Journal 1: The Beginning

Nairobi

Thank goodness it's the weekend, these past few days working with my mom has been a long one. My mom has had this stressed look on her face since the first day I started. Always at private meetings with Empress Zenovia. I wonder what it is that they can't share. I mean I do have the right to know since I'm supposed to take her job in the future. There's no sneaking and listening in on the conversations, Avery won't tell me anything. She didn't have much to say that night we spoke, nothing that I already knew. Something's going on and I want to know what it is.

I get up from my bed to get ready for the day, really don't have anything planned so I might just chill, or go to Avery's house. It's only 10:15. I had plenty of time, my mom had gone to work, which is unusual, especially on a weekend. I wondered why she didn't want me to go with her. I pushed that thought to the back of my mind, and went downstairs to eat breakfast with my sister and Dad.

"Hi, goodmorning." He said from the stove.

"Goodmorning." I said grabbing an orange, from what I can smell he's making pancakes and bacon. Janora was in the family room, which was stationed right off the kitchen, watching tv. I went to join her until breakfast was done. After eating and putting away my dishes, I go back to my room to text Avery to see what she is doing today.

TEXT

NAIROBI: Hey what you got up for today?

AVERY: Going to the lake house later wanna meet me there? Going bout 3.

I text her back yea. It was only 12:30 at the moment, so I decided to start getting ready.

Avery's parents have a lake house right up the road, not too far from me. We sometimes go there to chill, especially on hot days in the summer. Unlike today it was kind of chilly out in the 70s, kind of cloudy. That means no swimming. I picked out some jogging pants and a hoodie, and got into the shower. I decided to take a quick nap since I still had time before I met up with Avery. I made sure to set my alarm knowing I tend to oversleep.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I reach Avery's parents house in about 20 minutes. I chose to walk even though it was chilly out it was still a nice day. The clouds decided to disappear and the Sun was warming me up. Too bad it wasn't warm enough to go swimming. I immediately went back knowing that's where she would be, sitting on the dock. She had a book and a blunt in her hand. I reached Avery and the pile of blankets and snacks she had on the sturdy dock.

"Hey, what's up?" I said sitting next to her.

"Hey." she said, passing me the weed. I take a hit of the blunt and look off into the lake and the surrounding homes. People were out on the water today, fishing, on their boats. My mind begins to wander off to the past couple of days, with both of our mothers, and the information we heard. I don't want to pry and be nosy but it's what I do best.

"You haven't heard anything else yet?" I ask her for the weed back.

"Huh? … Oh no. I haven't." she said, sensing she wanted to say more but insisted she shouldn't. "How was your training though? I know my mom has been on my ass with this training." she said changing the subject.

"It's been okay, you know things have been kind of weird lately. Everyone was on edge for some reason." I responded hoping she would at least give me some details on something.

"Yea, well my mom is thinking about canceling anyway." And there it is. But why though? Is things that bad where she has to cancel the training?. "She says it's because she has a lot to worry about right now. She didn't really say much after that. I'm really not even supposed to be saying anything, but you would anyway if she does decide to cancel."

Well damn, I don't even know what to say to that. I took another hit from the weed and handed it back. Questions rang throughout my mind. I know Avery wouldn't have the answers, but I just find it strange for her to say she would be canceling training. I don't think no one has ever canceled the training? And for what reason? Me and Avery sat in silence for the next hour and a half. Lost in my thoughts, while she was still reading her book. I took my phone out and looked at the time, seeing that it's only 8 pm. The sun was getting ready to set, the sky giving off a pink purplish hue. Getting kind of tired I got up and planned my walk back home. Luckily it wasn't a far walk, I said my goodbye to Avery and headed home. I could do some research when I get home but it would be of no use, I tried that and got no luck.

As the sun began to set, I noticed that it was dead silent outside. No birds, chirping in the trees, the waves were still on the lake.

Nothing.

I was about 15 minutes away from home, it felt like I was walking longer. I heard footsteps behind me, people often walk the route I'm on late at night for the view of the lake. I looked behind me to see who was accompanying me on my walk, but no one was there. I was walking the trail alone it seems. Returning back to my walk, it's pretty well lit out on the trails so I would be able to see if someone was out. Walking a few more steps I hear some shuffling in some bushes, I turn around to see what it was and from what I could tell it was two people standing by a tree near a light post. It was 2 figures, one male and one female I'm assuming, because of the height difference. I was a lengthy distance from them but I could tell they were struggling or something? If I'm not mistaken I could've sworn I heard a slight scream. But then again I'm pretty far away. I didn't think anything of it and made my way back home. It could've been a couple messing around.

It was about 8:30 once I made it home. My mom was in her office, my dad was in the living room watching tv, Janora ws more than likely in bed. I said my goodnights and made my way upstairs. That night I had a very weird dream, it was about a man emerging from Mount Ebony.