Blood Curse of the Shaman

The sky was turning to dusk as Lucy walked along the small, deserted path, passing through the forested area she always used to get home. The cold air wrapped around her body, but something felt even more piercing than the temperature the uneasiness gnawing at her heart. The more she tried to ignore it, the heavier the pressure around her became.

**It felt like something was watching her.**

Her steps slowed as she heard the sound of footsteps that didn't match her own.

"Sreekkk sreekk sreeekk…"

Her heart pounded wildly. She turned around, but there was no one there. The only things surrounding her were towering trees and the creeping darkness of the evening.

"who's there?" Lucy called out, her voice trembling.

No answer.

But suddenly, the air around her thickened, and a faint, eerie giggle echoed through the forest. The laughter came from everywhere at once, making it impossible to pinpoint its source. Lucy frantically looked around, and from the corner of her eye, she caught a shadow darting between the trees.

"Luuucyyy…" The voice dragged out her name, sly and chilling.

One by one, terrifying figures began to emerge. Their faces were not human. Some had glowing red eyes, others had grotesquely ruined faces, and their bodies were cloaked in thick, dark mist. The ghosts moved closer, tightening their circle around her.

"You don't deserve that power…" one of them hissed.

"Hand it over!" another shrieked, its voice like metal scraping against metal. A strong wind howled in sync with their cries.

Lucy stepped back, her body trembling. She tried to control her emotions, but fear was taking over. She knew these weren't just shadows or illusions. These were entities hunting her, demanding the power that had been passed down through her family.

"Back off!" Lucy shouted, trying to suppress her fear. But her voice came out weak. She attempted to recall a protective chant from an ancient book she once read, but the words slipped from her mind in panic.

The ghosts only laughed, drawing even closer. Some reached out toward her with bony, skeletal hands. Lucy wanted to fight back, but terror had her frozen in place.

Then, before they could touch her, footsteps echoed through the trees. Firm. Unwavering.

"That's enough! Get the hell away from her!"

A deep, commanding voice boomed through the night, shattering the eerie silence. Lucy turned, and through the darkness, a tall, imposing figure emerged. The moonlight bathed him in silver, highlighting his strong frame.

It was Malik.

He strode forward, placing himself between Lucy and the spirits. His eyes burned with quiet intensity.

"She ain't for you" he stated firmly, his voice like rolling thunder.

The spirits hesitated, their confidence wavering. There was something about Malik that made them uneasy. An unseen force radiated from his presence, pushing against them like a powerful tide.

Lucy stared at him in shock. "How… how did you find me?" she whispered.

"I could feel ya. Your energy called me," Malik answered, stepping forward.

He lifted his hand, and suddenly, the air around him vibrated. A golden light burst forth, forming a protective barrier around him. The glow was so intense that the spirits shrieked in agony.

"You all don't belong here," Malik's voice was cold, final.

The ghosts tried to resist, but the light intensified. One by one, they dissolved into nothingness, their agonized screams fading into the wind.

When it was over, the forest returned to its eerie silence. Lucy stood there, still shaken, gazing at Malik with wide eyes.

"Who the hell are you, really?" she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Malik gave her a small, knowing smirk. "Just someone lookin' out for ya."

****

In the days that followed, Malik became Lucy's silent guardian. Amidst the whispers and cold stares of the people who feared her, Malik was the one person who stood beside her. When judgmental eyes bore into her, Malik's presence reminded her she wasn't alone.

Lucy often wondered why he cared so much. But whenever she asked, Malik would dodge the question, shifting the conversation to lighter topics, making her forget her worries, even if just for a moment.

One evening, as they walked through a quiet park, Lucy couldn't hold back her curiosity anymore.

"Why you doing all this for me?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Malik looked at her, his gaze softer than usual. "'Cause I know what it's like to feel all alone. No one should have to live like that… 'specially not you."

Lucy fell silent, her heart warming at his words. For the first time in a long while, she felt a little less alone in her struggle.

But beneath Malik's smile, something remained hidden. He knew Lucy's role in something far greater than she realized. And as her protector, he wasn't just keeping her safe from outside threats but from herself.

****

Lucy was done ignoring the mystery surrounding Malik. They sat in a quiet roadside café, away from prying ears.

"Malik," Lucy started cautiously, "You always show up exactly when I need you. I know that ain't just a coincidence. You know something I don't, huh?"

Malik took a slow sip of his coffee, his lips curling into an amused smirk. "Damn, you too smart for your own good," he teased.

Lucy didn't laugh. "Nah, I'm dead serious. Who the hell *are* you? Why you helping me?"

For the first time, Malik didn't dodge the question. He set his cup down, his gaze turning distant, as if weighing his words. Then, he looked her dead in the eye.

"I believe you got a role in somethin' bigger than you know," he said. "That power in you? It ain't random. There's a reason you got it. And trust me there's a lotta folks who don't want you to figure that out."

Lucy felt a chill run down her spine. "My potential? The hell does that mean?"

"The energy in you is strong, Lucy. But power like that? It comes with a price. Left unchecked, it can destroy everything. But if you learn to control it? You could be the one to save it all."

Before she could respond, a gust of wind swept through the café, carrying a strange, unsettling scent. Malik's expression darkened instantly.

"Lucy, stay close," he muttered, his entire stance shifting.

Lucy felt her skin prickle. "What's goin' on?"

"We ain't alone," Malik replied.

Just then, the shadows around them twisted and moved. Dozens of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness. The same eerie, deformed figures from before emerged, only this time, there were *far* more of them.

"Give it back, Lucy," one of them rasped, its voice dripping with malice.

Lucy froze, panic gripping her chest. But before she could react, Malik was already in front of her.

"You all really don't know when to quit, huh?" he growled.

The creatures laughed mockingly, but their amusement died the moment Malik lifted his hand. This time, the golden light around him was *blinding.*

The spirits shrieked, their forms writhing in agony.

"Ain't no place for y'all here," Malik declared, his voice echoing with finality.

One by one, the spirits vanished, swallowed by his light.

As the last of them disappeared, Lucy stared at Malik in shock.

"You… you ain't normal, are you?" she whispered.

Malik turned to her, his usual smirk back in place. "I never said I was."

And for the first time, Lucy realized Malik wasn't just her protector. He was the key to unlocking the truth about her power.

And the truth… could change everything.