That night the family slept well. The two girls had full bellies for what may have been the first time in their lives. Adiscordia woke up to a chill that her sheet didn’t cover. She sat up to go with her father and conserve body heat when she noticed his sheet had been folded up, along with her mother’s. She stood up alarmed. “Papa?” At her calling, she saw two figures a short distance away stop quietly. They had been discussing something. She headed towards them. “Papa? Mamma?”

Katherine was wearing a black cloak, her face full of worry and disappointment. She put a finger to her lips to hush her daughter. She didn’t need Grizelda waking up to this too. “Adiscordia, we’ll be back in the morning.” Nicholas looked at his wife concerned by the lack of information she had given their daughter. She was only trying to protect her daughters, but he knew they may not return. He didn’t want them to feel abandoned if they became orphans.  Adiscordia’s face filled up with confusion and worry.

“Addy, we’re headed into the forest. Where there is a fence of bone, and the wind calls our name, beckoning us home. During the night, when the moon is clouded…” Nicholas started.

Adiscordia could feel chills go further down her spine as her legs shook. Her father was singing an old child’s nursery rhyme. This one was meant to terrify children from straying too far and going to the forest on their own. Why would he sing this? It wasn’t comforting at all! The song told the story of a cursed woman who would enter the thoughts of others. She was able to tell their greatest desires. She would always grant them, but only with a twist. Each wish provided what was desired but usually ended up with a far greater price or gruesome death or loss. “Why?” she interrupted, not wanting him to finish.

“Coraline Hex,” He began. “The corrupt spirit that feeds on those who are desperate. She may have mercy on us.” Adiscordia felt her throat well up. No one in the rhyme survived. Why did her parents think they were different? “Perhaps knowing that her son is desperate, may help keep you two safe. I need you and Grizelda to be safe.” Nicholas admitted. “We will be back tomorrow, but you must never tell your sister of this or of her grandmother. You must never go to find her.” He said with an unnatural growl.

Katherine looked over to Adiscordia quickly. “We have something she’d like, we’ll be safe.” She admitted with a lack of confidence in her voice that confirmed Adiscordia’s fears.

“Mamma, You can’t! One of you should stay-“ Adiscordia protested gripping her mother’s shoulders. She was soon taken by the waist and removed.

“You don’t understand. We need you and Grizelda safe. Things are far worse than you know. We need both of you to live and grow into adults. That is the only way for the two of you to survive. Whatever it takes!”

Katherine shook her head quickly. “Without giving in to the curse!” This didn’t seem to help Adiscordia. Katherine reached to her chest and pulled out a necklace with a vibrant chunk of amethyst. She placed it in her daughter’s hands closing them. “This was my mother's. Take good care of it tonight, I’ll be back in the morning for you to return it. That is a promise. Now go to bed, and rest in peace.” Katherine gave Adiscordia a kiss and a tight hold. Nicholas was the next to hold Adiscordia before gently pushing her back.

Adiscordia could hardly speak as she held the necklace tightly, watching them leave. She was almost angry. They wouldn’t come back. Everyone knew that in the song, no one came back. Her steps were stiff as she returned to her sheet. They had left her. They had left them both.

Adiscordia decided to stay away from her sister despite needing heat. It wasn’t fair. She stayed awake most of the night just staring at the stars and moon, waiting for them to become visible. She thought of the song and rhymes and waited for the symbol of mercy but all she was given was dark fog that stayed until morning. She held to the necklace tightly, almost breaking it while she waited.

She woke up to her sister tugging at her clothes. “Adiscordia where’s mamma? She never leaves so early!”

Adiscordia’s eyes barely opened to hide the anger. “They’ll be back.” It was all she could say, although she didn’t believe it. She had to keep her sister’s mind free of the burden of abandonment. The two of them were going to die together. She didn’t see any other future but Adiscordia refused to let that happen. One would live longer.

“But where are they?” Grizelda panicked, unsure of how to keep both her sister and herself pure on their own after what she had witnessed yesterday. “I need them!”

“No, we don’t.” Adiscordia hid her mother’s necklace under her sheet. Grizelda remained silent, something had gone wrong during the night. She didn’t know what, and she didn’t think she would get any answers yet. Adiscordia seemed hurt, almost angry. If she had learned anything from her years with Adiscordia, it was that she tended to need a lot of time on her own.

As Adiscordia suspected their parents did not return. She always kept the necklace with her as a way to convince herself that maybe she had hope. Days went on, and hunger began to plague them again. By the end of a week, that hope was crushed. Adiscordia began to ask ‘How?’ How was she supposed to keep her sister pure and alive? It was an impossible task, either she would give in or die. Her parents had done nothing, rather they had dumped the responsibility on her shoulders and abandoned them. There was only one solution that came to mind. Her parents wouldn’t like it, but in that case, they shouldn’t have left.

Grizelda was asleep. Groans from her stomach could be heard as the girl twitched in bed from the pain. Her skin had a dry leather-type look from dehydration while the sheet did nothing to hide her bony frame.  Adiscordia watched over her, looking again towards the bodies on the streets. She couldn’t help but be angry. It was hopeless! She didn’t care anymore. Rage brought impulse and courage for action with it. She took her sheet and wrapped it in the corners making it into a bag of sorts. She swung it over her shoulder and quietly headed down the road. She was determined. Her sister would eat, and live no matter what it took.

The way to the richer baker’s house wasn’t an easy walk. It was on the wealthier side of town, the side that couldn’t be seen near such poverty. Their egos would be ruined. Maybe that’s why Maud had impacted her so much. During the walk, her anger didn’t go unnoticed, and neither did her thoughts of stealing. The curse was awakening.