i just answered this but a lot of stuff happens before the start of this exchange fic!!!
how long had he been there? hours? days? months? he didn’t know and that didn’t bother him. for all he had done, he deserved this. his teeth started chattering. he tried pulling his cloak closer to himself but it did nothing to ward off the icy bite.
suddenly, he heard a ship approach and his heart started to constrict. it wasn’t unbearable, only uncomfortable, like the cold had finally gotten to him. even though he was shivering, beads of sweat formed on his brow. what was happening?
after what felt like an eternity, he heard footsteps echo towards him. they were coming for him. go away. it hurts. leave me to die. but this felt worse than death.
he hoped they wouldn’t find him. he hoped to die before the curse could take over his life. alas, things never went his way, and the first glance of who found him made his eyes prickle. it was too late. the curse had begun.