Prologue

Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

January, 11th 2015

My name is Mira Van Buren and this is my story of how my entire life changed in three days. But first allow me to introduce myself, my name is Mira Van Buren, a single mother of twins, a daughter and son, Amy and Jackson, both 13 years old. I own and operate my own bookstore, which is popular and got quite a good business going on, until one day a competitor decided to build a larger bookstore across the street from my business, and some of my customers are heading to the newer store, slowing down my business. However, my regulars and my devoted customers continued to visit my store, but it still didn't help matters with my profit.

Like I said earlier, I am a single mother. You see Amy and Jackson's father was shot while I was fighting off terrorists in Iraq. The day we found out about it was devastating to all of us, and we still haven't gotten over Aaron's passing. Especially Amy and Jackson. I had chosen to remain single, because there will be no other man like Aaron. Aaron loved books and music.

He was a big fan of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, both movies and the books. And he had me become a big fan. I always thought he looked exactly like a taller version of Thorin, before he joined the Marines. At one time, before he joined the military, he had long dark hair, and a short beard, and everyone kept telling him he resembled Thorin a lot and he even had his voice. Aaron also loved music, and can play many different instruments, and he can sing as well. The last I've heard of Aaron, he called me one night long distance, and he sung 'Misty Mountains' for me over the phone.

It was a night I haven't forgotten, and it was also the last night also I heard his voice, because the day after, he got shot during a battle. The night before he had to go on his tour, he bought me a necklace from an antique store. He told me to always wear it to remember him, and to this day, I wore the necklace. It was a diamond necklace, with a amethyst centering it. But something told me that there was something more about the necklace that was special, and I couldn't pin point what it is.

But now to move on with my story. I was at work, while Amy and Jackson are in school. Business was slow that day, and so I decided to kick back and read The Hobbit.

An hour later, a man in a black suit entered my store with a grave expression on his face. I recognized this man. He was the man I bought the bookstore building off of, and he didn't look too happy. "Miss Van Buren, we need to talk." said the man gravely. "What about, Mr. Howard?" I said. "Its about your bookstore, you are losing customers quickly, and you may have to close down." said Mr. Howard. "Mr. Howard, I cannot afford to close down!" I protested. "Ma'am, the Oswell Bookstore is ruining your business, and has taken ALL of your customers. You have no other choice, but to close down! You have thirty days to pack up and leave the building. I will give a good amount for what you will sell." said Mr. Howard.

You damn well better, you greedy bastard! I'm already behind on rent at my apartment! I thought to myself. Losing the bookstore was devastating to me. It was my life line, and to provide for Amy and Jackson with food, shelter, etc, and not only that, the bills and rent (in which I'm behind in). And so all that day I packed, and once everything was out of the bookstore, I put a "For Sale' sign on the door as I locked up and left the building. As I returned home to my apartment, I sat down, rubbing my temple, my head aching from today's stressful events.

Will this day get even much worse? I thought to myself as I sat in my recliner. And suddenly there was a knock at my front door. "Miss Van Buren, you better answer the door right this instant!" demanded an older female voice. I recognized the voice. It was my landlady, Mrs. Davis. Shit! What is she doing here? My mind reeled as I quickly answered the door, and Mrs. Davis stood there glaring at me. "Miss Van Buren, let me inform you that I haven't seen any of your rent checks in two months! And therefore, you have thirty days to pack up and move out!" said Mrs. Davis sharply. "No! You cannot do that! You don't understand!" I protested.

"Just do it, or I'll bring brute force and make you move!" demanded Mrs. Davis, and she stormed away. I slammed the door, as I collapsed on the floor weeping heavily. My day had gone straight to hell. As I wept, I noticed something odd about my necklace. It was glowing! I didn't understand why it was glowing, but it just started to glow out of the blue, and quickly stopped. I stood up, ignoring the glowing, I had to collect my thoughts because Amy and Jackson would be home soon, and I didn't want them to see me like this. Oh Lord, how am I going to break the news to them of losing our home?

I sat down and mapped out a plan on where we're going to go.

Most of my family is gone, and I have no family. And of course, Aaron had passed on as well. Then I remembered the camper I purchased two years ago. I decided we'll go out on the road and live via camper. It was the only thing to do. When afternoon came, Amy and Jackson returned home, and I broke the news to them. And as I expected, they took the news really hard. At first, I thought they would be angry at me, but they weren't. Amy and Jackson were always very close to me, as the three of us missed Aaron very much. And there wasn't a moment in our day, when we think about Aaron.

After we packed up and loaded the camper, we left the apartment now on our own. "Mother, why is your necklace glowing?" Amy spoke up, noticing the necklace I'm wearing. "That's odd, its been doing that earlier." I said to Amy. "You don't think Dad picked up some kind of magical talisman did he?" asked Jackson. I laughed. "Jackson, don't be a fool! Magic talismans only existed in fairy stories." I said. Suddenly, I heard my daughter cry out. "Mom! LOOK OUT!" shrieked Amy. And I looked ahead of me and saw a semi truck heading towards our direction. The driver appeared very drunk, and suddenly we collided, spinning the camper, as it rolled down a large hill, while all of us screamed.

And the last thing we remembered, everything went black.

On the exception of my necklace, that was still glowing.