Microfiction: Week 13

Cursed

In the village of Lakenville, townspeople and witches used to live in harmony, but one-day greed had taken upon the villagers. They came up with a plan to trap the witches and use their powers for themselves. Some wanted beauty, others wanted wealth or power. When the witches fell asleep the townspeople quietly crept into their homes. They were equipped with fire sticks, cages, guns, and all sorts of weapons. However, they were not so quiet as the witches quickly woke up. When they saw what the townspeople were planning the swung into action, casting spells back and forth. The head witch was the only one to survive and as she saw her fellow witches' bodies lifeless and becoming dust her anger grew. She yelled at them and cast a curse on the whole town. Those born in the next thirty years will have eyes that will bring death upon the village. Luckily, a fairy was able to decrease the curse for not all future births to be cursed however no one knew who or how many will be cursed.  

Dhritarashtra sat in the corner of an empty dark and cold room. The smell of mold filling his nose. He was dressed in ragged thin clothing and a dark black piece of clothing wrapped around his eyes. He was the last surviving cursed one. There had been more but most were killed, others killed themselves died slowly. Cursed ones now were killed as soon as they were born. Because of fear the townspeople had secluded him in an empty room far from town. He was a monster, no one would come near him. When young a nurse would come to visit, care and teach curse ones how to care for themselves, once they could the nurses never came back. Now he was all alone, someone would sometimes come and throw him food. Family, he had none. For it was family- who had abandoned him here.

He could not blame them, however, for he too feared himself--especially since he had caused his own mother's death. He slowly touched the bandana around his eyes, hating himself for being born. The witch's curse had been more wicked than what the townspeople thought. All those cursed were born with eyes that would turn to stone anyone that looked into them. As a baby when his mother had looked into his eyes she immediately became stone. Only true love could cure the curse, but they were evil killing monsters who would love them. 

“They are like us, they also deserve proper care.”

“Gandhari, please they are not like us they are MONSTERSS! You will turn to stone and die as soon as you look at their eyes”

Gandhari, wanted to be a nurse so she was working part-time in their local hospital learning all she could. She wanted to help the cursed ones unlike the rest of the town she believed they deserved care and it was horrible how they were secluded from the town and treated worse than roaches. This was also because her brother had been born cursed, but he was horribly killed by a villager since than she vowed to help the cursed ones.

She bravely but nervously made her way to the deep into the forest. She crossed the signs with Danger and Deadly Creature written on them. Angered by such descriptions. She finally arrived. She deep took a deep breath and went inside.

I heard footsteps getting closer and closer. Who could it be no one dares come here. Unless it is to….Kill Me! Dhriarashtra hugged legs harder fearing for whoever opened the door. Is this the end? He thought,

“Hello, I’m Gandhari. Don’t be afraid. I’ve come to help” Gandhari’s soft and soothing voice calmed Dhriarashtra down.

“What is your name?”

Ever since that day she went everyday to visit him. At first Dhriarashtra, was afraid, nervous and quiet. It took a whole month for him to finally say a word,

“Dhriarashtra” he said quietly.

Gandhari who was wiping his fingers smiled softly. They began getting closer and closer both oblivious to the fact that they were falling in love.

Gandhari slowly began to show Dhriarashtra the outside world. For the first time he felt the spiky green grass and felt the sun’s warm rays on his skin. Dhriarashtra grew curious and wished to touch all nature across the forest. Dhriarashtra’s and Gandhari’s love grew stronger as the days passed but both fearing for the safety of the other. Dhriarashtra fearing he could kill her and Gandhari fearing what the townspeople could hurt him.

The village found out about their love and thought Dhriarashtra had brainwashed Gandhari luring her there to kill her or eat her. So they decided to go kill him, together all the village men gathered with weapons and made their way to the forest. When Gandhari found out she ran to Dhriarashtra, she was able to get there first with shortcuts. Dhriarashtra was confused, Gandhari had ran in here and told him they needed to leave. Just as they were escaping the men barged into the building. Yelling cursed and “Kill him!”

“Stop please he is not a monster, please I beg you” Gandhari pleaded while pulling Dhriarashtra away from them. But it was useless they got him and began beating him up. All Dhriarashtra could hear were her crying and pleas. Somehow between the beating his bandana fell all the men ran in fear. Gandhari ran to him. His mind was clouded, without thinking he opened his eyes. AGGGHH! He screamed at the bright light but than he saw to beautuiful eyes staring right at him. GANDHARI! NOOO!

He screamed and closed his eyes again, crying for he had just killed another person he loved. Suddenly he felt two soft lips touching his eyes. He opened his eyes and there she was alive smiling straight at him.

He had found love. He was cured. 

           Wicked Love                

Fear me. I’m a dangerous monster that doesn’t deserve love

Fear me. Dangerous monster I see none. Let me in.

What I feel is not fear but love. 

Author's note: I wrote this inspired by Dhritarashtra's story of him being blind and also the story of Medusa. Medusa is part of Greek mythology who was cursed by Athena for having an affair with sea god Poseidon. He turned Medusa into a hideous monster, making her hair into writhing snakes and her skin was turned a greenish hue and making anyone who locked gaze with Medusa turn into stoneeel is not fear but love. 

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