Spoiler
Okay so I was glancing over my stuff I've submitted and I realized I had all novels and poetry. I have tons of short stories that I need to post! So this is my first one. I'm sorry if it's a little long. If I get any complaints about it I'll change it into two parts. It was something I wrote for my creative writing class so it's a little rushed and it's not like all the things I've recently posted that I've had years to work on. Enjoy!
Okay so I just revised the entire thing with help from that extremely long review and now this is what I have. Reading back through it yeah I found a lot of problems and it really sucked. Hopefully its a little better now. And I also put it into two different parts because I thought it was a little long.
I sat on my bed in complete confusion. I just didn't understand how all this could have happened. It was like one moment I thought I was a completely normal girl, and the next I was dragged down to a whole new world. Why did everything have to happen to me? I had never even won an award before, let alone have this happen. It made my head hurt to even think about it.
My name is Kaylee Wintercrest, and I'm seventeen years old. I will be turning eighteen in only a couple months, and I thought I would finally be able to start my own life.
I lived with my mother and ten year old brother. My father left us when I was only six, so I never knew him. I felt really bad for my mother because she always thought she was completely in love with him. But she got the real side of him when I was about five and he turned into a selfish jerk. He kept telling her that soon he would have it all and the time was about to come when the family destiny was to be restored. My mom always just laughed and pretended like it was nothing, but in reality it scared her. Either he was crazy or right, and either one didn't sound too good.
Then he started to cheat on her. She knew about it but refused to leave him because she thought he could change. She finally made once last attempt to save their marriage and that's when my brother was born. But my father didn't really care about the new baby and he left her anyway. Now she was a struggling single mom who never got any child support. I hadn't heard from him in twelve years, and honestly I never did want to hear from him.
But that all changed. I was one person one minute, and then I was someone totally different. This evil guy came to visit me. I didn't want to believe it was the devil at first, but somewhere deep down I knew from the feeling the guy gave off. It was horrible! It was like being surrounded by pure evil and being able to feel it. I couldn't even move when I was in his presence, so all I could do was listen to him talk while I cried my eyes out. It was kind of hard to describe.
He told me many things that I really had no choice but to listen to. He told me my father came from a very special family. My great great great grandfather was born in England and wasn't very popular in the public eye. He wanted more power so he sold his soul to the devil for this necklace. Then he showed me an ugly looking black thing that gave me a bad vibe from the start just as the guy had. He told me the necklace gave him ultimate power but had a price to pay with it. Not only would he be cursed with its power, but his entire family would be, too. He took the trade and sold his soul. He did many things with the necklace, some of them that were unspeakable and others of them were pretty bad. Like when he wiped out an entire Indian tribe with its power because he wanted their treasures. He eventually died from natural causes and now was forced to pay the price for all eternity. After he died the necklace was returned to the devil, but the devil never forgot the rest of our family. Years later my family had migrated to America and the devil gave the necklace to my great grandfather. The necklace skipped people in the generations, but always was given to someone eventually.
Then he told me I was next in line. I would be the one to get the necklace and its unlimited power. Then I would be able to use it however I wished, getting back at anyone who was ever a jerk to me. I flat out refused it at first. Even though I was only seventeen I had some logic and good in me to know everything he was telling me was going to happen if I accepted that necklace. I didn’t want its addictive unlimited power. But I didn’t have a choice in the matter. He was much more powerful than me, so he forced it upon my neck. Having it on felt so amazing, like I had all this power coursing through my veins. I didn’t want to take it off because it felt so good. But then I came back to everything I had ever been taught by my mother and how she raised me and tried to take it off, but it wouldn't budge. The devil just laughed at me and told me not to try, because I was already doomed. My great great great grandfather had already sold my soul to him many years ago.
I didn't understand how that was very fair. I didn't even get a say in it? My mother had been taking me to church for as long as I could remember. Could something like that really happen? I always thought I was a pretty good girl, the kids at school even called me a goody good. So how was it fair that my soul had already been claimed, when I didn't even do anything to make it that way?
He then left laughing and I was able to breathe again. But the power of the necklace was still coursing through my veins and I found myself thinking bad thoughts. I sat on my bed like I had just had the worst nightmare of my life. And for a while I told myself it was just a nightmare. But that ugly black thing that wouldn't come off my neck reminded me every minute the truth: it wasn't a nightmare, it was real!
That was last week. This week nothing unusual had happened yet. I was even starting to control the thoughts the necklace gave me. Maybe if I never used its power the devil couldn't take my soul, because I still had the power to make my own thoughts. I didn’t think he could control me completely, even with the necklace. It was that rationalization that got me through this week.
So now there I was, sitting on my bed thinking about that terrible moment. I could still feel the tight grip that the devil had on me. He had been so strong, and it felt like he was suffocating me.
But I didn't have much time to think about it, because suddenly I heard a noise and saw all the lights go out. This was exactly what had happened when the devil had come, so I was sure this was him again. I hid under my covers like an idiot, hoping he wouldn't see me. But then I realized how stupid I was acting and got up to face him.
But I saw that it wasn't the devil at all. It was a very scary looking man with a very stern expression on. He looked at me like he knew me and then began to speak. “Kaylee, my name is Kanish. I have come to tell you something.”
I was really afraid. First the devil and now him. What was next? But as I looked more closely I realized somehow I felt like I knew this guy. But I had no clue why, because I was sure I had never seen him a day before in my life. “Do not be afraid of me, child,” he said softly. “I have not come to hurt you in any way.” I just looked at him kind of afraid, but I tried to act like I wasn't. “I need to give you some advice. There is still hope for you. Don't let the necklace consume you, as I let it do to me. Its power is only temporary, and then you will be forced to spend all of eternity hated and miserable."
I looked at him kind of confused, and then I finally managed to choke out, “Like it did to you? When did you have the necklace?”
He smiled at me, and I didn't see any trace of evil in it. Then he totally surprised me by bowing to me. “My name in Kanish Wintercrest.” I looked at him surprisingly. Wintercrest? “That's right Kaylee, I am your great grandfather. I died in the necklace's power, so now I am forced to spend all of eternity with the devil. I don't want to see that happen to you. And between you and me the devil is plotting something, and I don't want to see it happen. I must do everything in my power to stop it.”
“What sort of thing is he plotting?” I asked curiously.
He gave me a pained look. “I have been forbidden to tell you. But I can help you in one way. Listen to the prophecy, it will tell you want you need to know.”
“What prophecy?”
“Listen carefully.” Then he started to speak in a completely different voice.
The man will sell his entire family into the grip of the devil
The girl with no choice will be the chosen one to put an end to his power
No matter what she must stay true to who she is
And always remember the words from the other side
She will be put through a test
And come to terms with the one that abandoned her
If she succeeds she will find herself face to face
Then a choice must be made
To stop the evil power once and for all
One from the family must be chosen
The only purely good one left must be sacrificed
Only then will the world be saved
And the test be complete
My head really started to spin now. What were the words from the other side? Who is the one that abandoned me? Face to face with what? And who is the one that is purely good that must be sacrificed? I opened my mouth to ask him some of these questions, but he put a hand up to silence me. “I know you must have a lot of questions, but I am not allowed to answer any of them. I have told you all that I can. And now I must leave you. Farewell, young one. I have much faith in you.” And with that he was gone just as quickly as he had come.
I could have just sat there all night, or even all week. I certainly had enough to think about. But I was left with no choice but to go downstairs when I heard my mother call me down for dinner. I did so, kind of relieved to get this all out of my mind.
When I got down there I saw the usual. There was my annoying little brother Austin sitting in the corner. He didn't look anything like me. He had much darker hair and very different facial features. But no matter how much I wanted to deny it, he was still my brother. Sitting next to him was my mother, Anne. She looked just like me with her red hair and slim body. She was such a kind person and how she ever ended up with someone like my father I'll never know. And sitting next to her was her fiancé, Mark. He was also a very kind person, and I didn't have a problem with him. And he made my mother happy, which is all I ever asked for.
“Come on honey, I made meatloaf.” I absolutely loved meatloaf, so I quickly grabbed a plate and started to munch it down. My brother as usual started to give me dirty looks. “Honey, you look a little shaken up,” my mother told me. “Are you alright?”
“Oh yeah I'm fine,” I lied. “Just a little tired is all.”
“What did you see the devil again?” Austin mimicked. I gave him a death look and he returned it by sticking his tongue out at me.
“What about the devil?” my mother asked worriedly.
“Nothing. Austin's just being stupid.” I gave him another death look and this time he got the clue.
Okay, I knew I shouldn't have told him. But I had to tell someone, and I thought he would be the one to understand. Now I really regret it, because all he's been doing is using it against me. I didn't have the heart to tell Mark or my mom. Although she did ask me about my necklace once before but I just told her I bought it and she seemed to believe me. I wasn’t one known to lie. I knew they would have hard time believing me anyway. Even if my mother had already told me she would always believe me.
School couldn't have gone slower that following day. It was like every teacher just wanted to lecture on. I almost fell asleep, but then decided it wouldn't be the best idea. I was never much of a school person. I didn't even read that often, or think about my future much. But Mark asked me about it on a daily basis. He was a psychologist, so he was all about planning and shooting for goals. That was probably the only thing I really didn't like about him.
Once I finally got my prison break I ran outside to feel the fresh air on my face. I could probably skip all the way home in this mood.
But I was stopped abruptly when I saw a man standing by the sidewalk. I knew exactly who he was, so I tried to run for it. This couldn't be happening now! I never wanted to see him again. And even if I did, this was the worst possible timing! I ran all the way back into the school. I was about to head out the back way, but me running into Austin kind of stopped me.
“Oww! Watch where you're going! Wait, Austin? What are you doing at my school?”
He looked a little embarrassed at first, but then he finally whispered, “There are these boys that keep bothering me. You're a tough high school student right? Can you just rough them up a bit? You know, show them whose boss?”
My little brother was asking me to help him with bully problems? That was something I never expected! “Oh come on Austin, you don't need my help. You can show them whose boss all on your own.”
“I can't.”
“Yes you can! Come on, let's go right now.”
But my voice was drowned out by the loud speaker. “Kaylee Wintercrest, please come to the office!”
“What, the office? What for?” But when I looked over my brother was already heading over there. I had a bad feeling about this, but I couldn't let him go alone.
The school office was like a junkyard. There were thousands of papers everywhere, but none of them were useful in any way. Just as I had feared, there was that same man standing to the side. He gave me a smile, but it wasn't very warm.
“Who are you?” My brother asked immediately.
He gave us another smile before he spoke. “Ah yes. You must be Austin.”
He gave him a suspicious look. My brother was never one to be shy around anyone. “How do you know my name?”
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dallin Wintercrest.”
“Wintercrest? No way! I know you're lying! You're probably just some child stalker who wants to get us to go home with you.” Dallin laughed at that last comment.
“Then how would I know that you're ten, and your sister here is seventeen? And how would I know your mother's name is Anne?”
Now he really started to look scared. That's when I knew I had to step in. “Listen. We don't care what you have to say. You haven't seen me in twelve years and now you think this will make it all right again?” Austin looked at me in complete confusion. “Austin,” I sighed. “This is our real father.”
At first he looked even more confused, then kind of excited. The last emotion I saw him show was anger. “You're him!” Austin shouted. “My mother told me stories about you! And you abandoned us all before I was even born!”
“Why are you here?” I asked plainly.
“I actually need to talk to you,” he told me. “Do you mind if we take a walk? We can walk on the main street if it makes you feel any better.”
“No way!” my brother shouted. “Come on, Kaylee. Let's just leave him alone.” But I really didn't want to. He hadn't spoken to me in twelve years. What could he possibly have to say? So I started to walk with him, and Austin disdainfully followed.
“So,” he said once we were a little while away from the school. “How are you and your brother doing?”
“Fine,” I replied.
“No thanks to you!” Austin shouted. He chose to ignore him.
“I heard you were the one that got the necklace. You have no idea on how big of an honor that is.” So that's what he wanted, the necklace! He never really wanted to speak with me at all!
“Yes, I got it. And you can have it if you want.”
“Oh no, Kaylee, I can't take it from you. It was given to you, so therefore only you can possess it. It cannot be stolen.”
“Well, I don't want it.”
“My father told me all about it. He even told me I might be the one to receive it. Sadly, I wasn't. But my own daughter having it! Now that's an honor! I hope you know what kind of power you hold. You can do anything you want with it.”
“I really have to go,” I said rudely. “My mother hates it when I'm late without telling her ahead of time.”
“Very well, Kaylee. Don't worry, we shall meet again.” And with that he walked away.
“That jerk,” my brother mumbled. “Just who does he think he is?”
“I don't know,” I said. But there had been something that had been bothering me this entire time. It was one of the lines of the prophecy. And come to terms with the one that abandoned her. That must have meant my biological father. And what does come to terms exactly mean? Like him? Be able to stand him? I didn't know.
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