𝘊𝘏𝘈𝘗𝘛𝘌𝘙 𝘌𝘓𝘌𝘝𝘌𝘕

(the cursed witch, act two)

OUT OF THE ELEVEN DAYS SHE HAD TO PREPARE, SHE HAD THREE LEFT.

Nina was numb as she sat in the driver's seat of her Mercedes that was parked on the side of the road, her eyes staring distantly at the house in front of her.

She was alone for the first time in days. Bella and Jacob were going for a walk, after much convincing on Nina's part that she would be okay. Paul, Quil and Embry were all at school. Jared, who she had only hung around a few times, since he had been turned into a wolf much before the rest, wasn't as close and didn't stay near the witch. Then there were Sam and Emily. Nina had convinced them to go on a date, insisting they needed couple time.

"Are you sure?" A voice asked from beside her.

She flinched and looked to her right.

Edward, although he was ghostly and hardly visible, sat beside her.

Nina sighed, her eyes diverting from the house to stare at him. "Someone needs to do it," She muttered, feeling crazy for conversing with him.

Rain poured heavily on the windshield. The house was hardly visible now.

She watched him. She watched the way his body flickered.

"Don't do anything stupid," He muttered in a worried tone before he disappeared.

It didn't hurt this time—watching him leave. Nina had already returned to her numb shell. She didn't feel anything, or rather, she didn't let herself feel anything.

Her eyes drifted back to the partially visible house.

She took in a deep breath before opening the door and walking out into the rain. As she walked up the driveway, her finger trailed along the familiar dark grey Cadillac's side. She clenched her jaw as she walked further, forcing her legs to walk up the steps. Blinking the rain out of her eyes, she unlocked the door, picking up the pile of mail as she did so.

A strong, pungent smell filled her nose when she walked inside, making her face scrunch. She forced her feet to take her further inside, walking into the kitchen to see the sink still full of dirty dishes. It was clear where the scent was coming from.

Setting the pile of mail on the countertop, she turned her head slowly to glance at the empty kitchen table. The two chairs seemed to mock her.

Her lips fell into a prominent frown as she tore her eyes away from the chairs and walked into the living room.

There were DVDs still laid out on the coffee table. Pinnochio, Alice in Wonderland and Robin Hood. All being the movies they had watched during their last movie night. Her eyes moved to the couch. The blanket that was usually folded neatly and draped over the back of the couch was laid haphazardly along the cushion, as though it were being used moments ago.

Nina's eyes burned. Moments... No. Now it was almost two weeks. Her hand came up to rub her forehead, putting pressure on the spot between her eyes before her fingers moved back to push her hair out of her face.

Her hand left her hair to reach down to touch the blanket. She grasped it slowly, her thumb rubbing along the soft white fabric before she picked it up and folded it before placing it neatly over the backrest where it always was.

She turned back to the DVDs and picked them up before walking over to the bookshelf and placing them where they belonged, letting out a deep breath through her nose as she did so. She always forgot to put them away, something she was constantly scolded for.

Now there was no one to scold her.

A tear forced its way down her face at the thought. She wiped it away quickly with her fist.

Don't cry, she told herself, biting her lip harshly as she walked out of the room and through the narrow hall. She paused in her room, glancing inside. The salt lamp was still on, making her sigh.

She walked in slowly, reaching her desk before her nimble fingers reached for the switch. The room was still light, however. The blinds were open and swaying slightly from the vent below them.

Her eyes turned back to her desk. She hesitantly picked up the picture frame that laid at a standstill. His face came back to her view.

Nina's lip curved upward in the slightest movement as her thumb traced the image.

The small smile fell as she set the picture back down, letting it face the wooden desk once again. She tidied up the books she had left sprawled on the desk, placing them back in her backpack that hung from the chair.

Looking around the room, she turned to fix her sheets. She tucked them neatly under the mattress, a hospital tuck as she had always been taught, before she fluffed the pillows.

When she found nothing else to clean, she walked out of the room.

Her ears rang loudly as she closed the door behind her. She came to a stop, leaning her back against it as she stared at the door across from her. It was open, welcome, and inviting.

Nina forced her eyes shut.

Her breaths turned unsteady, and she sucked in a breath, taking her shaking lips between her teeth.

A second tear fell down her cheek, falling quickly to the wooden floor beneath her.

She felt sick, like she was going to throw up as she opened her eyes. Her vision was blurred from the thick tears that threatened to fall as she took a step forward.

She was in the doorway now, letting her peer into the room. It was as it always had been. The dresser drawers were all neatly closed, perfume bottles scattered on the tops. A laundry hamper of clean clothes was placed in the corner by a window, waiting to be put away. On the dresser, a half empty glass of water sat along with a book.

Nina felt her heart slow as she took a step inside.

Unsteady breaths left her nose as she took another step.

And another.

And another.

Till her knees hit the edge of the bed. She collapsed down, her knees caving in. Her back hit the wooden bedframe roughly as she fell to the ground. She didn't feel it.

The tears that she was once able to keep at bay now fell free, unable to be tamed.

"Mom." She cried out brokenly. "Why'd you leave me?"

Bella found her hours later, still on the floor, though she had fallen asleep long before. Her eyes looked over at the witch.

Nina's knees were held tightly to her chest, her head resting on them. Her eyes were closed, but her eyebrows were creased. Even asleep, she was in shambles.

Bella walked inside the room, kneeling down slowly beside the witch. Closer now, she could see the tears that still fell. Bella didn't even know it was possible to cry in your sleep.

"Neens," She murmured quietly, her hand coming up to brush her hair out of her face.

The witch hummed.

"You're going to get a backache if you sleep like that," Bella spoke again, still gently running her fingers through Nina's hair.

Nina opened her eyes slowly, hesitantly. She could see Bella's worried stare now, making her look away, back down to her knees. She pulled them closer to her chest.

She heard Bella move first. Then she felt a pair of arms wrap around her shoulders, pulling her into their lap.

"I can't live like this anymore," Nina cried into Bella's shoulder. "Why does everyone I love keep leaving me?"

Bella only tightened her hold on the witch. She had nothing to say that would comfort the shaking girl.

"I've got you," Bella whispered after a few minutes, rocking them slowly. "I'm here."

It was the day of the full moon.

Nina sat silently, alone, in the concrete room. The very same chains her father had once used were now wrapped around her body. She felt like a prisoner.

The pain hadn't started yet, but she knew it was coming.

The door opened across from her, making her look up.

"Oh. Hey, Sam." Her voice was dull.

"Hey, kid." He was carrying a backpack over his shoulder as he walked toward her before sitting on the ground next to her. "How're you holding up?"

"Didn't think this is how I'd be spending my Spring Break but... could be worse, I guess."

"That's a way to look at it," Sam muttered as he pulled the backpack in front of him and unzipped it. "I brought you some stuff."

"Oh, great. I get a goodie bag to go with the experience. That's exactly what I needed."

Sam gave her a look, making her shut up. He pulled out a bottle of water and a pair of clothes. "Hope you aren't too attached to the clothes you're wearing. If you are... start saying your goodbyes."

She breathed out a short laugh.

"What's the water for? Am I gonna be dehydrated after?"

He pulled out something else from the bag. "Not necessarily. This is to weaken you." He unwrapped a cloth and pulled out a green, leafy twig that resembled an herb.

He held it up to her.

"How is that going to weaken me? It's a leaf."

Sam gestured for her to hold out her hand. When she did, he pressed it against her skin. Nina grunted in pain, hearing her skin sear from the touch.

She gasped in pain, her eyes watching her skin turn red as he pulled it away from her.

"How the hell can you touch it?"

"Different kind of wolf," He shrugged. "You're kind is just a bit more complicated."

"My kind is the shit kind, you mean?"

His shoulders raised slightly, making her scoff.

Sam glanced down at his watch. "Any minute now," He told her quietly. He had never witnessed a transition like this, but from what his mother told him, it was going to be brutal.

His mother had been best friends with Nina's father, both having grown up alongside each other. So, of course, when he turned into the magical beast, just like Nina, he instantly told his best friend.

A family of mysteries, yet they struggled with keeping secrets—kind of ironic.

"Remember to breathe," Sam reminded her, and as the words left his lips, Nina screamed in pain.

Her eyes looked down to see her wrist snapped back at an ungodly angle. She whimpered at the sight.

Seconds later, another scream left her lips. Each finger on her opposing hand cracked loudly, though her scream covered the sound.

Sam watched with a pained look. All he could do was watch. There was nothing he could do to help.

Another scream, and another bone snapped.

After an hour, it seemed to slow.

Nina heaved against the cold cement floor. She could feel Sam's hand holding her shoulder, that had broken only minutes before. His other hand reached for the water bottle he had brought.

Unscrewing the cap, he placed it in front of her. "It's going to hurt. You won't be able to keep it all down. But it will stop you from breaking out of here."

"Where–" Nina heaved again. "Where are the boys?"

"Perched outside. In case you do get out."

She nodded. "Good. That's good."

She reached her one good hand out to grab the bottle. Somehow, in the mix of things, her healing had accelerated and now, her once snapped wrist was perfectly intact, ready to break again.

Nina sat up slowly, feeling one of her smaller bones break as she did so. Her face twinged in pain from the shock that ran through her.

She held the bottle to her lips, sending a look at Sam before tipping it back, letting the tinged liquid flood down her throat.

Sam winced, watching her struggle till the bottle fell from her hands. Nina coughed loudly, holding her throat with her broken hands. She could feel it as the liquid dripped past her tongue, down her throat, before it reached her stomach, each part it passed, leaving a searing pain in its wake.

Her body heaved as she tried to find air. Saliva dripped past her lips as another scream fell past. Another bone had broken. She couldn't even tell which one.

"You need to go, Sam–" She warned.

Sam didn't move from his post. "I'm not leaving you, Nina."

"Don't be righteous–" A whimper fell past her lips as her femur broke. "Now's not the time to be a hero. I won't be able to control myself."

"I'm an Alpha. You won't be able to hurt me."

Fucking fury, Nina thought to herself. Fuck. Am I a furry?

"I'm not a Quillette. You won't be my Alpha," She continued. "So just go. I can do this on my own." She held her jaw together tightly as five of her ribs broke. "See? Perfectly fine."

"Yeah, sure. When most people break 52 bones in the course of three hours, they are always fine."

"You've kept count? You're so fucking weird."

"Well, if you ever have kids, guess who's going to want to know this?"

"Kids are gross–Motherfucker!" Her left shoulder snapped, forcing it back on a rather attractive angle. "Oh my god. That's disgusting. I didn't know my arm could do that."

Sam stared at it, covering his mouth. "It can't."

Two more hours passed.

Nina was lying on her back now. One of her ankles was broken, as was her shoulder and tibia.

Her screams had died down, even as more bones broke and re-mended themselves. She couldn't bring herself to let out the pained sounds.

She was so tired.

In her sensitive ears, she heard something outside. "What was that?" It sounded like a howl.

Sam frowned. "It was Jared. Somethings wrong."

Another howl. Nina recognized that one. It was Paul.

"Something's wrong?"

He nodded. His eyes were moving between the door and her. He wasn't sure what to do. His pack needed him, but Nina also needed him.

"Go," Nina muttered, letting out a pained breath. "Help them. I'll still be human by the time you get back, most likely."

He stood, towering above her figure. "I'll be as quick as possible."

Chained to the wall, completely alone, Nina forced herself to sit up. The metal wrapping around her wrists tightly as she waited. She was rubbing her restricted hands anxiously at her knees; the skin turning red from the action.

She took in unsteady breaths as the nerves overtook the pain.

The metal door opened again.

"That was quick," She muttered, not looking up. She kept her head between her knees, trying to stop the nausea. "Was Paul having a temper tantrum?"

When all she heard in response was a pair of heavy footsteps, she looked up. Confusion was written over her face when she saw who the footsteps belonged to.

"Am I hallucinating?" She wondered aloud.

"Not quite," The person answered as they kneeled in front of her. Their piercing blue eyes stared into hers. "Hello again, Nina."

She stared up at him. "If I'm not hallucinating, why in all fucks is my history teacher here?"

Mr. Erikson laughed softly, shaking his head. "You haven't figured it out yet? Come on, Nina. You're smarter than that."

A crack sounded and was soon followed by a hiss. He looked down and saw it had been one of her ribs.

"What's going on? Why are you here?"

His hands moved down to the chains that restrained her and tugged on them harshly. Without argument, the chains snapped in half, making her gasp.

"Why are you doing that? Stop!"

He broke another one of the chains, the last one holding her down.

"Mr. Erikson! Stop! I'll hurt them–"

"You won't." His voice was strong and clear, like he knew what was about to happen to her.

"I will! You don't understand–"

His hands grabbed hers, and he pulled her up to stand.

"You shouldn't turn like this. Don't do what I did. It only makes it worse–"

"What you did?" Nina asked, groaning as three of her fingers broke. He pulled open the metal door, pulling her through and into the forest.

They didn't get far before she screamed again. They looked down. It was her ankle now.

He didn't stop, however. He carried on walking quickly, his arm wrapped around her side, holding her up.

He glanced back at her every few seconds before his eyes met the moon above them.

"It's almost time."

"You need to go! Please! You can't stay here–" Nina tried to convince him, but he was relentless.

He carried on moving, keeping a steady pace as he pulled her through the forest.

"Stop! Stop! I can't–" She cut herself off with another howl of pain. Her wrist had snapped.

He stopped, gently letting her fall to the ground, resting on her hands and knees as she felt more bones break. The man kneeled, his hand moving to her cheek. His lips moved, but she heard nothing. All she could focus on was the immeasurable pain.

"Nina! You need to breathe through this! Keep breathing!" He shouted through the haze.

"Concentrate on the air in your lungs. The earth beneath you."

Her spine broke.

"Don't fight it! The pain is making you want to delay because you think that is all you can take. But if you let it in–if you allow it to swallow you whole-then it cannot break you."

Nina nodded. "I can do this," She muttered, focusing on his eyes that were all too familiar.

"And when you are done," He smiled. "Run wild and free. I am so... proud of you, my daughter."

Her eyes widened at his words, but before she could speak, more bones broke. She watched from the ground as he backed away.

Her neck cracked as she looked up. Her eyes glowed brightly, the golden hue matching that of the sun's golden rays.

Her shoulder, then her elbow was next. She watched in shock as her hands changed, nails turning into sharp claws. Then her spine. She screamed loudly as she looked up.

"Dad!" She screamed.

Her vision went black for a moment.

And then, as her eyes opened, she found herself standing at a different height. A growl emitted from her as she looked up at the man.

He was smiling fondly down at her. "Your mother would be so proud." 

a/n

damn that was a crazy chapter... almost as crazy as my neighbour stalking my entire family.

i'm so tired of stupid people.