Heart of Gold - Chapter 1

So, I wrote this one for NanoWrimo (National Novel Writing Month), and, well, I'm not that pleased with it, but say what you will. If you want I could post the next few chapters, too.

~Chapter 1~

“Cherise! Come on––you’ll be late for school!” Mrs. Doolmant called. “I’m going!” Cherise replied as she made a beeline for the door. “Bye mom!” She stepped out into the clear air, and started walking briskly towards the school, rubbing her bare arms as she went. Just then, a flash of gold caught her eye, and she stopped. A shining gold heart–shaped locket was lying in the ditch. Slowly picking it up, Cherise twisted it around, then stuck it in her pocket, promising herself to clean it up once she got to school. She ran to the school washrooms as soon as she reached the building, and rinsed it off in the sink. Hearing the bell ring for class, Cherise slipped the locket over her head and ran to her classroom.

After school, she absentmindedly walked home, staring at the locket. It wasn’t so much the fact that she found it in a ditch that puzzled her – people dropped things daily that ran into the ditch – it was just that, well, it seemed a bit strange that it was so unmarred – not a scratch covered it’s surface. Just then, Cherise looked up and was startled to see an old woman staring at her from around a brick wall. As soon as she looked up, however, the old lady looked away. A bit unnerved, Cherise continued back home when she heard a soft set of footsteps behind her. Turning instantly, she caught a vague glimpse of a man, hunched over, when he slipped down a side alley. Feeling slightly frightened, Cherise quickened her pace. As she passed an old, rickety gate, she thought she saw another face peering out at her before it disappeared. Feeling enormous relief when she saw her own door, Cherise hurried and unlocked it. “Mom, I’m home!” She called. There was no reply. Feeling cold, she entered the kitchen, and to her relief saw a yellow note on the table, reading

‘Dear Cherise,

Gone to get some groceries.

Mom’

Just then, a knock on the door startled Cherise. Running to look out the window, she saw the same man who had been following her standing at the door. Running now, she locked the front door, ran to check that the back one was secure, and grabbing a key, locked all the shutters closed. But the knocking didn’t stop. It continued on for another fifteen minutes, before it stopped. Feeling cautious, Cherise got out of her chair, and unlocked one of the windows to see if the man was gone. As she opened the shutters, she saw a face leering at her directly from the window. Cherise screamed, and slammed the shutters closed, locking it directly. For another ten minutes, Cherise sat, heart pounding, on the couch, until she heard knocking on the door. This time, thankfully, it was accompanied by a familiar voice. “Cherise! Cherise, It’s mom – my key’s not working – could you please open the door?” Cherise ran to the door and opened it, grabbing a few of the many things her mom was carrying. “Are you all packed?” Mrs. Doolmant asked. “Packed for what?” Cherise replied. “You’re flying to Sharon’s tomorrow, remember?” Her mom replied. “Oh – Aunt Sharon – right.” Cherise said. “Now you get upstairs and pack, and then go right to bed – you won’t want to get jet lag tomorrow. From Britain to California is a long trip.” Cherise nodded and ran up the stairs.

The next morning Cherise was on the airplane at 7:30 AM. She yawned, and stared at the drifting white clouds until she fell asleep. She was awakened several hours later by the rocking motion of the airplane. She was just about to ask what was going on when the loudspeaker came on. “Please do not panic.” It said. “We are experiencing technical difficulties and will hopefully find a place to land soon for repairs.” Cherise looked around. “Does this mean that we’re crashing?” She asked the woman next to her. “Yes,” the lady replied, “But don’t panic,” she added sarcastically, “They’ve got it all under control.” Cherise waited, tense, for almost an hour, when the loudspeaker came on again, saying “We have found an island and are preparing to land. Please fasten your seat belts.” Ten minutes later, all the passengers were filing out of the airplane. Once out, Cherise looked around. There was nothing but trees and fields everywhere, no houses, shops, or any sign of civilization. Sleeping bags were handed out, and everyone was ordered to set them up in the plane once they’d stretched their legs a bit. Cherise wandered around a bit, before unwillingly falling asleep against the trunk of a tree.

In the morning, she woke up and, realizing that she had fallen asleep outside the airplane, walked quickly back to the clearing that they had landed. But there was no airplane. Frantic, Cherise looked around, but to no use. The Airplane was gone. Exhausted from searching, Cherise sat down, and quickly fell asleep. In the morning she woke to frogs croaking. Thinking that there must be some sort of berries near if there was a river, Cherise followed the noise, and sure enough, came to a large pond with a swift–flowing river streaming out of it. She squatted down to look at a large frog that had just hopped out of the pond. Just as she was reaching out to pet it, a hoarse–throated yell split the air, followed by a shout of “Do not worry, fair damsel, I shall save you from this evil beast!” Cherise blanched and stepped back as someone came thrashing out of the bush, holding a sharp, pointed stick above his head. “I am Edward, the rightful heir to the throne, and no one, man or beast, can defeat me!” He shouted to the frog. He brought his arm down, then lifted it, preparing to strike the frog, when he lost his grip, and the stick flew out of his hand and flew towards Cherise, piercing the tree only an inch away from her head. “Whoever you are – Edward didn’t you say? – why don’t we calm down a bit?” Cherise said shakily, glancing at the wooden stick lodged in the wood beside her head. Edward turned and tried to wrench his stick out of the tree, only succeeding after Cherise helped him – by simply twisting it rather than putting her whole weight into pulling it – which was what Edward was doing. “Fair Damsel, you are saved from the horrid beast.” He said, bowing. Cherise stared at him incredulously. “Saved me?” She asked him. “You nearly skewered me!”

“Not so,” He replied. “A prince’s aim is never amiss.”

“Never amiss in killing someone.” Cherise muttered. “What was that?” Edward asked. “Nothing.” Cherise replied quickly. “Now, fair maiden, tell me, what sends you out into the wilderness braved with beasts?” Edward asked.

“An Airplane.” Cherise replied. “An – Airplane?” Edward muttered to himself, just loud enough so that Cherise could hear. “Yes.” She replied. “You knew, it’s big, metallic, and flies?”

“Ah!” Edward replied. “I see! You mean one of those grey birds that fly overhead near the sea.”

“No!” Cherise replied, exasperated. “Not a seagull – oh, never mind.”

“Now, where may I escort you, fair damsel?” Edward asked, bowing. “I think I can manage on my own, thanks.” Cherise replied. “Nay, I must be along, with my trusty sword” here Edward brandished his stick “To smote any foul beasts that dare lay a finger on you.” Cherise sighed. There wasn’t any getting rid of him, it seemed. “Alright, you can come along.” She replied. “You shall not regret it, fair maiden. My trusty sword and I shall smote any foul creatures that come and send them away! I laugh in the face of fear; mighty beasts cower before me; the very mountains tremble at my coming…” He continued, with Cherise completely ignoring him. Finally, she interrupted his long–winded speech. “If you must be here, at least make yourself useful. Go and find some berries or something that’s edible so we don’t starve.” Edward bowed. “Of course, fair maiden, I know these forests better than I know myself – just like any legitimate prince should –”

“Alright – just go already, will you?” Cherise said, then muttered after he left; “Any legitimate Prince should at least go to an insane asylum if it’s needed.” She had only a half hour of peace and quiet before she heard “Behold, ye treacherous scum, the rightful heir to the throne! Yes, cower, for I shall strike thee with all the might in this sword, for then the innocent townspeople shall be saved from your wickedness! Yes, flee, but beware; I shall return to rid the world of you and all your wicked kind! You prepare to use your weapon against me, foul monster? Then, I shall show no mercy! Prepare to suffer pain beyond your imaginings, for I shall spare nothing to drive all evil from this land!” There was some coughing and sputtering as Edward emerged from the trees; just as a foul smell reached Cherise. “What have you done?” She asked, spluttering. “Did you attack a hoard of stinkbugs?”

“I was ridding the world of a foul monster, as tall as a mountain, covered with menacing black and white stripes, with a tail as large as a tree–”

“You attacked a skunk?” Cherise said. “Didn’t you know that now, for days, even, this place could smell like this? You can hardly breathe, it’s so foul. There’s no choice, now we have to leave. Did you get anything to eat?”

“Unfortunately not.” Edward replied. Cherise started to say something, but he interrupted her. “Be not distressed, fair maiden, I saw many delicious berries along my path.”

“Then why didn’t you pick any?” Cherise demanded. “You see,” Edward replied, “That huge monster–”

“–Skunk–”

“Skunk, then, if you insist, was creeping in the underbrush, about to strike, when I bravely went out of my way to attack it and save all from a dreadful and fatal death.”

“Fatal means deadly.”

“Of course. It was, ah, a figure of speech.”

“Definitely.” Cherise replied sarcastically. “So,” Edward continued, “must we leave this foul monster –skunk’s– territory? Surely it’s scent will clear.”

“Don’t count on it.” Cherise replied flatly. “Well then, we’d best be off.” Edward replied heartily. “Off to where?” Cherise replied. “Off to wherever you wish, fair damsel.” Edward replied. “Britain.” Cherise replied. “Britain – of course! Right this way, Madame! Follow me!” Edward started running off opposite the direction that Cherise had come. “No, actually,” She replied, “It’s this way.” She pointed from where she had come. “Of course!” Edward replied, changing directions. “I was just giving my legs a little stretch. Now, onward! Onward! And beware, any foul creatures that dare attempt to hinder us! For I shall prevail! I shall, I say! I am the rightful heir to the throne, and no one is going to take it from me! No, not even the foulest of the foul, the wickedest of the wicked! Onward, say I! Onward!”