Chapter 1
1139 Words
*Flashback*
"Push!" the nurse yelled.
As the contractions intensified, the woman screamed as she pushed. She surrendered to the waves of pain.
The nurse was scared. She knew the woman wouldn't make it.
Her husband whispered words of encouragement as he wiped off the sweat on his wife's brow.
The woman was in much pain.
Her face as contorted with a mix of pain and determination. Each breath she took was a testament to her resilience.
Before she went into labour, she had recurring visions of her death.
Some witches told her this when she was pregnant too. It was a prophecy. She had to give up her life for her child due to the power the child carried.
There was another secret prophecy - Her other child had to be separated from this one due to how powerful the new born would be.
According to the prophecy, one must sacrifice her life for the other. It's either the mother or the child dies. The both of them cannot live at the same time.
The woman was determined to push through the pain. All she wanted was to see her baby alive before she died.
"I can see the head" the nurse said "Keep pushing"
The woman screamed out in agony. It felt like her body couldn't take it anymore. She felt like giving up but she knew she couldn't.
Finally, the moment arrived. With one final push, the woman summoned every ounce of strength inside her. As she did this, her baby came out.
The room was became filled with a symphony of cries and gasps as the baby arrived. The nurse wrapped the baby in a cloth and gave it to her mom.
The woman cuddled her baby and smiled. She was even more beautiful than she imagined.
The woman's breath was heavy and her vision was blurry.
By the door, she could see woman wearing a cloak and holding a scythe. She knew death had come for her.
"What are you looking at, honey?" her husband who stood beside her asked.
She smiled at her husband "Nothing"
She looked at death.
"It is time" death whispered to her.
The woman was the only person who could see her.
"Please" the woman whispered "Just one more minute"
"Very well then"
The woman looked at her child in admiration.
"Her name is Emerald" the woman said.
The woman named her Emerald because of how powerful, strong and special she was.
The woman looked at her husband "Take good care of her"
The husband was confused "What do you mean?"
Death couldn't wait anymore. The time had come.
Slowly, the woman felt her spirit leave her body then all of a sudden, she closed her eyes and her body went limp.
*end of flashback*
I washed the dishes in the kitchen slowly due to pains I felt in my stomach.
Forgive my manners. I got lost in my problems that I totally forgot to introduce myself.
My name is Emerald Jones. I'm what you can call an Omega, the weakest and the lowest ranking in a wolf pack. I'm an omega because my stepmother reduced my ranking as soon as my dad died and I have a weak wolf due to my lack of training.
My mom died immediately she gave birth to me.
Every day, my step mom doesn't fail to tell me that I'm not her real daughter and she won't treat me like one.
"Emerald!" my stepmother - Sarah screamer, interrupting my thoughts.
I flinched so hard in fear that a glass cup I washed dropped from my hand.
Oh no.
I watched as it made contact with the floor and shattered into uncountable pieces.
I felt my heart drop in my chest.
I dropped to my knees, trying to piece the glass pieces together.
It's a stupid impossible attempt but I didn't know what else to do. Only the moon goddess knows what punishment my Sarah will have in store for me now.
I knelt down at her feet.
"I am so sorry" I cried "Please"
"You b***h" she spat out "You are the most useless person I know. Do you know how much I got that cup? It cost more than your life"
"I'm so sorry" I pleaded with tears in my eyes "It was a mistake"
"Just like your existence. I wish you were never born"
" Mum" Amari - my step sister called out "I'm late for school"
She looked at me then her gaze switched to the glass pieces on the floor.
"Let me guess" Amari folded her hands "Emerald broke your favourite piece of China"
"Yes, she did!" Sarah cried out.
Amari shook her head, looking at me with a disgusted expression.
"Pathetic" she said "Anyway, that's her problem. You can always punish her"
She had a sinister smile on her face.
Sarah breathed in and out. She tried to steady her breathing as if controlling herself from hitting me.
"You're lucky Amari is late for school" she said "By the time I come back, I'll decide on what punishment to give you"
"No" I cried out "Please"
As she left, I held her feet but she kicked me hard in the face.
I laid on the floor in a pool of my own tears. I didn't have the strength to take any more punishment. I'm just recovering from a recent punishment she gave me.
I didn't eat at home for four days straight. She instructed the maid not to give me food. I had to eat their remnants out of a garbage can. I can't even fathom what she might have planned for me this time.
I stood up, wiping my tears away.
I have to be strong. What's done is done. Crying won't stick the pieces of glass back together.
I observed Sarah and Amari leaving in their car as I looked through the kitchen window.
I have to move quickly. If I don't, I'll be late for class. I must leave now because I can't take any more humiliation today.
I hurriedly collected the glass fragments and dumped them in the trash.
After grabbing my bag, I walked out of my house and down to the bus stop.
Luckily, I arrived at the bus stop just in time. I boarded the bus as soon as it arrived at the station.
I sat in my usual spot at the back, far away from everyone. Nobody wanted to sit next to me anyway.
When I was seated, I leaned my head against the window.
As the bus took off, I looked outside with my head in the clouds, thinking about how good life would be if I could just live in a place far away.
It doesn't matter where it is as long as it's far away from here.
- Writer
