Cursed Fables - Generation Four - Chapter Thirty Five
It appears I have finally worked myself out of my funk and appear to be able to write semi regularly again :) I’m not saying it’s to my best ever standard, but I’m actually pretty proud of this one. Yet I really want to age Renee up and get onto the ‘good’ part of this gen. But I’ll hold off….hopefully.
With that being said, let’s crack on. But before I do so, I need to say the school from the following scene wasn’t made by me, it’s made by Jammee and I found it by typing school sets on Google.
That being said…let’s go.
“Again, I don’t want to alarm either of you by inviting you in this morning to see me, I was just wondering if either of you knew of anything that might have…..effected Renee?” She looked between Darcy and I, and judging by her clueless expression, she hadn’t received the answer she had been hoping for.
“Is something wrong with Renee at school?” Darcy piped up, leant forward in her chair, more fidgety than I had seen her since we were teens. It was a I never hoped to see on her again. But perhaps I had simply been to hopeful to think our pasts would just vanish into thin air.
Renee’s teacher shook her head. “No, her grades are still satisfactory…however I have noticed a sharp decline that started almost 2 months ago to the day.”
I clear my throat and try to keep my tone polite as I say, “Is that so alarming? All kids struggle at one point or another right? She’s only eight after all, and between her friends, her horse and her time with us, she has a lot going on don’t you think?”
Darcy actually had the nerve to kick my leg under the table and give me the look.
“I’m sorry about Calen. He just gets a little….protective where Renee is concerned.” She said in a much to sweet tone which made my stomach turn. I was only defending our daughter! And in part, I was actually curious. After all, Darcy nor I had our parents on hand to guide us through raising Renee. And she had only ever seemed happy with us.
Her teacher shook her head. “It’s natural for young parents to query where their child is at intellectually. It’s quite alright, and as for her grades, that’s not the main concern….does Renee get enough sleep at home?”
We both drew a blank. Why was that being called into question?
“She goes to bed at 8, no later than 9 and is up by 8. Why?” I replied.
“She hasn’t told you?” She asked, shaking her head and hastily writing something on the notepad in front of her. “I’ve had to send her to the nurse several times because she has fallen asleep in class and I haven’t been able to wake her.”
Judging by Darcy’s glare, she felt as angry as I was. “Then why were we not informed of this!?”
“Mr Everett, please came down. As I said, this has only been going on for a few months and as you said, this is a busy time in her life. The faculty and I were just wondering if maybe she had a condition….or something had happened?”
“Are you implying something is wrong with our daughter?” Darcy rose to her feet. It was surprising that for once, I was the calmer one.
“N-no. Perhaps I should start this over?”
~~~~
I’d promised my friends I would only have a lie down for a second because the bright sunlight was giving me a headache…but within a second I was out like a light. And it frustrated me, because I had already been teased enough for falling asleep in class but….
I could only sleep in peace, during the day! I didn’t know why! I kept on having that same dream…only different each time. That girl was in it again. The girl with the soulless eyes, and although she never spoke to me, it felt haunting and chilling each time she looked at me.
That other woman was always there too. Urging me to trust her. To aid her. Yet I knew it all had to be lies. My family was completely normal. The supernatural don’t exist and-
“Nee, wake up already! If the dinner ladies catch you passed out again, they’ll take you to the office!”
I sat up, rubbing my eyes and looking wide awake which was sadly, all to instinctive these days. I flash my friends a appreciative smile. “Thanks…the last thing I need is my parents involved.”
“Are you sure you’re doing alright? Maybe you should tell your parents….maybe you’re ill?” Amber stressed. Again. And it wasn’t like I appreciated the concern…I was just afraid that if I told the truth to my friends so soon after making them…they’d think I was crazy.
I was starting to think I was too. Dreaming the same dark dream again and again.
“I can’t…they’re already overprotective as it is.” I yawned, stretching my legs and breathing in the warm air.
“Your dad practically glared holes through me the last time I came over.” Samuel added, shivering to add effect to his statement.
Bella rolled her eyes, quick to disagree with Samuel as always. “That’s just a dad thing. Renee is his darling princess after all.”
“Which explains why your dad doesn’t care when I come over to yours…you’re nothing like a princess. More like an ogre.” Samuel argued back. The pair continued to bicker amongst themselves while I found my mind wondering…against my will back to that girl again. And my ‘meeting’ with Formetia. Maybe if I just accepted I would-
“Nee? Can I talk to you for a sec? Just us?” Amber asked, a shy smile on her face and her arm outstretched to me. I look over at our friends and decide some alone time would probably do me some good.
I take her hand and smile back at her warmly. “Sure, where to?”
As soon as I smiled at her, her own smile became brighter. Then her shoulders hunched as she looked around for somewhere we could go. “..We could go up there?”
I follow her gaze to the climbing frame and nod.
Being more athletic than me, Amber manages to climb up to the top a lot faster than me, so as soon as she sees my head poke up, she begins to speak to me. “Are you sure nothing is wrong? You can talk to me you know….we’re friends right?” She asked unsurely and it makes me instantly feel guilty.
Amber has done nothing but extend her hand out to me, invite me to play, introduce me to her friends. She’s always had my back, and yet I must have been nothing but a nuisance to her and the others recently. And every time they offered me help or comfort I pushed them away.
“Of course we are,” I blurted fast, pulling myself to a standing position. “I’ve never been happier since you let me into your group. Honest. And my sudden ill-health has nothing to do with you. Any of you.” I said reassuringly.
She turned to face me. “Then you can tell me. I won’t tell anyone else if that’s what your afraid of. Or look at you any differently. You’re still my friend. The friend who can reach anyone, human or otherwise with just a mere glance…I’m a little envious actually.”
Human or otherwise… for some reason those words resonated within me.
“Do you believe in the supernatural?” I asked out of the blue, shocking both me and her. I blush slightly and turn away, looking down at our classmates, and wondering if any of them were going through anything similar to me. I couldn’t be the only one.
Amber chuckled softly. “That was a sudden topic change. As for the question….I’d like to think they are out there. It would make life a little more exciting wouldn’t it? Of course….I’m not going to dedicate my life to finding them either.”
I bite down on my lip a little. “I….I…I either have a overactive imagination…or I’m psychic of some kind.”
“….Go on?” Amber encouraged, standing beside me, arms draped over the edge of the ledge.
So I filled her in on my reoccurring dream. Because I wanted to trust someone…and something in my gut told me not to tell my parents about this. So I trusted Amber. And to her credit, she listed with interest and without judgement.
In fact we spoke for so long that Bella and Samuel began to call for us, saying that it was time to head back inside for class. I had no idea that I had spent so much time talking with her about this.
I opened up to her about my secret obsession with fantasy books. She reassured me, that it was because of them that I was having these dreams. And because they were dreams, what was so bad about going along with it? What harm could it possibly do?
“Thanks for being my friend Amber.” I said, feeling the most calm and comfortable that I had for months now. I felt normal again, I wasn’t the only one who believed in the fictional, and there was an explanation to my craziness.
She laughed once I said that. “I was about to say the same thing to you….guess that means we’ll always be best friends, right?”
“Right.” I agreed brightly. We hugged quickly, before the bell chimed for class to start, and Amber easily jumped down the pole and landed with ease on the floor.
I on the other hand, wasn’t as graceful or quick to exit the climbing frame. Heights had never been a strong point of mine, not to mention how uncoordinated I was, and this was just asking for trouble.
But this was the start of something new for me, a new me. I was beginning to open up to someone, and had never accepted myself as much as I had in the moment of time.
And when I looked down to see Amber waiting patiently for me, I made my mind up.
I closed my eyes and jumped, reaching out to hold onto the pole, gripping for dear life.
Hearing Ambers’ “Good job” made my day all the more special. I didn’t realise how shy and unsociable I was before until I knew what it was like to have friends.
I felt good. And that was good.
~~~~
Lessons went by a lot faster than I expected they would, and for once I didn’t feel exhausted so I was actually able to pay attention. It hit me how far I had fallen behind and made a mental note to make sure I asked my friends for help with what I missed.
Still, I was grateful when home time rolled round. I was eager to get home, spend some time with my parents and hopefully get some decent sleep for a change. I all but walked like a zombie out of school until someone tapped me on the shoulder.
I look over my shoulder and find Nicholas standing behind me with a giddy look on his face. Which was strange, because he often looked gloomy. And never spoke to me.
“Oh…hey Nick. You need something?” I asked, curious as to what he would want from me.
“No, no, I don’t need anything….Just wanted to say thanks to you for saving my life again. I still don’t know how you did it, but if it wasn’t for you, my Mom said I wouldn’t be here today. So thanks. I owe you.”
The conversation kind of make me uncomfortable. As happy as I was that I had ‘helped’ him, I had also heard that Nicholas was going around and telling everyone that I was some miracle healer. That I had magically stopped his reaction from happening with just a look. Which was ridiculous to even begin to comprehend. Yet some people actually believed it. I’d been approached several times and asked how I did it.
One kid even thought I was a witch because of it. That and my red hair. Yeah, not a nice kid.
“And I know this is probably weird considering I don’t talk to you often but I….I really like you Renee. Don’t listen to what everyone else says…you’re pretty. Like an angel.”
The entire conversation only got worse and worse. I didn’t know how to reply to his confessions. No one called me pretty before, besides my parents obviously. But at the same time, people were only saying things about me, because of him.
“Uh…thanks Nick, can I call you that?” He nods, and I go on. “As for what happened at the fair….I didn’t do anything. I only checked if you were okay. You must have been the one to realise what was going on and did something. I literally had no idea what I was doing…and I’d like it is you told everyone else that too.”
He looked downtrodden but nodded at me eagerly. “If that’s what you want. See you tomorrow!”
The conversation had made me late, so I expected my mother to be cross with me for making her worried. I was prepared for that.
What I wasn’t prepared for, was my father to be there too. Why? He worked at this time every week day.
“Hi Mom…Dad. Sorry I’m late. I was talking to a friend.”
They both looked at me, stern yet worried equally. “We’ll discuss it later. Hop into the back.”
I did. A feeling of dread in my stomach.
~~~~
“Why didn’t you tell us something so serious as you falling asleep in class? On a number of occasions! If you’re feeling sick, then tell us. We wouldn’t be mad over something like that. Are you not sleeping? Being bullied? I don’t know….teacher singling you out? Why wouldn’t you let us know?” My dad hurtled question after question at me, and it made my head spin as I tried to keep up.
“Calen…don’t you think you need to calm down a little?” My mother suggested, wrapping her arms around one of his. He took a deep breath.
“Renee Honey…we just want to know you’re alright..you can tell us anything, anything you know?”
I did feel guilt for the worry I had caused them both. I never wanted them to feel like bad parents or anything. I just knew they’d ask very detailed questions, questions that would make this…difficult.
“I’m sorry Daddy…I didn’t want to worry you because you’re so busy with work. Nothing is wrong, I’m making friends, not being bullied. And school is fine, I understand everything…I was just having nightmares.”
“Nightmares?” He probed, a hand on his hip. “What kind?”
“You know…normal stuff. Falling from high places, monsters…I read it up at school actually. I think I was watching things online that I wasn’t ready for…but I’ve stopped now. Promise.”
To my relief, he seemed to relax and put an hand on my shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. “Alright Kiddo. I trust that you know your own limits and I respect that you have your own way of dealing with it. Just know, that no matter what happens, we are here for you okay?”
“Okay Daddy, I love you.” I hug them both and we eat dinner together. Dad even offers to help me with my homework, which is nice. Although I am still tired, I’m also excited to get to sleep, confident that I’ve finally cracked what I need to do.
It doesn’t take long for sleep to claim me once I’m in bed.
And instead of begging for the dreams to stop, I invite them in, loudly.
~~~
It’s no surprise to find myself in that office once again.
“Alright Formetia. I’ll do what you asked. I’ll help talk to this kid. So you can stop with the drama works and guilt trips.” I spoke boldly. I suspected I only sounded so confident because I knew this was my own dream.
I made the shots, even if I didn’t realise it.
She seemed to appear out of nowhere. A shadows stretched out from the corner and slowly began to rise up into solid shape. And there she was in her eerie beauty.
“I’m curious child. What made you suddenly believe in what I told you? I doubt that your father finally saw reason and told you the truth.” Her words were still powerful, magnified and melodic. Even if they still made no sense and I wondered yet again, why my mind was thinking of these things.
I huff, ignoring her statement. “I don’t believe what you say about me and my dad. Or any of this…but if I can help someone…then I will. If I didn’t, want kind of person would that make me?”
She chuckled and ran a hand through her hair briefly, before outstretching her hand and made a ‘weaving’ motion with it, black strands seemed to appear from thin air with her movements.
“It’s as pure reason as any I’ve heard. You truly are your fathers daughter. But know this, if you truly didn’t believe you would not be able to see me. Or begin to comprehend any of this. Your father may think removing you from that world is enough, but your blood calls for it. It always will.”
“If you say so,” I agreed in the hopes that if I did, she would stop confusing me with her words. “So what do I do now?”
“That’s simple,” She said cocking her head to the side. “Now you soothe the child’s mind. Be there for her, when no one else can.” Her words seemed to boom more than usual. I felt my head grow heavy, so much so I had to shield my eyes from the light. Everything hurt.
And then suddenly it didn’t.
When I opened my eyes, nothing was as it was before. Formetia didn’t sit before me, I (thankfully) wasn’t in my undies, and the room was a lot darker. Colder. I wondered how I was able to feel the temperature like this. Could dreams really be this vivid?
“I don’t know why you’re here but you need to leave.” I turned in the direction of the voice. It was quiet and scratchy. And young.
Even though I didn’t see her eyes, I knew this was the same girl who had been ‘haunting’ me. And yet up close she appeared like any other girl.
“Even if I could do that, and I can’t….I’m not going to leave someone alone in the dark like this…why are you here anyway?” I asked her, anxious to see where this was going.
She scoffed. “You ask like I know? The only thing I know with certainty are the four walls around me. I wonder though….why after all of these years am I finally imagining some company now? It doesn’t make any sense. Nor is there a purpose. You can disappear now.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. This is turning into one huge headache! I’m not the imaginary one here. You are. Let’s get this straight right now. None of what you are saying makes sense…are you a prisoner of some sort?”
She raises a brow at me, finally turning around slightly so I can see the dark silhouette of her face. “What makes you ask that?”
I look around my surroundings sceptically. “No other explanation for a dark, dreary cell really. Though if we’re going by that logic, there is no reason for a kid to be a prisoner anyway. Unless you’re a magical princess of some kind?” I asked sarcastically.
She leant forward…and a ghost of a smile graced her lips, for a second her still dark eyes appeared to take on life. “Me? A princess? Are you kidding? I’m as far from it as I can possibly be.”
Her sudden attitude change made me smile back without realising. I noticed it was starting to feel like how I felt around Amber. This felt like friendship. As strange as it was.
“Yeah I figured that,” I answered linking my arms together behind my back. “So if not a princess….a witch?”
This time she laughed, yet the action made her pause for a moment, as if shocking even herself. “I guess you got me. I’m a witch. What’s from stopping me from turning you into a toad?” She raised a brow, then suddenly waved her arms in front of her like Formetia had. Yet nothing happened.
She was playing. Of course she was.
“Because we’re friends. And if it wasn’t for me, you’d have nothing to do but sit in the dark. And that’s no fun.” I declared warmly.
“We’re friends?” She asked, placing her hands back into her lap and looking down for a moment. I took the time to give her a quick once over, she appeared pale, grubby and a little on the skinny side, but other than that….okay. “You’re actually not afraid of me….or going to hurt me.”
I offer my hand out to her, just like Amber had me. “Of course not. I’d never hurt anyone. Especially a witch, cause you know…green isn’t my colour.”
She held her hand out, then seemed to hesitate, lips thin and eyes scrunched over. “And you’re sure you’re not a troll?”
I roll my eyes, moving forward and grasping her hand into mine and hold in there for a few seconds. “Now we have to be friends. We made a pact.” I declare happily, hopping onto the bed beside her, she watched me with a guarded expression.
“So…what exactly do friends do?” She asked me, looking unsure and confused.
…What did they do? I kind of just followed the others lead when I was with them. I never took action.
“Um…I guess we talk about us. What’s your name?”
Again she paused, clearly making a decision inertly before looking at me and saying. “Freya. And you?”
“Renee. See, that wasn’t so bad was it?” I asked her, and she slowly shook her head.
Slowly I began to learn what I could about her, though her answers were vague and brief at best. Even so, it was a nice feeling being with her. Because she wasn’t real I really had nothing to hold back on with her. I confessed how school scared me, being in a group scared me because I didn’t want anything to go wrong.
And Freya listened. She listened in silence and gave answers between pauses, and slowly I noticed, she appeared to open up to me too.
Little did I know, that during that day, a friendship of a lifetime was made.
And scene….so I don’t plan on skipping straight to the teen stage, because I’d like to flush her character out a little more but…we’ll see. I may go CC hunting a little later to see if I can get some pieces together for a scene in mine.
ALSO…I know a lot of you have started to head over to Tumblr…and I’ve tried but it really doesn’t sit well with me. I can’t wrap my head around it….though I have been considering YouTube. I’d still post on here obviously but it might be nice to try a few LP’s with voice over there. I have a few challenges in mind 100BC challenge and the Animal Crossing challenge in mind, but what would you guys think to the idea?
I’ve actually been helping my brother record and set up his own gaming channel over the past month, and to be honest, it looks like a lot of fun. So let me know your opinions and stuff and maybe I’ll move into that in the future!
Until next time, thanks for reading and Happy Simming!