Third Person's POV
Max was often her companion, and despite his occasional irritability, she never asked him to leave because he was the only one willing to be around her. This made her disappointment even more profound. She had hoped that Max, of all people, would understand her better and not buy into the hurtful rumors swirling around her. It felt like a betrayal to hear him repeat the same accusations that others had leveled against her. As she grappled with these feelings, Astra realized that she was truly alone, with even her closest friend now questioning her integrity and character.
Astra felt that Max was also one of those people who wouldn't believe her even if she denied it. The distrust was evident in Max's eyes.
Tears started to well up at the corners of Astra's eyes, but just then, their professor entered the classroom. Astra quickly hid her tears and wiped them away, secretly.
She couldn't remember anything from 11 years ago, but hearing that accusation caused a sudden pain in her chest that she left in the past a long time ago.
"Hello class. Sorry I'm late. The faculty was quite busy today. Do you have another subject after my class?" the professor immediately asked.
"Yes! We do have 4 pm after," the class representative replied.
"This is the situation. I can't teach you today because there's too much to do in the office. I'll give you free time to work on activities for your other subjects, okay? Any questions?" their professor instructed. "Alright! If none, class dismissed," she added before leaving the classroom again.
Hearing this, Astra seized the chance and quickly left as well. She didn't want to be questioned further by Max or anyone else.
Astra headed to the girls' restroom and locked herself in a cubicle. As soon as she felt safe and secure, she immediately burst into tears, letting her emotions take over. She sat on the toilet seat, burying her face in her hands, and cried silently. The tears flowed freely as she let out the pain and frustration she had been holding inside.
Her body shook with each silent sob, and she tried to keep quiet so no one would hear her. She felt the weight of all the rumors and accusations pressing down on her, and it was too much to bear. In the privacy of the cubicle, she allowed herself to feel the full extent of her sadness and disappointment.
As she cried silently, a group of girls entered the restroom. Astra heard someone enter the cubicle next to hers, so she immediately covered her mouth to avoid making any noise.
"Did you notice where she went? She disappeared so fast!" one girl said while touching up her makeup.
"Maybe she flew away on her broomstick,"
joked one girl as she fixed her hair.
They all laughed while the girl in the next cubicle flushed the toilet.
"Hey, did you know? Lucy and I saw her in the library earlier, talking to herself," the girl from the cubicle went out and excitedly said, as she washed her hands.
"She's really weird," added a familiar voice.
"You're right about that. I don't even know why your brother likes to hang around her. Maybe he'll be the next one she curses," chimed in another girl.
"I don't get my brother either. I told him to stay away from that witch, but it seems like the witch doesn't want to stay away from him," the familiar voice Lucy replied while fixing her look in the mirror.
Astra listened to their conversation, feeling her heart sink even deeper. The hurtful words echoed in her mind, and she felt more isolated than ever.
They didn't mention who they were talking to but Astra felt that it could be about her. She wiped her tears quietly, trying not to make any noise. The pain of their harsh words cut through her, making it hard to breathe.
'No. Maybe it's not me. I'm just overthinking it,' Astra convinced herself.
"Oh my gosh! Maybe she's already put a spell on your brother," exclaimed another girl.
Hearing this, Astra stifled a sob in her cubicle, but the sound was loud enough to catch the attention of the girls outside.
"What was that?" one girl asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of fear, thinking it might be a ghost.
"What do you mean, 'What was that?'" another girl replied, rolling her eyes. "Hey, stop being silly," she added, turning her attention back to Lucy. "Go on, continue."
"That can't be! She already got my father! I won't let her take my brother too," Lucy said with an intense dark aura in her, driven by a burning desire for revenge.
"Speaking of. Did Astra really do that?" one of the girls who's ignorant asked cautiously. "It's true she's a witch, but I can't fully wrap my head around the idea that she could do something like that," she added, her confusion evident.
"Why can't you believe it? She may look normal on the outside, but the truth is, she has devil horns inside," Lucy retorted sharply.
"But it just doesn't seem right," the girl replied hesitantly.
"Wha-" Lucy began to respond, clearly irritated, before being interrupted by another member of their group.
"Girls! That's enough!" exclaimed another girl, stepping in to diffuse the tension.
The other girls looked at Lucy with wide eyes. They knew she was serious. Lucy had always been the type to hold a grudge, and it was clear she believed Astra was responsible for her father's downfall.
"Yah. Let's go. I'm getting hungry again," one of the girls said, trying to lighten the mood. She forced a smile, hoping to ease the tension.
Others follow and agree with her. Lucy nodded, still looking determined and serious. The group of girls gathered their things and left the restroom, their conversation turning to lighter topics as they walked out.
Their conversation gradually quieted down, and Astra heard the sound of the restroom door opening and closing, indicating that they had left.
Astra remained in the cubicle for a few moments, trying to steady her breathing and regain her composure. Her heart felt heavy with the weight of their cruel words. She didn't know how much more of this she could take.
Finally, she unlocked the door and stepped out. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and she avoided looking at herself in the mirror. She didn't want to see the pain reflected back at her. She walked to the sink and splashed cold water on her face, hoping to calm down before heading back to class.
As she dried her face with a paper towel, Astra's mind raced with thoughts. She couldn't believe how people could be so cruel. The accusations and rumors were baseless, yet they spread like wildfire, burning her spirit with every whisper.
Due to the jumble of ideas swirling in Astra's mind, she decided to skip her last class. She quickly gathered herself and prepared to head home abruptly.
As she walked outside, someone suddenly grabbed her and covered her nose. Dara fell asleep while the man forcibly dragged her into the dense forest.
Hours have passed and the sun has already set.
Astra's eyes snapped open, but due to the brightness of the light in front of her, she quickly shut them again. Once she adjusted, she slowly tried to open her eyes, finally managing to fully open them.
"What's this!?" Astra exclaimed weakly. She found herself tied to a chair, surrounded by a pile of papers and small woods on the floor.
She attempted to struggle, but the ropes binding her were tight, digging deeper into her skin with every move.
Astra surveyed her surroundings again and realized she was far from civilization.
"Help! Is anyone there? Please help me!" she shouted, but her cries only echoed back at her.
From behind, a voice suddenly spoke.
"Even if you scream at the top of your lungs, no one will hear you," a familiar voice said somewhat provocatively, coming from the left side of Astra's ear.
"Who are you? What do you want from me?" Astra's voice trembled as she asked. She tried to look to her left, but her movement was restricted, preventing her from seeing who was behind her.
"Don't bother trying to know me. I'm just here to pass judgment," the man behind her replied arrogantly.
"What judgment? Who are you really?" Astra asked, her voice growing braver despite her fear.
He didn't mind any of her questions, being heartless.
"Do you know that in the past, witches like you were hunted and burned alive in front of many people? Although no one will witness this, let us give you a taste of what your monstrous ancestors experienced," the man said with a chilling, evil tone from behind her.
Astra's heart pounded in her chest as she processed his words. She could feel the cold sweat forming on her brow. The man's words struck fear into her, but she also felt a surge of defiance.
"You can't just do this to me! I haven't done anything wrong to you and to anyone!" she shouted, struggling against the ropes even more strongly.
"Wrong or not, it doesn't matter. Your existence itself is the problem," the man said coldly and full of malice.
"What do you mean?" Astra asked curiously.
"Why not? A witch like you should be exterminated because you are just a plague on society!" Amannoyed shout from the man in the back.
He stood up and signal to his Companions behind him to attack.
His six men went in front of Astra. Astra Dito is surprised and scared. He didn't recognize anyone's face but he had a feeling that they had met him before.
"Who are you? What will you do to me?" Astra stammered.
"Don't give up. It's easy, you'll only feel a little pain," said one of them.
That's right. Your skin will only burn, but after that, you won't feel any pain because your whole body will be on fire," replied the other.
One of them took out a lighter and a cigarette and lit it slowly.
Astra was very scared because she knew what they were planning to do. It's just need a little mistake to ignite the papers around her and gradually grow stronger until she burns.
"No, please! Don't come closer," Astra begged.
The group laugh uncontrollable, their voices echoing off the woods as if they had lost their minds.
Their laughter echo through the open space making birds nearby fly away, filling every corner with a sense of unease. Astra felt a chill run down her spine as she watched them, her eyes gradually following the sound of their maniacal laughter.
Astra is absolutely terrified. She can't figure out what to do. Like a defenseless sheep, she feels weak and incapable of standing up to the pack of wolves. She's filled with fear and uncertainty, unable to process her next move. She was sitting there alone, vulnerable and helpless, against the looming threat of the wolves.
One of the men slowly step forward, approaching Astra. He made it simple, planning to make it effortless and as an accident. He pretent to just walk and accidentally drop the cigarette.
Astra was terrified. She didn't know what to do.
Tears began to fall slowly from her eyes as she realized that what was happening to her was real.
'Please, anyone out there, help me!' Astra pleaded silently, but no one came. Not a single person passed by the area.
Astra couldn't do anything except close her eyes, believing this was the end.
"Mr. Armann," she whispered to herself.
Just as the man was about to drop the lit cigarette, everything around them suddenly froze.
The birds, startled by the noise, stopped in mid-air along with the leaves. The cold wind ceased its blowing, and the smoke from the cigarette looked like a still piece of art.
~ To be Continued ~