Age nineteen

Chapter ten

I stretched drowsily, it was exactly two weeks to my birthday. The day before, I had completed the last task given to me by Anabel, so I was expecting her to show up while I slept, to tap on my back, and tell me what was next. But she didn't come. Maybe she was mad at me for telling my father about her, but I didn't care one bit. I had talked to someone, and I felt relieved. That was all I cared about.

My eyes darted to the clock on the wall that read past seven, and I sighed.

"Good morning Kerah!" I greeted myself. Slowly, I pulled out from my blanket and headed to the bathroom.

The image that stared back at me in the mirror appeared too thin to be my reflection. I placed my thin fingers on my once Rosy cheeks and ran my hands through my face. I had lost so much weight.

I didn't have the time to think about the weight I had lost, I had more important things to do. Things as important as going back to that basement.

Things as important as understanding how my mother succeeded in killing all her daughters without anyone finding out about it.

Things as important as proving to my sisters that I can break the curse that they couldn't. Even without their help, and stupid instructions.

I stripped my nightwear off carelessly, tossing it on the closed toilet bowl, and I got into the shower.

I spent fifteen minutes scrubbing, washing, and cleaning my body up.

My skin had lost its shine, and my eyes had lost their glow. Everything about me was different, it looked like I didn't have a life outside of trying to break the curse.

"When you break the curse, Kerah, you will have a perfectly normal and happy life." 

I was back in the mirror again, speaking to the ugly reflection. I dried my hair and my body. Then in a circular pattern, I applied lotion to it.

I took another glance at the lady in the mirror, despite everything going on, she was still sort of beautiful. Her once glowing skin was now dull, and her once neatly styled hair now needed a makeover. She used to be one of the hottest girls in the whole city, but not anymore. Presently, people consider her a psycho. But it didn't matter what others thought of her, she was still a beautiful woman, and she just couldn't die so soon.

I slipped into a tight and midi blue gown, and my curves were evident. Usually, I would wear a jacket too, but I didn't want to. It was so hot, I didn't care if anyone felt like I was a spoiled girl because I dressed in the manner I did.

My next stop was the basement.

"Kain!" I called out standing in front of his door, but he didn't answer me.

"Mom!" I knocked on her door. No response came either.

Seemed like I was home alone, just the way I wanted it. I headed for the basement.

Halfway down the stairs, a call came in.

It was Davey, my guy best friend. I had completely forgotten about him, and about all my other friends. All I cared about was breaking the curse.

I stared at my Smartphone, my ringtone didn't stop until twenty seconds passed.

I continued down the stairs, and the call came in again. I was guilt-stricken for being a bad friend to him, I didn't want to talk to him yet. I didn't have anything to tell him for being such an awful friend.

The last time we spoke, he told me that his mom died in an aircraft accident. I sympathized with him but forgot all about him afterward. I was caught up in my reality, too busy trying to save my life, trying to break the curse, trying to make my sisters proud. I hadn't checked up on him like was expected of me, as his best friend.

I watched the cracked screen in silence until the call ended.

I sighed. I would have to pick up sooner or later, but the challenge was that I didn't have a tangible excuse to give to him, and I had to give him an excuse.

After the phone rang for the fourth time, I answered. I was already in the basement, my flashlight on.

"Hello, David." My voice showed that I was sorry. I knew he wouldn't be so mad at me if I gave him a tangible reason, but Annie strictly warned me not to get anyone involved. I had already gone too far by telling my father what was going on, but even if I wanted to tell him what was going on, it didn't make sense. It would sound like a stupid excuse, and David already knew that I was an awful liar.

"Hi, Bonita." That was his nickname for me since middle school. He was the only one who called me that. I didn't know what it meant, and I never cared to find out.

"How have you been, best?" I could feel the grief in his voice. Life had been very cruel to David. He lost his father at the age of four, to lung cancer, and fifteen years later, he lost his mother to an aircraft accident. I was his only friend, and that status hasn't changed. Not only was I his only friend, but he was also my best friend. Everyone but me considered him weird. After I got to hear his story, I saw reasons why he behaved in the strange manner he did. No one would be able to stand the amount of pain he does.

"I have been fine, David." I was searching for the right way to apologize, and how to tell him that I was sorry for not checking up on him all along. No doubt, I have been a terrible friend to him.

"Can we meet today?" He acted like nothing had happened like his only friend hadn't forgotten all about him because she was simply selfish, and was trying not to die.

I sighed. This was one of those few days that no one was home, and I had finally mustered up the courage to go down the basement all by myself. I didn't want to leave Davey thinking that I had replaced him, but I also didn't want to let go of the one golden opportunity that I had to go down the basement and find some really interesting facts for myself. Especially because I was feeling surprisingly brave that morning.

"Sure, Davey. I will meet you in a few hours. It's been so long since we hung out together, I can't wait to make it up to you." I heard him concur with what I said, and couldn't wait to hang up. If I was going to meet with him in three hours, I had better get going.

I was at the farthest end of the basement in no long while. My fears and anxiety suddenly vanished. The voice of Davey made me feel stronger and braver. It always did. 

My flashlight shone into the darkness, scaring it away. I could see the door at the far end of the basement. 

"A hidden room, in a hidden room?" I was talking to myself.