That stupid sign is back on my front door again. I tore it off two days ago, and I tore it off yesterday as well. This time, I'm scrunching it up and taking it with me, because somehow it keeps disappearing off my kitchen counter, which leads me to believe that someone is breaking into my house. That would explain how the front door is always unlocked.
Although, that wouldn't explain my curse. And it's definitely a curse. I mean, it has to be, right? There's no way I did all those things willingly. Even how I talked was just so...
Ugh, I don't want to think about it. So, I'm going to deal with what I can right now. I'm half sure that the house used to be owned by some old crone, so maybe she has a potion or an artifact to set me free. Plus, I distinctly remember from yesterday that someone has been spreading rumours about me, and there's only one place where those rumours would stick: the village downhill. It's not big, but it's got a pub and some shops, and it's mainly where I go to do my shopping and where Dad used to get his rifles looked after. After all, my little cabin in the woods used to be a hunting lodge. Every Christmas, the boys would go out shooting, and the girls would stay in to furnish the lodge with decorations galore. Nowadays, I'm the only one who spends any time here, since everyone else has got kids and stuff to take care of. Sure, it's a bit lonely in that massive house, but I don't mind, I actually like being by myself.
Most of the time anyway. Sometimes, there's a few moments where the loneliness gets to me, like a few days ago, when I got a teensy bit drunk and made that wish.
Carrying on, I've made it to the village now, and it's a surprise to see it so bustling. I've already seen all the new buildings and such for all the hikers to visit, but I usually come as early as possible to avoid the crowd. This time, I need the crowd, because I need to listen in on any gossip surrounding me or my cabin. To be honest, if there is going to be any gossip, it's most likely going to be in the pub, but there's too many sweaty old men there, and the last two days have proven enough about what happens when I'm alone with men. Maybe the curse doesn't take hold when I'm in public, but I'm not willing to risk it. Therefore, I head towards the library, while keeping an ear out for any small talk.
It's once I'm at the library that I find my first roadblock. More specifically, I don't find anything at all. The crone I mentioned earlier had no ties to any form of witchcraft, and the most she left behind are a few items that there are no pictures of. I think I do remember some bits and pieces being moved into a storage closet, but I'll have to head back to the house for that.
That's pretty much it. This library is quite small, so I expected as much, but I was hoping for a little more than this. Even the sole librarian isn't any help, though she keeps giving me a funny look. All she mentions is that our caretaker (he cleans the cabin when nobody's there) was friends with the previous owner's family, so he might have more information. I thank her for that, and she just grumbles and waves me off. On my way out, I'm fairly sure that I hear her insult me under her breath, which is a bit confusing. I've been very nice so far. And I'm dressed very tamely, aside from the lingerie I'm wearing, but there's no way she can see that. Besides, I figured it's better than not wearing any bra at all and seeing my chest bouncing all the time, and with the tracksuit bottoms, you can't even notice my stockings. Maybe she has a problem with how I'm swaying my hips? It's hard to say, plus I can't really control that.
Actually, I have less control over my own body than I had yesterday. The lingerie was a concession I was willing to make, but my legs adamantly refused to walk outside in anything but heels. Luckily, I have some old boots that still fit me, but it doesn't really work with the rest of my attire. Nor does my face, which I was forced to 'fix'. The moment I stepped one foot out the door, my feet swiveled on the spot, and they catwalked me upstairs to plop me down and dab on some makeup. I tried my best to use the least pronounced colours I had, but it certainly looks like I went overboard. Why I needed to paint my nails or put on fake eyelashes is beyond me, but they're on now, and I'll have to live with it. All I need to do is locate this one guy, and I'll head back immediately. In fact, the moment I'm back to normal, I'm packing my stuff and going home. The only reason I haven't already done so is because I don't want to expose my raunchy acts to my family.
The caretaker's at the edge of the village, so it takes a while to get there. When I do reach him, he takes just as long to answer the door, and that's everything you need to hear about how old this guy is. Okay, I'm being a bit mean, he's likely in his late 40s, but it is an effort to talk to him. He barely remembers anyone living at the cabin, only recalling her when I tell him her name, and even then, it takes him a few minutes to say anything about her. In essence, no, she wasn't magic, but she did have this amulet she got from her grandmother. Supposedly, it warded off demons and such.
Works for me. I thank him and prepare to walk off, but he speaks up again. "Say, you wouldn't happen to be the young girl who's been making the rounds recently?"
"What do you mean?"
"Down at the pub, Will's been hearing some girl's taking in men left and right. Do you know her?"
Oh no.
Crap, I've got to nip this in the bud now, while I still have the chance.
"Of course I know her, she's me!" I giggle.
Damn it! Why am I giggling!?
"Do you need anything?"
"Well, I've been a bit lonely recently. Too much time all by myself. Would you care to stay with an old man for the rest of the night?"
His words sound sincere, like he's inviting me in for a cup of tea, but his face is as lecherous as his wrinkles will let him. I nearly open my mouth to scream at him, but the moment I move an inch, my lips curl into a flirty smile.
No. No, I won't sleep with him
, I tell myself. My smile only gets wider and wider before I manage to dig my nails into my palm and grit through the pain to run away.