Cruel

Fate is a twisted practical joker. It just loves to screw over people. All for a laugh. Riley Christopher is going to learn that the hard way.

It all started with a thief.

This took place years ago. Sirens blared through Hell. A muscular woman with short purple hair ran into the dark forest, laughing to herself. She did it. She didn’t believe how easy it was. Still, they weren’t letting her go that easily. The woman smirked as she heard dogs barking in the background. One, two, four, six hounds. Who could run faster—her or them?

There was a trick to this. Run down to the river and wade through the water. She did the math in her head. Two hundred miles to get to the gate. This was going to be easy. Run first and then fly. The woman counted down in her head.

Three… Two… One!

She took off running to the River of the Dead.

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-Present Day-

“I’m home,” Riley said to herself as she opened the door to her apartment. No one was here. Surprise, surprise. Riley sighed and walked inside. She didn’t expect much to happen today. Why would it? She flopped down onto the couch. Her eyes scanned the room.

“Hello?” she asked. Giggling filled the living room. Right on schedule. They never come out to show themselves. Riley didn’t know who or what they were.

“Won’t you come out today?” she asked. Another giggle filled the room before it went quiet. Riley frowned. Figures. Maybe not today.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

“Hello?” she asked. At first, she heard chattering and glasses clinking in the background. Riley made a face.

“Hello?” she asked. A woman laughed on the other end. The girl frowned.

“Mom? Mom? Mom!” she shouted. Riley rolled her eyes. This again?

“Mom!” she shouted.

“Baby?” a voice asked back. Riley pushed her bangs from her forehead.

“Did you butt dial me again?” she asked.  Her mother laughed.

“I’m so sorry, Sweets,” she shouted. She broke into more laughter. Riley’s face dropped.

“Bye Mom,” she said. “I’m hanging up now.”

“No, no! Wait!” her mother shouted. Her daughter already hung up.

“So annoying,” Riley muttered to herself. However, she whipped her head around and froze. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. On instinct, Riley reached under the couch and pulled out a baseball bat. She counted down in her head.

Three… Two…

“One!” she shouted. The girl ran down the hall. She raced down to her bedroom. Riley flipped on the lights as fast as she could. When she looked inside, her jaw dropped.

The slender muscular woman with the short purple hair waved at her with a catlike smile on her face.

“Yo,” she said. Riley’s eyes widened as the bat hit the floor.

“Who the fuck are you?!” she shouted. The woman pouted at her for a second.

“Aw, you don’t remember?” she asked. Riley shook her head as she stepped back. The woman sat up on the bed.

“Aw, well. It can’t be helped,” she said. The woman bowed her head.

“My name is Melissa. And you have something that belongs to me,” she said.