The Grey's Curse

Chapter Ten - The Storm

Warning! scenes ahead may be triggering to some, nothing graphic happens or is implied but mc does get chased near an alleyway so if you think this may trigger you PLEASE don't read this and don't worry about missing anything plot wise as it doesn't really affect anything much.

By the time I made it to the cemetery the sky was already consumed with rain clouds and only a few brave birds were out and chirping, the cemetery itself was so large that you could see graves everywhere for as far as the eye could see and it seemed to have gained a few residents since I was last here.

It was a disheartening sight.

Seeing all the headstones was depressing, some had flowers while some were bare, then there was the ones that were forgotten by friends and family and the ones that were abused by the natural elements of nature with their headstones in shambles and their names barely readable.

But one in particular stood out against the rest that really made my heart ache.

'Dad'

With a heavy heart I sat down by the grave, feeling tears already brimming my eyes "Hey Dad, it's me, it's uh it's been awhile since I last visited you huh? It's been seven years and yet it feels like a lifetime has passed since you've been gone" I leaned against his headstone with wild flowers sitting on my lap, the same type that I first put on his grave on the day of his funeral.

I let my head rest on the warm stone and stared at the beautiful scenery surrounding the cemetery "I really can't believe it's been seven years..." My voice was quiet and somber as I fiddled with the flowers on my lap. I hadn't noticed but a single tear drop fell on the center of a flower before slowly sliding off and leaving a wet streak in it's place.

More was quickly sliding down my face but I hastily wiped them off "Sorry Dad, I know you don't want me to cry but...it's been so hard without you" my voice was shaky with emotion and I looked up at the sky, trying to take my mind off things when I noticed how dark it was getting 'It's going to storm later' right after I thought that I felt a rain drop fall on my face.

'Great'

I sighed and placed the wild flowers down, letting my hand rest on his gravestone with a small sad smile "Well Dad, it looks like it's going to storm soon, I have to go home or else Mom will go berserk if she notices I'm gone, especially if it's raining" but despite my words, I couldn't help but to keep my palm on his stone for a minute longer; smiling bitterly at the cold stone before beginning the walk home.

Visiting him hurt but leaving him was excruciating.

I had my hands stuffed in my pockets as I walked, the route I had to take wasn't a very safe one but if I didn't want to be caught by Mom I had to take this route as she drives home the safer way, leaving me with this as my only option.

I've been doing this for three years now but the bone chilling danger of a certain alleyway never ceased.

I paused when I see the alleyway come into view, hesitant to walk by it, anyway alleyway would be creepy to walk by but this particular one was notorious for crimes of almost all kinds, there was once even a petition to close off the alleyway.

'It'll be fine Maria, you've been doing this for years and nothing bad has happened yet' filled with reassurance from my pep talk, I continued my walk, trying to be quiet and blend in as I did.

'Take deep breath's and grab your pepper spray, you'll be fine'

I felt around in my pocket for my pepper spray only for my heart to drop as I felt only fabric 'I must've forgot it at home' terrified at the realization that I'm both empty handed and standing in front of this alleyway at night, I feel my heart begin racing at the thought of not being able to defend myself.