For me, it had begun as any normal day, with people looking at me horribly and telling their children not to look me in the eye nor go near me for fear of being cursed or something.
I just wanted to get food to survive, you know because even people with ‘demon eyes’ need to eat to live. Stupid townspeople, looking down on me just because of my eyes.
“Mummy, what are those men in big weird suits doing here?” I had heard a child ask its mother with fear of something new in its tiny naive voice.
I shook it off as a few businessmen coming through our small village it happened sometimes. I was just about to go into my favourite shop where my favourite shopkeeper, Mr Lee, worked, as I entered a large and unfamiliar masculine hand grabbed my shoulder quite roughly. Suddenly I thought ‘oh great, more people to scare the hell out of by looking at them’ and let out a big sigh of frustration,
“Excuse me miss, but would you be Miss Eevee Valentine?” An unfamiliar gruff voice spoke from behind me at the entrance of the shop.
I could see all eyes in the shop turn on me, well that wasn’t a shocker they usually just looked at me with fear and hatred,
“Yes, I am she, who are you and what do you want from me?” I asked turning around expecting an outsider who’d heard rumours of my ‘demon eyes’ to be behind me wanting to see if they’d be cursed by my strange eyes. But instead, I was met with kind brown eyes in a strange form of clothing I assume to be from the capital,
“I’m the Captain of his Majesty’s royal guard, you are under arrest for plotting treason against his Majesty King Raj the third.” The tall muscular man said in a dark cold tone, his eyes still staring straight into my own which I found quite peculiar as usually anyone and everyone who saw my eyes instantly looked away and avoided all eye contact in fear.
“What the hell is all that crap? Why would I plot treason against his Majesty when he allows me to live here without questioning me or my eye colour, nor does he lock me in with his royal lab so his scientists can run experimentations on me! Why on earth would I want him to die when he has helped this country in such a difficult age?!” I grumbled not liking my own words.
It is true I was not a fan of the king but I was too much of a wimp to do something such as plotting to kill him or something stupid like that and I’m not the only one who disliked him, most of the village spoke ill of him.
“We had a tip from Mr Lee here that you had been plotting it in your home up in the forest, we recently found the plans to kill him in your large library earlier today. I assume that it’s yours anyway,” The captain had said in a calmer tone, his eyes glanced towards Mr Lee behind the counter who seemed to be quite nervous.
I internally screamed at myself for being so stupid and naive to believe anyone in this village would want to befriend someone with eyes like mine, I should have known they were plotting something like this behind my back.
Even he never looked into my eyes even though he had told me he did not believe a single one of those stupid rumours. I sighed and held out my arms ready for them to put on my shackles, there was no point in making a scene, there was no point in yelling at the villagers nearby either, I should just accept my fate and hang for something I’d never even consider to attempt.
“Fine, just take me away from this wretched village and put me to death. Nothing I say will be believed anyway. And none of the cowardice villagers will speak in my defence,” I spoke without a hint of emotion in my voice nor face, I wouldn’t let them see how enraged, how sad, or how pathetically stupid I felt inside.
I will just accept it, I wouldn’t resist, if these people want me to leave so freaking badly then I will leave, but if I do have the power to curse. I hope to curse you all with the hope every female bear a child with a peculiarity similar to mine. Hopefully, that will teach them having something different shouldn’t be shunned, or killed and that they should embrace the beauty of differentiality
“So, are you saying you did plot to kill King Raj the third?” The captain said looking rather shocked that I was not resisting the arrest, I looked up and looked him in the eyes, others around us flinching away.
“No, I am not, but you’re not going to believe me without evidence, are you?” I replied eyes becoming slightly watery. No. I won’t cry! I mustn’t let them see the tears I keep inside. Keep your mask on Eevee!
My hands were shackled and I was tied to the side of the captain’s horse as they lead me out of the village I so despised. I heard whispers of the happy villagers as they saw me being lead out of the village, some saying how relieved they were some saying how they knew I’d be taken away at some point. It enraged me, to think when I was little I used to love it there. Before my parents died, I had friends, people weren’t afraid of me or my eyes, but ever since my parents died I’ve been ostracised, the villagers used to push me around and beat me when we found out they died, saying I cursed them that it was my own fault for them drowning at sea.
“I can see the villagers hate you. Why is that? What did you do?” The captain asked as we entered the forest, why do people assume I did something? I looked at the horse he was riding, it was a chestnut horse it reminded me of the horses back at my home, I hope Toby, Cindy and Lilly will be okay.
“I don’t know. After my parents died no one would look me in the eye. I stayed at home and looked after the animals at the house the three horses, mine, mothers and fathers. I don’t go down to the town much they all just assume that I’ll curse them by looking them in the eyes.” I spoke softly looking straight ahead, this would be a long walk before the execution, guess I could use it to think about what I had done to make them resent me so much.
“Ah, so it’s your eyes they’re afraid of.” He said as we walked, I could hear the soldiers whispering behind me about me and my eyes, I let out a sigh that only the horse and I could hear.
“Probably. That village fears anything new, and my eyes are just that. They’re different and I am the only one with them.” I said stumbling over a rock. The captain didn’t reply, he just stopped the horse and his men stopped a few meters behind.
“Can you curse people?” He asked loudly. Loud enough for all soldiers behind him to hear. I shook my head no.
“I can’t. Though sometimes I wish I could. Just to teach the villagers a lesson about ostracising those that are different. ” I replied still looking away towards where I could see my home, the horses running towards the fence whining. They looked stressed. I looked down sadly. I would miss those horses dearly, I hope they do not die and someone looks after them if they are found. Though I assume they’d think the horses cursed or something.
“Hear that, boys? She can’t curse or do anything like that, she just has weird coloured eyes, so stop listening to those daft rumours. I am also certain she was framed for this crime, I mean look at this frail thing, but we must take her to his majesty anyway so let’s try and find out what happened to this dear lass.” The captain yelled towards the soldiers, the soldiers looked at him shocked as if that was the first time he’d said something so compassionate towards a prisoner.
“Well, looks like my cover was blown. Jump up Eevee, we’re going on a ride.” The man spoke pulling me up behind him and releasing my shackles as he did so.
“Wh-what?!” I exclaimed confused at what was going on, wasn’t this guy the captain of the royal guard? why is this man kidnapping me? Could today get any weirder?!
“Hold on tight sweetheart, you’re going to need to if you don’t want to die” The man chuckled as his horse took off and the soldiers rode after him yelling for him to halt.
“Who are you? What’s going on?!” I yelled holding tightly onto the male who had just saved me from getting hung for something I did not do.
“Aww, Doncha remember me Eevee? We used to play with each other as kiddies. Well can’t say I blame ya, it’s been 11 years.” The man chuckled as he took off the captain’s helmet throwing it on the trail releasing his coal coloured short hair. “It’s me, yer best friend John.” As he turned to grin at me I almost lost my grip from shock. I had heard him and his brother were killed alongside my parents when they were on board the same ship.
“W-what? You can’t be. You and Lowen died with my parents... how?” I said slightly confused, tears pooled in my eyes as I looked at him, it couldn’t be.
My childhood friend has come back from the dead to save me? What the hell is going on?!
“I’ll tell you about it later, first we gotta get you outta here,” John said smirking as he rode the horse at a gallop through the trees of the forest, it felt like hours before he finally stopped and let me get off the horse to regain my composure.
He seemed rather pleased with himself and the fact that I was not able to wrap my head around what had happened.
“Why are you here? Where have you been these past 11 years?Why’d you kidnap me? How are you even alive?!” I asked as soon as I could talk again, my voice was cracking and I felt as if I was in a dream, I hope this is not a dream.
“Lowen heard a rumour of a red eyed girl plotting to overthrow king Raj and that she could curse people by looking them dead in the eyes. He assumed it was you they were talking about and made me investigate as he was worried about you. Seems like he had every right to be worried. Why did you agree and not fight against the people who framed you?” John asked as he tied up the horse making sure it was secure.
“Easiest way out, I hate that village. I really hope that the kids that are born from now on all have differences to teach them a lesson.” I grumbled as he sat down on the forest floor next to me.
“What would you have done if I hadn’t impersonated the captain?! You’d be dead!” John growled at me looking infuriated with my decision.
“Yes, I would have just died, it doesn’t matter to me, it’s not like there is anyone in this world that really cares about me anymore, my parents, my entire family are gone, so what’s the point in walking around with cursed eyes?” I said lightly as I sat on a log, I refused to look at him, I could hear in his voice and the way he breathed what I had said angered him with my words but that’s the way it was. I had no one.
“And what about me and Lowen?!” He growled as he ferociously pulled my face to look him in the eye,
“Last I heard you had both died along with my parents eleven freaking years ago!” I growled back glaring hard back at his dark brown eyes that softened as they heard my words.
“I’m sorry. We should have sent something to let you know we were alive and kicking but how were we meant to tell you? We were wanted by the royal guard so we have to disguise ourselves to even roam around and even then, we’d get spotted and chased.” John replied as he sat next to me on the log.
“Why? Why are you wanted?” I asked confused,
“We’re pirates,” John stated casually before he looked away and stood up.
Was that really the only reason? Was he ashamed to tell me or did he feel obligated?
“Okay, well, May I talk to your captain. I want to join you.” I stated firmly after a few moments of processing the words I had heard, standing up and looking him in the eyes, his eyes widened slightly in shock of my words before he closed them and shook his head.
“No way on this earth will I ever let you do that. I’m simply taking you to someplace safe. Your parents and Lowen would murder me if I let you join Pirates.” John said as he began walking towards the thicket of the woods.
“Okay for one, two of those people are dead so they couldn’t murder you, Two Lowen hasn’t seen me in eleven years so I’m pretty sure he’d be easily convinced to let me make my own decisions and three where the hell are you going?!” I said following him deeper into the forest.
“To get firewood, we kind of need it to cook and stay warm out here, go and wait with the horse and think about what you’re saying before you go on another rant to me about joining the damn pirates,” John grumbled.
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