LUCK'S DIARY: A Change in Fortune

Chapter 4

Keone Moronez. She's been very unlucky as far back as she could remember, which is pretty far. Her misfortune at this point was honestly marvellously suspicious. It's almost as if there was someone, somewhere out there whose sole reason for existing was to run her over with bad luck like roadkill. Of course there were good times in her life and times where her life was seemingly normal, until of course she gets a harsh reality check from the universe.

Not knowing her parents or anything from her past, Keone grew up as an orphan in a small orphanage ran by an grumpy old lady, Miss Myriam, who was also secretly the sweetest even though she tried to hide it. She was a tall, fair skinned woman with long silver hair, always done up in a braided bun. Her wardrobe must've only consisted of long-sleeved dresses because that's all Keone ever saw her wear.

There were 6 other kids in the orphanage with her, but Keone never bothered to interact with them. Instead there was one person who never fails to annoy the ever living soul out of her. He had cropped, fiery red hair, the greenest of eyes and a chubby, dumpling shaped body. Keone remembered he had a funny way of speaking and could barely manage to make out the words he was saying, it was worst when he was excited.

As Keone tried to remember his name, she recalled the first time they met.

21 years ago...

Mindlessly fiddling with the hem of her scrappy dress, a 5 year old Keone glanced around the room from under her lashes, taking in the kids and decorations.

"Children!", a younger Myriam called out from the hall, "This is Keone and she'll be joining us from now on."

The kids went back to their various activities, not paying any attention to the newcomer, except a chubby boy. As he made his way over to Keone, it occurred to her that he looked like the round dumplings she always saw on a poster outside a chinese restaurant. She also took notice of his bright red hair and sparkling green eyes.

Emerging from her thoughts, she looked down to see a small round hand outstretched to her and a high pitched, giddy voice exclaiming,

"Hi there! I'm Der and I'm 9," in the most bizarre way she's ever heard someone speak.

Keone never replied to him and instead turned and walked towards the back door. She heard the pitter patter of small footsteps and looked back to see Der following her outside. When she stopped, the footsteps stopped as well and this went on until they reached a large tree in the corner of the yard. Sitting down on the soft, slightly damp grass, Keone was already very annoyed and wanted nothing more than some alone time. However, that wouldn't happen for another 3 years when Der got adopted and as nice as it was to finally have some peace and quiet, Keone missed him...but only a little.

After that day, He made it his goal to annoy her every single day. Whether it was by gently tugging on her hair, throwing blades of grass at her, or talking her ear off, Der alway successfully managed to annoy Keone.

Present day...

Keone faintly smiled, reminiscing in her memories of her days at the orphanage. Miss Myriam scolded her that day about the grass stains on her dress. She remembered telling the old lady that her dress is already messy so it doesn't matter and Miss Myriam told her,

"It doesn't matter how old or scraggly your possessions are, they are yours so you should take good care of them."

As grumpy as she was, Miss Myriam, was the closest thing Keone had to a mother. Even though she passed a few years back, she still harbored intense feelings of gratitude and love towards her.

Her mind would often stray to Der, wondering how he's doing and how his life is going. She'd try to guess how he'd look if she were to run into him now. Would he still be chubby and adorable, or tall slim and handsome? She'd never know.

After she left the orphanage at eighteen, having only been in one foster home, she met Vincent. Vincent Foster was a retired archeologist who was now wheelchair bound after an accident. The same accident that took his wife's life only a year before he met Keone. His gruff but soft voice, combined with his kind eyes and gentle smile, make him appear friendlier and more approachable in contrast to his sharp features.

Keone bumped into him, literally, at the Ancient Gods and Goddesses exhibition in their local museum. She was so fascinated with everything and was taking it all in, completely zoned out and not paying any mind to the people around her.

8 years ago...

"Woah...", Keone whispered aloud, "This is unreal."

Overcome with awe, she was walking around the exhibition in her own bubble, imagining a world where all these Gods and Goddesses were actually real. Her mind was so far gone, she didn't see the wheelchair behind her and stepped back into it. Losing her balance, she toppled over the wheel and over the man occupying the chair and fell on her phone, causing the screen to make a sickening crunch.

Keone felt her heart sink before flying up to her chest and trying to beat out of it. Basically, she was now in full panic mode. On her feet in the blink of an eye, she started apologizing profusely and unintentionally ignoring what the man was saying. He placed a gentle hand on her arm then swiftly gave her a pinch, effectively shutting her up and turning her attention to him.

"Ow," she frowned at him, rubbing her arm.

"I was trying to tell you that it's fine," He said to the flustered girl.

"Oh. Well I'm still sorry," Keone muttered, "I should've been paying attention."

"I don't blame you at all for getting lost in your head, this exhibition is amazing." He marvelled.

"I know right!" She exclaimed in joy.

"Want to know about the history behind them?" He asked, "My name is Vincent by the way."

Present day...

After they left the museum, they went to a cafe where they bonded even more over their many shared interests. It was no surprise when Vincent quickly became a father and a best friend to Keone. Thinking back to that day and the days after that, she felt even worse about not visiting him recently.

Vincent cleared his throat loudly and her eyes shot over to him in anticipation. Her eyes narrowed slightly when she noticed how nervous he had become and the sweat forming on his brows. She obviously expected him to be shocked, which he was, but nervous was the last thing she thought he would be.

"Spit it out Vince," she demanded, wanting to know what exactly "it" is.

He nervously shifted in his chair, looking all around the kitchen before sighing then wheeled over to a drawer and pulled out a torn paper. He went to the dining table and beckoned Keone over. He sighed once more and started talking.

"9 years ago, my wife, Eden, and I set out to find what we believed to be the Altar of Luck... "