Her Identity

Mommy, who am I really?"

Charlene suddenly asked during breakfast. Mrs. Craig, taken aback by the question, choked on nothing before finally finding her voice. "What do you mean, Charl?" she asked nervously, chuckling.

"Don't play dumb, Mommy. You know exactly what I'm talking about," Charlene replied. It wasn't meant to be rude, but ever since she woke up, the dream had been on her mind, and she felt her mom had something to do with it, so she decided to take a chance.

"I genuinely don't know what you're talking about, but I do know that you're my daughter, Charlene Alondria Craig," Mrs. Craig replied.

"Really? So who or what is an Amazon?"

Charlene asked, choosing not to believe her mom.

"Oh no, please don't tell me they've found her,"

Mrs. Craig muttered under her breath.

"Who found me?"

Charlene asked curiously.

"I... I didn't say that out loud, so how did you hear me?"

Mrs. Craig stammered in horror.

"You said it out loud, Mom. I heard you clearly,"

Charlene scoffed.

"Oh no, you heard my thoughts. Well, there's nothing left to hide then," Mrs. Craig muttered.

"I'm listening," Charlene replied.

"A long time ago, Mother Nature was pleased with mankind, so she blessed a few people with special powers and called them the Amazons. She appointed a leader known as the Queen or Empress. However, some of these people became prideful and evil, corrupting their gifts. They rebelled against the Empress, claiming a woman shouldn't lead them. When the Queen learned of this, she was disappointed and banished the rebels from Almerita. They formed a clan and called themselves the Nickels.

Over time, the Nickels and the Amazons became

rivals. The Nickel King grew even more evil and gained the darkest powers in the universe. He believed he could eliminate the Amazon species forever. He proposed a peace meeting to the Empress, disguising his true intentions. Oblivious to his motives, she accepted. But during the first meeting, war broke out. In the midst of the war, the Nickel King placed a curse on the Amazons, causing them to die at the age of 18. The Queen discovered this, but it was almost too late to save her people. With her pure heart, she managed to alter the curse, but in the process, she lost her only daughter,"

Mrs. Craig narrated, purposefully leaving out certain details.

"Okay... What does this story have to do with me?"

Charlene furrowed her eyebrows.

"Charlene, your father was an Amazon, which means you are too, my daughter. I'm sorry for keeping this from you all these years. I was scared of what would happen when you found out who you really are. I was afraid you would leave me alone, and I would spend the rest of my life in loneliness. I'm sorry, my angel. I didn't want to lose you,"

Mrs. Craig sniffed, while Charlene sat frozen in her seat.

"Say something, Charlene, please,"

Mrs. Craig pleaded, lightly squeezing Charlene's hand.

"What should I say? I don't want to be an Amazon.

I don't want to possess any mystical powers. I just want to live a normal life. Mommy, I don't want anyone to take me away from you. Mommy, I want to be myself," Charlene cried out.

She was no longer afraid of what might happen if she spoke up. All she wanted was for all of this to be a dream, but as unbelievable as it sounded, it was true.

"This is who you are now, princess," Mrs. Craig mumbled, aware that she couldn't hide the truth about being an Amazon for much longer. If they didn't find her, the Nickels surely would, and that wouldn't end well.

"It's okay, princess. I'm sure that with time, you'll learn to embrace the new you," Mrs. Craig said, standing up from her chair and moving towards Charlene for a hug. Charlene, however, moved backward instead of closer, unknowingly hiding a knife behind her.

"You made up this whole story to make me feel better, right?" Charlene said, bursting into hysterical laughter.

"No, angel. Everything I just told you, your dad told me before he passed away," Mrs. Craig replied, her smile broken.

"Stay back, Mommy. Don't come any closer,"

Charlene mumbled, swiftly turning the knife, ready to stab herself.

"No, Charl, please don't hurt yourself," Mrs. Craig pleaded, rushing towards her. But before she could reach her, the knife was already lodged in her own belly.

"I'm sorry, Mommy. I had to do this. I love you, Mommy," Charlene mumbled, falling unconscious.

****

"Oh, here comes Mystic Melanie," Karina smirked evilly.

"Cat got your tongue?" she mocked.

"Stepmom, I'm trying hard not to get angry. Don't push too hard,"

Melanie rolled her eyes.

"You're just too rude, brat,"

Karina scoffed. Melanie stared blankly at her before going to her room.

"She's evil. Why can't Dad realize that?" she murmured sadly. "Why can't he see that she's only after his wealth and nothing more? Annoyingly, he won't even listen to me. Should I just go where I truly belong? After all, nobody cares," she muttered.

"What about your fate and the curse?" her subconscious mind yelled. She sighed deeply, remembering her encounter with the old man.

"I don't care anymore. Whether I stay here or not, it's fate. I can't run from it. It's time I face my fears,"

she said confidently.

****

"Mission accomplished,"

Hazel grinned widely, creating a portal by circling her fingers

. "I'm going to miss this cute room,"

she giggled and jumped into the portal.

****

"It is done. The first prophecy will soon be fulfilled,"

the shaman smiled, turning to face the three masters of the college.

"Will the girl die?" one of the masters asked.

"That is for the supreme being to decide," another master replied.

"Shaman Dean, you're not saying anything,"

the third master said calmly.

"The prophecy will be fulfilled, no matter how long it takes,"

the shaman replied, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"What exactly is this prophecy?" the second master asked, with a quizzical expression.

"She alone has the power to break the curse,"

the shaman replied.

"Who is she? And why does she hold the power to break the curse?" the first master asked. The shaman smiled deeply this time. "Very soon, it will be revealed, and the supreme being will be praised."

****

"You can't do this to me, Charl. Please don't leave," Mrs. Craig sobbed loudly, checking Charlene's pulse.

"Charlene, please come back to Mommy. I swear I won't let them take you. You're all I have, please,"

she cried loudly, shaking Charlene's lifeless body. She remembered vividly what happened the day Charlene was born.

*FLASHBACK*

"It's a girl,"

the midwife said, her expression mixed, as she handed the baby to the couple.

"Your job here is done. Thank you, Judy,"

Mr. Craig said, and she smiled, giving the couple one last look before walking out.

"I guess the time is now,"

Mr. Craig mumbled, a sad smile on his face, while Mrs. Craig was already sobbing.

"Is there really nothing that can be done?" she asked, her voice broken.

"I'm afraid, sweetheart, nothing can be done. It's my fate. Please remember to tell her everything I've told you once she's old enough. Even in death, I'll continue to love both of you," he said, carrying little Charlene in his arms. Placing his hand on her tiny chest, he closed his eyes, and blue lights began emanating from his body, all of it flowing into the baby. When he finished, he kissed the baby's forehead, kissed the mother, and slowly turned into golden powder, gradually disappearing.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

"Charlene, your father left me with you as a consolation. You can't leave too. Please come back to Mommy, I beg you,"

Mrs. Craig cried, sweating profusely as the thought of losing her only child consumed her.

She kept crying as she watched Charlene's body grow pale.

"No," she screamed, realizing she had just lost her precious child to the cold hands of death.

To Be Continued...