because no one else was freaking out. The people that were walking past me began to were leaving different colored trails in their wake. My head started to pound as more trails started to appear. It felt like there was someone hitting my head with a hammer over and over again. I squeezed my eyes shut and delicately laid my head down. I don't know how long I sat there like that, but the pain in my head just got worse. Eventually, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Even that didn't give the strength to lift my head.

"Emmy doll? You okay?" Aidan said tentatively.

I relunctively raised my had and opened my eyes.

"Uh, how did it go?" he asked.

Before I answered, I looked around. I couldn't see the trails anymore, and my head had stopped throbbing so badly. I made a quick decision not to say anything. It was just a flare of the light anyway.

"It turns out that the Jame's only child died when she was 10. There is no way that I'm any relation to them. It's just Emerald now," I shrugged nonchalantly.

That wasn't true though. It felt like someone had taken a knife to my stomach. Everything had been a lie. I didn't even know what my last name was anymore. Or who my parents were. Or where I was from. Or-

"I'm so sorry, Emmy doll," he said sincerly.

That had to be the worst. The pity. I didn't want it at all. So what nobody wanted me? Why should I care? I didn't know who they were. Aidan had done so much for me. He had saved me from an angry mob who wanted to kill me. He had taken me to this city. He had helped me save someone that he didn't even know. He was going to take me on to the capital. He didn't need anymore trouble. Maybe that's why I forced a smile, stood up, and wiped the dust off my pants.

"Don't be. I didn't know them. Now when are we leaving."

He gestured towards our two horses which were tied to a post a little ways down the road.

"What are we waiting for then?" I asked, as I stood up and wiped the dust from my pants.

"Emmy doll, are you sure you're fine?"

"Better than ever."

I swung my leg over the saddle. I almost hit myself in the head when I thought of what I had almost forgotten. I took the egg that Greta had given me and placed it securely in a saddlebag. I kicked the horse into a slow gallop.

"Uh, the other road to Kalitra is the other way," he said hesitantly.

"What's Kalitra?" I asked as I turned the horse.

"It's the town closest to here. We'll have to stop there for supplies," he explained.

"Works for me," I shrugged.

I didn't slow down as I dodged between masses of people. The large tower that signaled the end of town was getting larger and larger.

"There is a slight problem with that," he sighed as he caught up with me.

"What would that be?"

"While I was getting supplies, I heard rumors from travelers that said a group of bandits were ambushing people on the road to Kalitra. The people I spoke to said they barely escaped within an inch on their lives."

All I could thank about was getting out. Everything seemed crowded. I was slowly suffocating. I needed to get out. Mr. James' words were bouncing around in my thoughts. I couldn't forget about the trails. Or the major headache that it had given me.

"So?" I asked coldly.

"So, we have two options. We can either go the long way around and lose days of travel time and possibly starve to death, or we could take our chances with the bandits," he replied.

"I guess we had better start training again then if we're going to be fighting bandits."

Aidan smiled happily, "I was hoping you would say that."

We reached the gates to the city quicker than expected. Just like before, there were two guards that, well, guarded the city. They watched us as we came closer to the gates.

"Did you find what you were looking for in Irlon?" one asked when we came in hearing distance of each other.

The question made me think. I came here looking to see who I was. All I found were more questions, that probably would never get answered. Yet, there was still an underlying curiosity that I doubted would ever go away.

That's why I lifted my head and sat straighter in the seat.

"No. I don't think so, but I'll it find it someday."