Here it is! The first real chapter of Cursed All The Way. In this chapter you'll read about my main character and slowly get to know her while finding out she has some secrets. I don't want to spoil too much so I'll just say; ENJOY! (Please read the author's note at the bottom)
How long had she been out? Why did her head hurt so much? Why did she feel so weak? Where was she? It was safe to say that Alyx could barely remember her own name when she started to get cautious again. But after having given her brain a minute to regain itself, she remembered; she remembered everything.
Her eyes snapped open as a reaction but they closed again soon enough when the light was too bright for her eyes. She groaned which got the attention of the only person that was awake in the room. A pair of small but warm, comforting hands soon pushed her shoulders back into the mattress she was lying on.
'Shh, be still Alyx', the warm voice said. Alyx recognized her immediately, even her touch, as her aunt Zelda. 'You're very weak. Don't try to hurry your brain or body. Let the energy come on its own'.
Alyx did what Zelda asked of her but it wasn't easy for her. Alyx wasn't exactly the sit and wait kind of person. She was the person that didn't have the patients for that which in this exact situation wasn't easy.
After a couple of long minutes, her straight slowly returned. It was enough for Alyx to open her eyes and look at the face of her aunt. Zelda smiled when seeing the clear blue eyes that belonged to her niece. They were a bit cloudy but Zelda couldn't blame her for that. A lot had happened in the past 24 hours and it had no doubt done some damage on Alyx. The girl could think she was unbeatable but in reality she wasn't. What had happened had been prove of that.
'It's good to see you awake, kiddo', Zelda whispered while stroking the honey-brown locks from her face. 'You scared us all half to death. Jaxson was freaking out when you stopped breathing for a second when we were in the car'.
Hearing her brother's name brought Alyx back to what had happened. She remembered the fight, the scream of her brothers and sister but a lot of it was a blur. 'Where… where are they? Are they okay?' Alyx asked with a frightened tremble in her voice.
'Relax, sweetheart; everyone is fine except for some scraped and bruises. Nothing serious. You were the worst cause of tonight. Jaxson is outside standing guard. Sansa, Ethan and Eric are asleep in the next room'. Hearing her aunt tell her that her siblings were all okay, was a big relief. 'Do you think you can sit up? I got something that will restore your straight. You'll need it in order to heal'.
Alyx nodded once before trying to get herself into a sitting position. She tried but black spots started to appear in front of her eyes soon enough. With the help of her aunt, she was able to sit and after a couple of deep breaths she was fine again. As Zelda stood up from the matrass to get something, Alyx took the opportunity to look around a bit. She soon realized she didn't recognize her surroundings. The room she was in looked stiff, emotionless and a little cheap.
'Where are we?' Alyx asked when Zelda came back with a mug in her hands.
'We're at a motel somewhere in Arkansas. Don't worry; we're safe', she answered while holding the cup out to her.
Alyx rolled her eyes while taking the mug. 'For now', she said under her breath before taking a big sip; the strong, bitter taste filling her mouth. Alyx forced herself to keep it in but it sure as hell wasn't easy. The taste was never going to grow on her. It seemed to be more unbearable every time she had to take that disgusting potion. 'Damn', she said while putting the mug on the bedside table next to the bed, 'did you put some extra Dong Quai Root in that stuff?'
'It's exactly the same as usual, young lady. Now, stop complaining and finish your potion. You're gonna need your straight'.
Alyx did what her aunt told her to do but it sure as hell wasn't easy. When she finally finished that horrible potion, she made eye contact with Zelda. Both of them were utterly sad about what happened and everything they had to leave behind. But this was their life; they couldn't stop running. They couldn't stop looking over their shoulders because it would bring them into grave danger, like this time. They had gotten too comfortable in New Orleans… all of them, and their past had come to bite them in their asses because of it. Now, here they were; yet again in another cheap motel before going to their next destination.
'I'm gonna miss New Orleans', Alyx said with a sad sigh.
Zelda took her hand and gave the teen's hand a reassuring squeeze. 'Me too. We all will. It was lovely down there. But we made a mistake, Alyx. We can never get so comfortable ever again. I'll have to admit that the past two years have been the best since… what happened. But what happened yesterday is a reminder why we cannot do such thing ever again. Look what happened to you, what almost happened to Sansa. We cannot lose each other. We cannot lose any more family than we already have'.
Alyx could do nothing else but nod. Zelda was right. Everything they had built in New Orleans for the past two years had been destroyed within an hour. It was a nightmare. The teen looked at her hands which were laying in her lap. Looking at them now, after what happened, made her feel useless. She knew that there was no way that she'd be able to use her "gift" for a while… maybe she wouldn't be able to use it ever again. Looking up from her hands, she caught Zelda's look which made her flinch.
'Just give it time, Alyx', she whispered. 'Perhaps it's just blocked'.
Alyx just shrugged and laughed bitterly while tears filled her eyes. 'I don't know, Zel', she admitted. 'It just feels so… done. I feel empty and… incomplete'.
Zelda had to take a deep breath before she was able to say anything. Her niece looked so broken, so sad. "God Benji, where are you when she needs you?" she asked herself quietly. 'I'm so sorry, Alyx. This is my fault', Zelda said next in a soft, broken voice.
'What? No! No it's not, aunt Zelda. I decided to go back for those pictures not you. You tried telling me that leaving them was a better idea but I didn't want to-'
'I know', she said. 'I know what those pictures mean to you. Their the last thing you have of your parents and I should have known. I should have at least come with you or taken your place but I didn't'.
'You were carrying Ethan and Eric. There's no way I would've let you go back with those two in your arms. And Jaxson was carrying Sansa so don't start blaming yourself. I should've left those pictures but I didn't. Instead, I brought us all in danger by going back. Seriously, this is my fault and my fault alone. I'm sort of lucky because we both know this could've been way worse'.
Zelda wanted to argue but the girl was right. Even though sadness was covering her entire face, she took responsibility for what she had done and that was something Zelda admired her for. She was so strong. Many times Alyx reminded her of her mother, Zelda's older sister. 'Your parents would've been proud of you, sweetheart', she said with tears streaming from her eyes. 'I know I don't say that enough but they would've been if they could see you now'.
'You really think so?' Alyx asked, sort of insecure.
Zelda nodded without hesitation.
Alyx looked back down at her hands, only one question clouding her mind right now. It was something she would ask herself many, many times but she was never able to answer it by herself. 'Zelda? Do you think… we'll ever see dad ever again?' she whispered.
Zelda pulled Alyx into her arms and let the young girl's head rest on her shoulder while she rubbed up and down her back. 'Who knows, sweetheart. Maybe you will but never doubt that where ever he is, he will always love you. You know he does. When we made the decision to split up because it would be safer for you guys, saying goodbye to his kids was the hardest thing he ever had to do. Never doubt his undivided love for you, all of you'.
Alyx was able to smile, even if it was just a little, and nodded her head. When Zelda let her niece go, she kissed Alyx' forehead before standing up from the mattress. 'Well… since it's your turn this time, there is only one thing left to do today before we need to go to bed. We have a lot to do tomorrow'.
Alyx knew what had to be done and joined her aunt who had taken place on the floor of their motel room. The big paper map they always carried with them was open on the floor in front of them. A couple of places were already marked; Hyannis - Nebraska, Harrisville - Michigan, Orlando – Florida, Piney Bluff – Georgia, Morristown - New Jersey and now New Orleans – Louisiana. All these places they had already been too. It had become a thing for them that, every time they moved, someone else got to blind pick a spot on the map which would tell them their next destination. In the beginning, Zelda had done it to make the move somewhat fun for the kids but as they grew up, it had become a routine. Last time, it had been Jaxson's turn and now, it was Alyx'.
Zelda handed the marker over to Alyx and signaled for her to do what had to be done. Alyx closet her eyes before letting the marker float over the map in her hand. When she got the right feeling, she put the marker onto the map before opening her eyes.
'So? Where are we going this time?' Zelda asked in curious voice.
Alyx read the name of the little town, right in the middle of some national park. 'La Push, Washington', she said. 'At least we haven't been there yet'.
Well… this was going to be an adventure.
It is going to be interesting, I can tell you that. So, I think it's clear to everyone that this family has a lot of secrets and stories for us. Now, I really want to know what you guys think about them? What do you think they are, what are they running from and why are they running? Next chapter; arrival in La Push.
