Chapter 3:

What?


Henry couldn't get his mind off of what the mysterious lady had said. He had thought too much about it all last night…and it had taken its toll on him the next morning.

Henry woke up at around 1:00 in the afternoon; that was pretty late for him even on a Saturday. He was feeling slightly more groggy than when he did on a regular school day.

Since he didn't have school or anything he didn't bother taking a shower…at the moment.

Henry groggily dragged his feet past his carpeted floor to the cold tiled kitchen. On the table there lay a note with his aunt's scribbled handwriting on it. It read: There is microwavable food for you in the pantry. If not that then go buy something using the money on the counter top. Don't get in trouble while we're gone.

He had forgotten all about because of the scary revelation from yesterday…his aunt and uncle were going to this boring family reunion party for old people or something along the lines of that. He didn't really pay attention to what they were saying but he also didn't really care either, it didn't apply to him so why bother.

He spent the next hour watching T.V. while eating a bowl of cereal. He had cable so there weren't really any good shows on at the moment; all the good shows always came on at night when he had to sleep whereas both his aunt and uncle were free to watch it.

He soon got tired of watching the corny soap opera and crappy cartoon shows so he quickly turned off the T.V. before he crazy from boredom.

He then decided to go out and eat because the weather outside was perfect. Henry looked on the kitchen countertop and he found a twenty dollar bill to his surprise.

"What? Aunt Mimi never gave me this much money to buy just lunch…"

Suddenly he remembered yesterdays conversation with the mysterious seemingly blind lady: "I said do you want that chest? I'll give you the chest and the contents inside for 20 dollars!"

"Just enough to buy that chest…" Henry thought to himself but quickly shaking all thoughts of it away as he, instead, grabbed the bill and shoved it in his pocket while heading for the front door.

Just as soon as Henry had shut the door behind him a mysterious thing happened. The T.V. turned on by itself but there was no signal for a strange reason…instead the screen was filled with the static and view of the "white noise". Henry was well on his way to a local restaurant to notice that the T.V. had turned on by itself.

He went to a place called Five Guys Famous Burger and Fries. It wasn't exactly a restaurant but it wasn't one of those Burger King's either. It was a combination of Waffle House and Chic-Fil-A; good service and everything grilled and cooked for everyone to see.

Henry walked up to the store and then entered under the slightly faded yellow sign, the chime of a customer entering alerting the busy staff.

Henry stood still to notice the area around him, the red/white tiled floors, the random boxes of peanuts stacked here and there, the numerous tables seated with chattering or laughing friends, the menu which said "black chest".

"What?"

Henry suddenly stopped and then rubbed his eyes. He looked to the sign again, it read: Cheeseburgers, Chili hotdogs, Bacon Cheeseburger…

He didn't bother reading the rest because he knew what it said already, he had been here plenty of times before NOT to know. But he swore that he had read in big, black and bold letters "Black Chest" off of the sign.

Henry waited in the long line while he kept on continuing to rub his eyes while thinking to himself to get more sleep. He then glanced up to the little white board on the wall which always told everyone where the restaurant had gotten their potatoes from. Today it read: "We got our potatoes from the…Antique Store."

Henry thought it wasn't quite right and looked away before deciding to read it again. This time it read: "We got our Black Chest from the…Antique Store."

"What the?" Henry shook his head and then rubbed his eyes.

He looked at the whiteboard again and saw that it now read: "We got our potatoes from…Idaho" Henry couldn't believe his eyes…was he going crazy? But in the top right hand corner of the whiteboard he could clearly make out the sketched drawing of a chest in black marker.

Before he could think any further he was cut of from his thoughts by the calling of the cashier.

"I'm sorry…"

"Its alright." The cashier replied in a surprisingly soothing voice.

She was a cute short blond girl and her small frame was accentuated by her curves; Henry couldn't help but checking her out for the time being. But when he saw her eyes he almost froze up. Her eyes were a vivid piercing green…the exact same as the eyes from the mannequins. Strangely, though, this time the eyes were not radiating a malicious feel or intent.

"So what'll you be having?" She broke Henry away from his thoughts yet again and appeared to be viewing him with some sort of mild interest.

"I'll just get the…Bacon Cheeseburger." Henry said after debating with himself for a quick few seconds.

"Will that be all?" The cashier began to punch in numbers on her digital cash register.

He suddenly realized that her voice was now less soothing and more of a boring tone. He looked up and saw that this girl did not have green eyes but blue ones. She didn't seem as lively or as cheerful as the other one that he had just been talking to.

"I'm sorry….but where's the other cashier?"

The girl just gave him a stare like he had just asked the stupidest question ever.

"What? What happened to the other girl?"

"Are you high or something?" She asked while crossing her arms.

"No, why'd you ask that?"

"Cause you've been standing there staring off into space every now and then…and now you're asking me where the other cashier is? I'm the only one standing here, I haven't moved a bit."

Henry just shook his head and then waved her away.

"I'll just get the burger and a drink."

She raised her right eyebrow before finally putting in the order and giving him the total price: $5.68

Henry suddenly felt relieved as he handed her the twenty bill. Now he didn't have 20 dollars to pay for the chest so he couldn't go there even if he wanted to.

As he left the restaurant he made a decision to take a short cut home…where he wouldn't have to pass by the antique shop. He made his way up the road and then took a sharp right, making a beeline through the densely packed woods.

He took this shortcut before so he knew the place like the back of his hand. Henry trudged forward and saw the breaking of the trees up ahead. As soon as he made it out into the open he was surprised to see the city hall instead of the road that led to his neighborhood.

Henry decided to go back the way he came to end up at back at the four-way intersection. He knew that he went the right way because he noticed the pressed down leaves and broken braches [branches] from where he had planted his foot. He exited the woods and found himself staring at the city hall once more.

Now Henry knew that other forces were working against him because this wasn't his mistake…whatever it was, he didn't like it at all.

Henry just decided that it wouldn't matter if he went by the antique shop or not, he just wouldn't enter it.

As he made his way past the shop he didn't turn his head to look at it, he didn't want to look at it.

But suddenly he noticed that up ahead there were sirens wailing and red/blue lights flashing.

When he got close enough to see what the commotion was about he saw that the road had been completely blocked off by the "Do not cross" tape and several police cars.

Henry just kept on walking forward and was about to use the sidewalk when a police officer noticed him crossing and stopped him.

"Hey you!"

Henry looked around to make sure that he was the one being called.

"Ya you! What're you doing over there? Can't you see the tape?"

"Ya….but I just need to get home and this is the only route that can take me th-

"I don't care what your excuse is." The officer interrupted Henry. "This is the scene of a crash and we're investigating it. Under no circumstances should you be near this place. Go back the way you came."

"But-

"Do you want to be taken in for arguing with a police officer?"

Henry just stood still for a moment and then sighed heavily before walking back to the antique shop.

It seemed that he had no choice but to go to the antique shop.

Henry slowly shook his head as he opened the glass door once more.

When the shrill voice of the old lady didn't pierce his ears he called out, "Hello? Is anyone there? It's the kid from yesterday."

Almost as if she was waiting just for him to show up the old lady suddenly appeared from the back of the store.

"So…you came back eh?"

"Just to get my book bag…I think I left it here yesterday."

She stared at him for a long minute before replying, "Ya…you left it here along with all my knocked over umbrellas and toy paddles.

"Sorry…look can I have my book bag back? I need it for school." Henry wanted to get out fast.

"Thought you never liked school." The old lady just hobbled toward the doll aisle.

"What?"

"You heard what I said."

"Just give me my bag." Then he added after a moment of thinking. "Please."

"Fine…fine, fine." She muttered under her breath as she reached down and pulled up Henry's book bag.

She held it out for Henry and he gently took it from her outstretched hand. Now that Henry got what he had come for he was just about ready to leave…but before he could the lady blocked his way by standing at the entrance…with the same black chest lying on the floor, right next to her.

Henry felt goose bumps build on his arms and his spine tingle as he saw the chest again.

"So…have you thought about my offer? The chest and all of its contents for only 20 dollars."

"I'm really sorry but as much as I'd love to buy the chest I just don't got the cash." Said Henry as he reached into his pocket. "I mean all I have is a-

Henry suddenly stopped as he stared at the numbers and design on the single bill that he held in his hand.

"Well…looks like you had 20 dollars after all, eh sonny? Hehehe…"

Henry couldn't believe his eyes. He knew that he had received change from that girl…he had felt the crumpled bills in his hand as he shoved them in his pocket. So…why did he have a single twenty dollar bill instead of a ten and a couple ones?

Henry made up his mind to just buy the chest and then forget about it.

"Here…just take the money…and stop bothering me."

Henry shoved the bill into her hands and then picked the chest up.

As Henry left the store he mumbled under his breath, "I hope this is worth my time…whatever it is."

He stopped in his tracks as he heard the old lady yell after him, "It is!" then sped up his pace in fear.

As he made his way back out of the antique parking space he thought that he looked ridiculous carrying around a black chest.

The police officer who was still directing traffic and, supposedly, keeping pedestrians away noticed Henry and then waved him over. Henry sighed as he rolled his eyes and then lugged his body along with the black chest over to the waiting policeman.

"What do you want to tell me this time?"

"I just wanted to tell you that you can go through now."

Henry just stood there and gawked at the officer.

"Here…just go on through."

The officer held the police tape above his head to show that he was free to pass through.

"Wait…you were telling me to stay away just a few minutes ago."

The police seemed to be lost in thought. "I know…but now I'm letting you through cause I don't want to look like a prick."

Henry blinked his eyes in surprise and couldn't even believe his own luck…if it was his own. But he didn't think on it too much at the moment…he just walked right on through before the officer changed his mind.

As soon as Henry opened the door to his house he heard party music…coming from his T.V.

"That's funny…I don't remember leaving the T.V. on." he muttered to himself as he set the chest down on the floor.

The news was on and it showed a very happy man who had won the lottery. The talk-show host was asking the man some questions about the lottery money:

"Congratulations on your big lucky win! What will you do with the prize that you won?"

"I'm not really sure…but I'm going to spend it on lots of things."

"So how did you get the lottery ticket anyways?"

"Well…as ridiculous as it sounds…I spent only twenty dollars on 3 different tickets. And what do you know? One of them was the winning number."

"That's gr-

Henry turned it off as soon as he heard the twenty dollars part; he didn't want to hear it again and remind himself of what he had bought.

Henry lugged the chest back to his room where he set it down on the floor next to his computer, not bothering to open it or do anything with it.

He turned on his computer and then patiently waited as it booted up and pulled up all of his files. The first thing he clicked on, when the computer screen was ready, was the internet icon.

He immediately began to surf the net, looking at what most teens his age look at: porn.

As he became more and more focused on the screen and the slender figures that it presented, he failed to notice that the chest's lock had become undone by some mysterious force or will.

Suddenly his screen blacked out and he furrowed his brow in confusion and agitation.

Henry hit his screen once to try and make it work again…a blue screen popped up and gave him instructions on what to do.

Step 1: Put on safe-mode.

Step 2: Turn off computer.

Step 3: Open the chest.

Henry blinked his eyes a couple of times to make sure that he wasn't imagining things again…he wasn't. He shut down his monitor and then walked out of the room, not wanting anything to do with the chest but to just relax for a moment.

Henry sat on the couch and then turned on the T.V. As he began to flip various channels he became aware of a very odd similarity. Every other channel had something to do with a chest. Cartoon Network had Spongebob and Patrick digging for a magical chest, the Science channel had mentioned something about a certain discovery being the key to opening the chest to the universe, the Discovery channel had treasure hunters pull up a chest from the clear depths of the Atlantic Ocean and the Artifacts channel were selling a rare chest that had once belonged to some emperor.

Henry shook his head and then turned the T.V. off once again.

"That chest really wants to be opened….or I'm just thinking too much about it."

Henry finally got up off the couch and decided to finally resolve his problem by opening the chest. "Because opening the chest should resolve the problem, right?", Henry reasoned with himself.

Henry grabbed the chest and saw that the lock had fallen right off. He ignored this though and placed both hands on the side of the chest, like he had done 1 day ago. Henry slowly tried to open it and the lid budged slightly, it was tightly shut.

Henry then leaned over the chest and used leverage to pry the lid open. Just as he was about to give up the chest lid popped open and sent a cloud of dust everywhere…and Henry falling forward into his wall.

He coughed while waving the dust away from his face. He peered inside the chest, half expecting there to be nothing and half expecting there to be some golden artifact.

He reached in and pulled out a single necklace. It was really an amulet but Henry didn't know any better. The amulet was forged from a hard metallic like substance but it felt weightless. Embedded into the black material was 5 different gems: Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz and Diamond. The first four were arranged in a circular formation, all four creating an imaginary unseen square around the one diamond located in the middle. He turned it over and then realized that there was actually 6 gems; there was a tiny pinhead sized black diamond located on the back.

"A black diamond?" Henry said out loud in disbelief.

He then closely scrutinized the entire amulet, trying to see if he could take the gems out or if there were any hidden compartments. In the process of turning it over and over again Henry pricked his index finger on something. He cursed out loud and dropped the amulet where he stood. As he reexamined his finger he saw a tiny blood stain. He picked the amulet up again and tried finding what had pricked him, but suddenly the amulet let loose a tiny stream of light misty dust. He jerked his head back, not wanting the dust to get in his eyes.

The dust slowly made its way to his floor but it didn't disappear like he expected it to. Instead it crawled along the floor…to his closet.

Henry raised an eyebrow at the dust but decided not to pay any attention to it. He was too focused figuring out how the amulet had pricked him and released dust.

The amulet had no grooves, it was just a flat, smooth circular metal surface. There was nothing noticeable that could've pricked his finger…so what had?

Henry was shaken from his thoughts as his closet suddenly rattled and began to shake violently. He pressed himself against the wall and braced himself as the closet door suddenly burst open and his hidden belongings were flung everywhere.

When Henry opened his eyes again he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

There was a blue fox standing in his closet, wearing nothing but a skimpy little skirt and bra. She had the exact same green eyes that he had been seeing for the past 2 days. And her voice was all too familiar.

"Why…hello there. Hope I didn't startle you."

Henry managed to say two things before he fell on his bed in confusion and shock.

"What the…"

I couldn't find a usable quote for this chapter....Lol.

Sorry for the delay...but my beta-reader was really busy, not to mention that I was caught up in my own thing too. So anyways....enjoy the double installment.