I came to with my eyes closed. I wasn’t completely sure I’d managed to break the curse in time. I opened my eyes and waited for them to adjust to the lighting. I was on my hands and knees, panting. And I was completely solid. Not slightly faded like I had been for the past day or so. Which also raised the question: How long ago was that? An hour, or a day? Two days, or weeks? I didn’t have time to find out right now, so I focused on the scene at hand. I looked up, and the familiar-yet-not scene of trees so tall they seemed like skyscrapers and a blueish green sky was above me. I was in a clearing almost identical to the one I’d just left. I /had/ succeeded. I stood shakily, and located the soft sound of trickling water - there was a stream about five paces from the edge of the grove. I walked over to it and saw my reflection. /Blue/ eyes. Not gray ones. I’d definitely succeeded. I pulled my hair out of my face, took a deep breath, and turned around. It was time to face a person I’d managed to avoid for six years. I shoved my hands in my pockets as I walked down the faded path. I’d been the only one to use this path and I hadn’t been here for six years. It made sense that it wasn’t really a path anymore. As I subconsciously took notes on everything around me in my head, my conscious thoughts drifted to the group of people I’d just left. Acwulf, Maya, Naomi, and Harlow. They didn’t know I’d succeeded, but I couldn’t go back until I’d gotten the cursed ring off. And only one person could do that. I pulled aside a few vines and overgrown branches as I stepped onto the actual path. This one, obviously, had been used quite often in the past six years. Although since I’d taken up my workshop here and then gotten banished, as Maya had told me, the people in town considered the woods cursed. I approached my old house and really, really wanted to turn around and run all the way back to Welsburry. No one in town liked me. Either that or they didn’t know I exist, which was probably better. For me and for them. I forced myself to keep walking, attempting to steady my breathing as I walked into our massive yard. Luckily, on this winter day, no one was outside. I took a few more deep breaths, walked up the steps of our porch, and knocked. The door opened a few seconds later. I met the ice-blue eyes of the person I hated most in this world. His dark brown hair looked black in the lighting, and his skin was somehow tanned, like mine, though I’d never seen him go outside. “You,” my father hissed. He and I were about the same height. I noticed a few new scars, both on his cheek and his arm, and wondered a bit how he got them. Not that we’d be sitting down having a heart-to-heart anytime soon, if ever. “You’re not supposed to be here.” I shrugged, switching on the persona I had mentally labeled “Snarky Chaiyn, reserved for Dad only.” “You made the curse just /asking/ for it to be broken,” I told him, words dripping with fake pity. “I’m so very sorry for trying to /save my own life/, which you clearly care about so much.” “I told you to never come back!” he yelled. I shrugged again. “Don’t you know I never listen?” He snarled and wound up his hand, probably to smack me. I twisted my wrist and shadows held both of his hands frozen in place. I smirked and stepped closer until I could see the whites of his eyes. There was a new emotion amongst the hatred and anger usually there around me. Fear. I wound my hand up and slapped him, hard. So hard he probably would have stumbled backward, but I held him in place with my shadows. “There. I’ve been wanting to do that for the past six years. Seeing as how you did the same all those years ago.” “I’d- do- it- again-” He choked out, struggling to escape the shadows. “What’s the matter, Father, feeling a little, I don’t know, trapped? Alone? Harmed by your son, who’s supposed to love you?” My smirk turned slightly maniacal. “Gee, I wonder how that feels.” “Please- just let me go. I’ll do what you ask,” he panted. “Oh? Why the change of heart?” “Do you want that ring off your finger or not?” “As a matter of fact, yes, I do.” “I’ll take it off if you let me go.” I pretended to think for a moment, slowly twisting the shadows to bind him to the floor. “Alright,” I finally said. “But no funny business. Do it now and I’ll be out of your hair for the rest of your life.” He nodded and I released him from most of his shadow bonds. He waved his left hand and I held mine up, letting him see the cursed ring he’d engraved himself. He waved his hand over it, muttering a few words, then motioned for me to slide it off. I obeyed, focusing hard on keeping him bound with the shadows. For the first time in six years, the ring slid off. I nodded, throwing him both the cursed ring and the counter one. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
He waved me off. “Now shoo. And kindly release me. Fully.” I waved my hand, releasing him from the shadows. “Give mother my regards. Though I’m sure she cares as much as you.” He nodded absentmindedly. “Go. Change a world, one that will accept it more than ours.” He reached out to close the door but I grabbed it for him, tempted to slam it. I decided against it and closed it like a normal person, turning around and sprinting back to my clearing the second it closed. I stopped where I’d entered this world, took a deep breath, and teleported back to the only place I could call home. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes/Credits: If you're reading this, you probably know I wrote The Wolf Boy. Well, here's the sequel: The Monster's Curse. This is Chapter 28.5, told by Chaiyn. Previous Chapter(s): Chapter 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/652476202/ Chapter 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/652950608/ Chapter 3: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/655177024/ Chapter 4: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/655177565/ Chapter 5: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/655621072/ Chapter 6: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/656955201/ Chapter 7: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/657580423/ Chapter 8: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/657583863/ Chapter 9: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/657586191/ Chapter 10: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/657668860/ Chapter 11: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/658404211/ Chapter 12: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/659115920/ Chapter 13: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/659116659/ Chapter 14: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/659117186/ Chapter 15: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/659420154/ Chapter 16: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/661425573/ Chapter 17: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/661428771/ Chapter 18: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/661974554/ Chapter 19: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/662108449/ Chpt 20 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/663144219/ Chpt 20 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/663156194/ Chapter 21: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/663760516/ Chpt 22 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/674644356/ Chpt 22 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/674648505/ Chpt 22 Pt 3: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/674658226/ Chpt 23 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/683757147/ Chpt 23 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/683765009/ Chpt 24 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/685766546/ Chpt 24 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/686198230/ Chapter 25: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/700792854/ Chpt 26 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/700796432/ Chpt 26 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/700878172/ Chapter 27: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/708908365/ Chapter 28: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/708908899/ Credits: Me, for being the author Shannon Messenger, JK Rowling, Eoin Colfer, and many other authors for inspo @aqua_di_angelo, @AL600AWESOME, @Lanze_cupcake_face11, and @Yayabinks for inspo and supporting the story! QOTC: Do you want more of Chaiyn's POV?
