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Alena was walking home from school one chilly evening. Her father was on a business trip, with her mother, so she was home all alone...she hated that. Remembering to check the mail, she stepped aside and opened the mailbox.
A large brown package lay inside. Scribbly handwriting stated:
To Alena
Love Grandma Esa
Alena was surprised. her Grandma Esa was very secretive. She'd never even seen her before!
Filled with curiosity, Alena's long legs carried her to her room, where she flipped back a tangle of black hair and began to open the package...
submitted by Riley M., age 12, USA
(May 8, 2009 - 5:22 pm)
(May 8, 2009 - 5:22 pm)
Is this a round robin?
(May 9, 2009 - 10:18 am)
Yes, sorry for not specifying. I can be quite confusing.
(May 10, 2009 - 10:35 am)
When she finally got the package opened, there
lay a beautifully painted wooden box inside. Huh,
thought Alena, I wonder what this is about? She opened
the old, wooden box to find a golden heart locket
attached to a note. She read the note first. It said:
Dear Alena,
This locket has been with me since I was your age.
It is special in many ways and it's charm has helped
me throughout my life. It's time that I pass it down to
you, Dear. Please take care of it and one day give it to
your granddaughter. I know it will be of good use to you.
Love,
Grandma Esa
Confused, Alena picked up the locket and examined it
thoroughly. Nothing was inside the locket or out. Alena did
notice, however, that tiny scripted words were carved into the
front. What does this say? Alena mused again. Just then the
phone rang...
(May 11, 2009 - 2:03 pm)
It was a small rectangular parcel, tied up with string and brown paper. It had a dusty aroma, like an old scarf that had been stuck in the attic for years. Filled with curiosity, Alena fumbled with the string, finally giving up and cutting it with a pocketknife. She started with the edges, which had cracked and become dry. She unfolded the intricate overlapping bits of paper, stiffened with age. Inside there was a small box, like the kind at a jewelry store, with a smudged, inky note on one side in the same scrawl as before. Have this with you at all times. It will keep you safe.
*bangs head against table* Ugh, how predictable is that? I must be in a million books: "Have this with you at all times. It will keep you safe." I really should rewrite that, but I have a mountain of homework and a orthodontist appointment, so I guess you'll have to deal with it.
Caroline A.
(May 11, 2009 - 2:15 pm)
Gah, conflict already! But thankfully, this is easily remedied- since Caroline never specified, it can still be a locket in the "small box, like the kind at a jewelry store." The notes are nearly nterchangeable. Good? And now the phone's ringing.
"Hello, Trasse residence," said Alena, putting a mask of cheer oveer her perplexity.
"Hey, it's Mara," said a girl's voice. "From school. Was just wondering, did you get the math?"
"Um... math?"
"Yeah, page three-eight-eight in the textbook?"
"I didn't know we had math," said Alena, confused. "In fact, I distinctly recall Mrs. Frankol saying that we only had the language and the science essay. Did I miss something?"
"Guess so," said Mara. "Anyhow, guess you can do it tomorrow in study hall, right?"
"Yeah, sure. Thanks."
"Same. Bye."
"Bye." Alena hung up the phone and went to her room. The locket was gone!
((*gasp* No way. Who else saw that coming from a mile away? :/ )
(May 11, 2009 - 4:14 pm)
((Brilliant! Someone else read my mind. I wasn't quite sure what it should be, but the easiest solution was to be vague ("It will keep you safe") and leave the hard parts to other people. It is so hard not to be predictable on this!))
Alessa was in chaos. The dramatic side of her wanted to suspect that this had bet a setup. After all, she hardly knew Mara, and someone calling, just to make sure she hadn't forgotten the nonexistent homework pages just to return to find the mysterious locket missing- that was just too strange. On the other hand, things like that didn't happen in real life, those things were for fiction novels. The more she thought about it, the less likely it seemed. How would Mara know when she had gotten the package? And it wasn't as if someone could just walk in the door and take the locket, they had motion lights and security systems. Yet, as she retraced her steps for the fifth time, she couldn't help feeling doubtful. The locket couldn't have disapeared on it's own...
Alessa gasped. There, out the window, she saw, though it seemed strange, a...a...a shadow. It was shaped like a human, about the size Alessa would be if she were to stand out there in the afternoon light. But the Shadow had no person. And it held her locket. And it was watching her. She slammed the window shut and locked the doors, but she couldn't the Shadow's stare out of her mind. The Shadow had Mara's eyes.
((Well, it's nothing to yours, Mary W., but it'll do. by the way, have you read the Eye of the Oracle books by Brian Davis? the main character is named Mara, but changes her name to Sapphira Adi. You might like them.))
(May 12, 2009 - 4:04 pm)
((Ooh, no, that was really good, Caroline.
No, never read EoO (I got "Mara" from the Bible), but if you say it's good I'll probably request it. What's it about?
Tangents, sorry...))
"This is too creepy," Alena muttered. "This is seriously freaking me out..." She turned on her computer and checked her email, trying to soothe her nerves. This, as well as reading her library book, having a bowl of ice cream, and attempting a nap, as unsucessful. She kept seeing that frightening Shadow inher mind's eye. Gah, stop thinking about it! she shouted to herself in thought. Overreaction! Paranoia!
But really, she wondered, where could the locket have gone, in all hnesty? She'd searched her room- it hadn't fallen under the bed, or anything like that- it was obviously gone.
But now she was working herself into a panic- this was just insane. She needed human contact.
Fumbling with her CD case, she inserted a xxxx tape into the thingy that you put tape thingies into ((sorry, awful, but I don't know anythng about such matters, and I put xxxx because I can't stand Miley person whatever her last name is or those hairy Jonas brothers or any other "pop stars" and therefore if I specified it'd probably end up some weird eighties group or a Christian music group that no one but me and my relatives have ever heard of. Sorry. *grimace*)). But instead of her favorite xxxx tune, a strange, echoey voice was emitted from the apparatus.
"Hello, Alena," it said. "This is Taroc speaking. I'm afraid that you don't know me, but I've been watching you for a long time now. Your parents will not be returning from their trip- I have them hostage in my fortress. Spies will be all around you. If you attempt anything you migt regret, we will be right there to point out your errors in a friendly and helpful way..."
Alena doubted this.
"For the time being, you may either peacefully join us by going over to your friend Mara's house tomorrow after school, or you can wait at home. It's your choice."
"But professionally, Alena?" finished the voice. "I'd suggest the former."
(May 12, 2009 - 4:55 pm)
((I also cannot stand those pop-star peeps.))
Alena rewound the CD, and played it again. Instead of the creepy voice, all it played was her music. It was perfectly normal, as it had been before. What had happened? Alena wondered. The phone rang again. Alena ran to get it. Out of the speaker loudly burst, in the same creepy voice "Hello, Alena.This is Taroc speaking. I'm afraid that you don't know me, but I've been watching you for a long time now. Your parents will not be returning from their trip- I have them hostage in my fortress. Spies will be all around you. If you attempt anything you migt regret, we will be right there to point out your errors in a friendly and helpful way. For the time being, you may either peacefully join us by going over to your friend Mara's house tomorrow after school, or you can wait at home. It's your choice. But professionally, Alena?" finished the voice, "I'd suggest the former." "What?" said Alena. "Didn't you hear? I said the math was on page 592, not what I said before," Mara's voice said. "Oh. OK". Her mom called her for dinner, but instead of her mom's voice, she heard the voice saying that whole speech over again. Would this voice haunt me for the rest of my life? Am I going insane? WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!?!? Alena thought. She felt utterly helpless as the voice was taking over her life as she ran to dinner.
(May 13, 2009 - 5:58 pm)
OOOOHHHH spoooky!!
0o0o0o0o0o
Alena shut off her stereo. Her heart was pounding and her breathing was shallow. who was this "Taroc" person and how did she get mixed up in this. She was just a normal girl who argued with her parents, crushed on boys, did her homework, and went over to friend's house. Alena read abou tthings like this, she didn't live them. Alena slumped to the floor. What am I going to do about this? she tought. Then, she stood up, grabbed her jacket, and raced out of the house slamming the door behind her. She was going to get some answers. And she knew exactly who to go to.
0o0o0o0
Question, is her grandma still alive?? 'Cause that was where she was going to go, but you can probably make her go somewhere else. *shrugs*
(May 13, 2009 - 6:46 pm)
((Can she go to Mara's instead? That's what Taroc is telling her to do, and would get rid of the voice.))
((P.S. Use double parentheses when talikng out of story))
(May 14, 2009 - 2:59 pm)
((Wait, Pirocks, her mom didn't call her for dinner- the parents aren't there, remember?
Virtual high-five on anti pop stars.
I'm guessing the grandma is still alive... unless we want to be all creepy about it, and the package was addressed thirteen years before or something... input?))
(May 14, 2009 - 3:04 pm)
((M'kay, well, I'm gonna make her go to her grandma's
house first, and add something a little creepy, so bear with
me:D))
Alena ran outside as fast as she could and grabbed her bike.
She felt like she should go to Grandma Esa's house before she
did anything Taroc said. She peddled fast down the sidewalk 'til
she reached the countryside. True, she had never actually seen
Grandma Esa, but she used to take bike rides up this way with
her parents, and they showed Alena where she lived.
She finally curved off down the old gravel road to where Grandma
Esa lived in an old farmhouse.
"Grandma Esa!" Alena screamed as she ran to the front porch.
The began pounding on the door with all her might. Just then one
of her grandm's multiple cats skidded in front of her. A black cat.
Alena wasn't superstitious, but she wondered if her luck could even
possibly be worse.
The cat kept moaning in a scraggly voice that sounded like it wanted
her to follow it, and, being as desperate as she was, Alena did. It led
her up a winding path into the woods. They went deeper and deeper
and Alena began to wonder if the cat were really leading her anywhere.
But before Alena could give up and turn around, the cat halted to a stop
beside a large stone in the ground... a gravestone. And, to Alena's
horror, the name "Taroc" was scrawled across the top.
(May 14, 2009 - 3:54 pm)
((Oops! What should we do?))
(May 15, 2009 - 5:34 am)
((Oh, that was creepy! Exceedingly! (Good creepy. :) )
I'm not so great at writing creepily, though... will anyone else reply, or shall I attempt to?))
(May 15, 2009 - 3:04 pm)
((Creepy! Ack! *looks over shoulder* *eerie feeling of someone watching me* But actually, that's unfair to the cat. Because of stupid, uneducated people who believe that black cats are unlucky (No offense, Megan), more black cats are euthanized in shelters every year than any other colour of cat. So I'll fix that here.))
She stared at the graven words under the name. Though spirit and soul shall be broken, essence shall endure. The message was reapeated over and over again in small script, entrancing her despite the shivers running down her spine. Finally she tore her eyes away, looking at the straggly stray. It looked at her with wide, sad jade eyes. she stroked it gently, surprised at the silkiness of the fur. when she turned back to the grave, it was gone. In it's place stood the Shadow, staring at her menacingly, then disapeared into the ground. The moment it left, she heard a familiar voice, smooth like maple syrup. she spun around and saw the stray bristled angrily at the person the Voice belonged to. Mara stood, smiling in a way that made Alessa shiver. "I see you haven't accepted my lord's invitation. He was most unhappy when you did not come immediatly. After all, he would so hate to harm your mother and father. Perhaps you would like me to show you the way to his domain. With that, she...she melted. She sank into the ground and emerged as the Shadow. The Shadow reached for my arm and latched onto it. The Shadow's very touch seemed to drain her soul. She felt cold...numb and uncaring. She was becoming like the Shadow. The stray hissed and leapt, scratching her and clinging. That brought Alessa back to her senses. She yanked away from the Shadows steely grip and ran. The Shadow melted through the ground and reappeared feet in front of her, grabbing her again, harder. It whispered a few evil-sounding words and They whipped through space and time. Then everything went black.
((Mary W.-The EoO books are really Christian based, so if you don't believe in God, etc., you may dislike them. I'm guessing you are Shistian, seeing as you got the name from the Bible. They're about Mara, a slave girl born underground in one of the circles of hell, forced to serve an evil Mistress, Morgan/Lillith, who is really an Oracle of Fire chosen by God. I really reccomend them and their sister series, Dragons in Our Midst. The First book is called Eye of the Oracle.))
(May 15, 2009 - 6:39 pm)