9 Learning (2/2)

It was evening, and the sun bathed the garden in a warm orange glow. Crow rubbed my back and started to speak. I could understand snippets of his speech.

”I'm sorry little one. For this to… I'm sorry.”

What was he sorry for? For my parents arguing? What had he said to them in the study to cause this row?

After a few minutes, the arguing stopped. Father walked out of the door with mother. Mother was holding back tears, and father looked dejected. He nodded at Crow, who stood up and stepped back.

Mother and father sat either side of me and held my hands. Crow reached into his robes, and I could hear his chains rattling. From his robes, he withdrew a circular object.

It was a dark metallic bracelet formed from twisting, thorny vines. On closer inspection, it was a deep red, and glistened like liquid. The dimming evening sun took on a sinister light as it highlighted the demonic spikes.

Father offered my right arm to Crow, who slipped the bracelet over my wrist. Mother gripped my other hand tightly, and my heart started to beat faster. Crow opened his mouth to speak.

”Korat,” he whispered.

There was a silent pause, then I heard whispering from behind me. It was rasping and sent a shiver down my spine. I turned my head to see who was there, but I saw no-one.

Another whisper came from my right, louder this time. I turned, but again, there was nothing there.

Whispers started coming from every direction, flooding my ears. They got louder, and I heard distant screams.

”Baby I'm right here!”

Mothers voice pierced the cacophony, and I whipped my head around to see her distraught face. I glanced at father, and he looked solemn.

I felt a sharp pain in my wrist. The bracelet was tightening. The vines were twisting and spinning, scraping and digging along my flesh.

I let out a yelp, and father gripped my hand even tighter. He was looking dead ahead at Crow, his jaw clenched.

The bracelet kept tightening, digging deeper and deeper into my wrist. I screamed out and heard mother let out a cry.

”Stop it! Make it stop!” she shouted at Crow.

Crow's lips were drawn tight into a grimace. He solemnly shook his head.

The bracelet was shredding my flesh now. Blood poured out, but the bracelet seemed to pulse and drink it in. It was tight to my skin now. It couldn't possibly get any deeper.

But it didn't stop. It kept tightening, slicing a trench into my wrist. I squirmed and tried to rip my hands free from my parents' grips. I had to get the bracelet off.

Mother let go, but father held on tight. I clawed away at the bracelet, but it felt like iron and shredded my hand when I touched it.

Crow yanked my hand away. All I could do was watch and shriek in pain as the bracelet churned chunks of my flesh to blood-drained dust.

The pain was excruciating. I thrashed around and gnashed my teeth, trying to escape from their grip. I was too weak. I was being pinned to the bench, helpless as my body broke down.

My eyes rolled back in my head and I felt my consciousness drift away from my body. Inhuman screams enveloped me, then disappeared in an instant.

There was no more pain. There were no more sounds. I opened my eyes, and all I could see was red.