The sun was slowly setting, the air crisp and cold. After a long day traveling, the family would be proud. Tonight, there would be food for dinner. As hard as it is now, times weren't always like this. He used to have enough money to feed his wife and daughter before a large storm ravaged their tiny village. Everything was swept away, homes destroyed. His job as a shopkeeper was lost. But in time, the village began to thrive with life again. With the little money available, he would visit the nearest town to get food.
On his way home, the man crossed a bridge with jagged rocks and water splashing beneath it. He stopped for a moment, to take in the nature around him, to relax. Life isn't as bad as I thought...everything will be okay in time. Staring into the distance, he watched the wind tease the blades of grass along the rocks near the water. Lost in his thoughts, he shook them away when he noticed something gleaming near the edge of the bridge. Bending down, the man picked up two pendants. A dark blue stone hung from a gold cord. What was something like this doing here? It almost looked too beautiful, out of place. He stared into the stone, entranced by the color. He put them in his pocket and walked home.
His daughter was waiting for him when he walked through the door, excited for his arrival. The three ate, and soon it became evening. After his daughter was sent to bed, he showed his wife the two pendants. Her eyes lit up. She suggested selling them, as they could use money as a family. This could be used to help rebuild his business. As the man stared into the deep blue pendants, he began to feel conflicted. There was something about them. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he couldn't let them go. He slipped the first pendant around his wives neck, and gave the other to his daughter. When night fell, he went to sleep, his wife at his side.
That night, disaster struck. The family awoke in the middle of the night to hear screaming outside the home. Peering through the window, all that could be seen was flames. A thick smell of fire engulfed the home. A dark figure held a torch. It was a man, dressed in a black cloak. His features were difficult to see, but his eyes were burning with rage. He screamed repeatedly, "Where are they!? Where are the pendants? I want this place burnt to the ground. Everyone dead!"
Before the family knew it, their home was in flames. The woman began to panic, clutching her daughters hand. "What's happening!?" The roof began to collapse. Before her eyes, the man in the black cloak appeared. He threw the torch to the ground. His gaze met hers, and he glared directly into her eyes. "My pendant..." he rasped, his eyes averting to the stone around her neck. Her husband stood in front of her, extending his arm to protect her. "Get away from her! Why are you doing this? What is wrong with you!?" The man cut off the rest of his words with a swift move, pulling a dagger out. He plunged it into the husbands stomach, causing him to fall to the ground. Blood puddled on the ground quickly, a deep red. He died instantly, his eyes wide open. The woman screamed in terror, grabbing her daughter, holding her face and shielding her eyes from the horror.
But the girl had already seen it, and began to cry hysterically, struggling to break free from her moms arms. "Why?! Why did you do this why?" her eyes were hazy from the tears. She flailed out, hitting the man. He let out a low growl and kicked the girl to the ground. Her mother fumbled with the cord to the pendant around her neck, having trouble freeing it. "P-please leave her alone! She's just a child! Here...take this. Don't hurt her!"
Everything was a blur for the young girl. The last thing she remembered was the man, standing over her mother, and the blade in his hand. All she heard was her mother scream. Over and over again until all fell silent.