Opposing Forces

by aldivan teixeira torres

  She now was there, at the station, fully convinced and reassured of her decision. She would put her plan into action soon as she had total control over the occult forces. Mimoso would be the ideal place for her kingdom of injustice. After conquering Mimoso, she intended to take over the world. However, for this to happen, she would have to unbalance the "opposing forces" and use them to her advantage. The steps to accomplish this were to deploy a curse, distort a true love and cause a tragedy. With everything complete, she could stifle the true religion and take control of everything.

  She checks the address contained in her letter and asks a person nearby how to get there. She is directed by the person and starts walking. Her thoughts are full of negative energy and she only thinks about destroying, humiliating and perverting. In her suitcase, she carries an oracle which serves as an intermediary between her and the God of Darkness. She remembers her first contact with the underworld and how she felt happy and powerful for achieving such a feat. After that, she had numerous contact. The last message she received had clarified certain facts unknown to her. Now she was ready to take action and start her kingdom of injustice.

  She continues walking and soon sees the beautiful bungalow. She feels a mixture of anguish and suffering inside the house. She laughs as she takes pleasure in these situations. She walks a little faster and soon comes to the house. She claps and yells to be attended to. A few moments pass and Gerusa comes to answer the door.

  —My cousin, Clemilda. How good it is to see you here.

  —I arrived a little while ago. You've got a place for me?

  —Not yet. The major's home and you can talk to him personally. Please, come in.

  Clemilda accepted the invitation immediately. She enters the house (accompanied by Gerusa) and goes to talk to the major. She finds him in the living room.

  —Mr. Major, this is my cousin, Clemilda, who comes from Bahia. She came to speak with your grace.

  —Nice to meet you. My name is Quintino and as you probably already know, I am the greatest political authority in this region. What do you want?

  —My cousin Gerusa invited me to come and live here in Mimoso because I was alone in Salvador. I was wondering if you, sir, could get me a good job and also a place to live.

  —Well, one of my houses is unoccupied and seeing as how you are Gerusa's cousin, and she's been with us so many years, I can give it to you. About the job, nothing comes to mind right now but when I see a good opportunity I'll let you know. Was that all? Gerusa will give you the keys to the house. In fact, it is a gigantic castle. I think you might like it.

  -—That's all. Thank you.

  Glad to have gotten accommodations, the witch left for her new home. The next day would be the beginning of her cruel plan.

  The "Blessing"

  One day after Clemilda's arrival, the residents of the beautiful bungalow are having breakfast. Christine avoids talking to her father as she is still resentful of the beating she took. Helena and the major talk freely.

  —You mean that the boy doesn't want to come meet our daughter? I find this absurd. (Helena)

  —His father prefers it that way. It is to maintain a certain air of mystery. It is a pity that our daughter is not enjoying the idea of getting married. I would give anything to convince her that it is the best. (Major)

  —Forget it. Don't ask for the impossible.

  Gerusa overhears and decides to intervene.

  —I know someone who can help. My cousin Clemilda is experienced in relationships.

  —I think it's a good idea. Gerusa, accompany my daughter to the home of Ms. Clemilda. If you succeed, I will reward you. (Major)

  —I'm not going. (Christine)

  —You don't have to want to. Do not make me whip you again. (Major)

  A shudder runs through Christine's body remembering the punishment. She was not willing to experience that feeling again. She agrees despite it not being her own will. She gets up from the table and accompanies Gerusa. The two leave the house and can already see Clemilda's residence, which sits just across the street. A chill is felt by Christine as a warning that she shouldn't go. However, the fear of her father was greater and she decided to keep quiet. The few feet leading to the residence were covered. Gerusa knocks on the door to be met. In a few moments Clemilda appears.

  —I was waiting for you. Come in. You are Christine, are you not?

  —How do you know me, ma'am?

  —Everyone comments about you. They talk about your beauty and your good ways. I just assumed when you arrived. Well, come in.

  Gerusa and Christine enter and the environment was full of negative vibes. The objects that had previously made up the horror scene had already been removed by Clemilda.

  —I brought Christine here for you to advise her to accept the marriage that the major has arranged. She is resistant to this idea.

  —Well, I think I can talk to her. Gerusa, can you leave us alone a moment? By the way, there is a stack of things to be washed in the kitchen.

  —You never change. Always trying to exploit me.

  Gerusa obeys and goes to the kitchen. Clemilda approaches Christine and starts to circle around her.

  —I see a man in your path. His name is Claudio, isn't it? He is a young man, muscular and beautiful. You met at work and the seed of love was deposited in your heart. However, think with me, why wouldn't he be interested in you? You are young, beautiful, intelligent and above all, the daughter of a powerful major. Could it be that the love that you feel is not reciprocated? I guarantee you that he would have his reasons: pride, ambition and power. That's what people look for. The love you have drawn in your heart is just an illusion.

  —You're not going to convince me that easily. I know Claudio and what we feel is real. I don't need to read his mind to be sure of his feelings. Illusion is this marriage that they got me into.

  —Have you considered that it can merely be a plan of his? Don't you think it's strange the sudden friendship you've started? People are really predictable. What they want is to end up on top, regardless of the feelings of others.

  —Your poisonous mouth won't confuse me. I shouldn't have come here as I don't feel well.

  —Hold on, dear. Let me bless you so that you will be happy in your marriage.

  Before Christine could respond, Clemilda put her hand on her head. She spoke unintelligible words and Christine started getting dizzy. A whirlwind of energy jumped out of her hands and into Christine's head. The operation lasted little more than thirty seconds. Later, Christine took her hand off and called for Gerusa. She answered; the two left the residence and returned home. The blessing had turned Christine into a mutant.

  Phenomena

  After the intriguing meeting with Clemilda the sorceress, Christine began to feel totally different than before. The usual activities she performed and which gave her pleasure such as knitting, reading and going to work had become tedious. What remained intact and was the only thing to do so, was the feeling she had for Claudio. In addition, strange phenomena began to happen around her. The knitting she learned as a child suddenly would not form anything. The lines no longer seemed to make any sense. While reading a book, the page she was reading was struck by a ray of fire and burned. She felt her eyes burning in that moment. Passing by metal objects, she would attract them. Every discovery, she became anxious and wondered what it all meant. Was it a curse? What she had become? No one could know or otherwise she would run the risk of being hospitalized and doctors from all over the world were going to experiment with her.

  In order to avoid them finding out, she stopped going out with her friends and only participated in social activities strictly necessary such as work, for example. At all times, she sought to control herself because the phenomena only occurred when she was emotionally unstable. In order to get rid of the curse, she resorted to various methods but none of them proved effective. Bitter and angry, Christine increasingly isolated herself in her own world.

  A New Frie
nd

  The routine of work, every fifteen days, was practically the only social activity that Christine took part in. Through it she met numerous people and made friends. Among them was a young girl, more or less the same age as Christine, named Rosa. The congeniality was mutual and every time they saw each other they spent a good time talking. On one such occasion, Christine asked her to come to her house and she readily accepted. On the day and at the time they had decided on, Rosa arrived, coming into the garden of the house, clapping to announce herself. Gerusa, the maid of the house, answered the door.

  —How can I help you?

  —I came to talk to Christine.

  —Just a moment I'll go call her.

  Sometime after, Christine shows up and invites her to go out with her on the porch of the house because it was the most ventilated and relaxing place to be.

  —Well, Christine, I want to get to know you better. You told me earlier that you were going to be a nun. How was life in the convent?

  —I spent three precious years of my life there. Well, the nuns were nice to me even though they were quite strict. The time dedicated to prayer was quite extensive and that bored me sometimes. I was of the opinion that if a human being wants to enter in contact with God it was not necessary to be so selfless and devoted because God is omniscient and understands everything we wish. Over time, they realized that I had no vocation and they kicked me out.

  —So you left the cloister and returned to the world. You don't regret this decision?

  —It all depends on how you look at it. Immediately, no. However, now that my father is forcing me to get married I think it would be better if I were there. Although that would just be me hiding away from an unfair world we live in where parents decide the futures of their children.

  —Have you ever had a crush or fallen in love?

  —When I was in the convent, I met a son of the gardener who captivated me. I thought it was love at that moment but soon after his abandonment I realized that it was just passion. True love I finally found with Claudio, my coworker. However, my parents’ opposition made our relationship impossible. My only hope is the request I made on the mountain that everyone claims is sacred. Tell me a little about yourself. Have you ever loved someone?

  —As I have said, I have a boyfriend named Felipe, the son of the owner of the warehouse. We both love each other and maybe one day we can get married. Our parents have totally supported us.

  —I envy you. You don't know how much my parents' misunderstanding hurts me. I wish I was just a regular girl and not the daughter of the almighty major.

  Tears pour down Christine's face and her friend tries to console her. The burden she carried on her back was too heavy for their immaturity. She wanted to be happy and saw the opportunity to be so slipping through her fingers. A mere two days remained for her to give herself over to a wedding without a future and to a stranger that she only knew by name. Seeing that her friend had no more desire to talk, Rosa said goodbye and promised to return another time. Their friendship was important for Christine as she didn't feel so isolated and completely abandoned.

  The Day Before the Wedding

  The proximity of the marriage caused Christine to become increasingly agitated. She had been talking with the priest, talking to a friend and had made one last attempt to convince her parents to give up the idea of marrying her off. So far, she hadn't gotten any results. The priest suggested that she resign and accept her situation. How could she do that? It was her life and happiness that were at stake. She learned, in the convent, that all human beings were free to make their own decisions and lead their own destinies. Her rights were being suppressed by a society in which children are married off by their parents. With her friend, she deliberated on her and Claudio's future. Neither had found a real and palpable alternative that could lead the two to be together other than the hope of the holy mountain and the request that Christine made to it. It was the only thing left for her to do; wait for a miracle or the unlikely to occur.

  Christine goes towards the terrace and begins watching the sky. She remembers the moments spent on the mountain and the stars that she and Claudio observed together. They were witnesses to the feeling that united the two and even if the major and his social conventions would never allow it, the two would continue to love each other. Looking at the sky, she hopes the next world will be a fairer and better place and that those who really know true love can achieve happiness. She remembers God and how she learned how wonderful he is. She asks God to grant the wishes of the simplest dreamers without having to enter a cave or something else similar. She also asks for strength to endure her martyrdom to the end. She felt like a mutant and was disappointed in love. She cries the last tears she had left to cry and goes home.

  Tragedy

  It was finally daylight and this meant that the terrible day had arrived. Christine wakes up but tries to pretend to be asleep in order not to face reality. Who knew, they might forget her and maybe everything that she had suffered in the last few days had only been a simple nightmare? She wanted to open her eyes and find Claudio, her true love. She wanted to marry him, not a stranger, this son of the Colonel of Rio Branco. For a moment, she feels as if she's in Sucavão and recalls every detail of what happened there. She seems to be there feeling the force of the water, the manly embrace of Claudio and smelling his scent. She delves deep into this thought until a voice disturbs her and brings her back to reality. It was her mother.

  —Christine, my daughter, wake up, the wedding guests are already arriving. Have you forgotten that it will be held at 8:00 AM?

  —Oh, Mother, have patience. I barely slept the whole night thinking about this marriage.

  Christine rises quite moody and goes to the bathroom to take a bath. Her mother is waiting in her room. About twenty minutes later she comes back and finds her beautiful dress spread out on the bed. She observes it and thinks it's pretty, although melancholy. Her mother helps her get dressed and put on makeup. With everything ready, she approaches the mirror to see how she looks. She sees a heartbroken version of herself, even though she is made up beautifully. She thinks about the idea of what was going to happen and about her future at the side of an unknown man. Suddenly, the mirror cracks and breaks, with a great snap. Christine screams and her mother rushes to the rescue. Fortunately, she didn't get hurt. She feels a pain in her chest and wonders what's going to happen. She remembers her reoccurring dreams. Her mother calms her and says it's nothing. The two go into the living room to meet the family of the groom and receive some guests. The major takes Christine's hand and begins to introduce her.

  —Mr. Henrique, this is my daughter Christine. Isn't she beautiful?

  —Yes, she's very beautiful. My son is a lucky man. Today will complete the union of our families and this makes me very happy.

  Christine forces a laugh in order not to be unpleasant. The mother of the groom also tries to be nice.

  —After you are married if you need any help, don't hesitate to ask me. The women of our family are very close.

  Karina, the sister of the groom, steps forward also and praises Christine's hair. The Major and Helena welcome their guests that are still arriving. When the clock strikes exactly 8:00 AM everyone goes out to the terrace where the marriage will take place. Christine is walked, by the major, to the makeshift altar. On her way to the altar, she has the opportunity to see, at a glance, faces with anxious expressions. She sees the Mother Superior and the nuns who had lived with her in the convent. She also sees her first professors and her cousins who came from Recife. All in all, she can sense the anticipation and excitement of the moment. Moving forward a little more, she can already see the groom and Father Chiavaretto. Suddenly, a rage inside her takes over her and makes her hate both of them. Why had that man named Bernardo agreed to marry her? After all, he was a man and had more freedom of action. She would surrender herself to a marriage with no future and would be unhappy for the rest of her life. What about the Father? How d
id he get locked into participating in that farce? The church should have stood by her and been her accomplice rather than accept the situation.

  She gets closer to the groom and her anger does not diminish. Upon seeing him, a ray of lightning comes straight from her eyes and hits him right in the chest. He falls over, dead. The commotion in the audience stirs and Christine falls at his feet.

  —She's a monster! (Some scream)

  The major acts fast and sends his henchmen to help Christine rise up and protect her from the angry crowd. Meanwhile, the nuns cross themselves, not believing what they had just seen. The groom's family tries to pressure the delegate to take action but the major rejects his actions. In the end, Christine is saved and the major sends the guests away. The party and all festivities are canceled. The arranged marriage had resulted in a tragedy.

  The Black Cloud

  With the tragedy completed, Clemilda began to cast a spell that would reach the entire region of Mimoso. She had the authority to do this because she had fulfilled the three steps: She had set a curse, had distorted true love and caused a tragedy. Now, the ministry of the unholy was ready for action, suffocating Christianity. She gets close to the cauldron and puts the last ingredients in it for her spell. Pronouncing unintelligible words, she dances around it. Suddenly, she stops and says with a deep, strong voice: -Dark cloud, appear!