A Cursed Body (Prologue)

"Be thankful for you have a blessed life, unlike others." Those were the words. The same old advice my grandfather used to tell me. He was kind. The type to throw bread at people if they were to throw stones at him.

Of course, my grandfather didn't really throw bread at people... It was just an expression.

I was just a young soul back then. I didn't understand what my grandpa wanted to tell me. And I kept on being oblivious to it until the day he died of age. At the young age of seven, I became an orphan after his disappearance.

No real relatives left to take care of me nor anyone who wanted to deal with raising such a high maintenance child. I had this condition that made living more generally difficult and painful. Each time I move any part of my body for extended amounts of time, it would start to ache before becoming numb like.

Having no designated guardian, going to the doctors to be checked up didn't occur to me at all. Nor did I think that the condition was anything serious.

Fast forward ten years later. Graduation day is fast approaching. I had already passed the entrance exams for my dream school. I was assigned to give a speech. Not just any speech but a motivational goodbye speech for the final day of school.

Damn it! I suck at speaking to anyone in general. Much more to speaking to a large mass of people.

I never had it in me.

Frankly, I'm just too tired to interact with anyone unnecessary.

Most high school friendships and relationships would waver after everyone was separated by life. Going abroad, having different schools. Those were just some examples.

Staring at my blank piece of paper, my right hand holding the pen doodled on the blank canvas filled with grids.

I looked at the clock to my right side with my only working eye, my left eye.

11:28 PM... I've been staring at the piece of paper on my desk for hours without end. What should I say for the speech...

Wishing everyone good health would be cheesy. I never really clicked with my classmate's "Classy" attitude. Damned rich kids and their fancy cars coupled with late night frisky activities.

When would it be my time to really be happy?

Nah... Forget about that.

I shook my head and smiled... There was no time for jealousy or even envy.

They had their own lives and I had my own... And besides. I have to prove to everyone who looked down at me that they were wrong.

Tac~

"Ah!" A little groan of surprise and pain came from my mouth. My hand froze and the ball pen fell to the paper, lying flat on the surface. With one eye, I gazed at my left hand with annoyance.

No matter how I willed it, it won't respond.

Am I running out of time?

No... I still have plenty...

I yawned tiredly before turning off the desk lamp on my table. I need to go to sleep and my body is starting to complain again.

Fine... Just like always you win... Stupid body...

My feet wobbled as I tried to stand up, these legs. They don't really feel like legs... They're like cooked noodles. They were so weak.

I guess you guys are getting tired too huh?

Well, don't worry... Ten more years and we will finally rest easy.

The noodle-like shivering legs slowly but surely brought me to my bed. I clicked a switch connected to the lights and turned such lights off. Lying on the soft bed that sank seeming to want to swallow my body into it.

Not that I complained... The soft relaxing memory foam was a nice touch. It calmed my protesting body and sent me straight into dreamland... Tomorrow. Tomorrow I would graduate high school.

And I need to order more medicine for my sickness on the day after tomorrow.

-----

Damn, I'm getting nervous...

Sitting on the backstage, I bit my thumb and gnashed my teeth against it. The loud cheers, applause and the rowdy crowd outside were starting to create this formless pressure that was bearing down on me.

I hadn't had prepared a speech before this. Nor did I even practice beforehand. I just decided to wing it. I just have to give a speech that's all... And I'm too tired to even care about such a thing as preparing.

"Guh!" I shock of pain ran up from my soles up to my upper torso... It hurts.

My body hurts a lot. I already took my medicine...

Silently enduring the pain, it went away and soon. Something else came...

Loud footsteps sounded out behind me and someone tapped my back. I turned to get a glance at a very familiar face.

A masculine chin. Fairly trimmed chin strapped beard and a well-groomed hairstyle. His hair had already turned gray but his fit frame indicated that the man was still greatly vigorous.

"Congratulations William! You've finally done it..." He smiled and I smiled back to greet him.

"Thank wou, Swir Kwieve!" He laughed proudly while lightly patting my back. Careful to not hurt me.

He was my classroom teacher... Well, he was more than that. He stood as my guardian.

It was when I was twelve that I literally stumbled on him. He caught me and already knew that something was off about me. We got checked up at a local hospital and there I found out what has been bugging me for years now.

I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis. A condition that weakens and make any muscle I move for extended amounts of time get sapped of energy. The doctor even went as far as to say that I already carried the disease long ago.

Myasthenia Gravis wasn't that terrifying at first... But after enough time passes, it gets worse.

Its been a whole decade since I had this disease. I guess I had it since I was seven. Gradually, my body started getting too weak.

My right eye became essentially useless. It always drooped down and no matter how much I try to get it up, it won't rise.

I was originally right-handed but I had to become ambidextrous. My right arm and hand felt like it was being stabbed by needles every time I use it. As for my legs? They got weaker and became noodle-like.

I am thankful to Sir Kieve for having met me on that fateful day. He encouraged me to not give up and fight while even providing me with financial support. He kinda became like my father. And he was well aware of that.

He ruffled my hair and smiled even more earnestly.

"Did you take your medicine?" Concern lathed his voice and I nodded slowly as a response.

"My immunosupfrezzants? ready dhid." I replied and Kieve seemed to become a shade younger. He sighed in relief before handing me a piece of paper after fishing them out from his pocket.

"Tis is?" I tilted my head in confusion.

"A speech... I know you are a hardworking young lad but there's one thing I know well about you. You suck at talking to anyone in particular. You even struggle to talk to me! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!" Kieve laughed loudly while gently patting my back. I felt like I just got stabbed in the stomach.

I smiled wryly. You didn't really have to say that out loud! Even I knew it obviously.

I sucked at talking to anyone and even my speech is impaired due to the damned muscle-weakening sickness. I just gently shook my head to Kieve's words.

"AND NOW WE CALL UPON OUR DEAR VALEDICTORIAN TO GIVE OFF HIS SPEECH!" A roaring voice called out to me from the world beyond the backstage.

Christ, I am up next!

My heart started beating fast in anxiousness while sweat dripped slowly from my forehead. I'll get to see those assholes again. And this time there were hundreds of them!

The loud audience immediately went silent after hearing that announcement... They always do whenever I am around.

"And that's the Principal... You're up Will..." My old man patted my back gently again and helped me up to my feet. My legs still shivered and they felt weaker than before.

Crap... Don't give out on me noodle legs! I'm finally graduating from high school! Can't you wait a little more for me?

And as if hearing my pleading. The shivering stopped and they became stable.

My father figure guided me step by step, becoming my support as I nearly made it to the blinds that cover the backstage from the side. And once I was nearly a few more steps before emerging, Kieve let go of me and let me walk off. But not before whispering something in my ears.

"You can do it... Don't let the fools dictate what you can or cannot do. You've already proved them wrong by being better than them all..." These words of his...

It warmed me up inside and gave this sort of invisible strength to this cursed body of mine.

He was right... I am graduating as the valedictorian of my class... Despite their discrimination and disdain for me, I managed to pull through!

Yes, that's right... I did it!

With a slight smile, I walked onto the front stage, still looking at the ground. I could feel hundreds, if not, thousands of gaze lock onto my frame.

I made it up to the podium and tapped the mic to see if it was working properly. I cleared my throat and prepared to speak. I closed my eyes and braced myself after exhaling.

"G-G-Good day to all of you!" Great! I managed to speak fluently despite the initial stuttering!

So far so great! Just don't look at their eye-

"Why is he so messed up?" I overheard something and I looked at the crowd. Numerous pairs of eyes staring at me.

They were judging me... Anxiety set my heart ablaze into a raging inferno of uncertainty... I felt shaken to the very core.

In hushed whispering voices they were talking about me... I decided to continue my speech.

"N-N-Nohw d-d-dwhat the school SYwear is finally c-c-c-"

"Look at the little shit... I bet that his next word will be cock..."

"Mark you're so mean... But you are right."

"Damn right... Look at those eyes of his. The other is constantly twitching and the other practically drooped down into oblivion."

"Man not only that but that pale skin of his. Some vampire he was HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

I can hear their mocking voices whispering to each other. I looked to the side and even the Principal was staring with furrowed brows at me.

"This is the valedictorian? What a mess..." He muttered lowly but I heard it.

My heart started beating faster and I shivered.

I-I-I I need to pull myself togetehr..!

I tapped the mic again while sweating bullets to get their attention. They shut up but I can still see it.

Behind their silenced masks of so-called "respect" they were laughing... Gloating at how "better" they were than me.

They were laughing... Judging me... Looking down on me...

I looked at the backstage from the side and I can see Sir Kieve with a worried expression. Waving his hands, gesturing to me to continue on.

" Seriously? Why did he become the valedictorian? I am loads better than him."

"Did you forget that his guardian was a respected teacher at this school? You already know the answer."

"Right. That creepy old man who always smiles at everyone. Honestly, he and that "valedictorian" should just get out of here. No better! They should die like the disgusting creepy maggots that they are!"

I heard them again and that was the last straw. Blood rushed up to my head and coursed like lava throughout my body.

SLAM! I slammed my fists at the glass podium.

CRash! The podium broke but I couldn't care less anymore.

"FUCK YOU!!!"

FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU!

"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"

"JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE BORN NORMAL UNLIKE ME WHO HAD A SPECIAL SICKNESS DOES NOT MAKE YOU DIFFERENT FROM ME!" My voice grew loud. So loud it bounced and echoed across the whole room. Stunning the crowd in my fury.

"JUST BECAUSE MOST OF YOU ARE RICH ASSHOLES DOES NOT MAKE YOU INTO ANYONE SUPERIOR COMPARED TO THE MASSES!" I am practically ruining my graduation but fuck them.

I care no more.

"YOU! YOU SICK PIECE OF SHIT!" I pointed at someone in the crowd. He was a blonde-haired handsome boy. He was also the one who also said it was better if I and my guardian died.

Allmighty strength filled my body and I jumped down from the stage, rushing up to him as the crowd scrambled to get out of my way.

Anyone or anything that obstructed me was flung to the side.

I reached the man and grabbed him by the throat and hoisted him up.

"I-I-I" He choked on his words and I tightened my grip. I winced in pain as I could feel my chest tightening, it was getting harder to breathe.

"Let me make it clear to you... You have no right... NO RIGHT to judge me! Nor do you have any right to say someone should just die because they aren't fit your tastes.

I could see my face reflected in his shaking pupils. A pale white-skinned, lanky man whose facial features contorted into a terrifying scowl. I looked like a freak.

A freak I am then. I tightened my grip around his neck. Everyone around was too terrified to even act.

A LITTLE MORE! IF I TIGHTEN IT A LITTLE MORE I CAN SNAP HIS NECK!

"Let me make it clear to you... Between you and me... You are nothing..."

"Everything you have was given to you by your parents. You are just a rat riding on their success..."

"And that is why even if I end you right here... You would still amount to nothing."

"Fool..."

I tightened my grip around his neck and it snapped.

Realizing what I have done, the raging flame inside me died off immediately.

My eyes widened and I dropped the man to the ground. Backing off in disbelief.

Oh god... I just killed a man...

My chest tightened even further and I felt lightheaded. The world was starting to spin.

Thud! Something fell to the ground.

I clutched my throat, gasping for breath. I looked at everyone's horrified expressions but still. I saw them laughing.

Laughing at how I was dying before them. The young blonde man who I had just killed laid silently before me. His neck was broken into a weird shape. Blood slowly trickled down his broken neck and it reached me.

I touched it and my hands were dyed in a crimson shade of red.

Cough! Cough!

I started coughing. The world loses its light while darkness started creeping nearer.

The crowd parted and I saw Sir Kieve's worried expression. He touched my cheek before cradling me in his arms.

He was warm...

I could see tears starting to form in his eyes. I reached out to wipe them off but I just stained his face in blood.

I laughed lowly...

It's not fair...

My grandfather said I was blessed, unlike others... But that's not really true...

I couldn't care less about being rich or poor but why is it that my parents died after I was born to the world. Why did I never get to meet my grandma who passed away before Grandpa could even show her to me...

Why did I have no relative left after the old geezer departed...

And why was I afflicted with this cursed body? A body that slowly deteriorates, having the muscles weaken and weaken as time passes.

I closed my eyes and coldness seeped into my bones.

I couldn't hear anything nor feel anything anymore.

If only I was normal... No matter the circumstance nor the status, I would kill just to have a normal body.

I've disappointed you old man... You too Sir Kieve.

I wasn't able to prove them wrong that even someone who was handicapped like me could live a happy life and accomplish anything.

I let silence claim me and the coldness was freezing. It was so cold...

"Wi..."

Something caught my attention...

I could hear something?

"lliam..."

Wait... who is calling me?

"William..."

???

"WILLLIAM MAXWELL!"

"AGH! I'm up!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I opened my eyes again.

Dozens of heads were staring at me with mixed varying expressions. But one stood out from them all.

A tall old man who had a head of white hair and a long beard that gave him a sage-like appearance. His face was contorted into a scowl and his eyes seemed to burn in a blazing hot inferno.

He was mad...

But...

A wizard hat and blue robes... What's up with that get-up? And why did he just throw a ball of flame from his hand towards me... Why is it getting close-

"AHHHH!!!!!"