The Curse of Betrayal

by Taylor Lavati

  “What’s wrong?” I rush to her side and turn her over so I can see her face. She’s not crying, but the worry in her eyes is still there. “We have to tell someone now,” I tell her, hoping a teacher will know what’s going on.

  “No,” she says. “I don’t trust anyone. It could have been a teacher who attacked me for all we know. I don’t want to tell your mentor. I only nodded so Ollie wouldn’t get mad. Please don’t make me tell her.”

  I try to think of someone she trusts. The truth of the matter is; we’re only teens. I don’t know why someone’s trying to kill us, but it’s not fun and games anymore. We have to tell someone.

  “What about Ari?” Despite our avoidance of each other, I know he would never betray me, and I want to include him. He’s a teacher; he may be able to help us despite Ollie’s refusal to involve him.

  “I don’t know…” She’s hesitant, but I think she might budge.

  “We have to stop this from happening again.” My voice is harsh, but she needs to understand that we have to be safe, and keeping this between us isn’t going to work, because I’m not going to be there all the time.

  “I’d rather not.”

  “Kara, we have to tell someone—a teacher or adult. So you pick.” I’m stern, but it feels like I have to be. Ollie told me to be strong, so that’s what I’ll do. I’ll be strong for us all.

  “Fine,” she relents. All I know is that we have to do it now. I go through the motions with no emotion. I get her dressed, in a scarf and hat to cover the bruises. It’s still morning, and the sun is out, so I throw some sunglasses over her swollen eyes as well.

  If someone we know saw her, they wouldn't even recognize her. I put on a hoodie and my boots, and then we try to sneak out of the dorms. It’s Saturday, so the grounds are pretty empty. People are most likely recovering from last night’s activities.

  As we walk down the stairs to the front door, I spy Megan sitting in the front room. I quickly throw my hand up to stop Kara from walking and turn us around. I don’t even look back, praying that she didn’t see me. I lead us out a back entrance, and when I see the walkway is clear, we both sprint to Ari’s house at full speed.

  The lights are off in his high-peaked home, so instead of barging in, I knock on the front door. I can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching us, so as we stand on the front stoop, I keep glancing around, left to right, making sure we’re alone. Ari doesn’t answer, so I knock a few more times until I’m sure he’s really not home.

  Right as I’m about to suggest we just leave and find Professor Onassis, the door swings open, but it’s not Ari. It’s Magdelina.

  “What do you want?” Her voice has a depressing twinge to it like she’s annoyed with us.

  “Where is he?” I’m about to lunge for her throat, but Kara clings to my arm, holding me back. She shoots me a glance that I know means to calm myself, but my heart beats out of my chest in anger.

  “He’s a bit indisposed at the moment.” She gives me this knowing smile. She quirks her head to the side, and her little pointed fingers tap on the door frame.

  I study her, looking up and down, and she doesn’t look like she just had sex. She has on a sweater and some blue leggings. The way the tight clothing hugs her body makes her look like a goddess—which I guess she is. But not a goddess who just got it on.

  “I need him. Now.” I refuse to move from my spot.

  “Sorry. I’ll have him call you later.” She attempts to shut the door, but I’m not giving up. I reach out and hold it open so she can’t shut it. She pushes against me, but I don’t budge—even a centimeter. Apparently, I’m stronger, because she gives up and moves aside so I can walk inside. I look behind me and grab Kara’s hand, bringing her in with me.

  “Ari!” I yell out into the house. I hear a bang upstairs and then his feet clomping down the stairs, so I know he’s coming. His beautiful face comes into my view, but I’m not even noticing that. He’s not wearing a shirt at all. Around his waist, a loose towel hangs low—that doesn’t leave much to the imagination. I openly stare at him, because slowly, with each step he takes towards me, he stomps all over my heart.

  “What are you doing here, Eury?” He approaches me but I don’t want his touch. I step back and gain a confused look.

  “I just need a second of your time,” I tell him, trying to act businesslike. I know if I let my emotions take over, I’ll completely collapse, and with Kara and Magdelina here, I don’t want that. So I put up my wall and pretend I don’t care what Ari does.

  “What’s going on?” Ari looks between all three of us.

  “Can we talk alone?” I ask him, gesturing to go into the living room.

  “Of course,” he says and then leads Kara and me into the room. “Hold on.” We’re left alone as he exits the way we came in. Kara leans her head on my shoulder and wraps one of her arms around me. I don’t know whether she’s doing it so she can feel comfort or for me, but it doesn’t matter. It makes me feel better just knowing that she’s supporting me.

  Ari, fully dressed, comes back in the room, but his demeanor is broken. He sits on the couch across from Kara and me and then waits for me to talk.

  “Kara was attacked last night. He went for her neck like the other girl who was killed. I think it’s related.” I reach for Kara and pull her scarf off so Ari can see the bruises.

  “Holy shit,” Ari exclaims. He reaches over and lightly touches them before running his hand through his hair. “Who knows about this?” Ari’s eyes drill into my very soul.

  “Nobody. We don’t trust anyone.” I make sure not to say we trust him, because right now, I don’t know what to think.

  “Good.” He pauses to think. “Where did this happen?”

  “The woods. We were having a bonfire last night and then she went missing. Ollie, Junior, and I were in my dorm room, and she just came in, not remembering anything. It was like she was brainwashed or something,” I add in Ollie’s name hoping to get a reaction from Ari, but if he has one, he doesn’t broadcast it.

  “Damn it, Eury.” He jumps up and starts pacing the house. “You can’t just go out in the middle of the night like that. It’s not safe.”

  “Well, you never said that. I don’t know what’s going on.”

  “We don’t even know why the attacks are happening. Just stay inside and obey the damn curfew,” he huffs out.

  “Whatever. This was a mistake.” I stand and start to leave. I bend down to help Kara back up so we can leave. Ari’s of no help, and Kara needs support right now. I refasten the scarf around her neck and then we turn to leave. Ari stops me at the front door and grabs my wrist from behind. “Get off me!” I yell at him.

  “Let me explain.” He begs with his big jade eyes, but I don’t let them influence me.

  “No,” I tell him point blank.

  “Just talk to him, Ryder. I’ll wait at the door,” Kara butts in and then sits on the stairs near the doorway. I turn and face Ari, not looking him directly in the eyes. I wait for him to say something to me since I have nothing to say to him.

  “I’m sorry,” he says, but that’s definitely not good enough for me. “I saw you,” he reveals. “I saw you kissing Ollie in the woods. I tried to get back at you, but it didn’t work. I couldn’t go through with it. She slept on the couch, I swear. I was drinking, and it was all a mistake. But I swear nothing happened. Nothing.”

  “I don’t know what you want me to say.” My voice is vacant, and I know inside that I’m giving up. All of this is too much. My brain can’t handle all these emotions competing with each other. I’m shutting down.

  “Say something,” he pleads.

  “I hate her. And I hate that you’re constantly being found in these compromising situations where nothing allegedly happens. I’m terrified of this school, of this place, of our curse, and losing you. People are dying, and now my best friend here was attacked. Is it me?” I ask.

  “It’s not you, Eury. I’ll keep you safe,” he vows.r />
  “You haven’t even been around,” I tell him.

  “I’m sorry, okay?”

  “No, it’s not okay,” I tell him. “Coming here was supposed to help our relationship, and it’s only gotten worse.”

  “What do you want from me?” he asks. “I’m trying here.”

  “Well I’m trying, too.” I cross my arms over my chest as my anger continues to rise.

  “I don’t know what to tell you.”

  “It’s just not working. I’ve got to go.” I retreat to the front room. Kara looks up at me expectantly, but I can’t even make eye contact with her. We trudge back through the cold to our dorm in reserve. When we get to our room, I don’t want to talk; I don’t want to think. I shove some ear buds into my ears and collapse on my bed.

  I try to block out the fight with Ari, the fear for Kara, and everything else in my messed up head. Before I even realize it, I’m bawling my eyes out. One of those ugly, deep cries. But I deserve my break down. I can’t hold it in anymore, and everything is crushing down on me. A set of loving arms wrap around me, and I let her hold me.

  “It’s okay. You have me,” she says into my back.

  “I know,” I gasp out between sobs.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  fear is only an illusion

  February 20th

  Have you ever been scared?

  So much that you try to be strong and it just fails.

  How do you stay strong?

  This may sound dumb but I feel like mom would know how to answer this.

  From the stories you’ve been telling me, she seems like a smart woman.

  She seems strong and independent.

  Do you think I’m like her, dad?

  I miss you a lot over here.

  I can’t wait to come home for spring break in a few weeks.

  Love you

  Ryder Mason

  Sent from my MacBook

  Weeks go by and nothing has changed at all at school. Ollie stops by weekly to give me updates on home and my mom, who’s avoiding him like an infestation. He’s talked to her in secret a few times, but then she disappears right after. Things are different between Ollie and I now. I know it’s my fault. I’ve changed, become harsher. I’m constantly worried and scared for my friends and even myself.

  As I walk to lunch alone, a cloaked figure near the edge of the woods appears seemingly out of nowhere. The person stands at the edge of the tree line, waiting. At first, I ignore it, but my eyes fall to their red lips and cause me to make a double take. I recognize my mom immediately, so I rush over to where her silhouette stands.

  “Mom!” I call out, earning her attention. She hardly gives me a glance before she turns and runs into the woods, away from me. I pick up my pace and follow her, turning on the turbo speed. I reach her quickly and cling to the back of her full-length jacket. I pull her down with me onto the cold, inflexible ground.

  “Stop, Eurydice,” she demands, pushing my arms off of her. I keep reaching for her. It’s like we’re wrestling on the ground—I’m trying to keep her down; she’s trying to get away. But my need to know why she’s here out wins her will to get up.

  “What are you doing here? Spying on me?” My eyes fill with unwanted hate.

  “I’m protecting you. Leave before you draw attention to us,” she says, not making eye contact with me. Her eyes constantly search the grounds. It’s almost like she’s on drugs, looking around, paranoid. She barely even looks at me as she surveys the woods.

  “What’s going on?” I look around, trying to see if something is sticking out.

  “If I tell you, will you go back to your classes?” Her soft, violet eyes meet mine—finally.

  “Fine.”

  “I think someone is going to attack the school. I wanted to protect you. Nobody can know I’m here,” she tells me. Her eyes plead for me to leave her.

  “We’ve already been attacked. You’re late.” I mouth off to her.

  “But I think they’re after you,” she says, making the realization that I was trying to avoid come to light. I have had this suspicion the attacks were my fault, and now that she’s admitted it, I know.

  Kara was my fault.

  “I’m sorry, Eurydice. It’s not our time to meet yet. You have to go,” she says. I let my hold of her weaken, knowing I’ve been defeated, and she easily pushes me aside. I fall on my back on the ground and stare into the eyes of my mother looming over me.

  Little does she know that I’ve been studying her, too. Learning about what she was like. Learning about her relationship with my dad. I’ve been trying to figure out her intentions and her goals. If she really means it when she says, that she’ll meet me one day, I need to know.

  “Go,” she mouths before leaving me alone. She disappears, and I can’t fathom why.

  Without breaking down like a fool, I allow myself one second to feel sorry for myself. Once it’s over, I stand up, brush myself off, and walk towards the student center, defeated but at least knowing that my mother cares. I ignore the fact that she doesn’t want to know me, but deep down, I know I’m just burying my feelings. I have to put this front up or else I’ll cry, and I just don’t have time for that right now.

  I hate strength training with a burning, intense, fire-bombing passion. I hate Magdelina with her long, flowy, wavy brown hair and sexy eyes. I hate her smug personality and bitchy moods. She is constantly rubbing up on Ari and touching him whenever she gets a chance—which is constant.

  And I let her. I never say a word. I never even bat an eyelash in her direction.

  I’m stuck on the sidelines while half the class practices sprinting. Of course, Magdelina never lets me forget that I screwed up my sprint on day one, so I’m in group C—also known as slow asses. It sucks, but sitting on the sidelines isn’t so bad.

  Other than the fact that I’m alone. I busy myself by watching group A and B when a familiar presence sits next to me. I peek over at the tall, dingy man and smile. “Hey,” I mutter, giving him a side glance.

  “How are you doing?” Cristos’ voice is light but deep.

  “I’m all right,” I say and then point to the middle of the gym. “I’m in the loser group.”

  He laughs a little, and I look over, astonished. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the guy smile, let alone laugh. “She’s only doing that ‘cause she’s jealous.” Cristos looks down the center to Magdelina. I look over, and Ari glances over at me from his spot on the middle line and just stares blankly. We’ve barely had any contact since our big fight, but it’s better this way. Nobody gets hurt. We’re all doing our best to get through this curse one day at a time.—although it’s all moving too slowly for me. I want it to be over and done with, but I know it’ll take time. We hardly know anything yet.

  “Still sucks,” I say, leaning back against the bleachers. Cristos puts his arm over the back, almost touching me, but stops and leans next to me so we’re in line. “What are you doing here today?” I ask him curiously since I haven’t seen him in like a month.

  “Dimitri was getting on my nerves,” he jokes, but the laugh is awkward, like he expressed joy by accident.

  “Good ole Dimitri,” I say, remembering how obnoxious and annoying he is to me. I hated when I saw him at the school dance with Ollie. I think he’s a bad influence, but to be fair, I don’t know him that well, so I really shouldn’t judge. “How is he?”

  “I don’t know if Ari ever told you, but my brother and I aren’t really close. The curse was part of the problem.” He must see my look of hate over the curse, because he back pedals. “It’s not your fault at all. I promise.

  “Anyway, Dimitri and I were always close to Ollie. We grew up in the town you were originally from over in Greece. It was a small community, so we were all tight knit. Ari and his mother came from the North and moved into town. I was probably nine or ten at the time.

  “Ari immediately fit in, but I’m sure you know that. He’s so charismatic and willing to do whatever. He’s a re
ally loyal friend. I really hit it off with him. We were a foursome. The four best friends, but by the time we were thirteen, hormones started coming in, and it got a little heated.

  “Ollie crushed on you first when we hit our last year of school. He stalked you around like a puppy dog and did whatever you said. It was cute, but we all hated it at the same time. He started ditching us to study or practice with you. So we dropped to a threesome.

  “But then Ari started noticing you. He would steal a dinner here and a breakfast there to spend time with you. I don’t know the whole story, but it created a riff in our friendships once the relationships between you and the boys escalated.

  “Dimitri chose to be loyal to Ollie, and I chose Ari. That’s pretty much how it’s been since.”

  “That’s completely my fault!” I explode because their whole friendships were severed directly because of me. I drop my head in my hands as I realize that this curse has ruined yet another thing.

  “No, really.” Cristos is clearly unsure what to do with my reaction. I look over as he stares at me with far reaching eyes. “It’s not your fault,” he says, reaching his hand over and rubbing my back in awkward circles.

  “I know you’re trying to console me, but it is my fault. This curse has ruined so many things. Do you have any idea why Hades did this?” I ask him, praying he has some idea.

  “I really don’t. I wish I could help Ari, but I’m useless.” He shakes his head. “It was nice talking to you.”

  “Are you leaving?” I ask him, peering over.

  “I’m going to go help Ari up there. I just wanted to chat, make sure you’re okay. I know it sucks, but I believe you’ll do the right thing. Just stick with it.”

  “Thanks, Cristos.” I’m on the verge of tears. We both stand and look at each other, and instead of letting him walk away, I wrap my arms around his thick body. He stiffens and doesn’t move, but after a moment of getting used to my affection, he lightly pats my back.