Cursed Claws: Bound by the Curse, Clawed by the Past

Chapter 1

Azirah's Pov

“Hurry! Wake up, you lazy bags!” A thunderous voice rang out from the old orphanage I was escaping from. It was Miss Ray.

“She’s awake?” I froze, my head snapping toward the orphanage, now just a few paces away in the distance. “She’s awake!”

I hitched up my loose gown, the fabric threatening to trip me, and bolted.

Panic surged through me as I hastened my pace. My feet stumbled on a branch, and I nearly fell, but I managed to catch myself in time.

“Don’t let her escape, you clueless blockheads!” Miss Ray snarled, her voice cutting through the night like a whip.

I cried out as something sharp jabbed into my foot. The pain shot up my leg like fire, but I slapped a hand over my mouth, stifling the sound. If they heard me, they’d find me—and that was the last thing I could allow.

My heart hammered as I glanced back toward the orphanage. There was no time to check what I’d stepped on, no time to tend to my throbbing foot. I had to run. Run far, far away before they caught up to me.

Due to the sharp pain in my injured leg, I yelped whenever it touched the ground. Tears streamed down my face as I leaned against the rough bark of a tree, my body trembling from the agony.

“No, I can't go back,” I sobbed into the cold night, clutching my throbbing leg.

“Not when I’ve come this far!” I shook my head violently, refusing to entertain the dark thoughts clawing at the edges of my mind. “I can do this,” I whispered, forcing the words out like a prayer.

I tried to run, but the pain stabbed sharper than before, forcing me to stagger forward in uneven leaps. My ears perked as the distinct sound of breaking branches echoed from a distance.

Fresh tears blurred my vision, panic swelling in my chest. My mind raced to the horrors I’d face if they caught me—Miss Ray’s cold, furious eyes, the sting of her punishments. No. I couldn’t let that happen.

I leaped as far as my legs could carry me, my vision blurring with every desperate step. Chaos swirled in my mind, unsure if I could survive the bitter cold night.

"There she is!" a voice screamed from up ahead.

A dizzying panic shot through me as I heard footsteps pounding toward my direction. I forced my legs to move faster, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. But before I could react, a sharp yank on my hair sent me crashing to the ground.

I let out a cry as pain exploded through me. My vision blurred further, and a strange ringing filled my ears. My hand instinctively reached for my head, touching something wet and warm. Blood.

"Stupid girl!" Old Miss Ray's voice sliced through the chaos, cold and unforgiving.

Fear shook me to my core as I shut my eyes, trembling.

"You thought you could escape me?" she sneered. Her cane thudded heavily on the ground as she bent toward me, her voice dripping with menace. "When will you ever learn your lesson, huh?"

Old Miss Ray’s eyes locked onto me, cold and unblinking. The flashlight held by one of the men illuminated her face, casting harsh shadows that made her look even more terrifying.

“Let me go, please!” I begged, my voice cracking. Deep down, I knew it was hopeless. But somewhere in the pit of my heart, I still clung to a shred of hope.

Miss Ray let out a mocking laugh, sharp and grating, and the men echoed her, their laughter halting as hers did.

“Oh, dear,” she began, her tone dripping with mockery. Tears rolled sideways down my face, soaking into the dirt beneath me.

“That,” she continued, her eyes narrowing, “will be over my dead body. You’re stuck with me, even in your dreams.”

Her words sent a chill through me, my body trembling uncontrollably.

“And because you dared disrupt my sweet sleep,” she hissed, leaning closer, “you’ll pay. In full.”

She threw her head back and laughed hysterically, the sound echoing through the darkness. It wrapped around me like chains, making me shiver in fear.

"Please, Miss Ray!" I sobbed, but she didn't spare me another glance as she stretched and yawned, as if this were nothing more than an inconvenience.

"Drag her back to the orphanage," she ordered, her tone cold, before turning on her heel and walking away.

One of the guards bent to lift me, but a deafening gunshot suddenly echoed through the woods. I screamed, my voice ripping from my throat as something wet splashed onto me.

The guard collapsed, blood pooling beneath him, leaving me to fall hard on my side, the impact jarring my face against the cold ground.

"I gave an order!" Miss Ray bellowed, sliding the pistol back into the pocket of her gown. Drag her. Do not defy me again, you morons. The next person who disobeys me will join him." She stormed away, her footsteps fading into the distance.

Rough hands grabbed my hair, yanking me upward. I screamed, my voice breaking into hoarse cries as my throat burned. My body dragged along the forest floor, the dry branches scratching my skin raw.

Just as I was about to give up, the sound of heavy footsteps rushing toward us froze everyone in place. I lifted my head, my tear-blurred eyes focusing on the approaching shadows.

Red eyes. Glowing red eyes. Not one, but several.

They lunged, claws gleaming in the faint light as they tore into the guards. Blood sprayed in every direction as the men screamed, their bodies crumpling like broken dolls.

Horrified, I lay there, paralyzed, my voice lost in the chaos. I couldn't scream, couldn't move. My chest heaved as the forest went unnervingly silent.

For a moment, I felt a strange flicker of relief-until the red eyes turned toward me.

The creatures sniffed the air, their tongues hanging loosely from their mouths. Slowly, they padded toward me, their steps deliberate and unhurried.

I scrambled backward, my hands fumbling for anything. My fingers brushed against something smooth and cold. Turning, I saw it-a shiny white stone, glowing faintly in the dark.

Curiosity flared, but fear drowned it out. My trembling hands gripped the stone tightly as I began hurling anything I could find at the creatures. Rocks, twigs -nothing worked.

Their glowing eyes stayed fixed on me, their hunger palpable. My back hit a tree, trapping me. No escape.

I opened my mouth to cry for help, but no sound came out. Tears streamed down my face as I stared at them, my body trembling uncontrollably.

"This is how I die," I whispered, shutting my eyes tightly. Resignation washed over me like a cold wave. "At least I won't face the torture waiting for me back there."

Taking a deep breath, I waited for the inevitable.

But then, a loud howl pierced the night.

From out of nowhere, something massive soared through the air.

Half-human, half-beast, its hulking form glinted under the faint moonlight.

It landed on one of the wolves, gripping its neck with clawed hands and pulling until the head ripped free. Blood sprayed across the ground.

Another wolf lunged at it, but the creature moved with impossible speed, snapping its attacker's neck in one swift motion. The last wolf tried to circle behind it, but I couldn't follow the fight- it was too fast, too brutal.

A sudden crunch echoed as the beast stepped on the final flashlight, plunging the forest into near-total darkness.

It was over in seconds.

My throat felt painfully dry as I swallowed repeatedly, trying to calm my racing heart. A moment ago, I had accepted death. But now, seeing this violent carnage, fear seized me anew. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst.

I felt lightheaded, my vision growing hazy as dizziness overwhelmed me.

Then the creature turned toward me.

With inhuman speed, it half-ran, half-lurched in my direction. I tried to move, to scream, but my body refused to obey.

Before the darkness swallowed me, I heard it grunt-a guttural, rasping sound that sent shivers down my spine.

It huffed, its voice cold and disdainful "Weak!”