Nuturing Evil

2- The Cursed Ring

My hands curled in a fist as my lips curled into a sorrowful smile, whispering, talking to myself, “Did you see? No one can escape the painful truth of death.” 

“That's too cruel, ya know.” Ed smiled, bending to my level and helping me to stand but it wasn’t a lie either, I replied with a sigh, getting up and glancing at Mrs Harley, sobbing, losing her hope as people began to gather and I moved back, “Aren’t you going to take part in the funeral?” Ed asked, leaning beside me, “Nah, I am fine this way.” I hummed, putting my hands in my pocket and looking at the sky to ease up my mind, “By the way, In which condition you found his body?” He asked, his long black robe waving along the wind as he tied a grey cloth across it to set it, “Eaten in half.” 

“And then you threw it over so none of us had to see it, right?” Rachel’s voice came from behind, pissed at my deed, almost glaring at me for doing this but I only sighed, “So what?” 

“What did you bring then?” She asked, passing by, “Their wedding ring.”

“My, so generous of you Lord Rylan.” She scoffed, closing her arms at her chest but then heard her wailing badly and rushed to her side to ease her terrible state.

“Eaten..? Was it cannibals or what?” Ed asked, letting out his pernicious ‘hihihi’, “It was something else.”

“Like..?” He mused, leaning closer to my face, “I don’t know. Maybe an evil creature or something, there are dangerous animals in Sleazoid anyways, why bother thinking? It was his fault in the first place to go there.” I rolled my eyes, shrugged. 

“Watch your mouth, Rylan. If you can’t mourn the dead then leave.” A person from the crowd said furiously and I could see people were disturbed by my selection of words and before I could make them hate me more, I put my hands in the air and walked away.

Gabriel James, the son of Mayor. He despised me for leaving Bougainvillea.

“Okay, okay, you continue your ritual, I am leaving.” I hummed and left, earning whispers about me, probably cursing at me for being ruthless but that’s how I was made. 

Even though, It was highly unfavourable on my side, I still went to my house. That place is no longer a home. Rubbing my temples I entered our mansion and was greeted by my butler Chas, “Welcome home, Master.” He bowed out of respect as I yawned, “Shall I serve the dinner?” 

“No, I am going to rest.” I  replied and went to a random room, fell on the bed and closed my eyes, falling into a sleep I couldn’t receive in a while.

The next day, I went to see Hays in his shop, “Cigarette,” I asked, placing money on the counter as he gave me a box of cigarette, I took one, put it in my mouth as he light it up for me and sat aside, “What brings to my shop, hmm?” Hays asked, setting things up. 

“Did you attend Harley’s funeral?” I asked, leaning back, “Yeah. What about it?” He asked, not paying attention, “It wasn’t an accident.” I breathed out, taking a long inhale from the cigarette. “What do you mean?” He arched his brow, turning to me. “Harley was killed. I haven’t told this to anyone.” 

“How do you know?”

“I am the one who found his body. It was rotten and not in the condition to be brought back so I threw it over the mountain and brought back his wedding ring.” I explained it all to him, straightening my back, looking up at his curious face, “If it wasn’t an animal then what was it?” He asked, narrowing his eyes in confusion, “It was something else, like an evil source.” I replied, lowering my head, “And whatever it was must remain on him.”

“And yet you brought his wedding ring back?” He asked, finally understanding what I am going to do. Gulping hard, I nodded, “Do you have any idea what could possibly happen?!” He whisper-yelled, grabbing my collar, pushing me against the wall, “Listen Hays, That’s why I have come to you.” I said calmly, putting my hand over his,  “Tell me what are you thinking right now or else I will destroy the goddamn ring," He hissed, holding me rigidly, "What it was it could affect the town and before more people could die we need to know about it."

"Not by risking someone else, idiot." He growled, moving back a little, "Don't worry, I will handle the matter." I said, setting my collar, "You can't do it, you can't do anything." He said, making a wry face and moving back. "I am going to take that ring and destroy it." He enunciated, "Hays! Hay-'' I tried to call him back but he just dragged me out, closed his shop and went to Harley who was not in any condition to listen, "You don't get it, negative emotions attract evil forces, whatever it was would surely come." I tried to make him understand but he shut me up, "You keep your mouth shut, I am not going to let anyone die." He said sternly, pushed me back and left.

I stood there watching him leave but soon the expression of distress on my face converted into a smirk, "Good job." I said to myself and walked away, humming to myself.

Later, after many struggles, Hays was able to take the ring away from Mrs Harley and took it back with him even though I was amazed to see she actually gave him the ring but who knows what he said to make her convinced. 

Following him, I was outside his home, watching closely what’s he’s gonna do with it. He tried hitting it, altering his shape and even tried melting it, he waited for a long time, hoping it would melt but none of it happened.

"What the hell is this thing?" He mused and ended up throwing the ring out of his window as went to sleep. I picked it up and put it in my pocket.

"If it was related to a curse then it must travel from Mrs Harley to Hays or perhaps it was truly just an ordinary ring." I asked, inspecting the ring. "Whatever." I wanted to continue my search so I threw it back in his home and was excited to see his reaction to find it with him again.

Well, It was for my personal research so bear with it.

Humming I went to Rachel's bar to get wasted and unfortunately stumbled upon Gabriel, "Oh look who's here." He growled, "Not today, Gabriel." I sighed, taking a seat and ordering the usual. "You know you truly are unfortunate. Wherever you go, you bring bad luck." He hissed, finishing his drink while I tried to ignore him, "Come on, Gab, don't say it." Rachel tried to stop him, "Why not, Rachel? Can't you see wherever he goes, death follows him, whether it was his work or home." He hit my sensitive nerve, "I don't care what you think about me but don't compare my past life with my today." I breathed out, curling my hands in a fist. "Why not? You know it, don't you? Your parents died the day you were born, you lost everyone, everything." He hissed, coming closer, putting my whole being on fire. It was not my fault.

"Gab, please." Rachel tried to stop him but to no avail, "No Rachel, let him face the reality. I am sure the day he will leave us, we can gain our peace again, people around him always face trouble, Rachel is under a loan because of your damn existence. Or else we will lose someone we love too like he lost Rose-" Before he could forget his limits, I slammed my hand on the table and yelled, "ENOUGH!"

"What are you watching? Teach this asshole some manners!" Gabriel yelled as his people began to attack him, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply as they kicked me, making me fall on the ground and continued to hit me, "Gab, please stop, this is my bar and you know violence is not allowed here!" Rachel yelled, trying to stop him.

"That's what he deserves." He laughed, kicking me until blood flowed from the corner of my lips and my body was all sore as they left me alone there. I coughed up blood, trying to see through as Rachel helped me to sit up, "Rylan, are you okay?"

"Why didn't you tell me about it?" I asked, wiping blood from the corner of my lips, "I didn't want to bother you, but it's fine, don't pay heed to Gab's talk. He flies high because he is the mayor's son." She said bitterly, helping me to take a seat, "You stay there, I will get a medkit." She smiled and applied an ointment on my bruises.

"There you go, all done." She smiled, after she was done. "Thanks." I said coldly, moving back, "Can I have my drink now?" I asked. "Sure." She chuckled and got my drink and since I was beaten badly she let me sleep in her bar too.

The next day, I was sleeping, my head on the table, snoring but a voice reached my ear, "I swear if it wasn't beaten already, I would have done it myself." I recognized this voice as Hays and it seemed like the curse was transferred to him and he came to know it was my plan to let him know about this so he could get the ring and the curse would affect him instead of Mrs Harley. No harsh feelings. I just don't want that woman to die as she has two little kids to take care of and I know if anything happens with Hays, I will save him.

"Can you at least tell me what happened, Hays?"

"Not now Rachel, I need to fix this selfish bastard for now." he hissed. I don't understand why he was angry, I can save them after all.

Getting up groggily, I looked up at Hays, "Hmm?" Rubbing my eyes, I stretched my neck. "What hap-'' Before I could continue he grabbed my collar, "You shouldn't have brought it back, Rylan." He said, eyes narrowing in compassion, "W-Why?" I asked, not getting what he was saying, but he said what I was dreading, another collection in my swamp of remorse. 

 "Lucy is dead."

The Cursed ring was showing it's affects, they will die because I brought it back.