CHAPTER ONE: I'D DO ANYTHING
Manny stared aimlessly at the television screen, her eyes watching but not necessarily paying attention. She couldn't concentrate on anything lately. Everything she thought made sense just seemed to float away into an enigma of nothingness. Manny was undergoing the painful process one calls, "heartbreak." Ever since Craig had left her, she found herself in her own little world of torment, and only Craig could free her from that imprisonment. But at the same time, she realized that by bounding herself to Craig once again would only complicate her problem. It wasn't as if they were going to be together forever, so why would she throw herself back into that of which she knew would no sooner or later cause her great pain?
The telephone rang throughout the room, interrupting Manny's thoughts.
"Hello?"
"Manny, where are you?" Emma asked, irritation in her voice.
Damn. Manny was supposed to have met Emma at some geeky wildlife preserve convention in Toronto hours ago. Why hadn't she remembered? Now she'll have to make up some lame excuse for not showing up again.
"I'm sick," Manny lied. No way was she wasting her Saturday night stuffed up in a room with a bunch of environmental wackos. She had much better things to do.
"Manny!" Emma screeched, her voice making the receiver vibrate.
"That's what you said last week! If you didn't want to go, all you had to do was say so!"
"Em----"
Manny sighed, only hearing the gentle hum of the dial tone.
Now she had done it. She lost her boyfriend, and now her best friend. When did the rain of torment ever end? Manny hated how her emotions controlled her, and now matter how hard she tried she always ended up with nothing in the end. Craig was a perfect example. Manny had tried so hard to look good in his eyes, and in some ways she succeeded, but she just fucking tripped at the finish line.
Manny sprang off the couch, dusting her pants off from potato chip and cookie crumbs. She stopped abruptly, her eyes fixed on a photo of her and Craig together at the park. She picked up the memento, immense sadness filling her heart. "Love is a horrible disease," She remembered her grandmother saying. She never understood why such a wonderful thing could be a disease, and now she knew why.
She plopped herself back onto the couch, recalling memories of ice cream kisses and cotton candy at the park with Craig. She missed the feeling of his arms around her, and she missed the feeling of being loved. Tears seemed to roll down her cheeks without restraint. Too clearly did she remember days spent with Craig. Now all she wanted to do was forget him.
Manny tossed the picture aside, sadness filling her heart. She would do almost anything to have Craig back in her miserable life.
Just then, a loud crash came from upstairs. Manny sighed. Her life was already a depressing soap opera, why not add a burglar to the mix?
She stole into the kitchen, retrieving a butter knife from a small wooden drawer. Manny crept up the stairs, the mahogany planks smooth beneath her feet. She could hear heavy footsteps coming from her room pacing back and forth. Whoever was in her room didn't try very hard to hide there presence. She clutched the knife firmly in her hand, her sweaty palms making it slippery. Manny was about to run back downstairs to dial 911 when the strangest thing happened.
The footsteps had abruptly stopped, almost as if the person who had been in the room completely vanished.
She continued down the hallway, and creaked her door open cautiously.
"Hello?" She said shakily.
Manny had expected some burly guy with a black ski mask to jump out at her, but only the whistling wind had answered her. She carefully analyzed the room, checking to see if anything was missing. Everything was in place.
Manny shivered and realized that her window had been open. When was her mother going to learn that open windows were practically neon signs to burglars? She watched her lily-white curtains dancing in the wind, wondering who had been in her room. She shut the window furiously, then rubbed her arms from the chill. She was about to throw herself on her bed, when she saw something glistening on the floor.
She picked up a ruby-red stone, its beauty immediately entrancing. The stone glowed luminescent in the moonlight, making it even more magical. Where had such a gem come from? Perhaps the person who had been in her room dropped it.
She turned it over, revealing the image of a breathtaking woman carved into it. Ancient writing encircled her, its calligraphy enchanting. The stone was atattched to a gold chain, making it usable as a necklace. She slipped it around her neck, admiring its beauty in the mirror. But as the stone adorned her neck, she felt a surge of energy and power rush through her body, both exhilarating and frightening.
"Whoa," Manny whispered.
The stone thrummed softly against her chest, as if answering her comment of awe. Manny gasped, but then fell into a bed as an immense feeling of drowsiness filled her head. She fell into a restless sleep, thoughts of Craig scattered across her mind. She clutched the gem tightly in her sleep like a teddy bear. Little did Manny know that the stone that adorned her neck was only the beginning of a dangerous and exciting journey.
Hope u guys liked my first chapter!