Chapter 1: Prologue
The rats made noises that echoed in the small cell I spent months in... I have lost count of it, it was all but a memory fading for me and I didn’t bother counting anymore. I just sat there in my rags for an excuse for clothing, at least I had one, and at least it keeps me away from the cold. It was thick and brown like a sac but looked like a gown. It was comfortable.
But the only thing that made me uncomfortable was the collar around my neck connected with a chain to the cuffs around my wrists. It made my skin itchy and the red bruises were getting deeper each time I moved, so I didn’t. I stayed as still as I could so that I won’t yank it. I laid as carefully as I could on the dirt ground so that I won’t pull on it and cause me further pain.
I only slept one-sided but I kept my eyes half open and waited whenever I’m given a plate of bread. It was like this for god knows how long, waiting, staring at the blank walls, waiting for bread and water, and watching as the sun rose and set from the small glimpse of light that came through from the partly broken space my hand couldn’t reach.
And sometimes like this, I would wonder how I ended up here, it played, blurred, but yet it was the only memory I had.
My parents left me at the age of 2, I barely remember anything then, aimlessly walking on the streets was the only blurry image I had at that time, until I was collected when I sought food in the garbage left by others. I was taken to an orphanage where I grew up and spent most of my life.
I was always alone, not joining the others when they played or talked, I was gossiped about by the others because sometimes my mind wondered... and I see things.
I can still remember that day, the last contact with the outside world...
"How much do you want her for? I will sell her for any amount"
"Is that so?" the mysterious man said, leveling his gaze on me, I leveled my orbs and clenched my skirt tightly. His blue eyes were unsettling and I knew they had no good intentions for me.
"I will purchase her then"
"Good luck," she said without any faint of sentiment for me, yanking me towards the stranger. I wouldn’t blame her because she never liked me as well as everyone in that orphanage. I was the witch and the ominous girl, she said because of me upon my arrival this place has never thrived and she was right, why else would my own parents abandon me too...