Chapter One: pt 1

“Man, it’s cold,” Ash rubbed her hands over her bare arms, feeling the prickle of goose bumps as she did so. She glanced upwardly at the sky, although it had been sunny when they first arrived at the mall the clouds had thickened fast and it looked like it was about to break out into a storm. “Do we have to walk back? You know there are thousands of taxi’s around.” “Okay, and then you can pay for the fair, besides it’s not even far,” her cousin and best-friend, Variety, replied as she plucked off her sunglasses and tucked them neatly into her duffle bag. She paused for a second, waiting for Ash to catch up. “You know, if you walk faster we can get there before dark.” Ash mumbled something under her breath, wishing she had bought a jacket along—she didn’t like the smug look Variety had on her pale, pretty face since she had opted for a vest and jeans, whilst Ash was stuck with a pair of black shorts and matching black sleeveless hoodie. Suddenly a clap of thunder erupted through the sky, causing them both to jump. “Come on,” Variety hissed, pushing Ash along as the first drops of rain splattered down on them like the Angels of Heaven were weeping. Ahead of them Ash watched as the pedestrians scattered like ants trying to escape the storm, soon most of the cars on the street had pulled away and they found themselves all alone. Ash picked up her pace a little, she wanted desperately to get out of the rain because while she enjoyed storms she only liked watching them from the comfort of her bedroom—not when she was actually in them. “Do you think—” she started, but was cut off when Variety pulled her back and pointed towards a random shop window. “Huh?” Ash glanced down, peering at the arrangement of jewellery that was being showed off in the shop window. “$320? For that thing? I hope your not considering buying it.” “Not that, look in the reflection,” Variety tapped a certain area where Ash could make out five men, all dressed heavily in black, who had stopped by a different window, pretending to be interested in women’s shoes. Ash frowned, not sure why her cousin was so interested in them until she whispered, “They’re following us, when we move they move, when we stop they stop.” “Oh,” Ash said, not sure what to think about that. She allowed Variety to pull her along as the rain splattered annoyingly onto her face. “Do you think their stalkers? Rapists?” Variety shrugged. Although Ash knew she shouldn’t glance back she ended up doing so and realised that Variety was quite right, she bit her lip. “When we get to the bend, run,” Variety whispered into her ear. Although running from rapists sent a chill down Ash’s spine she couldn’t help but feel a pang of excitement shoot through her—not that being raped or killed was on her agenda, but nothing exciting ever happened in their ordinary, dull lives, and wouldn’t it be fun to stop and beat the beejeezies out of those guys? Ash didn’t underestimate the force she had in herself. But her excitement quickly drained away as they arrived to the dreaded bend, the one which would take them into a disserted street and sure enough give those men a good chance to grab them. “Ready?” Variety whispered, as if this was just a running race. Ash tensed her muscles as they stepped forward and she shot down the street. Variety was ahead of her slightly, since Ash’s slim legs weren’t exactly made for running, she usually concentrated on her arms and torso more when she exercised, her legs were just a mere skeleton holding her up. “Come on!” Variety hissed, grabbing her cousin’s hand. Ash could easily make out the sounds of five pairs of feet hitting the pavement hard just behind them, so close, Ash knew that in a couple of seconds they would be right on top of them. And then Variety said, “Down here; we can loose them,” and pulled Ash into a long, narrow backstreet—a backstreet with a dead end, that is. “Vee you idiot,” Ash growled, brushing her annoying fringe out of her eyes. “Well, since you dragged us in here I’m suggesting you go first with the rape and murder.” “Shut up,” Variety snapped. Ash could see her body shaking as her bright, emerald green eyes darted around, trying to find a place to hide, a weapon, an escape—anything. “Well. . .” Ash started, feeling like she needed to say something before everything came to an end. She pressed herself against the back wall and watched as the five men began running towards them—and that was when she saw it. The necklace was half submerged by a murky puddle left by the rain. It seemed rusted but had an obvious golden shine to it, and hanging heavily on the thin chain was a large, black gemstone. Thinking quickly Ash grabbed hold of the necklace and shook Variety’s arm. “Don't you—” but she was cut off as a shriek escaped from her mouth and a hand came down on her arm. She glanced up to see one of the men glaring down at her with black, beady eyes. She tried to kick and punch at him but he dodged all her blows and attacks as he reached into his pocket. Ash felt as if everything was going in slow motion. And then she felt Variety’s hand come down on the necklace, probably thinking of using it as a weapon or something. But just as she did Ash saw a bright light escape from the gemstone from the corner of her eye—and before she could say anything she felt Variety’s hand slip out of her own as her body began falling into not eternal darkness, but eternal brightness, everywhere around her was a gleaming white, and Ash couldn’t tell which one she preferred.