The Cursed
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- Parts 28
MatureOngoing3h 14m
Last published Mon, Jul 18, 2016
The Earth is no longer our Earth. By the time the polar ice caps finished melting, the salty sea levels had risen higher than any scientist could have imagined. The continents became unrecognizable. Fresh water became a commodity for the rich, but even they couldn't avoid the violent plague of dust storms and disease that began to ravage our world. Food became even more scarce than compassion or humanity. Our biggest threat, by far, surfaced as a blood disease similar to hemophilia, but we just call it "the curse." It is spread by cough, cut, or even by sharing a drink with an infected person. Once you have it, the burden is yours to carry. Some people survive for a couple months; others (mostly the elderly) for only a few weeks.
There is no known cure, though people talk and rumors circulate of a reclusive savior in the desert who may be the key to saving all humanity.
My family has managed to avoid the disease thus far. My mother was killed in a struggle over half a loaf of moldy bread nearly two years ago and my youngest brother, an infant, was too young to survive without her.
We all die. Disease... Starvation... Murder. This isn't our planet anymore. It now belongs to the savage, the soulless, and death itself.
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A special thank you to Marnie-Rae Harvey who let me use her photo for my cover. Marnie is a very special and amazing woman who is afflicted with an unknown condition that causes her to bleed from her eyes and ears up to five times per day. You can follow her on Instagram (@marnieraex)
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There are situations disguised as blessings that turn people's world upside-down, spiralling down uncontrolled, sinking together to the point of no return. Sometimes greediness wormed its way and people wants time to freeze just to savour the moment a little bit longer. On the other hand, her life was handled too cruelly and suffered unimaginable sufferings and losses. The pain was her constant companion that guided her to move forward. It was pain that taught her that the world is cruel and embracing darkness is the only way to live, for it will always be true. A rarity in the world she is now. Emotions are fickle things, and there is no room for it in this place. Life in exchange for peace and slippery freedom. Blood for the sake of principles. She is an unknown pawn in the game of chess that will be used to destroy the enemy. She is the black horse silently tearing its way into the lion's den. Will she prevail? Or is her darkness within becomes her undoing? A battle of dominance is brewing. There is no time to hesitate as the enemy sets their eyes on her, waiting to strike at her most vulnerable. All rights reserved. This is only a product of the authors' creative thinking and imagination. Whatever similarities are drawn; names, place, and events are purely coincidental. By any means, reproduction of this story without the author's permission is strictly prohibited. Photo credits to the owners. Thank you.
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