The Monster They Created - Chapter One

"Have we ever told you the story of the Arewed of Evil?" Mom asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she handed me a cup of water. The candles cast long shadows across her face, making her look older than her thirty-five years.
“No,” I replied in a small voice, gently sipping, careful not to spill a drop.
My dad yawned,”You are aware how King Adigast is a powerful magic welder called an Arewed?”
I nodded my head, the braids on either side bouncing up and down with each movement.
“Well, his Good magic had a Evil opposite who died many centuries ago, causing the strong Evil magic to disappear,”
Mom continued,”We have lived free of fear of this magic and its destruction for many generations, but five years ago, this magic returned, fulfilling part of a prophecy from our First modern King, King Madson, Arewed of Good. This prophecy stated that this Evil magic would return to cause our Kingdom to fall into darkness.”
My eyes widen in fear,”Will the world fall apart?”
My mom nodded,”Yes, unless this monster is killed by a savior who is unknown to us. This savior is destined to free the world from the darkness before it completely is surrounded”
It took a moment to process what he said,”Well, I hope the savior can kill the monster before it can ruin the world.”
Dad held me close,”Me too, Olive, me too.”


Ten Years later


A metal taste filled my mouth, one that I was too familiar with,
Blood.
Edmund’s fist collided with my jaw like a hammer to a nail, knocking a tooth from my gums loose.
“What was that for?” I yelled, dropping the bucket of water I collected, it now spilling at my feet turning the dirt to mud.
“It’s for all of Elira!” Edmund’s betrothed, Sarah, hissed back
I scrunch my eyebrows, “What, you don’t seriously think I’m the Evil Arewed again?”
In the blink of an eye, a kick landed on my stomach, knocking me to the dirt. The dust filled my eyes, causing tears to form. From the moment I felt the first drop, I knew it would cause more suffering.
“Awe, is the monster crying?” Sarah asked, looming over me like some high and mighty being,
Being on the ground was a stupid thing, I know that. Nevertheless, I could not get up before the beating continued. All I could do was turn my body into a ball to protect my head and curse my weakness.
“Get off of her!”
I opened an eye to see G shoving Edmund away.
“Oh look,” Edmund sneered, “It’s the woman-boy protecting the monster.”
G rolled his eyes, “Before you call her a monster, Ed, look in the mirror,”
Sarah touched his shoulder, “Come on, Edmund, we should leave the freaks alone,”
He huffed before begrudgingly walking off, leaving G and I at the well.
Every so carefully, I stood up with blood staining my skin and dress and dark red.
“By all that is Good, why must I always save your ass, Olive?” He asked, grasping his hand around his face,
I spit a mouth full of blood on the mud, “Because you are my best friend, and that’s what they do,”
He chuckled, “If I knew this is what I would get myself into, then I would have never talked to the little girl in the back of the class.”
I attempted to laugh, but it hurt too much, no doubt a bruised rib.
G ushered me forward, “Oh come on, let’s get you fixed up.”