"Throw her into the ocean!"
"Kill that evil witch!"
A woman screamed in grief, cradling her husband's lifeless body in her arms.
"That filthy whore needs to pay for what she did!" she cried, her bloodshot eyes locking onto me. "How dare you curse my husband to death!"
A few men roughly dragged me out of the ship's cabin. My wrists were chained, and someone shoved a dirty, stinking rag into my mouth to keep me quiet.
I didn't fight back, not because I couldn't, but because I didn't care anymore.
I was tired. Tired of defending myself. Tired of being blamed.
What was the use anyway?
No one ever listened to me, and no one cared about how I felt.
Besides, I was already sick of this rotting ship. I'd been trapped in it for over two miserable weeks.
More than that, I had no chance of winning against the fifty or so men on board.
"I told you we shouldn't have brought this witch with us!" an old man spat, his yellow-stained teeth clearly visible every time he opened his mouth. "She brings nothing but bad luck wherever she goes!"
"So what now? Should we just toss her into the ocean?" one man asked.
Another scoffed. "Haven't you heard the rumors? They say this witch can't die. What if she swims to our destination and comes back for revenge?"
"Then let's stuff her inside a barrel instead!" someone suggested.
I only let out a tired sigh as they shoved me into a cramped barrel, one so small they could barely fit my whole body inside.
I looked up and caught the eye of one of the men about to close the lid. He froze for a second, clearly shaken by the sight of my crimson eyes.
"I … I don't think locking her in this barrel is enough," he muttered nervously, turning to the man beside him. "Give me a dagger."
I finally opened my mouth, my voice cold and calm. "That's going to hurt. Why don't you just toss some raw meat in here? Maybe the blood will attract sharks and they'll finish the job for you."
Killing me wasn't easy, but that didn't mean getting stabbed wouldn't hurt like hell.
The ocean was wide and endless. The chance of hungry sharks finding me was small anyway.
But lucky me, these people weren't that smart.
They threw some spoiled meat into the barrel, then slammed the lid shut.
Well then, here we go again.
Another attempt to kill me.
This wasn't the first time someone tried to kill me. By now, I should've died at least fifty times.
Once, when I was six and fell through a frozen lake.
Twice, in the fire that burned down our village home.
And more times at the hands of people who tried to kill me, believing I was some kind of evil witch.
But whether it was luck or a curse, I always survived those horrific moments.
My wounds heal without scars.
My broken bones mend like they were never fractured.
Even when I was burned alive, my body slowly regenerated, piece by piece, until it was like nothing ever happened.
Because of that blessing or curse, people called me a dark witch, someone who could curse others with mere words or kill with a single sentence.
But here's the truth, I can't do that.
Even if I wanted to curse someone to death, I couldn't hurt someone with just my words.
Until today.
A man touched me in a way he shouldn't have, so I fought back.
I punched him in the gut and said, "You'll die today."
It was just a bad jinx I said in anger.
But then … he actually died.
An anchor rope snapped loose and struck him, killing him instantly.
Someone who witnessed the whole thing told everyone I was the reason he died.
Funny, isn't it?
When he tried to harass me, no one stepped in to help.
But the moment he died because of a stupid jinx, suddenly everyone turned their attention to me.
"Throw her away!" they screamed.
I closed my eyes as they rolled the barrel off the ship and into the ocean.
At least it was sealed tight, so no water got in.
Still, the ocean was freezing. The cold seeped through the wood and wrapped around me until my teeth clattered from the chill.
The stench of raw meat and salt made my stomach turn, but I forced myself to hold it in.
Maybe the waves would carry me somewhere else.
Somewhere far away.
Somewhere I could start over.
Somewhere people wouldn't try to kill me just because they thought I was an evil witch.
But to be honest, I was hoping for death more than some false hope.
If this had been the end of my story, I would've welcomed it with open arms, because I was tired of fighting for a life that no one ever believed I deserved.
• • •
I had no idea how long I floated in that damn barrel.
My body had gone completely numb after being curled up so tightly that I couldn't even feel my legs anymore.
The waves tossed me around like a rag doll, slamming me into the water over and over, dragging me under just to throw me back up again.
That rotten meat sloshing around beside me only made things worse. The stench was unbearable, and every tilt of the barrel made my stomach twist.
I would've rather starved than touch that disgusting meat.
It seemed like I passed out more than once.
Maybe it was the cold. Maybe hunger. Or maybe my body was just tired of fighting and trying to shut down for good.
But, of course, I didn't die.
Because death never wants me.
If I had, maybe I'd be celebrating my death in heaven, or more likely, roasting in hell. But honestly, who even cares anymore?
Eventually, the violent rocking began to ease.
In the distance, I could hear the sound of seagulls. The air felt warmer than before, just enough to stop my teeth from chattering.
Then suddenly, the barrel hit something solid.
A rock? Land?
I wasn't sure.
Not long after, I heard muffled voices that sounded like men's voices.
"What the hell is that thing?!"
"Ugh, the smell! Is there a dead body in there?!"
"Wait … I think something's alive. Do you hear that?"
I didn't have the strength to call out.
My lips were cracked and dry, my limbs completely numb.
I forced my eyes open in the pitch dark, but all I could see was the curve of wooden walls and red stains from the long-rotten meat.
"Open it! Hurry!"
As the lid was lifted, a burst of light poured in, blinding me for a few seconds.
I squinted, barely making out the blurry shapes of the people standing above me.
Oh no.
Soldiers.
They looked like they were soldiers from a kingdom.
They were tall and broad, their bodies almost completely covered in heavy iron armor.
"Oh, shit! It's a girl!" one of them shouted. "She's still alive!"