Temple of The First Sun: Chapter 2

 Chapter 2

I was in the middle of setting the table when the doorbell rang again. I paused wondering if it was Aurora again, still, I made my way to the doorway. As I opened the door, I saw a small package sitting on my doorstep, with no sender information in sight. It was mysterious, to say the least.

I picked up the package and examined it closely, looking for any clues as to where it came from. The box was plain and unmarked, with no return address or postage stamp. It was as if it had just magically appeared on my doorstep.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I decided to open the package. Inside was a beautiful Aquamarine pendant, shimmering in the light. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before, and I couldn't help but wonder who had sent it to me.

As I held the pendant in my hand, I felt a strange sense of power emanating from it. It was as if it was trying to tell me something, but I couldn't quite grasp the message. I considered asking the people who were coming to the birthday if they had sent it to me as a birthday gift but decided against it. I would just wear it for the party and tell my mom about it later. I picked up the box and threw it in the trash before placing the pendant in the cupboard for later. 

My mom chooses that second to come look at the set table tell me it looks horrible and rearrange things until it was as messed up as when I started and then let me know I stink. I trudge up to the showers.

I slip a cool navy dress over my shoulders and slip on the aquamarine necklace. My washed hair falls onto my chest. I saunter out of the bathroom and see my mom walking toward me. She grabs my hand and pulls me into the bathroom even though I just got out. Pulling makeup containers out of the cabinets, my mom pulls my hair into a ponytail to stop strands of hair from falling into my face as I wince, "Mommmm! Stop pulling so hard!" 

She pulls out a small bottle of foundation and after figuring out which one matches best with my complexion, she takes two fingers and squeezes a dot of the cream onto them. She applies the cream to my face gently, the coolness of the cream washing over my face, and I get goosebumps. My mom then pulls out from her horde a container of powder. She reaches into her bag and pulls out a collection of brushes and swishes the powder over my face. She adds some blush, eyeliner, and mascara. Then my mom brings out her eye shadow, “What color do you want?” Amma asks, showing me her variety of colors. Looking through her palette, I chose gold. She whips out a tinder brush and I close my eyes. I could feel the bristles poking my eyelids. A couple of seconds later, I open my eyes and my mom checks her watch in a hurry, rushes on to do my hair, and lets my hair down. Mom plugs in the straightener and makes me sit down near the outlet. She pulls the straightener down my hair, and smoke and heat curl off my black hair in wisps. I look in the mirror and gawk at the girl in the reflection. She is a beautiful woman. She has rosy cheeks and big eyelashes and her dress shimmers in the pale light. I look more like a cat than a human actually.

I smile and my mom takes me down to the waiting guests and the party of a lifetime.

I walk down the stairs clumsily tripping over the hem of my dress. My mom pauses as gracefully as ever and takes my hand. Vriah squeals in excitement and rushes to my other side gripping my hand with such force it probably turned white from all the blood loss.

I hear gasps and mouths falling open as my dad the most amazing technician ever rigs the lights to fall on our unlikely trio. In the corner of my view, a dark figure passes in front of me. I blink the figure is gone, it must have been a trick of the light I think sighing as admiration fills me with happiness I never knew possible.  I take a deep breath and try to be as elegant as possible as we make our way through the thick stares. My dad whistles again as he sees us he reaches down and picks up Vriah forcing her to let go. As she screams and pouts, I smile gratefully at my dad as blood proceeds back to my hand.

The evening was filled with enjoyment. Vriah shrieked as expected at the reveal of pin-the-tail-on-the-unicorn. We tried out Scrabble, but of course, who could beat me? I am the word master my highest score is 217. 

P.S. Use pizazz.  

We made candy rain when Vriah broke the pinata. Let's just say never get a monster on the face of your pinata if you have a unicorn-lover around. We were having the time of our lives. 

Finally! I have the fun of laying eyes upon all the wonderful items that my relatives gifted me. I stood there, transfixed, the pile of presents continued to grow larger and larger until it became clear that I wouldn't be able to open all of them until next week. Among the gifts, I got a brand-new phone, a 3rd pen, and even an art kit, brimming with all the tools and supplies necessary to help me in the Creative Teen Competition coming up.

I grinned at the possibilities of so many things I could do with these gifts. I imagine putting paint in my dad’s honeysuckle soap.

I eagerly started to pick up another big package but my mom stopped me, handing me hers. It was a small package, from my mom. It was quite lumpy and covered in brown packag . . .

"Wait a minute, Mom. . . didn't you get this from Aurora?" I ask.

My mom plastered on a smile It could fool anyone but not me, it didn't seem real. 

"Yes, Aurora owns a  . . . Company, and let me get this for you." 

I frowned but opened the package and found a red and orange bracelet with gold lining inside. My body had a strong repulsion to it, though the reason was not written on the ceiling, I stared at it while I placed it on my wrist next to my one friendship bracelet. Just as I was about to open the big gift from before, my mom interrupted with an announcement to cut the cake.

I smiled anyway and led the way to the dining table which was streaked with blue and white streamers.

As the candles flickered on top of the cake, everyone gathered around to sing Happy Birthday to me. My heart was bursting with excitement as I made my wish and blew out the candles. With a huge smile on my face, I grabbed the knife and began to cut into the cake. My other hand held onto Vriah's hand. 

But that's where it all went wrong.

I can imagine the horror on everyone's faces as the necklace shattered into a million pieces. It was like magic it just flew off my neck and hit the ground.

 I-I-I didn’t do anything.

The sound of the glass hitting the floor echoed throughout the room. Suddenly, a cold feeling washed over the room, sending shivers down everyone's spines. It was as if an unseen force had taken over the atmosphere, and nobody could shake off the feeling of dread that had settled in. The room was silent, except for the sound of people breathing heavily, trying to calm their nerves and make sense of what just happened. It was a moment that nobody would forget anytime soon anyway not with what happened next. I froze staring at the door as a horde of white coats and army suits streamed into the front door destroying everything in their path, masks covering their faces as everyone started running, their screams echoing in my ears shaking me out of my stupor. I ran as blood dripped from my feet. What was happening? I kept sprinting until I ran into one of the white-coated men. "Over here! I found her!" He yelled, I tried to turn but the last thing I heard was two gunshots echoing in the air as I dropped to the floor shaking in pain. A man ran toward me, shouting orders at the stupified soldiers. But I couldn't see, my back screamed with pain my arm felt broken. All I could see was red, and then nothing.

"She's awake." 

The said shining a light into my eyes. They pressed a needle into my hand pushing me back into the dark abyss. 

The second day or the fourth day I don't remember but they shoved my hand into the fire and I screamed as I pulled back. 

Another needle and more sleep just means more nightmares. 

Days of starvation and thirst.

 I might be going insane.

I talk to myself, only when they push me back into my cell.

I watched the sun go up and down.

The rain pitter-pattered on the glass window, it was the only window. The night outside was furious and only caused me more sorrow in the musty dark cell. The ache in my back had faded to a dull throb and the rain that had fallen through the window pooled near the wall that confined me. The wind billowed in from the crack in the dark glass and did nothing to ease my nerves, my thoughts swirled in continuous circles, over and over, the same thought that had only come to me when I was captured. “Will I live to see another day?”

I wonder if the sunlight would ever touch my skin again, or if I would ever take a step out of this damp facility again. The gravel dug into my skin and toenails as I paced the small cell. Finally, I stopped and lay on the ground, trying not to take notice of the pebbles pressing into my back. Would the scientists ever let me go?

This might be my last sleep, I should at least enjoy it, who knows what the morning might bring? 

I stared at the brown sludge in a bowl, as disgusted as I was, I needed to eat, I hadn't eaten for two days.
I wish I could forget how.

 I shoved the stuff into my mouth with my bare hands, there were no spoons. I pushed another handful into my mouth, but there was something in it. I ran my tongue over it trying to see what it was. I spat it out to find a piece of paper. 

I shakily opened the wet, folded piece of paper.

"DON'T GIVE UP, WE WILL GET YOU OUT, RIP THIS PAPER WHEN YOU'RE DONE, THEY ARE WATCHING YOU." Was written in scrawled messy writing.

I dug through the rest of the food trying to find more notes, but there was nothing more. I sat back ripped the paper into shreds and shoved the pieces into my pocket. It was a ripple of hope but it was enough to keep me going for the next week until . . .

"Your brain processes things in such a different way!" The scientist said excitedly. I would have remarked something if I wasn't so hungry. "I can't wait to dissect you tomorrow!" 

Wait. DISSECT? I thrashed as they threw me back into my cell my eyes filling with terror. Somehow I fell asleep but when I woke up it wasn't to the usual guard ready to drag me out it was  . . .