The Ring of Time--The Ring of the Future

The Ring of Time
~By Anna J. and Phoebe A.




~Dedicated to Family, Friends, and
Book Lovers Around the World!

The Ring of the Future




Chapter One

Rebecca was tired of sitting up straight, sewing, and acting like a lady.

She escaped to the woods for a little quiet time alone. The soft breeze swept

her azure blue wool dress around her ankles and she shed her shoes and

stockings. As she walked, she noticed a dull gleam in the bushes. Immediately,

her curiosity was aroused and she crept towards it. It was a ring, with a bright,

shining emerald set in the middle. However, as soon as she reached for it, she

hesitated. A cloaked figure appeared beside her…”Take it, Rebecca, you

deserve it!” The silky smooth voice glided through the woods, coming from the

strange figure. “What can it hurt?“ Rebecca asked herself and took it, placing it

on her finger. Immediately, a great whirlwind swept her into the air, and she

disappeared, without a trace.

Rebecca’s head felt heavy and pressured. There was no air to breathe

and she could feel her own heartbeat in her ears. Suddenly, her body landed on

a hard object and she hit her head. A sharp pain ripped through her entire body,

then merciful darkness closed in.

“Hey, who’s this?” Rebecca heard a small, annoying child’s voice.

“It’s probably an actor, darling….We have to get to your piano lessons.” “I don’t

wanna, Mommy!” the child’s voice came again. “If you go, Mommy will get you

some ice cream.” “I DON’T WANT ICE CREAM!!” The child screamed. Slowly,

Rebecca sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Alack, where AM I?” She said to herself

softly. She saw people hurrying by, carrying parcels and boxes. Rebecca walked

up to a woman who was window shopping. “Lady, what is this land? Have I been

abducted?” Rebecca asked in her most dignified voice. The woman gave her a

strange look and hurried away, making a few glances over her shoulder.

Rebecca sighed and turned to look around. She saw a girl walking down

the sidewalk chewing gum and popping bubbles from her mouth. Rebecca

stepped back, as the noise was strange and frightening to her. “Wh-wh-who are

you?” She managed to stutter out. “Audrey….you are?” The girl’s voice was cool

but not unfriendly. “My title is Rebecca Lancaster, Daughter of Eric the Mighty.

Where is this?” Audrey gave a worried glance, but replied. “This is New York

City, downtown.” A buzz came from her pocket and she pulled out her phone.

Rebecca’s eyes grew large. "What is that?" Audrey looked up, a frustrated look

in her eyes. "You're really pretty lost aren't you?" She said. She tossed her

braided hair and popped another bubble, making Rebecca jump back slightly.

Audrey just sighed. "Look, why don't you just go back to where you came from?

I'm kinda busy..." She started to turn away, but Rebecca stammered out...."I...I

don't h-ha-have a h-h-home here" Audrey's eyes grew slightly wide as Rebecca

kept talking. "Please help me. My father has a lot of gold and land that he would

reward you with!" Audrey sighed. "All right, how about we go grab a smoothie...

Got any money?" Rebecca shrugged, then pulled out a gold coin. "Will this do?"

Audrey felt like just taking it, but she felt kinda sorry for this poor clueless girl.

She accepted the coin and gave the girl a good portion of the money in her

purse. "I'll pay you some more cash later..." Then she took Rebecca's arm and

led her to the shop before the poor girl could ask what "cash" was.

Seeing that Rebecca looked very uncomfortable, Audrey ordered her a

plain strawberry and banana smoothie. Many glances were cast at Rebecca's

attire, and a few snickers came out. After glaring at the culprits, Audrey turned

back to Rebecca. "Anyway, where are you from?" She asked. "I'm from the

outskirts of England." Audrey heaved a sigh of relief. "Well, then, you aren't too

far away! We'll just get you a one-way airplane ticket and..." Rebecca was

staring at her. "Airplane? Ticket?" Her voice was confused. A chill ran down

Audrey's spine. This girl didn't know ANYTHING!! The dress, the accent, lives in

England... "What year do you think this is?" She asked quietly. Rebecca's soft

brown eyes turned to her. "Why, it's the Middle Ages, 1264...."



Chapter Two


Audrey nearly fainted, but was able to manage a wane smile. "You're

kidding, right?" Rebecca shook her head, looking puzzled. Audrey's mind began

to race. "Umm, so you're telling me that umm, you like....are from the Middle

Ages??" Rebecca nodded, a little smile creeping across her face. Audrey blew a

sigh. "Ok, so, umm, let's get you back to my house, ok? My parents are out of

town right now..." Audrey gave the poor girl her jacket and guided her down the

street.

When they finally got to the Jones's apartment, Audrey unlocked the door,

giving a quick smile. "Good thing I just cleaned the house." Rebecca's eyes

almost popped out of her head when Audrey turned the light on. The medievally

dressed girl walked to the kitchen, her brown eyes taking in everything. Audrey

opened the fridge door and peeled inside... "You hungry?" Rebecca rubbed her

stomach. "Yes, I believe that food would be nice!" Audrey giggled, pulling out two

containers of frozen yogurt. She led Rebecca up to her bedroom and handed her

one of the small cartons. Soon, Audrey noticed the ring on her new friend's

finger. "That's a pretty ring. Where'd you get it?" Rebecca shrugged. "It was

laying in the ground and I put it on..." She paused for a moment, looking at the

city girl. "That was when I came here!" She studied the ring. "Maybe this was just

a bait for someone to send me here...." Audrey reached for it and smiled. "It's

fascinating...I know this is weird, but I always wanted to know what happens in

the future. I wish we could go see." Suddenly, the ring started to glow. "Umm,

Audrey, what did you just do?," Rebecca asked, her voice shaking. Then there

was a flash and they both disappeared!


Audrey attempted to speak, but cold air was thrust into her mouth, nearly

choking her. She could barely breathe, and certainly couldn't move, and her eyes

saw only blackness. She felt something clasp her hand, then saw it was

Rebecca, limp, but still alive. Audrey strained to fight through the hot void, but

she landed on something hard and was knocked out at once.


"Audrey...Audrey get up!" Audrey groaned and rolled over, holding her head.

She managed to open one eye and saw Rebecca leaning over her, shaking her.

Audrey finally sat up and rubbed a sizable bump on the back of her head.

"Ow...." She muttered grumpily. Rebecca replied with a little smile and helped

Audrey pick herself up. The city girl finally looked around. "Where are we?" She

asked. "Everything's black and burnt..." Rebecca's voice shook slightly as she

answered. "This is the future, I guess...." Audrey's eyes began to wander about

the barren ground. She started walking and motioned for Rebecca to follow her.

They walked through crumbled structures and avoided blocks of stone lying in

their path. Soon, they were able to see a gray mass in the distance, and for

some reason, they quickened their pace, breaking into a run. They could see

more buildings and then heard a faint noise. As the girls reached the outskirts of

the place, they realized it was a city, but it was rather dreary, and boring. Audrey

started to walk straight into the street, but Rebecca held her back, whispering.

"Wait, hold on... Just wait until we can see what's going on." Audrey

sighed with impatience. "But how will we know what's going on if we don't-" she

was cut off by a loud cranking noise. They both turned quickly and saw that the

gate had been closed behind them. Several large animals emerged from behind

the buildings, followed by heavy men in dark robes. The two girls began to run,

but one of the figures threw a net over them, hauling them back. Audrey and

Rebecca were trapped! The group of creatures started to drag them towards the

building, and a heavy, sweet smell filled the air around them. Rebecca blacked

out in seconds, but Audrey only half closed her eyes, acting like she was

unconscious. "All right, leave them here." A deep voice boomed. The girls were

tossed into a dark damp room, and the door shut after them. Silence followed....




Chapter Three



Audrey heard soft crying a little ways away from her. She assumed it was

Rebecca, but then a small voice called out faintly, "Please, help me! You have to

help me!" Audrey peered through the darkness and saw a figure crawling

towards her. It was a girl, about eight or nine years old, Audrey guessed. The

girl was starting to get thin, weak, and gaunt. "I'm sorry, but I can't really help

you.." Audrey answered quietly. The girl looked at her with big dark eyes.

"What's your name?" Audrey asked timidly. "I'm Hope. I'm eight years old.. And

who are you?" Rebecca spoke up. "This is Audrey and I'm Rebecca. I'm, um,

from a different.." The girl scrambled away, with shock on her face. "You're

Rebecca?? She's.. She's after you!!" Rebecca grasped the girl's wrist tightly.

"Who? Who is??" "Your aunt!" The girl managed to squeeze out. Just then, the

door slammed open.

"Hello dear." A sickly sweet voice crooned. A tall lady,

adorned with beautiful jewels and priceless pearls and dressed in silk clothes

entered. "I just KNEW you'd be here.. Well sweetheart, I need that ring!"

Rebecca edged back, holding onto the ring. "No! I won't let you have it!" The lady

just laughed. "Now darling.. You know what your aunt is capable of! Now, just

hand over that ring, or ELSE.." Her voice grew harder. She stepped forward, but

Audrey barred her way. "No closer now! If you come a step nearer, we'll wish

ourselves away!" The lady started to laugh, a pretty laugh, but harsh, much like a

crow. "Are you really that dumb, you two? The ring can not be used unless it has

some magic resource.. You don't stand a chance!" She snapped her fingers and

one of the dark men snatched up Audrey and carried her out the door. Rebecca

and her aunt were left alone..

The woman came closer, her hand outstretched. "Darling.. I just want to

help you!" She crooned on, slowly coming closer. Rebecca became sleepier, her

eyelids fighting to close.. Then, the woman snatched the ring, cackling. "I have

it!" She cried, slipping it onto her own finger. "Now to summon up an army.."

"There is magic still in the ring! You lied!" Rebecca cried out. Her aunt turned

slowly, a smile on her face. "Of course! But why do you need to know? You'd

have had to give it to me anyway. Don't fret, darling... You'll be taken care of!

Now, look.." Rebecca glanced out the door and gasped. There were armies of

knights, soldiers, and others from ancient history, all prepared to serve their

master's wishes. Several of the robed men seized Rebecca and hauled her

outside. Her wrists were tied to a pole and she was forced to watch as her aunt

summoned up more and more armies, all prepared to conquer the Earth.

Audrey fought against the robed men as they carried her to a deep and

dark dungeon. Where was she? Was Rebecca okay? Though she had known

the strange girl for only a short time, Audrey had grown rather fond of her.

She was thrown into the cell and one hand and ankle were chained to the wall.

For the first time she realized that the young girl had been carried and chained

alongside her. "What is this aunt of Rebecca after? She seems awfully sinister."

Audrey's voice was questioning and fearful. "The ring Rebecca found. It has

magical powers, and with its help, Celia can kill her family, take over the

kingdom, and eventually rule the world. It's what she's been dreaming of for her

entire life and now she has the power to do so." "Kill her family?! But that

includes Rebecca!! We have to get out of here and stop her!!" Audrey was

frantic, and began meddling with her chains while Hope followed suit. Just as the

girls had finally gotten free, the iron door swung open, and Rebecca's evil-

looking aunt walked in, pulling Rebecca on a rope behind her. "Leaving so soon,

are we?" Said the sinister yet silky smooth voice. Celia walked to the girls

menacingly as the ring in her hand began to glow and the whip in her free hand

cracked...

The woman laughed as the girls shrunk back in fear. "Don't be trying to

escape NOW! There's thousands, nay, millions of troops outside, all at my

command! You'd be cut down before you got to the gate!" She pulled Rebecca to

the door, then paused for a moment. "I might spare your lives for you to be my

personal slaves.. And perhaps my lovely niece as well... But we will have to see

about that!" She tugged the poor girl out of the door, and Hope looked at Audrey

with big scared eyes. "What are we gonna do??"

Chapter Four



Celia pulled Rebecca along mercilessly as she began to walk to her stone

palace. "Come along, you worthless little princess. Maybe I'll be able to ransom

you back to your daddy in exchange for the world. Then I can use this magical

ring for other, more useful things." Her voice was cruel and hard as she spoke.

"No!! You can't!! Please, Aunt! I'll do anything, just don't touch this world!!"

Rebecca's cry was pitiful. She continued. "I'll be your personal slave and do

anything, just please don't hurt anyone!!" "Do you really think having a slave and

maybe a few gold coins will make up for not ruling the world or even the

kingdom? And besides, what's to stop me?" Celia laughed. "Continue dreaming,

my little niece.. It'll be the only sweet time you'll have!"

"Hope? Hope, are you there? Are you okay?!" "I'm here, Audrey." Hope's

voice was quiet. "Thank goodness!! Do you know what that....that woman did to

us??" Audrey was confused, and strangely, somewhat sleepy. Hope's answer

explained why. "That whip she had, well, it has a medicine in it so when she

cracks it, powder goes into the air, and causes people to become sleepy and

normally black out for quite a long time. Luckily, she only did it once, and I don't

think we were unconscious for more than a few minutes." "Well, that's a little bit o

of a relief, but what do we do now?," Audrey asked. "I'm not sure, but I know we

need to get out of here.. I heard one of the soldiers outside talking about selling

us! He said that was what the chief wanted, who I assume is Celia." " You know,

you're pretty smart for an eight year-old, so do you have a plan?" "Well, sorta: if

we can get one of the soldiers to come in, maybe we could get out the door."

Was Hope's reply. Suddenly Audrey jumped in the air and started to yell. "Ye-"

Hope's hand was clamped over her mouth in an instant. "Sshh, do you want the

guards on us?!" "Sorry, but I just had a brilliant idea!! If we distract one of the

soldiers and get him to come in here, we can knock him out with our chains, then

I'll dress up in his armor and say I'm taking you to Celia! After that we can find

Rebecca, get the ring, and wish ourselves away!!" "Why, that is genius,

Audrey!!.... Guard, guard we need help in here."

After the girls took care of the soldier, they left as planned, with Audrey

using her manliest voice possible to tell the other knights she was taking Hope

away. The confused soldiers must have looked into the cell, for soon the girls

heard pounding footsteps and loud voices behind them. "Run, Hope, run!!"

Audrey cried. Both ran as fast as they could, but the knights grew closer and

closer. Celia heard the commotion and looked out her window. "Ah, it looks like

your friends took the bait! Now, watch their fate, child, and learn!" She pulled

Rebecca to the window, forcing her head out. The two girls were running as fast

as they could and Rebecca could see a pit in front of them....

Chapter Five



"Pit!" She screamed, just in time for her friends to skid to a halt.

Rebecca's aunt covered her mouth, but Rebecca closed her teeth over the ring,

pulling it off her aunt's finger, then clasping it in her teeth. Celia tried to pry

Rebecca's lips open, but was unable to do so. By then, the two girls had made it

up to the chamber and Rebecca spit the ring out at them. Hope caught it and

slipped it on her finger, wishing the chasing soldiers away. Then she turned to

the window, wishing all the armies back in time. The courtyard was soon empty.

Celia collapsed to her knees, head in hands, weeping. "I think that's fair justice!"

Audrey said, smiling, while watching the defeated woman.

Just then, Celia sprang up, clutching at her necklace, a twisted grin on her

face. "Now you shall pay, all of you! You'll die slowly!" She tried to twist the

pendant stone, but it was stuck. She tugged and tugged at it, however, it refused

to budge. She grunted as her fingers snapped the stone clear off. Rebecca,

Hope and Audrey were falling about laughing as the woman stood there with a l

look of shock on her face. "This.. This was my mother's property! It holds so

much magic.." Rebecca managed to suppress her laughter and grabbed her

aunt's arm. "I think it's time for us to go home.. Hope, are you coming?" Hope

shook her head. "No, I think I'll stay with Audrey.. But you ARE going to come

back soon, aren't you?" Rebecca nodded. "Of course I will! Now, let's get you

back to your world."

Once they were back in modern day U.S.A, Audrey looked to Rebecca.

"I'm gonna miss you.." She said, tears in her eyes. Rebecca managed a smile.

"I'll be back soon! I promise." They embraced swiftly, then Rebecca reached out

to grab her aunt's arm, and twisted the ring. The pair jumped into the portal and

were gone! "Well, that certainly was an adventure, wasn't it?" Audrey said

quietly. Hope just nodded. "It sure was!" After that, they walked off hand in hand

into the bright New York sun.