Prologue

Mrs. Anderson sat across from me at the long conference table.

This woman spelled nothing but trouble. She had been hinting at my doom throughout this week and with this gathering, she would definitely see to it.

I didn't know what she and the others had for me, but the family had gathered to discuss the burial of my grandfather, Larry.

A cold sweat formed at the back of my neck as I scanned the crowd.

“Eva are you guilty of this?” he asked, bringing my attention back to him. I met his piercing and discerning eyes.

“No, I am not,” I replied loudly and confidently. “And how do you plead,” he asked as his face tightened into a frown.

I held my breath and placed a hand on my chest as I felt my chest heaving up and down. It was racing in my chest!

“Not guilty,” I said, and a murmur went through in hushed voices, but I ignored it. How could they have expected me to admit guilt to such heinous accusations?

“She is a witch!” Mrs. Anderson leaped up and stamped her feet on the ground, the expression on her face speaking nothing but so much hatred for me. She was ready to make everyone believe I am truly what she believes about me, and nothing was going to stop her. “She is guilty of killing her parents and her uncle, my husband, she might even be a witch sent to kill us all and wipe this entire clan off the earth!”

I didn’t want to believe what I was hearing.

'This all must be a dream and I have to wake up from it.' I screamed, inwardly biting my lip to suppress the urge to cry.

“I am not a witch! Aunty, I am just a normal girl!” I screamed, feeling a hot liquid gushing down my face as the tears I was trying to suppress finally escaped.

“You're a bad omen, and you've brought nothing but pain to this family.” She pointed a finger at me. “You killed my husband, and now you're the reason your grandfather is dead.”

I recoiled at the accusations, my heart racing as though I just ran a marathon. “What are you talking about? I would never hurt anyone in this family!”

But Mrs. Anderson wasn't listening and continued blabbering, “There is nothing to hear any more from her. This is what she is, a witch” She began to sob, the sound growing louder as she went on that anyone who heard would immediately believe her.

“What proof do you have?” I demanded, my voice shaking with emotion. “What is the proof for all these accusations,” I howled. The conference room was silent as they looked at me with dark expressions.

These people had shunned me away right from my parent's death and after my uncle's death, it got worse before my grandfather took me in. Now he is dead, and my fate was undecided,

“am I really a witch?” I stopped to think for a second. “Am I truly a bad omen? Why should all this happen to me”

of course, they couldn't believe me now my legs felt weak as I managed to stand on my feet.

“Proof?” Mrs. Anderson laughed, a bitter sound. “I don't need proof. It's obvious to anyone with eyes.”

My family members' eyes showed no sympathy, but they didn't say anything. They seemed to believe her, their faces showed their contempt toward me, and I felt like a stranger in my family. My mouth hung open. I couldn't believe they could all think that I was the cause of the deaths. Did no one care to look at it from my perspective? Tears welled up in the corner of my eyes.

I clenched my fists, feeling a surge of anger. How could she say these things, especially at such a vulnerable time?

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. I felt numb all over, my breath catching in my throat.

"I do apologize for your loss, but you're entirely wrong. I love this family, and I would never do anything to hurt them. Please, let's focus on Uncle Larry and mourn him together.” I said with tears streaming down my face. How could they see me as the cause of the deaths of my loved ones?

I fell on my knees, looking around and feeling utterly helpless. And then my cousin Davis stepped forward, his face dark as he stared at me.

“This cursed girl would be the end of us if we still keep her,” he said, his words cutting through me like a knife.

" I am not a witch” I murmured, “this death is not related to me,” I muttered to myself.

I knew that I was not the person Mrs. Anderson was making me out to be. I had to find a way to clear my name and prove my innocence.

I heard the muffled sound of footsteps approaching me, my heart started pounding. Who could it be? My other relatives? Were they here to make my life more horrible than it already is?

“Eva,” the voice called slowly. I looked up,

“The head of the family. Elder Ken was here too? I'm so screwed if he believes this too.”

I looked up at him with teary eyes that begged to be believed.“There is a way to resolve all this,” he said calmly.