Under Her Cursed Scythe

"I have done most of the things…"

"Most?" One of her mother's brows went up.

"I still haven't…haven't emptied out the tr- trash." Alivia's voice came out soft and a little shaky. "B-but I really need to head to school now." She tried to keep her voice even. "It's already eight o'clock. School starts in half an hour."

"School again!? Remind me why you must go there every day."

"The government-"

"Oh yes! That stupid Education for All policy." her mother griped. "Anyways," she continued after a brief pause. "…you do remember what you should do after school, right?" she posed the question with a grim voice.

"Yes, mother. I should come straight home after school. I should not sneak off to coffee shops, book shops or malls…"

"Because?"

"Because the earlier I get prepared for the hunt, the earlier I can start hunting and the more souls I can reap." Alivia recited, with a dull tone and voice.

"Right! So remember if you come home later than five... you are sleeping in the cell! Do you hear me? " her mother demanded.

That sentence sent a tingle down Alivia's spine. "Five? Shouldn't it be six?" She straightened her back, alerted, immediately.

"I've checked with your teacher yesterday." her mother explained. "Your lessons end around half past four and the trip from school to our home is approximately twenty, at most, thirty minutes so it's safe to say, five would be the latest time for your arrival at home."

"But-"

"Do you have something else to do after school?" questioned her mother. "I think I have specifically told your teachers not to force you into any of the after school lessons or activities…" she said.

"I-I might have to stay behind to complete a group project with my classmates…" Alivia whispered with a trembling voice.

"Ah…I see…" her mother resonated with a tone of realization. "…cooperative learning…giving students chances to make friends with others...I see." she said with sarcasm in her tone. "Well, tell your teacher, you are going to do this 'group project' all by yourself because you don't need friends!" she ordered.

"But it's not about making friends. It's-"

"What did I tell you about friends, dearie?" her mother butted, narrowing her eyes at Alivia.

Alivia gulped and then answered carefully, "They are manipulative and can never be trusted because they would only betray you and backstab you when you least expect it. There is no true friendship in this world…But doing group projects is not-"

"But father-"

A cloud passed across her mother's face upon hearing the F word. "That man does not count as family. Only you, Luke and I are family." she emphasized. "Anyways, I won't repeat it again. Come home no later than five. Understand?"

Alivia didn't answer to her mother this time. She kept her eyes downcast and her body convulsed inwardly. 'Even if I don't hang out with friends -assuming I have any- I will practically have no life other than taking care of that zombie, training and hunting for souls...' She bunched her fingers into fists.

Her mother's frosty reaction towards her hard work and the matter concerning the rise of the souls required had already dropped a terrible weight on her shoulders. The burden had only gotten heavier and heavier after her mother gave her that arbitrary command.

"Is there a problem?" her mother inquired.

Alivia wiggled her head but grudgingly, and her mouth pouted. 'I have already done almost everything you've asked for…' The voice in her mind spoke. 'Honestly, I know William never really treats me as his friend or even remember who I am, but listening to his absurd tales is the only highlight of my miserable days. Coming home no later than five means I can't even spare ten minutes for his stories. You said we are family but why can't you stop caring about Luke for a second and care about my feelings for once?' She wondered. 'When will I matter? When will you stop focusing on Luke and see me?'

She wanted to explode all those inner frustrations to her mother, but she remained hush about her real thoughts. She knew arguing with her would only cause more trouble than it was worth so she resorted to suppressing them and only let tears sprang to her eyes.

"Aww…come here, dearie." Her mother's expression softened promptly and she stepped forward, embracing her, when she noted Alivia's tearful eyes. It was always until situations like this -when she wanted to ask Alivia for something- that her mother would finally "take off" that chilly expression on her face.

"I know you must feel bad about the new rule but you know I can't do anything about it. He's our Lord and if he wants more, we must give him more. Else, Luke won't survive." she reminded.

"Listen...you just have to put up with this life for a few more days and everything will return to normal. I promise we will have a big feast to celebrate. A bigger pot of lamb stew!"

'Lamb stew…' Alivia hesitated.

Lamb stew seemed to be the only dish her mother was willing to make as well as the only food that would appear on the dining table. The only reason why Alivia appeared physically stronger and healthier than Luke was because unlike him, who, according to her, did not know how to appreciate and respect their mother's hard work by expressing his weariness of the dish openly and rudely tossing the bowl on the ground-Alivia swallowed every single drop of it whenever it appeared before her eyes. Nevertheless, that didn't mean she liked it.

"Please, dearie." her mother added, noticing Alivia's silent rejection of her words. "Please…you are my only hope. I can't do it without you. You know that... " Her eyes started to get watery as well.

Alivia wanted to keep her mouth shut but like her mother, she had a soft spot for tears too, so when she saw them welling up in her mother's eyes, she held back her own and nodded her head somberly. "I will come back by five." she promised.

"That's my girl."

A satisfying smile grew on her face as the liquid around her mother's eyes evaporated in such fast speed as if they had never existed. Her gentle stroke on Alivia's head had also become rough once her aim was achieved. However, Alivia's craving for her mother's warmth blinded her from taking knowledge of the tiny little changes.

"As I've told you," her mother went on. "…you should learn to be strong, dearie. Strong enough to endure any hardships. Strong enough to support this family because you are our only hope. No one else can take your place and do what you can do. So, don't let me down, okay? Promise me."

Those words gave Alivia another shot in the arm and in hearing them, she smacked her lips, immediately swallowing any sadness as well as indignation gnawing inside.

'Mother's right. She consoled herself with a cheerful thought. I SHOULD stay strong. If not, who is she going to rely on? Luke? Of course, not...'