The Cursed Expedition: Part Five
By Carter Nielson
Part Five: A Curse Revealed
For part four, click here.
The words seared into Cedric as if they were hot iron placed right onto his eyes.
Ced, call me immediately. You’re in danger, Qaanaaq is not safe for you.
It had been years since his Uncle Charles and him had talked in any significant way, and to hit him with such an ominous warning shocked Cedric to his core. Of course, the words wouldn’t have had the weight they did if Cedric wasn’t being haunted the past few days.
Cedric took a deep breath and gathered his wits, opening Skype again to call his uncle. As the call was ringing, Cedric saw Jared’s door open as Jared walked across the hall and over to his room. Cedric opened his mouth to explain who he was calling, but his uncle picked up the call before he could. Jared leaned against the door frame and waved at Cedric to ignore him. He looked uncharacteristically interested in what was going on.
“Ced!” Uncle Charles said. “I’m so glad you got back to me. Are you okay?”
Charles seemed distressed, so Cedric cushioned the truth. “I’m doing all right, Uncle Charles. Apart from what I told you about all the unsettling events these last couple days…”
Charles spoke again before Cedric had a chance to sell his well-being further. “That’s what I’m referring to. Ced, buddy, I don’t think you’re safe out there in Greenland.”
Jared pulled up another chair and situated it out of the view of the camera, but still close enough to hear everything going on.
Charles was talking about something regarding the first runes that Cedric had seen, so Cedric cut him off. “Uncle Charles, give me one second.” Cedric hit the mute button, “Jared, this is a personal conversation with my Uncle. Would you mind leaving my room? I’ll come grab you when I’m done here.”
Jared looked offended by the idea of not being able to listen in. “So I have to deal with your hysterical antics out at the site, but I can’t even hear what your uncle has to say?” He responded in a petty tone. Jared got out of his chair aggressively and shut the door forcefully behind him.
That was odd; Jared was usually an unbothered person. And how did he know he was talking to his uncle in the first place, let alone talking to his uncle about the weird events going on? Cedric decided to ask about it later, and turned back to the screen, unmuting himself.
“Sorry Uncle Charles, my work partner Jared was eavesdropping. If I’m in trouble, I’d rather the news be given in private,” Cedric said.
“No worries, buddy. Now listen to me, I have a lot to tell you,” Charles said.
The conversation they had lasted about an hour, and there truly was a lot for Cedric to take in. Charles started off by explaining his fascination with Norse mythology. Their family were immigrants from Iceland who came to America a long time ago and had gotten into witchcraft. The locals became frightened by the rituals they were doing and soon drove them out of town. Given the Christian dominant society, the family had to stop their practices, or do them in the shadows away from society. Cedric was shocked by this information. He had always known that his family’s genealogy was Norse in origin; that’s why he had a rudimentary understanding of the runes he encountered when he first got to Qaanaaq. Yet, everytime he had asked family members about their heritage, he was met with short answers.
Uncle Charles continued on, “Now Cedric, this is why I think you are in danger, given all the details you have shared with me up to this point. What really convinced me of this was when you were outside of the site and the rune was placed outside of your tent, in fresh animal parts no less. That’s done to increase a curse’s potency. Just before our family left Iceland all those years ago, my great-great-great grandmother did a spell that required a human sacrifice.”
Cedric felt sick. How could he be related to such barbarous heathens? His uncle was talking as if magic and curses were real things.
Uncle Charles kept on talking, “Usually, rituals are malevolent. She performed the ritual to protect her family on their voyage to America. But I’m afraid that whatever power she dealt with is now hungry. That power may want to reap the payment for the protection that was offered ages ago.”
Horror at what his uncle told him overcame Cedric; he wouldn’t believe it, it couldn’t be true. He didn’t even believe in Jesus, let alone Norse magic and curses.
“Uncle Charles… There’s no way this is all true. I must just be having a psychotic break from all the stress. This can’t be related,” Cedric said in a pleading tone. Tears began to well up in the corners of his eyes.
“Ced, I’ve been very skeptical of the legitimacy regarding our family’s legend my whole life as well. But those runes spell out a dark fate for you, nephew, and the woman you’ve been seeing…” Uncle Charles paused, “It’s only a hunch, but I think it may be our ancestor coming to reap the payment long overdue. You need to get out of Qaanaaq now. You’re a great photographer; you’ll find a break for your career later. Prioritize your saf — ” The call abruptly ended.
Cedric saw that the wifi had disconnected on his laptop, so he got up to go see what was happening. He remembered seeing the router in the living room. As he exited his room, he noticed Jared’s door was open. Looks like he opens doors a lot more quietly than when he closes them, Cedric thought wryly. He turned the corner and looked into the living room. Kurt was standing there with scissors in his hands, his face riddled with shame.
“I… I’m sorry Cedric. You’re a good guy and all, but that spirit’s hunger needs to be stopped,” Kurt mumbled, avoiding Cedric’s eyes.
Cedric backed away slowly. “What do you mean, Kurt? What does the wifi have anything to do — ”
Something smashed into the back of his head and his vision went black.
Cedric’s vision came in and out for the next few hours. When he first came to, he heard Jared saying something about the site and a need for haste. He faded back into unconsciousness. He woke up again when his body jolted, slamming into the side of a vehicle. Was he in the same vehicle that they used to visit the site? Though he couldn’t see very well, the chilly wind confirmed it. Kurt was talking as well, sounding upset. Jared responded, sounding impatient, but Cedric couldn’t make out any specific words. He slipped back into that dreamless black.
When he fully came to, he was lying on the ground in the snow. His arms and legs were bound, and had a rag tied around his mouth. Jared was standing over him arguing with Kurt.
“I only agreed to take you here. I’m not as invested in these dark dealings like you. I’m not going any closer,” Kurt said.
“Fine,” Jared responded begrudgingly. He grabbed Cedric by the legs and started dragging him through the snow.
Cedric screamed and tried to fight back, but he was severely concussed from whatever knocked him out earlier, and Jared’s efforts prevailed. It was torturous being dragged through the snow, and Cedric’s weak struggles did nothing to relieve the pain. Cedric gave up the fight and started to cry, the bonds were too tight.
After what seemed like forever, Jared finally dragged Cedric to the site. Jared let out a deep sigh, more from satisfaction than exhaustion.
Jared smiled with a crazy gleam in his eye and finally addressed Cedric. “The mother finally gave the sign that you were ready for the ritual. It’s about time, too. I’ve learned a lot here in Greenland before you got here, Cedric. These forces can’t be stopped. All I can do is assist in the process, as a humble servant.” Jared’s smile deepened, “Come on, Cedric. Time to meet your fate.”
Jared grabbed Cedric’s legs again and dragged him through the site, and right to the little hill behind the ruins.
