Chapter 15: The End of the Curse

The sun climbed high through the windows as Ethan sat once again in his own living room, holding the accursed dagger once more. Its blade gleamed wickedly in the light as if daring him to make its final plunge and end it all.

He balanced the weapon in his hands, remembering all the lives it had taken throughout the years. He was there as well, wielding that cursed damned thing. It was time for all this madness to end now, though, before he did something worse than before.

With a sad heart but a determined stride, Ethan walked out onto the front porch. Micki and Ryan already waited patiently for him as they’d agreed to earlier.

“Is it over?” Ryan asked gently, his eyes fixed on that dreaded object clutched tightly within one hand now.

“Yes,” Ethan said, handing them back the dagger, “I’m done with it.”

They took it carefully from him and then nodded solemnly in understanding. They did not need any further explanation than that. For both knew well the immense sacrifice he had made willingly here today.

“Thank you,” Micki breathed softly reaching out to squeeze his hand tightly. “We’ll take care of this thing completely, it won’t see the light of another day.”

He smiled thankfully at her suggestion before turning back into the house. No more a hunter or a collector, he was now a husband and father once more. Returning to the warm embracing arms of loved ones. He was prepared to face his end, in the company of his loving family.

Meanwhile, Ryan and Micki were looking at his departing figure. “I haven’t seen anyone keeping their sanity after using the cursed objects. How do you think he did it?” Ryan asked in a sad but curious voice.

“He did not. It was Samantha and his family that did it for him. Keeping him grounded that is,” Micki said as tears rolled down her eyes.

“Umm ... maybe they did. Is that why he chose to face his death in front of them? His body would age rapidly, and he won’t be able to explain it to them.” Ryan was still trying to understand his choices.

“I don’t know. Maybe dying alone would have been a better choice for him. I don’t know if I should call him brave to face his death in front of them or selfish to make them suffer along with him.” Micki had no answers but then again it was not her question.

“Maybe he was selfish to wish for a new life, but I won’t blame him. If nothing else, I never imagined a cursed object like this could be used to create something so beautiful.” Ryan said in admiration of his friend.

“How did he...” Micki was about to ask another question, but Ryan pressed his finger on her lips. “He did what he had to ... I will neither judge him nor would I ever speak of it again,” Ryan said with conviction and finality.

Micki had not imagined Ryan to be so close to Ethan that he would defend his deeds no matter how ugly they were. She never understood how they could connect so deeply. They had never spoken more than necessary with each other. Maybe it was a guy thing, she would never know.

They wished luck and peace to their partner and left. With a dagger safely wrapped in cloth, Micki and Ryan drove far away from Ethan’s home. They headed towards an incinerator where they could finally burn that accursed object into oblivion. It was time to end its dark reign over human lives forever.