The morning after, before heading into school there was a call on my phone, a number I didn’t have registered…

“Hello?”

“Liz?” a voice asked quietly.

“Aye?”

“It's Ellie.” There was a sniffle from the other end, she was crying.

Is she that upset?

“oh… hey…” I answered softly.

“I..I think I got what Scarlett and Natalie got… I think I'm gonna die.”

“What?”

“My hair is falling out and my teeth feel weird, I think it's happening to me.”

“…I’m… sorry to hear that… but you’re not gonna die.” I tried to assure her.

“The others did.”

“Wait, Natalie is dead too?!”

“Yeah…”

“But- but Scarlett killed herself how d-?“

“-Natalie died in the hospital early this morning, her sister called me, it wasn’t suicide and I-I don’t think it was suicide for Scarlett either, everyone just assumed because it was so sudden but I-I think they were wrong…”

…Oh god… Oh my god.

“It's some kind of disease, It might- might be from the Field. I- I’m so sorry I- I think I might have passed it on to you when I hit you.”

Oh Ellie…

“L-Liz… I-I’m sorry about everything- I- I-… the reason I-…”

She was spluttering through her tears.

“We- we had been growing apart for sometime and we didn’t have that much in common anymore. With the others I had so much fun I- I didn’t want to give that up and I- I’m sorry- I know I wasn’t a good friend but we weren’t what we used to be anymore- I thought we were both moving on but I still- I still wanted us to be nice to each other for old times sake- I really just didn’t… didn’t want you to hate me… that’s all. I’m sorry… if you want you can… have my-… my laptop when I’m gone... I still have our old character file on Highfort 3, remember...? Dark Witch Vescuria?” She burst into tears and no longer able to hold back, so did I.

Fuck me what have I done?!

What's wrong with me!?

“You- you’re not gonna die. I think- I think I know how to cure you.”

“W-what?” she sounded startled.

“I- just give me some time ok! You’re going to be fine! Just- just trust me.”

I hung up the phone before she could ask anything else.

Christ!

After wiping off my tears, I half ran, half jogged across town to the pot. I gave it a firm kick though it stung my foot.

“You! I asked you to curse them not to kill them! What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

“Oh?” the voice emanated.

“I never wanted you to murder them!”

“I believe I already told you this, but the curses come from you, I simply placed it upon them.”

“That’s bullshite! I- I wanted them to suffer but I never intended for anyone to die!”

“I used parts of you to make it, your hair, teeth and blood, it is born of your being, of your malice. If you did not truly wish for them to die, then it would not have occurred.”

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

“no! I would never… that’s not true!”

“The guilt or regret you may feel now is only a… reactionary response. Your underlying emotions are proven by the effects.”

“Reactionary?! I am reacting to you murdering people! Ofcourse I’m fucking pissed!”

“If anything you should feel proud, I have laid many curses before, but you put almost all of them all to shame.”

“what?”

“a soul as twisted as yours is truly a rare thing.”

“my soul?!- Whatever, that doesn’t matter! Just remove the curse from Ellie! Y-you can do that right!?”

“I can.”

“Oh Thank God… then do it. Please.”

It held out its grotesque hand in expectation.

“w-what is it?”

“Removing a curse requires a counter curse and thus, a new arrangement with and offering.”

“Eh?! I- whatever, what do you want this time?”

“As this is your fourth request, I’ll require a heart.”

“Ach… Well ok, that should be fine, they probably sell them at the butchers-“

“-From a human.”

“W-what?”

“I’ll need a human heart to counteract the curse you made for her.” It spoke plainly as if this request was no different from the previous.

“y-you’re joking right?”

“I already informed you that each subsequent curse requires a greater sacrifice than the last, this is no different.”

“You asked me for a stoat last time!”

“I asked you for flesh and blood.”

“T-t-that’s not my point! look you said it was born of my hatred right? s-so if I stop hating will that make it stop?”

Bubbles erupted from the pot, resounding almost like laughter.

“I highly doubt that would work even if you were capable of it.”

“What if- what if I died, would that stop it?”

“If it did, would you kill yourself to save her?” it asked.

“I-No- I don’t know- I’m just asking if it's an option?”

“Curses are made to last beyond the death of the instigator, indeed they are designed specifically so but in this case...”

“But what?! how the fuck am I supposed to get a human heart?!”

“If you’re really so desperate that shouldn’t be a problem. After all, You already have one.”

“huh?”

“Right here.” It pointed at my chest.

“M-M-My heart?! You w-want my heart?!”

“It will do quite nicely.”

“h-h-how would I even give it to you?!”

“Just hop inside the pot, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

I screamed.

“Should you wish to provide an alternative, I suppose you’ll have to get creative… and soon… I doubt she has much more than a whole day left.”

I screamed again clutching my head.

This can't be happening!

Oh god what have I done?! What is wrong with me?!

“There is one more thing… you’ll need another sample of yourself, you might want to get that out of the way first.”

“f-fine damnit, you want some fingernail clippings or-?”

“That will no longer suffice, hair and nails are composed of the same material after all, I need something you haven’t given me before.”

“Like what?! what else do I have?”

“a bone would do, some skin or an eye.”

“f-f-f-fuck! H-how am I supposed to-?!”

“If you’d like, I could pull one of your bones out from a finger or a toe, I could take one of your eyes if you prefer… but I can also remove a thin layer of skin from your arm, that is perhaps the less painful and less permanent option.”

“my skin?!”

“a portion will suffice.”

“jesus- fine, just get it over with!”

“very well, but to do this i'll need you to kneel on the ground turned away from the pot.”

“what?! why?”

“so I can remove a piece of your skin.”

“but how-?!”

“Shut your eyes then lower your head into the grass, roll up your sleeve and hold your arm.”

What the hell is this?

I did as it instructed.

There was a sound from behind me, something rising out of the water.

And stepping out of the pot.

WHAT THE HELL?!

IT HAD A BODY?! AND IT COULD WALK THIS WHOLE TIME?!

“Be sure you keep your eyes shut.” The voice wasn’t from the pot anymore.

I heard footsteps on the grass beside me, delicate and wet, growing closer until they stopped, just behind me.

For a moment there it must have just stood there unmoving, but then I felt it's touch upon my arm, an indiscernible sensation at first but it soon became a damp and icy sting.

It slid what I could only imagine was its vile fingers across the length of my bicep and then peeled off a thin layer of my skin from that same spot.

Bile shot up the back of my throat. It was painful but not unbearably so, its touch had been somehow more unpleasant.

Behind me I heard that wretched thing step back to the pot, climb back inside and submerge itself in its fetid murk.

“Now all that remains is the heart… best of luck.” There was almost an air of smug mockery to its tone.

Jesus Christ, what the fuck have I done?!