THE CURSE

Chapter 14

Jackie woke up with a jolt, sweat dripping from her face.

Was it true?

Was it all a dream?

She looked around and sighed in relief as she saw the enchanted mirror. She was in her room. She was safe but couldn't help but think about the oddly realistic dream she had last night. Scott Adams and Noah Reynolds beating her up and trying to rape her. Her transforming into a monster, ripping Scott in half and snapping Noah's neck. She laughed. It was probably a dream. And surprisingly her head didn't hurt. Odd. She walked into her bathroom turning on the shower.

She noticed fading bruises on her stomach and face. She examined her body and sure enough there were a lot of fading bruises. She shrugged it off. She probably tripped and fell. She got out her brush and put it in her mouth, she winced as the brush hit her gum which had a bloody bruise. She finished brushing her teeth, noticing the blood she spat out as she rinsed her mouth.

These were all odd and she had a feeling that all this strange stuff was related to the dream and the man in the mirror. She stared at her self in the mirror. Her hair was still long, her skin was whiter almost void of blood. And her eyes?They were dark. Not the jade green they once were. Selena was right. Something was wrong with her. She looked at her bruises again but they were gone,vanished completely. If she hadn't seen them earlier she wouldn't have believed she had bruises.

She gulped. Cold sweat washed over her at the realization. That wasn't a dream. That really happened and if that really happened. She gasped, backing away from the mirror

I'm a monster

She heard screaming from downstairs, she came down in a flash startling her aunt and cousins.

Khan raised a brow
"Were you always this fast Jackie? I didn't hear you come down"

Before Jackie could answer, Emily and Chloe screamed again pointing at the TV screen. Tears rolled from their eyes as the images of the brutally murdered Scott Adams and Noah Reynolds appeared on the screen. Jackie gasped. Her eyes filling up with tears

I did this. I killed them. I'm a monster

The twins knew the dead boys. They dated them and now they were mysteriously killed by a monster albeit the same monster that was terrorizing Danville. Her cousins cried louder while her aunt hugged them both. Khan rolled his eyes at his sisters. He glanced at Jackie, tears already wet her face. He held her hand flinching at how abnormally cold it was.

"Jackie. Are you okay?" He asked

Jackie nodded. She excused her self and ran upstairs. Khan's eyes widened at how fast she was. One minute she was on the stairs, the next she was in her room. Khan furrowed his brows. Something's definitely up.

Jackie hugged her pillow tight rocking back and forth. Tears staining her pillow

I killed them. I killed them. I'm a monster. What did I do to deserve this? Why me!!

She cried louder.

Selena had been sending texts but she ignored them. Selena knew something was up. Knowing Selena, she'll force the truth out of Jackie.

What if I lose my cool and kill her? What if she calls the authorities?

And most importantly

What if she sees me as a monster?

She could take it from other people but not from Anna, Alex and Selena. Especially not Selena. It would totally crush her. She lost everyone she loved. Her mom, dad, Ranger Daniel, Sophia. She didn't want to lose anyone else. She didn't want to hurt Khan or Selena in her hungry rage. She wiped her tears. If leaving Danville would keep them safe. So be it. Tired from crying, she fell asleep.