Fear, anger and the smell of fried chicken filled the air after hours of waiting for her husband to come home. She’d been re-heating the meal she made four times now while waiting for him.
He was always in a better mood when his food was warm.
And sometimes he’d be happier if she looked pretty. She’d taken great care with how she put on her makeup today. Just as he liked. Then, she and her daughter waited at the door with big smiles on their faces, hoping that maybe, for once, just this once, this year would be different. That they’d go back to the way they were before so they wouldn’t have to keep on second guessing everything.
As the years went on by and with every birthday, his daughter had, things just kept on getting harder and harder.
But this year turned out to be no good either. And he had taken all of the money she saved for today. Yet the clock had already stuck past midnight and there was no sign of him. Not even a missed call or a text. Even when he promised he’d be back in time with a gift.
‘As if he’d done anything nice enough for us to greet him like that willingly’ Margaret thought bitterly.
Her husband couldn’t even keep the rain out of their home on most days. She still had the pots and buckets from the last storm in place. The walls hadn’t even been painted yet, still the same old dull and depressing gray concrete they always were. The only different over the years were the small crayon drawings her daughter scribbled over the wall. A splash of color in an otherwise, dark and depressing place.
When they’d first met, he promised her the world. A big house with a beautiful garden their children would play in. Back then he was still that charming and suave man in a uniform with big dreams. And she was that bright eyed young woman who was naive enough to give up everything for him.
Nine years later and this is what they had to show for.
The exhausting days of work with no passion and little pay. Every welt and sore on her body, the way her eye bags deepened and the glow to her skin and eyes dimmed. All of it was just a reminder of how much she lost.
She felt like such an idiot. Every promise he made he never came true. Why on earth would this time be different? At this point, tears were already pricking her eyes and she unconsciously held her daughter tighter.
How long? She’d always wonder. Counting every single day.
Taking a deep breath, her opened the door to the storage room which, in not so peaceful times, became their temporary shelter. There were only two rooms in their small house, the bedroom which her husband liked to keep to himself most of the time and this room. It was cramped with too many things to count, pots, toys, linens, and a large wooden cabinet which took up nearly a quarter of the room. The only place they were able to sleep on was the thin mattress in the middle.
She laid her daughter down and pushed a stray lock of thick black hair from her perfect little face. Her brown chubby little cheeks and long dark eyelashes hanging from large doe eyes. Bushy eyebrows furrowed as she could feel the slight tickle of her mother’s calloused finger against her forehead. She looked so much like her father. It was almost inconceivable to her how such a little angel came from a monster like him.
Relishing in the moment of peace they had, time seem to fly. That is, until she heard banging on their front door. The familiar sound making her body still and her heart race. It felt like there were pins pricking her body and an invisible force holding her down.
The banging only got louder.
Mustering whatever courage she had that night; she got on her feet and went to the door.
Just another night, you can get through this. It’ll all be alright by morning.
image [https://i.imgur.com/jhgmYn2.png]
Asha woke up with a jolt. Her stubby fingers clawing against the sheets to pull herself up.
It’s happening again.
Those loud noises, the anger of her father, the sound of a struggle. The way the furniture cracks when it breaks and how at the end everything goes quiet.
Her mother always told her never to open the door until she said it was okay. But tonight, she didn’t listen. A part of her didn’t want to. If she could do something this time and be there for her mother, she would. She was never brave enough to try but tonight her heart told her that she just had to.
And maybe this time things would turn out well. That would have been the best birthday present she could ever ask for. Her father would calm down and they could celebrate like they planned. Even if it was later than she hoped it didn’t matter to Asha.
She peeked outside the door and with a trembling hand pulled it back just enough to see what was happening. It was like watching a storm from outside a window. So many things were happening at once and it almost didn’t seem real.
She didn’t want it to be real.
Her heart was beating so fast in her chest and she felt tears prick her eyes. But she was a big girl now and big girls don’t cry. Even if her hand was trembling and she flinched at every sharp action they took.
The words her father would repeat, over and over again. It was the same thing over and over again. He’d yell about things that happened before she was born and start to throw things.
Unconsciously she started muttering the same words her father had shouted. Every word and sentence were ingrained into her mind like picture. He’d always go on and on about the same thing’s every single night.
Her mother fought back, some nights she didn’t and sometimes her father would just leave. But there was a fire in her mother’s glistening eyes. A stubborn resolution against his frightening presence.
“YOU DONT GET THE RIGHT TO COME BACK HERE AND DEMAND AFTER WASTING OUR MONEY ON-“
The slap was strong enough to send her stumbling backwards.
Asha's eyes went wide with fear as she saw her father raise his fist. Without a second thought she dashed towards her mother’s curled up figure on the floor and hugged her as tight as she could. She squeezed her mother tighter, shielding her as best she could with her small body. She screwed her eyes shut, bracing for the impact, but it never came.
Instead, she heard her father's voice, thick with emotion. "You..." he muttered. He raised his fist to the cowering pair. But as if he was hit by a moment of clarity he hesitated. His expression was stiff and unreadable to the mother. Lowering his arm, his fist still clenched tightly.
"I wish I never met you," he spat, the words dripping with venom.
He slammed the door and went off into the night. She heard the roar of his motorcycle and waited until it got father and father till she closed her eyes. Tired and lacking the strength to pull herself together, she laid still on the floor as minutes turned to hours. Her little girl, with her big heart and trembling voice, trying to put on a brave act, was reassuring her throughout it all.
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A million thoughts were racing in her head and not a single one of them brought her back to reality. They cradled her into an ocean of dreams. image [https://imgur.com/rHQiXR1]
image [https://i.imgur.com/gAMPx57.png]
Bubbles, a sea of bubbles in a vast blue ocean. Light piercing through the water’s clear surface.
Margaret was floating, cradled by the oceans wave. She couldn’t feel her body, herself, only the fleeting touches of consciousness in her mind. Everything felt calm, almost numb.
Ah this was a dream. She thought, watching her breath turn into air bubbles as she sank deeper into the ocean. Light fleeting from her sight. She resigned herself to her inevitable fate. Closing her eyes and letting herself be washed away.
But destiny has other plans and she was forcefully pulled by a corporeal figure. Its voice was ethereal, resounding through the water and calling out to her in desperation.
Loud and commanding, Margaret shut her eyes and tried to will the voice away. She didn’t want to deal with this right now, she wanted to sleep all the pain away like she always did.
But it was stronger than her, it pulled her out of her reverie, a powerful force pulling to the surface. She could barely make out the words it was saying but before she broke the water’s surface there was a glimpse of a message flashing in front of her eyes before woke with a start.
Welcome
Name: Margaret
Level: 1
Species: Human (Earthborn)
Current Stats:
Strength: 4
Wisdom: 3
Intellect: 5
Constitution: 2
Dexterity: 3
Charisma: 1
Journey of the soul: Destiny’s current has pulled you along. The path forward is yours to take from now on. Grants the user:
Serendipity (1 point): Increases the likelihood of fortunate encounters and opportunities, guiding you towards helpful allies and beneficial resources in your journey.
Maternal Instinct (2 points): Heightens your natural instincts as a mother against destiny’s script.
image [https://i.imgur.com/gAMPx57.png]
“Mama, Mama!”
Margaret stirred, the sides of her head pulsating.
The scent of wildflowers filled the air and she could feel a cool breeze brush against her skin. Sounds of grass swaying against the wind and birds chirping much to her daughter’s delight were brought into focus.
What she saw next, she could have only been able to see in those fancy post cards they sold in the supermarket.
A bright sunny day in a field of flowers, all in bloom, growing in an open clearing surrounded by mountains overlooking the country side. Her daughter, playing, running in a circle, chasing a glowing ball of light that sounded like it was giggling.
“Huh?”
Margaret tried to lift her own body despite the aching in her body. She managed to sit upright in the middle of the field and stand on her feet after a bit of struggle. There was a throbbing pain in her head and even the smallest movement of her arms and left leg sent a sharp sting. But she got through it the way she always did.
Carefully, she walked to towards her daughter who stopped and stood in place the moment she saw her mother making her way towards her. Her little hands were gently clasped together. In between thing was a strange light and sound trying to break itself free.
“Mama look what I caught!” Her daughter said proudly.
When her daughter opened her hands a disgruntled ball of light flew to her face. Sharp and pointed features with large eyes and gossamer wings stared at her curiously before glancing towards the daughter and flying off into the forest.
Margaret stared in disbelief. It must have been a trick of the light. In no way was that a-fairy? Or whatever fantastical creature. Those only existed in fairy tales.
Her daughter looked up at her with a smile and grabbed hold of her hand.
“Mama, follow me. We’re going to make you all better!”
“Sweetie, what do you mean?”
Asha tugged and pointed in the direction of the forest.
“They told me they could if we go there!”
“Where is-there?” Margaret muttered in confusion.
Struggling to make sense of what was happening. This had to be a dream of some sorts. It was too bizarre. Then again, if it was a dream there was no harm in playing along. This was a relatively tame dream all things considered.
Her eyes widened in realization and she turned to scold her daughter.
“And who is they? Haven’t I told you not to talk to strangers?”
Even in a dream she couldn’t let this slide.
“Just trust me mama, it’ll be fine, I think?” Her daughter tried to reason. She was calm, even inquisitive. Nothing about this situation seem to perturb her even though there were so many things out of place. It wasn’t like her at all. Her daughter was more precautious than this.
Margaret furrowed her brows in doubt. That was not in the least bit reassuring.
Seeing her mother’s hesitance Asha tugged harder. Her little face scrunched up in determination. “Just follow me!”
Margaret relented, she never had it in her to see her daughter so upset before.
“Asha. . . . ”
Well, it’s a dream anyway. How bad could it be?
They left the clearing and went into the woods. The farther they went to the stranger broken monuments of stone started to appear. They were littered throughout the ruin, as if it was the remnants of an old civilization. There were carvings etched onto trees and scattered blades driven into the ground.
And she heard that strange noise that sounded like a child’s laugh. Orbs of glowing light started to trail a path to a place where the dirt path started to become stone and the monuments were more intact. And there it was, a large building in the distance. It’s large stone walls carved and inlaid with a substance she was unaware of which shined in the distance.
The orbs of light flew to the door and beckoned them to step forward.
Something about this felt suspicious and it clawed at Margaret’s stomach. But her feet had a mind of its own. Following her daughter atop the large stairs that led to massive stone doors with two figures on either side. One the left was a knight with long hair and the most attractive face she’d ever seen, he was carrying a sword. On the right was a small childlike figure with large ears curled upwards and a fanged grin. He was carrying a heavy looking axe and both of their weapons were crossed, meeting at the center of the door.
She glanced to her daughter who, to her bewilderment seemed almost entranced. Placing a hand on the center and the carvings started to glow. The temple shook and the doors began to open.
A vast and large garden with a clear pool of water in the middle and statues of various fantasy game looking figures she thought would be suited better in covers the kinds they sold in stores rather than ones found in real life.
“There.”
Her daughter said, pointing to the pool. A glowing orb floating next to her, whispering into her ear with a soft voice. Perturbed, she quickly shooed the strange creature away.
“You’ll be all better if you go inside. They said you wound!”
Her daughter pleaded with her. The grip on her hand tightened.
Sighing, Margaret went towards the pool just to appease her daughter, not really intending on taking a dip. The pool wasn’t that deep, she’d say it was about waist high for her and given her small stature wasn’t much. The water looked clean, it was clear enough to see the bottom of the pool. There were ripples on the surface and it sounded like it was connected to a spring.
Hesitantly, she dipped her hand into the water. It felt cool against her skin. Tempted, she decided to cup her hands to draw a bit of water to sip. It felt invigorating when she drank it. And her mind felt
Suddenly she heard a strange sound, it sounded line one of those noises a game console would make. Then out of nowhere a screen appeared.
It was an almost translucent screen with large letters that spelled;
‘Status Effect: Enervated (duration 8 hours)’
“What on earth?”
She pulled up the sleeves of her sweater in a hurry. Stretching out her arms she saw, nothing. No sign of any of her bruises. They were gone. And she felt, incredible. . . . There was no other word to describe it. Looking down into the pools’ clear surface she could see herself reflected in them. Her face still looked tired and worn from years of overwork but there was a bit more life to it than there had been before. And the longer she stared into her own reflection it started to feel as though nothing could be more real.
This must be a dream. It has to be, it wouldn’t explain any of this otherwise. Another cruel game her mind played as she tried to run away from herself. But somehow, something deep inside was telling her it wasn’t.
Then she heard her daughter scream.