Melissa Hernandez
3/22/13
Part One:
It was a sticky day in Tijuana, Mexico. The flies that usually arrive in the middle of June decided to come a little earlier this year. Greyson swatted the pests away. Nothing would stop him from enjoying this moment. He gingerly picked up the ancient chest with markings of another world. They say his great-great grandfather had made a deal with the devil to save his family from the hardships that lie ahead – in exchange for his soul. That was an old wives-tale though, Greyson didn't believe in black magic or fantasy. Nor did he believe that the Great Pearl inside of the box was the Devil's gift to his people and that it is what has been keeping them prosperous and healthy. But he was doing this for his people and more importantly for his mother, and for that he was proud. It didn't matter if he didn't believe, his mother did and he loved to make her happy. Plus their raid on the Americans at their Texas base went extremely well – not according to plan, but well nevertheless. That will teach them to raise their import and export taxes.
Greyson pulled out the diamond dagger – a family heirloom that was also the key to the Great Pearl's holding container. He unlocked the antique strongbox and pulled out the precious thing. Every year, Greyson and his mother, Greta, put it on display for the reassurance to their citizens that they are still under its protection. He carefully laid the Pearl into the display case and turned to the mob of about six hundred people watching him. Greyson raised his arms and the crowd cheered and hollered. They were so loud that he never noticed the Americans infiltrating the back of the town meeting. Nobody noticed actually – not until the gunshots went off.
Greyson threw his mother down and yelled for her to hide. She pointed at the pearl; he couldn't let her down. He ran for the display case at the same time as an American soldier. So many thoughts ran through Greyson's mind in a split second, as well as many emotions. The main one being: What if it really is magic and my people are in danger? He couldn't let the American take the Pearl. The two made eye contact and lunged, at the same time, for the precious treasure. The American knocked back Greyson with the butt of his gun. Greyson charged back at the ignorant fool and knocked him down. He pulled out the diamond dagger and sheathed it in the American's chest. He taunted him a bit, all the while twisting the weapon. He ripped out his family heirloom and wiped it on the American's shirt. Greyson looked wearily at the pearl and muttered, "The things I do for Mother".
Just as he reached out for the pearl he felt a sharp pain on his neck and collapsed. He couldn't move. He was dizzy and weaving in and out of consciousness. Another American soldier walked up to the display case and picked up the pearl. He walked over and put in the box. Greyson moaned helplessly.
The soldier turned to him, "I am Commander Horatio Garfield, remember my name. Tell your people to fear that name. The next time you raid my base and kill my men, I swear to your God that I'll kill all of you."
Greyson watched Garfield round up his men and head out, the chest tucked under his arm. He looked over to his mother who had come out of hiding; she was crying. When she looked up and saw him on the ground, she ran over to him. She held him close until he blacked out.
