It’s not exactly a clean getaway. Not like it should be. Usa knows as much, but there’s nothing she can do about it. As her feet crash against the forest floor, as her heart beats in her ears, she tries not to think about her messy escape.

She tries not to think of the woman standing in the exit’s doorway, a seamstress that once sewed a lovely dress for Usa. There’s an expression of fear, of shock, on her face, and it’s set in stone for gods know how long. Tears slip free of Usa’s eyes. Her mind considers pathways to losing the hunters. Usa is about to enact one of these ideas when a heavy weight topples onto her from the side. Metal armor plating digs into her skin, and a scream erupts from her lips as Usa feels a rib snap. Her bag falls to the ground, the books falling with it.

“No! No! Don’t touch me!” Usa screams at the hunter whose body is currently on top of hers. “I can’t control this yet- I can’t guarantee-”

But it’s too late. One of his hands connects with the bare skin of her wrist, and her curse ignites. Usa watches him turn to stone; a sob escapes her lips, and she fights out of his grips. She notices the sword at his side and grabs it before his transformation is complete. Using its handle, the young girl beats against the stone hand attached to her wrist. It crumbles into dust, the body soon following.

She doesn’t have time to think about this. She doesn’t have time to regret what happened. Something within her has awakened along with this curse. Something dangerous, but something hopeful as well. Usa hurriedly grabs her bags and the books, then disappears behind a thick oak tree as the hunter’s companions come upon the clearing. She takes to the river that leads to the bottom of the hill. From there, it’s a simple climb, a climb in the dark, yes, but a climb that has become familiar to her over the course of the past few weeks. Usa throws off the bag and then realizes she still carries the sword.

When she looks at it, the metal is glowing a bright green. Moonlight catches the blade, and two snake eyes stare back at her.

Featured Image by David Clode on UnSplash