The Promise

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.

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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.