Curse Part 2

Joel was dressed in dark brown matte trousers. HIs lower leg and chest carved deep with pulsating mounds of muscles. "What happened to your hair?"

I sighed. "I wished I knew." I looked back at Annie and shuddered back when her hand almost touched me.

Her fingers pulled back when I moved back. Annie's eyes shifted. She stepped to the side and tried to take in the amazement offered before her.

Annie rose her hand towards me. I stood still, scared, but I held myself ridged to the floor. Her fingers pierced into the curls of my hair.

I stiffened as a tingle coursed through my body. It truly made my desire quivering, but I restrained it. Fighting it, my eyes rolled upward to see her fingers going up and down into the crown on my head.

"Nils?" Joel's voice had an edge to it.

I was too afraid to turn to Joel. Annie pulled her hand out, leaving me witless and wanting for more of her gentle touch. Her eyes half closed as she tilted her head and regarded me from her height. "What caused this?" She asked.

I wanted to know the same thing, but I had a feeling such answers were further than I would have bargained for. "Nils." A force smacked the top of Nil's head. It was Joel's hand. "What did you put in your hair, what did you wash it with?"

Annie shook her head and pointed at my face. "It is not only his hair. It's also his eyes. They are purple."

Joel replied, "Purple? What? How?"

Annie held one side of her face and shook her head. "Hmm, what misfortune has befallen you?"

I said, "I don't think it's a misfortune. I mean, I feel fine. I guess," I looked away. "I just woke up like this."

"This is a bad omen," she said, worry leaking off her voice.

"Omen, for what?" Joel asked.

"This is clearly some sort of evil. It has to be," Annie said.

"You are way too superstitious," Joel answered.

"Guys, I am fine," I said.

"No, you are not," Annie said to me before turning on her husband. "My brother has white hair and purple eyes! How is that not a bad omen!"

Joel replied, "Calm my dear wife, look, let me bring him to the elders and we will know what it really is."

Annie sighed and shook her arms in annoyance. She crossed her arms and said, "Fine. But I am coming."

Joel asked, "Why? You said you need to clean up. I already finished hunting. I will do it."

"I just want to come. Also, bring him to my grandmother. I trust her word more."

Joel said, "Alright, alright."

I said, "But I'm fine."

They looked down at me like I was mad.

The pressure of his hand increased as I seemed to be turning around. "Come on boy, we have to find what is wrong with you."

I started. "But-"

Annie said, "You are going Nils."

I desired to tell them I was fine, but Annie was shaking in terror. I knew there was no way I was going to argue against my sister's fear.

Annie was always protective over me. I chalked it up to the fact that my parents lost their lives to misfortune. A predator killed my father while my mother died in a monsoon flood.

Annie was not superstitious. In reality, she was just fearful that the family was in some terrible cycle of violence that was not explained by mere coincidence.

I hoped this change was nothing more than a passing phase. I followed Joel, who had slid on a hardened animal pelt jacket. Annie stood close, hands around my neck as if I needed support.

It was more likely she needed the support. Her fear resonated from strongest where she touched and her worries expanded out into my body with frightening efficiency and depth.

The outside wind blew around them with a gentle whistle. A merciless sun now gave them a glaring example of its power and cast a glow on the villagers.

The harsh reddish-brown skin of my fellow villagers flushed an ambient glow today. The enclosing forest held them prisoner, yet provided so much cover against the wild demands of the wind.

The village of Deltry was close to a river and had much on the way to fishing. Animals hunted were ones that frequented swamps. It was only the forests near the hills that gave them big game.

They cut through the center of the village. Children ran around in play. Their laughter made me smile even with the looming gloom that rested on my and my family's shoulders.

"It's a lovely day today," Joel said.

"I guess," I replied.

"Sure, your grandma will tell you are fine and then you can do whatever you want today," Joel said. I heard my sister making a noise. It was probably her expressing displeasure at her husband.

I said, "Rowan is at home?"

Joel hummed then said, "Maybe… What, thinking of going hunting?" He lowered his head near mine, waiting for an answer.

I replied, "Don't you think of anything other than hunting?"

He chuckled. "Nope."

Well, at least he was passionate about it, it was probably why he was so good at hunting.

Women held buckets of water, fruits on their heads. Men carried around their bows and cutlasses. Everyone was active. The crunch of their bruised skin against the hot earth melted into the clamoring and distant voices of commerce and discussion.

It was a great day to have some fun. I would have gone and done that more than anything else. How things have changed. Here I was now, walking like it was my last rites, on my last legs with my last gaping breath.

Soon enough, we reached the place. A small hut, it was in bad repair. The wood was old and worn from the many showers that rained its displeasure onto it.

A cart with one leg missing rested on the front. Scattered plants grew to the side and front. The roof is a miss match of solid mud, stone and wood peering out from one side to the back. This was my home for the first six years of my life.