Chapter 3

*Julia, you know it's not your fault right?* I asked

No response

"Hello?" I asked

Nothing

I let the one sided conversation go for now. If you could even call that a conversation. It had been a few hours since the guards took Julia's father away but he wouldn't be gone for long since he didn't technically do anything illegal.

Julia and her mother had gone into the house but didn't say anything. I feel bad for Julia because I know how much she wants to have a conversation with her mother.

"Julia" her mother called out to her

She got excited and turned to her mother.

"Go fetch some eggs from the farm. And take your time" she ordered

She didn't even look at Julia.

Julia's heart dropped and she left the house. She entered the barn and grabbed a few eggs that the chickens laid. She didn't go back inside though, instead she dropped them off at the doorstep and walked off into the woods.

*Umm...where are we going?* I asked

Again, no response.

We walked deeper into the woods. The ground had started going upwards. She didn't falter or hesitate to continue going up.

*We are going to get lost ya know.* I warned *Do you have a plan?*

She shook her head but shrugged her shoulders. That sounded like a meh to me...looked like one?

We continued going up to the top. The sun had started going down.

*Girl, aren't you getting tired?* I asked

She was breathing deeply and erratic. She was obviously exhausted but she didn't bother with breaks.

We eventually made it to the top where there was a cliff. She walked to the edge of the cliff and sat down to admire the sun set.

*This is what you wanted to see?* I wondered

She opened her mouth and made a small noise. Hmm?

*What was that?* I asked

She cleared her throat and tried again.

*Y...you're not...going to...die right?* She asked softly

She had the most beautiful voice I had ever heard. She hated it because when she would talk, people would get paralyzed or be obligated to follow her orders. Which is why she didn't talk. There was even a time when she accidentally screamed and a flock of birds dropped dead.

*No. I won't die* I replied. Probably.

She took a deep breath "good"

She stood up and said "I am twenty years old. I have never left home. I cannot leave home unless I find a husband who can take care of me due to my curse. That's right. A curse. I don't think if my powers as gifts. Far from it. My father hits me because I won't show my powers to anyone and I know my mother knew but wouldn't say anything. I want to make my family proud but I am scared that my abilities will only hurt them if I show them. I am better off not being around them if I only cause trouble for them."

*I'm sure that's not true* I said, trying to be supportive

She continued "It's not that I don't want to continue fighting. It's just that I don't want to bring others into my fight. I'm tired and angry at myself."

*Well, you did just climb a mountain with no breaks. Of course you'd me tired*

"I don't mean that kind of tired, Niko"

*Don't tell me…*

She opened her eyes and looked down at her house. "My only request for you is to continue living for me. You do not have to take my place. Just live for yourself. However you want"

And with that, she fell from the cliff. When she landed, she was no longer breathing.

Dark. Cold. Am I even alive anymore?