Chapter 1

Zelda.

Evening, 5:30pm …

I strutted along the bustling road of Pinefalls, the hot breeze tossing my already disheveled hair in every direction. Loud honking of horns and chattering crowds surrounded me, but my thoughts were elsewhere, far away from here. My fingers grasped the strap of my bag, hanging disorderly over my shoulder, as I made my way to the hospital.

My Mom had been diagnosed with stage IV cancer, and the relentless and expensive medical bills had drained us dry. The doctor recommended chemotherapy, but where would the money come from? Walking the hour-long distance to the hospital felt like the only way to clear my crowded and disturbed mind.

As I walked, I could vividly hear the whispers on everyone’s lips,

"She’s the reason her mother is dying."

“She has so much Ill-luck around her, I can barely stand staring at her for too long,”

These words, sharp as knives, had lost their edge over time. I’d grown numb. Maybe I accepted it because deep down, I feared they were right.

I was an unusual child, I began speaking and walking flawlessly at only six months old, I had impeccable hearing also, of all my very special and strange abilities, I hated that one the most, because I’ve heard nothing but hurtful words.

My eyes often randomly turns golden yellow and then goes back to normal, I grew up hearing parents tell their children to not have anything to do with me, I grew up hearing everyone say I was cursed and I brought bad luck to whoever gets involved with me. Ofcourse what would I have them think, even I knew that I wasn’t normal.

I grew up watching family and friends desert my mother, leaving her with only me. The guilt plagued me. Her suffering was my fault. If she hadn't had me, maybe her life would have been different.

Tears pricked my eyes as thoughts raced in my head, each one more painful than the last. I wiped them away quickly, sniffing deeply. I was done crying, wasn't I?

I took a shaky breath, but the tears came faster. Damn it. Desperation made me flag down a taxi. I slammed the door shut behind me, hiding my anguish from all the judging eyes.

“You’re a special Child El. You’re heaven’s gift to me,” my mother would always say to me and honestly that was all that I needed to hear to get by all the other mean voices.

But now it’s being months since I heard that last, and I so desperately wanted to hear it again. She had been bedridden and almost unconscious for three months now and my life has been an absolute mess, I’ve become a shadow of myself and I didn’t care so much about it. I just wanted my mother to be okay.

My phone buzzed with a message, I slowly took out my phone and it was a message from Brenda,

- I know that you’re feeling overwhelmed now, please take out time to breathe, everything would end soon and you’d be fine- The text read.

Brenda was my bestfriend, even with the whole stigma, she’s the only person that stood by me and loved me genuinely. I got to express myself fully and accept who I was because of her, she didn’t seem to notice all of my flaws, she loved me unconditionally and I loved her even more for loving me.

As I was about to reply, my phone rang. The hospital. I answered without hesitation.

“Am I speaking with Zelda Rosman, Anita Rosman’s guardian?” a soft voice asked. I sat up straight, grip tightening. The hospital had never called before. My heart pounded.

“Yes, it’s me. What’s the issue?” I asked my voice coming out in tiny gasps.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. Mrs. Anita Rosman passed away a few hours ago. We need you to come to the hospital as soon as possible.”

Her words hit me like a physical blow, piercing right through my heart and stinging me mercilessly. The world blurred as my ears resounded like I had just banged my head on concrete. Air seemed to vanish from my lungs. I hadn’t realized I was crying until I felt tiny droplet of tears pelting against my thighs. My hands shook, and the phone slipped from my grasp. I looked at the driver, voice trembling.

“P-please, drive faster,” I choked out, my voice and body shaking uncontrollably. But then I noticed he had taken a significant deviation from the route to the hospital.

It took me a moment to register what was going on, I placed my hands on the driver seat and propped forward immediately.

“Where are you taking me?!” My voice was barely a whisper, tinged with panic. He met my gaze in the rearview mirror. My heart, already racing, pounded harder. He pulled a nose mask I didn’t notice was there before, from under his chin and over his face and wound up the windows. A strange smell filled the car. I tried to block it out, but I was too exhausted. What was the point of fighting anyway when the only person I lived for was gone?

Darkness closed in around my eyes, and I felt the car accelerate. I finally gave in to the drowsiness, slipping into unconsciousness.

Two hours later …

A bone-chilling wind swept over me, slowly stirring me awake from my unconsciousness. As I slowly opened my eyes, I realized I was sprawled on the bare very sandy floor. Everywhere was pitch black save for the round full moon and a very dim bulb illumination few meters away.

My body felt weighty, I looked down and panic surged through my body as I discovered I was bound in chains, my mouth gagged with a ragged cloth. Struggling to sit up, my heart pounding out of my chest, I couldn't help but see my life's recent events as a cruel joke. First, losing my mother, and now I get kidnapped; when exactly do I get to have a peaceful life atleast.

In the distance, I could see a black SUV parked. I tried to scream through the gag, desperate for help,but it didn’t make any difference. My mother’s body must have began rotting by now and I needed to see her as soon as possible. Minutes passed before the car door creaked open, and a figure stepped out.

A pair of red, shiny stilettos stepped into view, and she sauntered towards me, closing the car door with calm precision. The headlights concealed her face until she got closer, revealing a dolled-up version of my bestfriend, Brenda—unrecognizable in her glamorous makeup, loose curls, and a short black gown that highlighted her runway-ready figure.

"Brenda? How?" I managed to muffle through my bindings, disbelief etched across my face. In the twelve years plus of our friendship I had never seen her on makeup.

Her expression was cold and indifferent, like she had no idea who I was. She paced towards me, not a hint of concern in her look. Hadn't she just mentioned she didn't know when she'd be back this morning? I stared wordlessly, hoping against hope she was here to save me.

Squatting before me, Brenda's smile twisted into a cruel smirk. Before I could understand her intent, her hand cracked across my cheek with brutal force, sending my head reeling. Pain blasted through my head, fresh tears mingling with the fear flowing through me. Completely restrained, I was defenseless.

"Finally got around to that," Brenda chuckled with chilling satisfaction.

I couldn't even lift a hand to my stinging cheek, staring up at her in disbelief. She callously untied my gag, standing back with folded arms, a sneer on her lips.

"Brenda?" I whispered, my voice barely audible, struggling to understand this betrayal unfolding before me, I couldn’t help but wonder what I did to deserve this life.

"Still so naive," she scoffed.

"It makes this much simpler."

“Ma-makes what simpler?!” I stuttered, my heart rising and falling rapidly in my chest, Only then did I notice we were on a cliff's edge, a huge expanse of sea stretched below me. My heart rate rose even more as I realized the gravity of my situation. I turned back to Brenda, pleading silently in my eyes, honestly I was scared of dying.

"We- we- We're practically sisters," I stammered, begging desperately for my life.

“Remember?" She laughed at how shaky I was, Her laughter was cold and hollow.

"I must be an excellent actress if you're still calling me that. I'm your enemy, plain and simple."

She began to untie my hands and legs muttering incoherent words under her breath. Normally, I'd have picked out her words, but fear rendered my ability almost useless, or maybe I wasn’t interested, I just wanted to live.

She yanked me up roughly by my hair, forcing me to stand, still stinging from her earlier slap. As she drew closer, I instinctively stepped back, I looked back fearfully, any step I take right now would lead me to wobbling at the edge of the cliff and another step will ultimately lead to my end.

Part of me wanted to surrender, to let go and end the torment, but a larger part wanted me to fight for my life. My mother had always called me strong, and I refused to die a victim.

Anger and pain intertwined, forming a knot in my stomach. Brenda's hands gripped my shoulders, her breath chillingly close.

"Everything ends now," she murmured, and in that moment, I knew—it was fight or perish.