The curse

...It's cold and dark, my tethered clothing littered across the damp floorboards. It's happened again, I awoke to another dreamless night where I find myself in yet another abandoned house. How long will it take before I forget my original purpose. Why me? I've been on the run since I was 7 years old. I have no family, friends or people who bring me some type of comfort. It's been 10 years since I remembered comfort, I can't grasp what it feels like anymore. I don't even remember who I am anymore. I just want to live and for me to live I need to survive. I need to survive as a rogue....

...Yeah, that's it, a rogue, and a lonely one at that. I pounce at the slightest creak I hear and back myself into a corner. My survival instincts kicking in, is it fight or flight this time round? I've fought countless rogues in order to survive no one is trusted in my eyes, it's just me and Jada....

...We need to leave Riley, it's not safe here. Jada says. I know I have a 5 minute window to escape but I need to feel how many there are. Placing my hands onto the floorboards beneath me, I close my eyes and exhale slowly. One, two, three, four......

...Four wolves, they know I'm here, I turn to the window slightly ajar, it's either now or never. I slip through jumping 2 stories down. My feet landing on the ground silently. Leaping towards the forest behind the house, I climb up a tree and sit. Mask your scent, and watch carefully. I watch as my vision tunnels toward the house and who I see surprises me. 4 wolves and 1 man I didn't sense standing at the window where I had just been. He stares out the window looking toward the forest, I can see his eyes slowly eyeing the tree I'm in. I stay rooted to the branch, my body sending tingles through me. I follow his eyes and I know he knows I'm here. We make eye contact when I hear Jada. Run, Riley!...

...I sink into the shadows and leap off the tree into the night. Sensing eyes on my back, I stop and turn to look back at the window, a small red and amber light flickering and a waft of cigarette hits my nose. He's watching me, he knows where I am but he isn't moving. A sinister smile hooks upon his cheek as he puffs his cigarette. Taking off into the night, my mind reels through the many faces I have seen and the many faces I have killed. They were rogues. I only defend, I attack to survive. What did this man want from me?...

...The moon's at its highest peak and I watch as small streams of water fall from the rocks into a lake. It's light reflecting off the water making it look mesmerizing. He was too strong to fight, it was good to run, but we can't stay here, he will find us. I nod as my hand glides the top of the water, surprisingly, it's warm. "Jada, why was I born?" I sit down staring up at the moon. " I long for the moon goddess to give me answers, Jada. I long for the day where I feel freedom". A lone tear escapes me as I sniffle. I stare at my reflection, the heterochrome eyes staring back at me, one as blue as the deep sea and the other a golden amber, the eye colour of the cursed wolf Anthea. A tale of a wolf, the moon goddesses sister who fell in love with the warlock Maverick, a forbidden love amongst all werewolves, a love that brought war and betrayal and almost brought the annihilation of the werewolf species. I am the descendant of Anthea....

...Getting up, a long sigh is heard from me. "We need to move" I say to Jada. Tightening the straps on my bag, I start to run south outside the borders to avoid packs trying to hunt me or capture me. I use the moon as my guide and follow the path it lights up for me until the moon starts to fade and collapse from exhaustion....

...It's dawn when I spot a small deer nipping at the morning dew drops. It's been 3 days since I last ate. The last rogue attack left me healing slowly due to the wolfs bane. My stomach growled and I perched to hide from scaring my prey away. Slowly pulling the dagger out from my side, I watch as it carefully looks around, each step it takes, I follow to avoid attracting its attention. i watch as it bends to nip at the dew drops again, oblivious to my presence. I take this chance to attack before it escapes. Leaping up I pounce from the side landing on its back, it bucks wildly trying desperately to escape. The dagger in my hand and the other grabbing its neck, my eyes shut as I slit its throat and stab its heart repeatedly until it drops. "I'm sorry" I whisper....

...Sitting beside my prey, I watch as its eyes stare into mine, staring deep into my deceitful soul as it takes its last breath. The steam from its mouth lingers until it dissipates into thin air as the cold atmosphere around us creeps in. I reach down to shut its eyes closing my own. "Moon goddess, I thank you for providing me another day to live, please take this life and nurture it wholly as I have yet killed again". I look down at my prey. "Thank you for your sacrifice"....

...My wolf Jada bows in respect for the innocent life which had been taken by me to enhance our survival. The same ritual we have been doing with all the innocent lives of prey I haven taken over the years. I quickly carve my dagger into the deer as hunger overwhelms my mind. As I take my fill and enough to carry throughout the day I cover the deer with dirt and leaves to prevent my captors learning my route....

...Standing there, I stare at the shallow grave I made before I take off running again. I'd have to run further south where the Moonlight Pack is hidden among the mountains, the only pack no one dares to attack, the strongest pack in the world. This is my chance to hide among the outskirts of their pack for a few days to gather some resources and rest until its safe to move again....

...My purpose of life is to survive. The memories I bear and the life I have now remain a mystery. 10 years now, and I still haven't found answers. I'm turning 18 on the fourth moon which will be in 2 weeks but will I survive til then? and how many more lives do I have to take in order to survive?...

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