Curse: The end has only just begun

by Rich Hayden

  Over time, her body had slid down the tree. Almost to the ground she hung, as evidenced by red trails of dried blood that lined her tree. Her small shoulders were rough with the damage caused by the crows’ kisses, and the knotted rags that strapped her to the tree were wet with rain. Ali’s limp hair clung to her pale skin, and as the water lazily coursed its way down her body, Amil saw as she shivered.

  She continued to stare up to the sky, an empty expression in her eyes, as though no time had passed between this moment and the day that Amil crumpled to her feet. She seemed totally unaware of the fact that the others had gone. He was made sick by this realization. That no one else had cared to help Ali. He was then propped up by an idea that felt naïve as it swirled inside him. Maybe she had refused the charity of others. Possibly somewhere in her jumbled mind, she still thought of Amil. Perhaps she had waited for him.

  He undid the knots that ensnared her freedom, and, without a word, Ali remained rigid and still as Amil’s wet fingers pulled at the dirtied ribbons of cloth. Like a doll knocked from a shelf, she fell into his arms. Her paltry weight was enough to jar his body from balance, and so onto the cool soil, fitted with tree roots and damp leaves, the pair did fall. Lost like a frightened child among the darkening forest that enveloped her, Ali pulled her body into a ball as she clung to Amil. It was not love or remembrance that drove her action. It was simply fear that forcefully nuzzled her into his chest. He tightened his grip around Ali’s marked back and kissed her forehead. He pushed the damp bands of hair from her eyes and gazed down upon her.

  Her eyes shook in their sockets, as though her scattered mind frantically tried to assign meaning to the face of the man above her. Her mouth moved as though it desired words, and, as her lips cracked open, Amil heard as the chill nestled in her body commanded her teeth to chatter. He removed his shirt and draped it over her. It clung to her like a shroud carelessly flung over the body of one deemed insignificant. As Amil pressed the brunette hair firmly against his face, he heard a small sound break its way out of Ali’s throat.

  “Am, am, Amil?” she said, unaware of what the word truly meant.

  “Yes, Ali. It’s...me, Amil. I love y...you so much, I love you so m...m...much,” he sniveled.

  “I’m so cold,” she cried, as she pulled herself tighter to him.

  “It’s...okay, it’s...o...okay now,” he whispered, and rocked her gently.

  “What do we do now?” she asked wearily, as her eyes drifted slowly over the dark spaces between the trees and up to the angry sky above.

  “I...I...don’t know...Ali. I don’t know.”

  Acknowledgements

  As always, thanks to Meghan Miller for her incredible editing work.

  Special thanks go out to my friends and family: Mom, Dad, my hilarious sister, Pudge, and my wonderful girlfriend, Rachel. You guys are the best.

  About the author

  Rich Hayden was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, and still resides in the area with Rachel and a couple of ridiculous cats. Curse is his second novel.

  Other titles by Rich Hayden

  CrimeSpree – 2015

  ISBN# 978-0-9963969-1-2 (paperback)

  ISBN# 978-0-9963969-0-5 (E-book)

  Website:

  http://hayden428.wixsite.com/richhayden