Blood Stone

Chapter the First Moving In

It was so dark for some reason I couldn't see or hear or feel, maybe feel but then there was this energy it was warm and comforting and it caused me to open my eyes ones I didn't even know I had. I was in some kind of shiny room or was shiny sense the palace was destroyed dust and rumble were everywhere with sparks flying from strange thine metals from inside the rooms walls. I hear sounds of pain from around the room with people I don't recognize trying to recover from whatever happened.

Wait, I don't know anything, who am I, what is this place, what … what is?

Then someone came closer he seemed to look for something then he saw me. It was odd this person seemed to tear up when he looked at me, I'm not sure why.

He walked over slowly. I was scared what did he want, what was with this look in his eyes of regret. But then he stopped and shook his head and looked back differently with a soft smile and asked "are you ok". Holding out his hand

I was conflicted why did he look so different now, but despite everything I took his hand and nodded. He then pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me and cried. As if on instinct and returned his gesture and wrapped my arms around him.

The moment was short lived though as everyone else heard something that I could not and caused the man to move and take my hand saying "we need to go" with that said I nodded again he directed me away from the damaged room we were in to an area with a lot of hurt people then another person came over to talk

The man was in a similar outfit to everyone else but me with the long white cloth covering an inner shirt and some kind of blue pants he then talked to the man who was directing me saying "Doctor Night I'm sorry about everything that happened if I had known I…" he was then cut off

"Please it's George and everything's fine we all know accidents happen when working with this kind of ancient tech. we all take risks." The man who's been directing me now apparently named George said removing his glassed and grasping his upper noes.

"But sir your wife." the man was cut off again by George

"I Know" George said shouting then continued softer "I know and it's something I'll have to live with for the rest of my life" he finished looking down, then at me "but at least it worked"

This caught the man by surprise looking at me and taking a step back in fear. He then asked "the-then that means that she is?" he said with obvious fear in his voice.

"Yes" George started "this" he then took a quick pause "she is what the machine was made to create"

I was so confused and that fear I was feeling earlier was back but then George kneeled down and grabbed my shoulders and said "it will be ok ill make sure nothing hurts you"

He then stood back up and told the person that came over "tell the staff and the company that I'm shutting down the project. Now that we know what is made to do its best not to tamper with it any more lest we damage the earth"

The man looked almost relieved to hear this, nodded, and went away. So much was happening that I didn't know what was happening or why but I knew somehow that it would be fine.

15 years later

I was looking out the window of the car at the empty road to a place I knew little about. Sighing it seemed like this would be very different then are usual moves no large labs and rows of identical housing. Then George or dad as I've taken to calling him now peaked over at me and said turning back to the road "look trust me this will be a nice change of pace you'll see no working miles away or unreasonable neighborhood's I promise Mary it will be better this time"

Mary's my name now well my full name is Mary Blood Stone Night but obviously you just say Mary. Looking back I remembered are last move where he ended his last reasoning the same way then said "you said that last time you know." Then proceeded to look back at the empty road

Dad then proceeded to say "well trust me it will be different this time"

I chuckled to myself then shot back with a sad smile "you've said that last time as well"

Dad then sighed trying to keep to the road and talk to me he said "look I know the whole living at work was a mistake but there will be no labs this time just a nice normal house where I'll be working from home on a computer, and I took great strides finding this place recommended by a friend for being the most accepting place you can find."

"Dad I'm multiple shades of dark green with red streaks I know it worked back at are first home but sense then no one can accept that fact ok, give it a week and I'll be driven out of town by touches and pitchforks." I said completely cross with the idea of having the same routine happen all over again meet new people try to explain what I am though truth or lie and then being shunned by everyone, it always happens.

Dad then looked flabbergasted as he watched the road saying "ok now your overreacting I know those kids chased you with squirt guns filled with goo but…"

"And the neighbor passive aggressively insulted us every chance they got and the other scientists treated me like an object, and the local police locked me up three times for being quote "infected/contaminated" and…" I would have went on but my dad stopped me with that last one

"Look in their defense the cops could not have that, that's just the way you are" dad said looking desperately trying to make it seem better than it was.

Sighing I decided to say "all I'm saying is no one but you will accept me"

Dad then said "it will be different ok, whatever happens ill make sure you'll be safe."

I looked back at him staring for a second before saying "I know dad" I then sighed and continued with "I'll try for you."

Dad then smiled saying "that's all I ask sweetie."

After one or two more hours of driving we eventually made it to the house we were moving into which was a two story house that was much bigger than the last couple of houses we had. Dad then moved to talk to the movers in the moving van that was parked on the side of the road near the house and the movers then began to move boxes and furniture from the van then dad came over and said "well it looks like this could take some time you should take a look at the nearby boardwalk I hear it's the pride of beach city."

Beach city how someplace with barley anyone living hear be called a city was beyond me but whatever. Then something occurred to me so I asked "you won't be joining me will you?"

"Sweetie" dad said, I know whenever he needed to break something to me he always started with sweetie. He continued with "your 15 now, you look 17 and you're smarter and more intelligent than most people in their late 20's, plus to top it off you always said you wanted to go out on your own more and I think your mature enough to start.

I was a little sad now he would pick today of all days to let me out on my own when I want him with me the most. Still I couldn't argue with what he was saying so I asked "ok dad but what if they don't accept me."

Dad then put his hand on my shoulder and said "if you think like that you're already at a disadvantage. Trust me I have good feeling things will be different this time."

With that I smiled gave my dad a kiss, waved by and went over to the beach front. Surprisingly though not many people were walking around through. Only occasionally would I see someone walking around the area and when they could see me they didn't even think twice abought how I looked. It was as if they didn't care about my appearance at all. It was actually real nice change of pace for once.

Around the boardwalk there were plenty of food places but the most notable were a fish pizza place, a fry stand but I'm sure they sell more than that, and finally the surprisingly most notable eatery was a donut shop it was nice to see but seemed out of place on this boardwalk for some reason.

As I passed by some more places I noticed an arcade. This got me excited as I enjoyed a good game especially if I could win something. Unfortunately this arcade was not filled with any ticket giving games and no prizes sat on roof shelves or any designated area. But I did see a claw machine. Looking inside it there weren't many stuffed animals inside but all of the ones that were inside were all discontinued designs that were near impossible to get. I was pumped to get one so I started and put a quarter in.

It took abought three tries to get one though, mainly because the controls were unintuitive as anything but eventually I was able to get a green rabbit with red tipped ears. It's so cute.

Then to my surprise someone who was apparently to my side spoke up saying "wow you're really good at the claw machine." I jumped back to see who it was. To my surprise it was a kid who was young barely double digits in age probably before I could see anything else though he continued with "I've never seen anyone be able to get a stuffed animal out of the machine before."

Ok conversation time don't screw this up Mary taking a deep breath I responded with "well I've had a lot of practice with claw machines seeing as this one could have its controls fixed I could see why it would be hard to control" why am I rambling.

"That's cool do you do it professionally or something" the kid said with stars in his eyes looking so innocent.

"No it's just a pass time sense most of the time when I come to an arcade all the machines…" I realize I've not even looked into the arcade. Turning my head I see that the place is almost empty but I didn't realize that before I started to finish my thought "…usually taken." When I realize what I just said in context I realized how idiotic I must look while saying it.

The kid didn't seem to care but he did notice and asked "are you new in town."

"Ya me and my dad are moving in today" I said a little relieved he didn't take notice to my everything.

"Cool, my names Steven. What's yours?" he said so innocently as if there was no problem about my color pallet or that I was new in town

With this I responded with "Mary it's nice to meet you Steven." He looked so excited when I said this

He then proceeded to ask "so if you're new in town do you need a tour? I know all the great places in beach city." he looked like he was very confident in his knowledge

"Sure it beats wandering on my own" I responded

Steven was really excited by this and decided to start with his favorite place on boardwalk the donut shop inside was like most donut shops but relatively smaller and instead of cakes and ice cream in the coolers there were tones of lion lickers, a new ice treat that was taking stores by storm for some reason.

Steven knew the two people working there named Lars and Sadie. Sadie was nice and also didn't seem to take notice of my differences, Lars though was Grumpy and clearly noticed my odd skin color. Oddly though he didn't call me out on it unlike so many similar people I've met before.

After that Steven showed me the nearby lighthouse. It was old and barely functioning but it was nice in a way but I constantly got this odd sense of foreboding while I was in there, as if something other than me and Steven was in hear.

Then we went to a nearby carwash. Why a small town like this needed a carwash I'm not sure unless this was the only one for miles.

"Dad you hear?" Steven asked as we got closer. Shortly after a man got out of a nearby van. He was fairly large and was bald on the top of his head but had long hair on his lower head

He then came over to greet Steven "hey Steven what cha doing hear." He looked my way clearly noticing my color but like Lars was not fazed much in fact he wasn't fazed at all.

"I'm just showing Mary around she just moved in. you know to that big house that's been on sale for a while" Steven said

This caused Stevens Dad to be surprised, as if it was odd that I moved in like a normal person. I had to think fast to calm and confusion so a walk over with my hand out "it's nice to meet you I'm Mary Night Stevens been a real nice to me so far."

"Greg, and that's good." He said confused until he realized something "wait Night? You wouldn't happen to know a George Night would you."

Now I was surprised he knew my dad somehow so I decided to ask "yes that's my Dad's name he and I are moving in today." This caused Greg to look even more confused than he was before

"Well I'll be, he actual moved in hear." He said out load, me and Steven looked at him expectantly till he continued with "I knew George back in middle school and sense then we keep in touch every so often. He asked me to recommend a place to stay but I didn't think he'd actual move in." he paused looking at my with that confused look again before saying "wow so much has happened sense we last met I should visit him some time."

"I'm sure he'd be happy to see you but my Dads busy helping moving in so not today but I'll be sure to let him know you want to visit ok." I said trying to defuse the tension again

"Hey that'd be great." Greg said before looking at me again with a look that says she doesn't know which was making me worried. But with that me and Steven waved goodbye to Greg and moved on with the tour

After the Carwash we went to some other places which were all nice but relatively uneventful. We passed by the local Mayors campaigning van which was just a van with Mayor's, who is known as Mayor Dewy, head on top everything was nice and so were all the people.

Are last stop was Stevens house. Oddly though this was not were Greg lived and it was on the beach built into the side of a giant temple shaped like a eight armed giant woman. Steven offered to show me the inside and meet the "crystal gems", some kind of group or something, but it was getting late by this point and I'm sure that these "crystal gems" wouldn't take kindly to Steven bringing home a stranger so I instead bid Steven goodbye and went home. It was almost surreal though Steven, as young as he is, was my first real friend and I was going to definitely hang out around the boardwalk more.

After returning home I looked around my new home and saw that most of the furniture was already in place while most boxes accept ones with cooking utensils where still packed. I saw my dad cooking something that smelled nice. After he finished I joined him at the table

"So how was the boardwalk" my dad trying to be as supportive as possible

"It was great actually I made my first friend and I had a really great time. I think you were right this time. I do think it will be different." I said

"That's great see all it took was less labs and people." My dad said enthusiastically

It was then after eating a little bit more that I remembered Greg so I asked "say was the name of the friend who recommended beach city Greg?"

My dad looked at my, surprised that I knew his name and said "yes it is how did you know that I don't think I ever mentioned his name?"

"Well I met him while touring the area. He run's a carwash down near the boardwalk." I replied

"Odd I knew he liked the place but I didn't know he was still living hear." He said surprised then continued with "I should go visit him some time maybe invite him over for Dinner."

"That sounds nice." I said. After Dinner I went up to my new room and began to organize everything from the study desk to my large bookshelves all the while thinking this will really be different. I think I'm really going to enjoy it hear.

I hope you liked the first chapter as you might expect please review and criticize. also assume i no nothing about writing sense this is my first that I'm putting up and I've never formally studyed writing either way i hope you enjoyed.