A Troubled Time / Sebastian Sallow

Prologue

"I can't believe you actually went through with it." A phone rested between her ear and shoulder as she searched through the rickety old store, hoping to find a hidden gem throughout the antique shop.

"I told you I'm done with his shit. Plus there's plenty more guys not only in our school, but the entire world." The voice giggled on the other side.

"Jess, every time you say you're done with him, you're back by the end of the week." The girl swung around a display of old golden necklaces, some tarnished beyond belief while others held a shine.

"Oh please Lucy, I mean it this time! Honest!" Lucy could feel Jess roll her eyes based on her tone of voice, "Anyways, are you still coming over tonight? I found a fuck ton of movies that I'm dying to see."

"Oh are we going to Netflix and chill now?" Lucy giggled and tore her eyes away from the dozens of chains, charms, and pendants before her.

Jess cackled from the other side of the line, "Hmm lets do it." She tried to sound cool but let out another fit of laughter.

Lucy couldn't keep her giggles contained as she spoke to her best friend. They had known each other since they were six years old, and even after ten years, they were still going strong.

Her giggles slowly died down as she locked her eyes on a certain pendant. She held it gently between her fingers, staring at the hourglass that sat at the center. She heard whispers as if she was surrounded by people, yet the voices were too quiet to make out the words being said. She carefully picked up the necklace from its resting place, staring at it from eye-level. The whispers got louder as she felt herself being slowly sucked in.

"Lucy... Lucy!" Lucy jumped, breaking free of her trance hearing Jess's voice coming through her phone.

"Huh? Sorry, what?" Lucy blinked quickly, tearing her gray eyes from the odd necklace in her hand. She let them search the shop instead, but frowned, seeing not another soul near her.

"I said, on your way here, can you pick up some food for us? I don't care what it is, I'm just starving." Jess rolled her eyes again at her absentminded friend.

"Yeah that's fine." Lucy mumbled, playing with the dial on the side of the necklace.

"Okay see you in a bit then." Jess spoke before Lucy was met with silence. She used her free hand to put her phone back in her back pocket before letting her eyes settle back on the necklace in her hand.

"Are you planning on buying that or just looking at it?" a horse, but feminine voice caused Lucy to jump. She locked eyes with the old woman who owned the shop. She sounded like she had smoked cigarettes since she was ten years old. Her hair was a dark black with light strands of gray sprinkled throughout. Her face had many lines, smile, frown, you name it and it was there. Her eyes were so dark they were almost black, yet, as scary as she looked, she was one of the kindest ladies Lucy had the pleasure of meeting.

"Hello Ms. Carr, it's great to see you again." Lucy smiled softly at the older woman.

"It's nice to see you too. I must say though, I believe that pendant would look just wonderful on you, dear." Ms. Carr smiled, some of her teeth missing from their place.

Lucy chuckled softly before looking back at the pendant. Though Ms. Carr was a kind woman, she also had a business to run. Anytime Lucy held an item, she would try to persuade the girl to buy it. But this time, things felt different.

"Well, it does feel like it's calling to me." Lucy let the pendant spin back and forth, following the chain. She meant her words both figuratively and literally, remembering the whispers that drew her to it.