The Oncoming Of Storm

Eve looked up into the sky.

It was a swirl of beautiful colours, pink, purple, blue.

Her golden hair was tied up in a low pony, and her once beautiful green eyes were dull and glum.

"Oye! Martin, look at this girl. I leave her alone for a minute and she decided to waste her time daydreaming!"

Eve hastened to get back to work. Clothes had to be washed and dishes to be cleaned, the house was not even properly clean...

By the time Eve had finished her work, the disk had fallen. After a cursory check around the house, she collapsed to the ground. Her small hands were pruned and aching from all the work and her legs were almost swollen. She tested for a blissful moment before she heard familiar noises outside the door.

They were back. Mister Martin, Mrs Melinda and their son, Dolan. 

She should have been out of sight by now. Though she was adopted into the family, it was only to keep her as a maid. 

She was given food and shelter, but no time, freedom or even the slightest bit of attention. 

Eve wanted to look up at the sky and touch the clouds. She wanted to close her eyes and feel the wind. She wanted...too much.

She sneaked out of the house from the backdoor, legs aching and heart racing. 

She ran to a nearby hill, hair loose. 

The hill was nothing special, but it set something free in her. She gulped it down like water, and it tasted like magic. 

Something was special about today. Eve could feel it in the air. She had never known why, but she had always been able to pick up on such things.

It felt smooth and soothing, like music, caressing her cheek and falling over her eyes. It felt like cool silk draped around her on a warm day.

"What's this?"

Eve stiffened. Dolan had found her. 

"What? You aren't going to answer me? So should I tell my mother you pushed me down the stairs?"

Eve stuttered in confusion, "But I never-"

And suddenly Dolan was curled up on the ground, clutching his leg and moaning in pain. He called out to his parents in faux pain as Eve watched on, horrified and unable to move.

Melinda came rushing out of the house to see what the commotion was all about. Martin trailed behind her. 

"What happened to my darling?! Who did this to you?" Melinda cried.

Dolan pointed to Eve. "It was her, she- she pushed me!" 

Something burned in Eve's heart. Injustice. She turned to Dolan with a scandalised expression.

"What have I ever done to you? Why are you doing this?!"

Dolan just laughed.

But Eve had a fire in her eyes. 

"Tell me!"

"Because you're weak, of course."

Meanwhile, Martin got up after inspecting his son. "You have hurt my son. After everything we've done for you, one would think you were grateful. Is this how you repay our generosity?!"

Melinda stood by her husband. "Looks like we've been too easy on you lately. As punishment, you will not be given food for three days."

Dolan cackled.

Eve wanted to cry. She wanted to rage. She wanted to scream. Why was she the one who was always blamed for things?

What had she done wrong? Why was her family so cruel to her? 

Something prickled at the back of her neck. She sensed it. The oncomings of a storm. The ink in the sky turned grey. And the monsoon air rushed to meet her. 

"What in the...," said Martin, backing away from her and the hill. 

"Wh-what's happening?!" screamed Melinda.

"Why aren't you paying attention to me! That girl pushed me, can't you see?!" yelled Dolan.

Her golden hair fluttered behind her. Eve willed it, and rain fell. The rain lashed in the wind but it was so kind to her. It swirled around her wrists and took shape above her palm. 

Her green eyes were bright with power.

"She's a witch!" Dolan accused.

"No," Eve refuted, but the voice was not hers. It was as though someone else was speaking through her, controlling her. "I am Selena, the Oncoming of Storm."

Lightning struck then and took her with it. Eve was gone. She had touched the clouds.