Rose screamed as she yanked Isabel's hair violently. Tears ran down Isabel's cheeks as she tried to free herself.
"She's a witch!" Rose shouted. "She's a witch!"
The noise drew attention quickly. Zach rushed out of the house, and within minutes villagers began gathering.
Zach pushed through the crowd and pried Rose's hand away from his wife.
"What did my wife do to you, Rose?" he demanded.
"Yes! What did she do now?" one of the village women asked.
"I heard she had a hand in Bubu's death," someone from the back said.
"Yes," another added, "his body was found in the forest. It looked like his life was drained."
"He was just a child! What could he have done to deserve that?" another voice accused.
"She must be evil."
"I didn't kill anyone," Isabel said.
Her voice was steady.
"She doesn't even look remorseful," a woman muttered. "Look at her standing there like nothing happened."
"You've heard it, Zach," Rose said sharply. "Your wife is a witch. Why do you keep protecting her? She's dragging you into the Abyss with her. You know nothing about her. She has no past. No background. And everyone here remembers what happened yesterday. That boy only poured water on her during the fight. Now he's dead."
"Crucify her!"
"Crucify her!"
"Crucify her!"
The chant grew louder.
Zach felt something twist inside him.
Was his wife truly a witch?
The thought disgusted him — yet it had crossed his mind.
He turned slowly to Isabel.
"Did you kill the boy?"
For the first time, something flickered in her eyes.
Pain.
Not fear.
"No," she said quietly. "I didn't kill anyone."
Zach nodded once, then faced the crowd.
"You all heard her," he said firmly. "My wife didn't kill anyone. No one has the right to accuse her without proof. If you believe she is a witch, bring evidence. Otherwise, I will take this to court for defamation."
The crowd murmured.
"Don't regret this, Zach," Rose warned coldly.
One by one, the villagers left.
But their stares lingered.
*****
I stood in front of the mirror after taking my bath, trying to arrange my messy hair. I've never been the type to care much about my appearance, but today I wanted to look decent.
As I struggled with my hair, I froze.
My eyes.
They weren't crimson.
They were purple.
Deep. Bright. Not mine.
I blinked.
They were normal again.
I stared at my reflection.
Nothing unusual.
A laugh escaped me.
"I'm hallucinating now," I muttered.
First, the weird dreams.
Now this.
And those eyes.
The ones I keep feeling on me, like something is always watching me.
I shook my head and forced myself to move.
After knocking, I entered my parents' room and asked my mom to help with my hair. She smiled and did it happily, unaware of how unsettled I felt.
After breakfast, I left for school.
The uneasiness followed me.
I was meant to go to class.
But somehow, I ended up at the pool.
I don't remember deciding to come here.
I went and sat down.
I just… sat there with my thoughts drifting.
"Skipping class?"
The voice was smooth.
I turned slowly.
My breath caught.
He was beautiful.
Not just attractive.
Unreal.
If Dave was beauty on earth, then the man sitting beside me was something else entirely.
There was something familiar about him.
Something I couldn't place.
His hair looks messy, it seems he is just coming out from the shower. He was on black short with a bare muscular chest that pulls me in.
"Hi…" I heard myself say before I realized I had spoken.
He smiled slightly.
"Have we met before?" I asked carefully.