Cursed Souls - Chapter 16 16 Here We Go Again..

“Hey, that hurts!” Kure screamed as Ava dug a needle into his leg in an attempt to try to give him stitches, rather passive aggressively.

“Toughen up.” She said rolling her eyes.

“I can’t! You’re digging a needle into my leg!” He screamed out in pain.

“Ava.. maybe you should let me take over?” Ember said trying not to get into the middle too much.

“That’s okay just go deal with your own problems,” she said sharply to Ember.

“AVA TAKE A WALK!!!” Ember screamed at Ava.

Ava rolled her eyes and got up quickly and walked out of the room. Ember took the thread and cut it in order to re-do the three stitches Ava had done. She put a lidocaine numbing cream around the area. She left the cream on for a few minutes.

“So Nina?” Ember asked.

“I don’t wanna talk about it.” He said trying to shrug it off.

“So what about Ava?” She prodded at him.

“Girls are a headache, let’s talk about something else.” He said trying to change the subject.

“Hmm okay so are you a virgin?” She blatantly asked him.

“Ember… That’s a personal question.”

“You aren’t then?” Ember said quickly.

“I am. What does that even matter?”

“Just curious. Wanted to know how far you and Nina might have gone.”

“Me and Nina it was a long time ago.” Kure said.

“So how do you feel about Ava?”

“I don’t know to be honest. Well, I do but I don’t” Kure said unsure of how to give his response.

Ember started to used tape to close the knife wound gash in his leg and sprayed anti-bacterial mist on it. She grabbed a new needle and started to re-do the stitches.

“Okay” Ember said pausing, “So do you have feelings for her?”

“She makes me annoyed, jealous, and angry. She also makes my heart worried at times. And she makes me feel confused. And it’s not just as simple as do you like her? In this world, we don’t have the luxury of liking someone. It’s more serious than that. I don’t want to hurt her or break her heart. And to be honest my past is complicated.”

“Your past being nina?” Ember asked

“Well, not just Nina.. but yea I guess Nina. But my family is complicated. None of you really understand.”

“Try me.” She said daringly.

“My mom never took great care of us. But in her good moments she was one of the best mom’s in the world. Oaki was always the rock in my life though. When our parents were well them it was Oaki who would work and get food for us. She did cleaning and chores to an obsessive level, and she worked and worked to make money for us to survive. She had weak points for our parents though, always wanting to see the good in people. After our mom died in an accident Oaki was never the same. I think it’s because she had a lot of regrets. But she never talked about anything that was our real negative reality. She always tried to put a positive spin on things. I was always the one that needed to be protected in everyone’s eyes. I was the one who had to succeed. I was the one who no one would let handle the reality of our world. Growing up my sister never depended on anyone but herself, and I guess what got her through everything was the thought that she didn’t need to be okay, as long as she focused on me and had distractions like work and school and stuff she didn’t have to deal with how different and hard our reality really was. Eventually, the only thing I think she ever did end up doing for herself was fighting and martial arts. In school and really anywhere she was always talked down to and pushed around. My dad originally made her join so she wouldn’t be as weak, but not long after she started to disappear. She became someone who kept our house going for me and my dad. And in her free time, she was always training. She would come home with bloody clothes and be worn out but she never knew when to stop. In the end, I think she just was who she was and that’s why”

“Why what?” ember asked.

“Why she would always get into trouble. She spent all her life from a young age trying to fix other people’s problems. After she knew how to fight I think she still tried to defend and help people who needed it. That’s just who she is. As for Nina she was someone who was the opposite. She was self-centered and toxic. She always tried to find ways to slowly corrupt a person. She would feed into weak points and exploit them if when it was convenient for her. We dated but it was never officially I guess. She fell in love with me. I think for the first time I became someone she didn’t have to bully into loyalty in her life. She was someone who I didn’t want in my life, however. She always tried to separate me from everyone so that I was only hers” Kure said trying to explain everything without going into too much detail.

“Well you past shapes you but it doesn’t define you.” Ember said.

“I know.” He said pausing “But they do shape who we become”.

“So what are you planning on doing about Ava?” She asked trying not to bother him too much.

“I just don’t think she likes me that much. And I don’t want her to feel corner or like this is all just something we are supposed to do. If she falls for me and wants a real relationship then I would think about it and if I’m really what’s best for her. I like that she is loud spoken and says what’s on her mind. I think she is really pretty too and she is unique, and unlike anyone else, I have ever met but in the end, I can’t be selfish about her. If in this hell we are paired up for no reason other than a cruel game, then I refuse to play”

Ava sat outside the door quietly listening. ‘Why can’t he just open up that easy and talk like that with me?’ She thought to herself in annoyance. Most of her wanted to slap him and tell him if he opened up his eyes he would clearly see she likes him in the same way. But the other half was so touched that he cared so much about her. Ember finished her last stitch and covered it over with ointment and a bandage.

“So are you really…umwell..yanno…?” Kure started asking unsure of how to continue

“Pregnant. I mean I missed my period and have had bad morning sickness recently… so yes I guess I am.”

“Did you guys not use protection?” Kure asked curiously.

“Well, we couldn’t find any. But I don’t think that was an accident. Plus it wasn’t planned out it kinda just happened. I started to feel so comfortable with him. It was as if we are stuck together in a binding way kinda like marriage. I didn’t worry he was going to run off with any other girls. And well one thing leads to another and here we are.” Ember said trying to rationalize how things happened aloud.

“How long have you been” he said trying to be sensitive.

“About two and a half weeks.” She said cutting him off.

“Are you scared? Did El know before?” Kure asked curiously.

“Scared well duh. But not as scared as if I still had parents. Then I would really be a dead woman. And.. well no not really I wasn’t planning on telling him until I knew for sure.” She said soft-spoken, then continued. “But let’s not worry about that. You work things out with Ava and take time to heal that wound.” she paused again “But in the future if you need someone to talk to or just want a friend to hang with know I’ll always be there for you Oh but if you tell anyone what we talked about… Cute or not your still a dead man”

“Don’t worry. I won’t.” Kure said reassuringly then moving his finger over his heart, “I promise” He finished. ‘She thinks I’m cute’ He quietly pondered that for a minute before clearing it from his mind he already had enough girl troubles. Plus he didn’t see much else of anyone besides ava in a possible romantic light.

He trusted Ember, just as she trusted him. However, he saw her more like a best friend than anything. Ava left after Kure’s personal story. It seemed wrong to listen in, so she went down and sat in the cafeteria. Ember and Kure went down to the cafeteria as well and saw Ava. Kure limped over to her and attempted to apologize for a bit. Ava felt a little bad. Since it wasn’t really his fault. It was hers because she was jealous. She smiled shyly over at Kure and acted like she knew nothing of what she had overheard.

“Sorry about your leg.” She said apologetically.

“Don’t worry sugar after a few days I’ll be good as new.” He said winking at her.

“Okay well, I’m done being in the middle of this awkward flirting fest let’s get some food” Ember said interrupting them.

Elijah soon joined and they all ate brunch together. They seemed to talk like good friends. And to an outsider looking in at them, they seemed to be on a double date. Which wasn’t uncommon anymore. Almost everyone had started dating or shaking up with their “partner”. After they had a meal Kure and Ava went to check their plots and work for a while, since recently they hadn’t spent to much time after Oaki had been kidnapped. In the meantime, Ember and Elijah went back to the room to have a talk about their future. Once Ember and Elijah got back to their room they sat awkwardly on the bed for a while. Elijah finally broke the ice.

“So.. I think we should talk about it..” He said mousey.

“Yuh think?” She said sarcastically.

“Well, I noticed you haven’t been able to keep food down well the past few weeks.” He said trying to be caring. “And well the complex seemed to know that you are..”

She looked down at her feet hanging off the bed. ‘Soon I won’t be able to see my feet’ she thought to herself. She leaned back on the bed. If she was being honest with herself She hadn’t really been paying much attention to what he was saying.

“How did this happen.” She said asked rhetorically, already knowing the answer to her question.

“I didn’t think I yanno when we well yanno but I guess I did. I guess that’s how.” Elijah talked stuttering awkwardly trying to explain himself.

“Was it your first time?” She asked embarrassed. Elijah was fairly good looking. She imagined before everything happened many people probably liked him.

“Yea..” He said awkwardly then proceeded to ask, “Was it yours?”

“Yea” She answered.

They hadn’t talked about what happened between them. Their relationship seemed to accelerate quickly. After a little past three months, they had already slept together. They weren’t sure after everything if that’s how it was supposed to go, or if they should have waited longer, but they couldn’t change anything. The past was in the past.

“Was I bad?” Elijah asked guiltily.

“It was my first time I don’t know,” Em replied.

“Did it hurt?” He asked still guilty.

“Yea” She said trailing off.

They had never talked about that night’s events. And after they had did what they did, they didn’t particularly talk about it after either. They kinda avoided the awkward topic and pretended as if nothing happened and resumed how things were previous to that night. They finished talking over the awkward details of the night they had two and a half weeks ago. Then Elijah leaned over a gently placed a kiss on her lips. He sat up slowly. Ember looked over at him and blushed. Even if she was pregnant she was glad he wasn’t mad or freaking out. His caring manner reassured her that she wouldn’t be alone. Even if things were awkward. The awkwardness seemed to fade away after they finally talked about their situation. Elijah had a slightly darker shade of tan skin then Ember. With a sharp jawline and light brown eyes, and coffee colored brown hair. He was about 5’10” tall and had one small black circular earring. He had broad shoulders with a slim wrestler build. He, however, always appeared in a plain-ish smoldering looking appearance. Many people wouldn’t usually notice him. Despite his looks, he carried a quiet personality and often was overlooked. Elijah got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom, and came back with a purple lily, and handed it to Ember.

“I will love you and only you for always and ever”, he said blushing and flustered.

He sat down next to her again placing his hand on her jaw as he leaned in slowly to plant a gentle kiss on her lips. The two often had sweet exchanges such as these. Elijah leaned away slowly and looked into her eyes, then slowly met her lips again with his, this time applying a little more pressure. She touched the back of his head and ran her fingers through his hair. The couple soon was lost in each others presence and started passionately making out. Elijah paused then laid back on the bed resting looking up at the ceiling. Ember laid next to him and placed her head on his chest listening to his heartbeat.

“I’ve missed this.” He said smiling.

“Me too.” She said giggling.

They both blushed as they laid together. Ember placed her arm across his waist. Elijah’s hand brushed her hair out of her eyes. He always thought her hair was very pretty. He played with her hair. In his mind, her hair always looked like a beautiful soft fire. Smooth and red, dangerous but sweet.

“I know it’s early but I’m kinda excited.” He said happily.

She turned over so she was laying on her back again looking up at the ceiling. He leaned over her and gently pecked her forehead. He grabbed the flower and put it in her hair. He slowly moved her hair behind her ear and laid back down on his back. She leaned on his chest once again and listened to his heartbeat, as he gently moved his hand to her stomach. The couple looked at each other nervous, excited and unsure. He got up and went over to the mini fridge and reached behind it. He came back with a small box. She looked at him shocked and unsure.

“Were too young.” She said nervously.

“I haven’t technically asked you yet.” He said smiling.

She sat up on the bed and looked at him as he got onto one knee.

“Now I don’t know if this is your style… And if you don’t like it I can find a new one.” He paused. “Today when you went to the Meda-U I worked on the Jenson’s harvest for them. The girl was also pregnant so I and he worked all afternoon helping others who fell behind on their workload. An older boy who spends most of his time on another floor takes rocks from the mines and shapes and polishes them to make them into rings. As soon as I saw them I couldn’t help myself but get one for you so I ended up buying this.” He said while opening the box.

He looked up at her nervously smiling.

“Em I know we haven’t known each other very long and I am aware that we don’t know what the future holds but I love you. And I believe with my whole heart that you are the only girl for me. You’re the one I’m sure of it.” He paused and moved the box closer to her. “Will you marry me?”