August 5th.
The eighth year of my cursed life.
Living with this curse is like rotting from the inside out. My heart hardens a little more each day—perhaps it no longer beats at all. It began eight years ago, on the night I turned eighteen. I told myself it was only a nightmare. I wanted it to be.
But every time I face my reflection, every time the memories resurface, denial becomes impossible.
I am a monster.
Only when there is blood.
There was once an old woman—kind, gentle, warm. She loved me as her own. On my eighteenth birthday, she came to my cabin with a large cake, smiling despite my silence.
The moment I saw her…
The curse awakened.
I lost control. I did not leave her until the very last drop of her blood was gone. When she died, something inside me died with her.
After that night, I chose isolation. I would never kill another human again—especially not unwillingly.
The night belonged to me.
Daylight meant death.
When the sun rises, my body burns, my skin screaming to turn to ash. Years passed, and with them, my voice faded. I forgot how to speak.
That night was supposed to be no different.
Until headlights pierced the darkness.
Blinding white light tore through the forest. I recoiled, my eyes burning, my senses screaming. Tires screeched. A car stopped just inches away from me.
The door flew open.
"Oh my God! Are you insane?! You can't just stand there— I almost hit you!"
She was shaking. Her voice trembled, words spilling out in panic.
"Are you okay? Please say something. You're not dead, right? I mean— you're standing— I think—"
Silence.
I couldn't speak.
I no longer remembered how.
I only stared at her. The headlights burned my eyes, stirring the beast within. She misunderstood my silence.
"Look, I'm not a bad person, okay? I just… got lost. My GPS stopped working, my phone has no signal— of course it doesn't, why would it—"
I stepped back.
Then another step.
I turned and walked toward my cabin, trying to process the presence of another human. No blood—but even her existence was dangerous.
Footsteps followed.
"Hey! Wait! You're not just going to leave me here, are you? I mean— unless you're some kind of serial killer— I was joking! Bad joke!"
I entered the cabin.
Shut the door in her face.
Silence.
Then…
Knocking.
Once.
Twice.
Faster. Louder.
My sensitive ears throbbed.
I yanked the door open.
She startled, stumbled backward, and fell. Her nose hit the ground hard.
Blood.
The scent—
I stepped back, breath uneven. I wouldn't do this again. Never.
But the blood clawed at my will.
I reached down.
Dipped my finger into the blood pooling beneath her.
Just a taste.
The moment it touched my lips, a demonic grin spread across my face.
The curse…
Was awakening once more.