Last Rites Part 1

My body chafed against the soft wind. The brutal clashing of voices travelled faster and hit me harder than any storm I experienced.

There was a humongous crowd of people surrounding granny's house. The voices were not happy. There was actual viciousness sweeping out of the incoherent words.

It made me shake behind their shifting lines. My eyes blinked as the forms blurred and watered into the air, seemingly becoming waves of darkened colors.

I flinched, doubling over. Voices, so many voices, consumed my thoughts. I struggled to think. Clarity felt distant, and I was losing myself to the chaos of the sounds.

"Nils?" I shivered at the voice.

"Nils?" Was that Rowan? I blinked, shaking myself out of my drab state. My eyes focused in on Rowan's face, thick with concern. "Are you alright?"

It took me a while to realize my back was laid along the short, dried grass. I almost groaned, for this was not how I pictured my day going.

An exhale escaped my lips before I willed myself into a sitting position.

"See! Look at the child! He can barely stand! You need to answer for this!"

"Yes!"

"Speak up elder!"

"Is his white hair glowing?!"

So much noise, yet I looked around. Rowan's hand touched my shoulder, easing the tension. My ears never brokered complaint.

I rose and, with some effort, pushed through the crowd. As soon as I started cutting through, the villagers jumped away in fright.

I walked into a square opened out towards me. There was a small group of older villagers standing around grandma. She was sitting comfortably in her chair.

A smile rose when her eyes rested on me. "Nils, how are you?"

I hesitated in answering. The villagers before me stared daggers at me. I sensed the viciousness and hate.

One of them took their chance to lie down their disdainful thoughts. "What have you done to this child?"

Grandma turned her eyes towards him. "The only thing I can do, love. I do the same with any child."

Another villager said, "I don't want you near mi-"

"Enough!" One villager said. "What we want to know is what has occurred to Nils. Is this some form of evil spirit?"

Grandma said, "It's a curse."

There was a loud murmuring rising up. The faces of the villagers shocked, disheveled and in disrepute at her words.

The knowledge they had gained was what I already advised on. Their eyes pierced through me and had me shivering. My eyes cast down in fear at their stare.

"A curse? How did this happen?" A villager asked.

Grandma shook her head. "Not sure. I am only sure of the fact that this has happened before and he will die in a few days' time."

The murmuring got louder. A villager stepped up to grandma. "Yes, I remember, now. White hair and purple eyes. He had those traits. That man related to you, was he not?"

"A family friend, but you can. He was family to me," she replied.

"Funny anyone close to you falls under that curse."

She flexed her lips while her hands caved into the curves of the other. "Fate is a cruel mistress."

The villager pointed at her face. "Don't pretend ignorance!"

"Hey!" I called out. So many eyes glared at me. I shook in their gaze, but it did not faze me. Breathing out, I defeated my urge to run away.

My head raised, and I looked forward with as much courage as I managed. "Leave her alone. She-"

"Shut up, boy!" the villager returned to me. I fidgeted, but I stood my ground. The villager's face morphed into a deafening mask. He stepped back in aghast and I was about to speak.

Energy surged through me, for a presence was obvious. A shadow was cast over me. I looked behind me to see Joel, and he was not happy.

Seeing his dense, flat glare was shaking me to my core. Joel said, "Nils, go home."

"But-"

He stared down at me. Yes, I felt it was best to listen to him and walk away. I swallowed and stepped around him.

I saw my sister, who gave me a reassuring nod. Passing her, I went through the crowd and caught sight of Rowan and Bella.

I knew Joel told me to leave, but I couldn't. We made our way to the back of the crowd and our ears did most of the work.

Joel's voice traveled. "You got your answer. It's a curse. Today is a day of celebration. Let us be merry, not angry."

The villager sneered. "The child is about to die! How can you say that?!"

"We have already gone through the emotional hurdles and that our struggle not yours. You are only mad, because you never informed. All of you just want control over other people's life."

"Nils had picked to spend the reminder of his life living it to the best of his ability and die, happy. He is a true warrior, allow him that honor."

The villager grits his teeth in an incensed glare. Joel continued. "We need not become to hang up on these matters. We cannot cure the curse, so let us move forward and do our best for our families, especially on this day."

The villagers nodded and murmured in agreement. Soon, I watched some villagers ripping off from the horde and back into the center of the village.

Some returned to the festival. The colorful lights blurred over them. Annie came up to me when she caught sight of me standing with my friends.

"Dear, come on," she said. My eyes wavered to Joel and a few villagers left. My fist clenched, for I really didn't want to leave, but I left it in Joel's hand.

The night was frosty, yet thankfully Bella brought over food. My appetite was distant, but my stomach reminded me it was not going to be denied.