Chapter 6

The thorns that separated the Village from the forest clung to her clothes. Piercing her thighs, scratching her bloody, letting out drops of blood. She barely made it back. Halfway through her journey back home, her legs were stiff and dry and her throat became itchy. Her body was begging for water. 

It’s only one of the many things that she felt. With one last push, she was out of the thorny bushes. “Oof!” She tripped and fell on the ground with a thud.

And there it is, her Village. Walakya. Her home. It was a simple Village, brown small huts and houses. Many children were running and playing around, but at the sight of it, she felt lonely. It’s at times like these that she thinks back on how things used to be and that awful feeling of bitterness and resentment coils up in her gut like a cold unfeeling snake.

She tried to think that she could live day by day doing the same routine. 

But… after what happened with Calleb, who can she turn to other than her family?

Being in this Village reminded her of every beating, every bullying and hurtful things her siblings do to her. Just because she’s their mother’s favorite. 

She may never say so, but she wishes things would go back the way they were, before she met Calleb. Before she saw how warm Luntian’s smile was. And before Calleb made her feel so important last night.

Sighing, Accashia began to walk back to her home as she hums the melody of a birthday song. The kids who ran past her gave her a funny look, as if she’s foreign. Accashia did not mind the stares. 

Maybe it’s because of the cuts on her face. Or the scratches on her thighs. Maybe it’s because of her odd clothes. From a thin peach shirt, to something that resembled an expensive cotton like material. 

She didn’t realize that it’s because of her Ginger hair, her grayish blue eyes that differ from the eye color of every villager. 

Soon the people around her began to clamor. The children pulling their parents out of their homes to point at her, whispering, chatting about the strange girl. 

‘Who is she?’

‘She looks familiar. But look at that hair… and those eyes!’

‘I know… how odd.’

Upon hearing the bickering and accusations of the townsfolk, Accashia bit her lip and dashed out of the crowd.

“Excuse me.” She muttered, as she pushed the bodies away to make room for her escape. Accashia took a harsh deep breath, not believing how everyone’s attention was on her. But then someone appeared in front of her. The stature of the woman was strong, intimidating. Her gaze was inquisitive and looked at Accashia as if she’s an oddity.

The young girl looked everywhere, only wanting to go home. Fast. 

But then the Shaman raised her hand and pointed at her. “Daughter of Judas and Ember Corbok.”

Accashia swallowed. “Y–yes?” Was her tentative answer. She looked around and saw how everyone was looking at her. People were pooling around, gathering and staring at her. Whispering. Pointing at her. And this time, they all whispered the same thing.

“Beast… She's cursed by the beast. She went to the Forest in the East and was Cursed by the beast!” 

Soon the townsfolk began to sing the anthem of the Eastern Forest. An Anthem that sends chills on the back of their neck and shivers down their spine. 

"Don't go to the forest. Don't go to the east. Don't go near the forest, or you'll face the beast. Beware of the forest, beware of the beast. Once you see its fangs, you'll never know peace." 

The song went on and on. Assaulting her ears as the townsfolk sang louder and louder until they were screaming, and the looks on their eyes were intimidating. Judging her entire being, making her shrink, making her feel small.

Accashia began to panic, crying as she cover her ears. “Stop…” She whispered as she cried, closing her eyes as she sobbed and cried. “Stop…stop…stop! Please…”

But then villagers did not stop. They sang louder and moved closer and closer until Accashia was stuck in the middle. As they sang the song to her, they began to pull on her hair. Accashia whined and groaned, surprised by the intrusion. 

“Your hair is odd.” A man hissed, his eyes sending daggers at her.

The abuse went on, and on stopped when the Shaman screamed, calling for everyone's attention and said, “SILENCE!”

The Shaman raised her staff, asking everyone to let her pass. The crowd moved, separating in the middle like a tide. They made way for the Shaman to see Accashia. They bowed their heads, murmuring and mumbling their apologies. 

The old woman then took slow steps towards Accashia. Her staff tapped against the ground with every step that she took. She saw the poor young lady crying, her eyes covered by her hands and her eyes shut tight, her face contorted, frightened. Scared for her life.

Mongolia, the Shaman of the Village looked down at Accashia. Examining her, humming as she does. The old lady with a face painted in red, black and yellow looked at the crowd. “Move. Step aside.”

And they did. 

This time, Mongolia circled around the young woman. Humming as she did. And when she was behind Accashia, she noticed how the veins on her back were more prominent. Looking like roots that leads to something. 

Using her forefinger, the old woman gently nudged her hair to the side, and when she saw the mark on Accashia’s back, her eyes went wide. 

“You poor thing.” She mumbled. “Are you alright?” Her gentle voice whispered.

Accashia slowly looked up to the Shaman. Her eyes were red, and puffy from crying. The tracks of her tears went on to her neck. “Y–yes.” She whispered, her answer half-hearted. “No…” She whispered and her lips trembled. 

The Shaman hummed, then lent a hand to pull the young lady up. “Come on. Let’s get you home.” She smiled.

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Standing in front of her home, Accashia felt a slight tingle on her back. The Shaman was standing next to her, waiting for her to knock on the door.

“Whenever you’re ready.” Mongolia said, as gentle as the wind.

From a distance, she walks towards the old door. Swallowing her nerves, Accashia knocked on the door three consecutive times. “Mama…” She called out, unsure. Yet, she calls out again. “Mama… I’m home.” 

Soon soft footsteps resounded, a quick bang on the floor and the door flung open. It was Ember. Accashia’s mother. And her face was filled with joy, relief. Yet she was shocked by what she saw.

“A–Accashia…” She murmured. Her hand slowly went up to her mouth, her hands trembling, her pupils dilating. “Accashia… I–is that you?” 

Accashia nodded her head. “It’s me.” 

Ember looked back and forth to the Shaman and to her daughter. Wondering what happened why her daughter’s appearance changed so drastically. From Auburn hair to ginger. From black orbs, to grayish eyes. She was a bit taller too. And her body… her body has changed. From her humble breast to ample bosom. Wide hips. 

Is this really her daughter? Ember asked herself. “Accashia, what happened?” Was her stern question. 

The young lady, not knowing what to say, simply bit her lips. She was torn from telling the truth, to telling another set of her truth. Should she tell her mother about the abuse she had been receiving from her brothers? About Calleb? About Luntian?

She was so confused and scared that she simply said… “I—I slept on the Eastern forest.” 

Her mother’s eyes widened. “WHY?!”

Mongolia hummed, as if this is what she was expecting to hear. 

Accashia shook her head. “It’s…” The young lady played with her fingers. “It’s…” 

“WHAT?!” 

The screaming question of her mother made her flinch. Accashia bit her lip and said, “It’s Luther… Phil and John. They tied me to the forest and left me there.” 

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The moment Accashia stepped into the door, the look on the faces of her siblings was the same as the villagers. 

“No way…” Luther mumbled out, voice hesitant from what he saw, still disbelieving. John momentarily freezes in his actions. That face-- he’d know it anywhere. But it couldn’t be. He assumes he’s imagining things until everything sinks in. 

“What happened to you…” Luther said again after the silence became too hard to bear. 

Accashia didn’t know what to say. She felt like there was something she should say, but she can’t think of what it was. So she said the first thing that came to mind instead. “I was left tied to an Oak tree in the middle of the Cursed forest by you guys…” Then she bit her lip. A new sensation drove inside of her heart, mind and soul.

Freedom.

This was the first time she defended herself. “Mama knows already.” 

Luther frowned, his hand balling into a fist. “You told her?” 

Accashia looked at Luther in the eyes and felt utter satisfaction when he flinched. “I did.”