Chapter One

The story begins in America on the nineteenth birthday of Mariah Elizabeth Haywood, a girl who lives with her mother, step father, older sister, and little brother in just a three bedroom apartment. She has dark brown hair, blue eyes, and is around five feet and three inches tall. Her looks were okay. She wouldn't call herself beautiful, maybe cute. She has a few scars on her body, one on her left leg and one on her belly. She felt as though there was nothing really special about her.

On her birthday she was given a necklace from her grandmother. She was told by her grandmother that the necklace is extremely old, even though it looked to be around one-hundred years old.

The necklace chain and frame is silver while the stone in the middle is light green. The stone looked to be glowing, but more faded. The silver frame was an 'S' shape. In the lower part of the 'S' had the light green stone in it. There was another layer of silver next to the lower half of the S shape. It went along with the curve and even had a small, silver leaf on the tip.

Mariah put on the necklace and she felt energy inside her. What this energy made her feel was, what, happy? Complete? How odd to get such a feeling from a simple necklace.

Her grandmother told her to keep the necklace safe. Also, if she were to feel sad, lonely, or just wanting to be somewhere else, just hold the necklace to her chest and wish to be where her heart wants.

Mariah just rolled her eyes. Her grandmother knew how to make a moment so cheesy.

The next day her family decided to go to the beach. It's summer and the temperature is beyond the comfort temperature of her liking. She wanted to stay home but she didn't want to disappoint her family.

While at the beach, Mariah sat on her beach towel in her one piece, black with teal blue spots, swimsuit. She brought a bag with her that carried a pair of jeans, underwear, bra, socks, tennis shoes, and a short sleeved shirt. She also packed a hair brush, her cell phone that was in a plastic baggy, water bottle and a bag of chips.

While sitting on the towel, she held up the necklace to her face. Mariah had no idea why she brought it, but it felt like she couldn't go anywhere without it. Last night when she was trying to sleep, she felt like she could hear a lullaby hum coming from the necklace. It wasn't loud nor was it scary. It was a very soothing sound.

"Hold the necklace to your chest and wish to be where your heart wants…" That is what her grandmother told her.

She held the necklace close to her chest and closed her eyes, wishing to be somewhere she belonged. All her life she has felt as if she was born in the wrong time. She had no friends and felt very lonely.

After a while she opened her eyes and seen she was still at the beach. Nothing happened. Nothing changed.

With a sigh of disappointment, Mariah stood up while wrapping the towel around her body, and grabbed her bag and made her way to the bathrooms so she could change. As she made her way to the restrooms she felt eyes on her. Mariah turned her head slightly and seen a group of girls her age walking their way to her. The look on their faces made Mariah nervous.

Mariah suffered with social anxiety, so the littlest things that people do around her make her nerves act up. She finally got to the women's restroom and quickly shut the door, locking it. Mariah waited a few moments before sighing to herself. Those girls could have been just walking to go to the bathroom and not even want to bother her.

She looked in the mirror and down to her necklace. Mariah ran her thumb over it while having a sad expression on her face. Her grandmother was always wise. She had many stories she would tell her when she was a child. Why try again? Nothing magical would happen if she tried. Maybe hope overcame her thoughts. The hope of being somewhere you belong. Somewhere where she could find happiness and maybe love.

"I hate it here. I hate being this way. I wish…" She closed her eyes as a tear streamed down her cheek. "I wish I could be where I belong. Where my friends will be by my side and never betray me. Where I can be myself and be happy. Where I can proudly say this is where I am meant to be."

Mariah felt like her body started to float up in the air. She opened her eyes and seen nothing but purple and black mist around her. There were sparkle lights around her. Without being able to think much she felt heavy and tired. After that all she could remember is falling asleep.

Bear with me…the first chapter is short and not really that eventful but the chapters after this will be much better. I Promise! I hope you enjoyed my first chapter of my story. I'm thinking of having my story follow the Hobbit but add my twist and small plots to it. Anyways have a great day or night!