The Family Curse

Survival

      "No! Please don't take him!" A woman wailed, her face streaked with tears. The young mother's arms were wrapped so tightly around the little boy that he began to cry.

      "I will not leave without the child," Aronin growled. He reached for the boy, eyes glowing red with anger. The boy cried out as his mother squeezed him tighter. Aronin's eyes grew fierce, the anger dominating his face.

      Aronin and the woman locked eyes, tears continued to roll down her face. He shot forward and seized the mother's wrist, forcibly removing her hold from her son. The toddler was screaming as Aronin snatched him from his mother. The woman screamed out, others rushed to her side, the toddler flung himself wildly in Aronin's grasp yet he stood calmly. A slow sweep of his head and he could see several people coming towards him, trying to save the boy in his arms.

      "This is your fault. You caused this to happen. I will not stop, you have cursed yourselves" Aronin spat. He snapped his fingers and a small green spark appeared. Seconds later, he and the boy had vanished into thin air.

      "Amy!" A mans voice called out as the young mother collapsed to the floor. Sobs escaped her lips, her thin body shaking. The people standing around looked down with sad eyes yet no one dared to mutter a single word. The woman, Amy, was enveloped in strong arms, pulling her close to a hard chest.

      "He's gone David! I'll never see our baby again" Amy's voice cracked as the words fell from her mouth. Soft kisses in her hair and warm strokes on her arms did nothing to ease the pain.

      "We don't know that babe, he might not hurt him," David's voice was barely above a whisper, "no one knows what Aronin does with the 'cursed children'".

      "Oh don't lie to yourself David," the venom in her voice was clear, "everyone knows he kills our children! Our son will die because of you and your stupid family!" Yanking her arm from David's grasp, Amy stormed out of the room. Every eye followed her as she left, when the door finally closed, the silence seemed deafening. Without warning, a collective sigh sounded throughout the room, as though every person in there was holding a breath.

      The people standing around quickly dispersed, grabbing their children and racing home. The look of relief on the faces of those leaving was bright, but still pained. They all knew that the sacrifice of the toddler would keep them safe. The pain Amy and David were feeling was immense but it was necessary. For another 25 years, the family would be safe. The warlock would be back again, but until then, the family would survive.