I was quick to scramble back on my feet despite the stingy pain I felt.
We were in an isolated part of the community surrounded by trees and abandoned houses. I was familiar with the area, so I used it to my advantage by ensuring my figure disappeared behind bushes and giant trees.
I heaved a sigh that I was able to lose my bullies that were chasing me.
As I caught my breath, I realized that I had wandered deeper into the woods than I had intended, but I felt safe knowing that my knowledge of the area had helped me escape. However, I knew that I needed to be more careful in the future to avoid stumbling upon those good for nothing again. I needed to stay there for as long as I could. And I did!
I hid behind those shrubs for a long while, ensuring there was no sign of Lance or his friends looking for me before deciding to come out.
A relief sigh left my throat to have indeed managed to lose those damn ruffians and I could finally head home. I was wrong though, because the jerk had concealed himself somewhere to capture me when I thought I could eventually sneak back home in one piece.
My heart leaped as I realized that I could never be careful enough when it came to this jerk. I realized never to let my guard down even for a moment – to always remain vigilant.
Lance pounced on me with a roar the second he saw me, the impact throwing me off my feet and my back met the harsh surface.
I winced and groaned due to the collision.
I tried struggling to free myself from his clutches and get back up, but a deafening sound followed by a stinging pain immediately dominated my senses.
He slapped me. Hard. And I could swear my upper lip was broken because I felt a familiar metallic taste in my mouth. I felt humiliated, angry, and scared all at once.
Seeing me lying helpless at his mercy must have given him joy as he shot me a cold and sadistic grin before forcing my hands above my head.
"You stupid little bitch! Did you honestly think you could hide from me?" he growled at me, spit flying from his mouth and hitting my face as he held me down.
I was mad now! This oppression was too much for one to bear—especially when I have done nothing wrong.
I clenched my fists and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down before I did something I would regret. But the anger inside me continued to boil, and I knew that I had to find a way to fight back against this injustice.
His grip on me tightened and his fingers dug into my skin.
That was it! My patience snapped. "Get off me!" I screamed at him with rage. He had been invading my personal space for far too long and I was done with it.
"How dare you tell me what to do, huh?" he shot back at me with equal rage. "I am the son of the most powerful man in this town, and you are nothing but an ugly little freak abandoned by your parents and cast away by the townspeople. NO ONE WANTS YOU! I'd be thrilled that an important figure such as myself is paying you attention," he added with a sneer.
His words stung me like a thousand bees because they were nothing but the truth. I had been fighting this truth for years despite knowing my denial would lead me nowhere. I was abandoned, unloved and unwanted, first by my own parents and then by the town folks.
I had been deceiving myself all these years, thinking this wasn't the case even though the candor was apparent. They never concealed their disdain and hatred for me because it was written all over their faces whenever they saw me. Their actions also said it all.
I felt hurt and alone, but I knew that their behavior was a reflection of their own insecurities and prejudices.
Despite my best efforts to win the fight, hot tears began to well up in my eyes.
All this agony... It all started when the townspeople first noticed my oddity at a young age. I was stronger than their daughters and more competent than their sons. Sometimes I would move so fast that everyone around me would stare at me in shock. I was far better than them, which didn't sit well with them. They seemed to be threatened by my abilities and felt compelled to bring me down.
My misfortune began as simple jealousy by people who couldn't stand seeing others succeed more than themselves until I was labeled a 'FREAK' who should never have been in their company.
I was only 9 years old at the time. I slept in the cold for two days before being discovered and taken in by a kind older Samaritan. The experience left an indelible impression on me, and I will be eternally grateful to Nana for showing me kindness when I needed it the most.
My Nana was the sweetest, most reserved old lady I'd ever met. She lived alone in a cozy little cottage on the outskirts of town, between the people and the Humdrum Forest.
Nana's cabin received no visitors due to its proximity to the dark and vast land hedged with giant trees and perpetual fog. None of my bullies dared to go to this part of town because nothing that went in ever came back.
Nana had always warned me about the dangers I would face should I ever be foolish enough to venture inside the forest, yet I couldn't help but be curious about what lay beyond the trees. As I stood outside her cabin, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching me from within the darkness.
She often told tales of how many had gone into it looking for treasures or adventure, men and animals alike, but no one ever made it back. None except one brave young man who believed the story about the forest was no more than a hoax to scare children off. But his little adventure didn't end well because he came back a different person.
Leo, now known as 'crazy Leo, was a regular overconfident man. He had been sane until the day his ego pushed him on a mission impossible together with his group of friends six years ago.
Nobody slept well that night because they were all waiting to hear what news would come their way the next day. They were anxious to know what indeed lurked in that forest, and the only way to find out was if Leo and his group of friends made it back alive.
A renewed terror enveloped the people as Leo returned with gashes and broken limbs the next day.
When asked what he had seen, he started screaming "Monsters," which was the last sane word he uttered because everything after that was gibberish murmurs and hysterical laughter.
Whatever he had seen in the forest that day had clearly traumatized him beyond belief. No one dared to venture within ten miles of the forest after that. Well…no one except me!
Well…No one except me.
One day, Nana caught me staring at the vast dark, gloomy forest with interest and she went berserk. I had never seen Nana look as scared as the way she did that day.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, CHILD?" she screamed in a scared, high-pitched voice.
I was startled to say the least. "N-Nothing. I-I thought I heard something, like someone calling me," I stuttered, unsure what my crime was.
Her gaze on me was intent as she stood with both hands on her waist as though she could see right through me. I felt transparent before her. It was as if she knew all my secrets and vulnerabilities, leaving me exposed and vulnerable.
I couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking as she continued to stare at me with such intensity.
Just then, a loud scary howl came from deep within the forest. I looked back at it with renewed interest. But I was startled yet again when Nana suddenly grabbed my shoulders and twirled me around to face her.
"You must swear to me that under no circumstances will you ever step foot into this abyss of despair." she urged with a stern look.
I hesitated as I doubted whether or not I would be able to keep such a promise. Making promises I couldn't keep would only lead to disappointment and mistrust, but at the same time, I wanted to put her mind at ease.
"SWEAR IT, Lana!!" She implored while shaking my shoulders very hard. I could feel the intensity of her gaze as she stared into my eyes, waiting for my response. It was clear that she needed me to give her my word, one I wasn't sure if I could keep.
"Owww. OK, OK, I SWEAR!" I conceded to make her stop shaking the life out of me, making her sigh in relief.
"Good! Remember, it is not a safe place for anyone… especially you." She let go of my shoulders but hurriedly ushered me back into the house and we never spoke of it again.
I couldn't help but wonder what she meant by that, and the fear in her eyes made me uneasy. I decided to heed her warning and avoid that place at all costs. Who was I to prove stubborn if even Nana who had lived in a cottage only a few meters away from the holt was this terrified of it? I should listen to my elders, right? And that was what I did!
However, the howls did not stop. They reached my ears every full moon and more disturbingly, I always heard someone calling out to me. Despite my efforts to ignore the howls and the voice, they continued to haunt me.
I couldn't shake off the feeling that something or someone out there was trying to communicate with me. It was frightening every time this happened, yet I never said a word about it to anyone. I didn't want to be more of a freak than I already was.
-----
All these memories rushed back at me, causing my blood to boil with raw anger. I may be different… I may be a freak as addressed by the people, but I refuse to let this foolish overgrown man-child violate me like this! I refuse to be Cinderella waiting for my prince charming to come save me. I am capable of being my own hero and taking control of my own life. I will create my own happily ever after without relying on anyone else to do it for me!
I closed my eyes and gathered all of my strength, allowing my rage to serve as my ultimate weapon. I yanked my hands free of his grasp and shoved his chest as hard as I could.
I only wanted him away from me, but what happened next left me in utter shock.
My shove sent Lance flying high up, straight into the trees, where I heard him hit a branch with a sickening crack before falling back hard to the ground with a loud thud.
I looked at his motionless body sprawled on the ground in disbelief. His right leg was twisted at an unnatural angle. It was undoubtedly broken. Should he survive, he would have to walk with a limp for the rest of his life.
But did I really do that?
Oh lord… I was in so much trouble now. I have just unintentionally signed my death warrant!
I was chiding myself when his friends came running back to the scene. They took one long look at me, visibly shaking in shock to find Lance in such a condition.
I knew I was in deep shit now but could do nothing. They were not going to let me get away with this even if I cried and begged for mercy.
They never felt sorry for me for the smallest crime, much less now that I had unintentionally hurt The Chief's son this badly.
I also knew no one would listen to my side of the story. I could forget hoping for a miracle to happen for my sake all of a sudden. If I was going to die, I might as well do it in style. I would never lick anybody's feet to stand up for myself!
'Maintaining self-respect and dignity is important even in the face of death, and compromising one's values for the sake of survival is not worth it. It is better to go down with honor than to live with shame.' I told myself.
"I knew you were a freak but never thought you would be a witch who eats people. You will suffer a graver punishment for what you have done." One of the boys yelled with venom, and the others nodded in agreement, their faces twisted with anger.
With that, they dragged me by my hair to the Chief's house while Lance's motionless body was thrown over one of the boy's shoulders like a sack of potatoes.
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