Fallen From Grace (#Wattys2017)

Chapter I (Partially-edited)

A girl with unnaturally white hair, and porcelain skin walked down the hall of her high school, keeping her gaze down with her hood pulled over her head. Snaking her way around the crowd, she made her way to her locker. Opening it and taking out her books and stuffed them into her bag before slinging it over her shoulder adamant on getting out as soon as possible.

"Did you hear?" She heard the girl across from her gossip to her friend. "There is a rumor that you can summon the devil with a few things."

"Yeah?" Her friend laughed at the absurdity of it all. "What sort of things?"

"A little blood, the four elements, and incantation that is readily available on the internet." The first girl listed off. "I mean, there is tones of lore about it on the web, let's check it out once we're home."

"Yeah, no thank you." The second friend scoffed. "I don't need Satan to be my friend, he'd be ugly and red."

Both of them guffawed as the made their way down the corridor and out the school. The girl in the hood would never admit that she had been eavesdropping, but she was curious if it would actually work. Shaking her head, she packed the remainder of her things, before zipping up her bag and making her way out the deserted school.

Straddling her bicycle, she started to paddle her way out the school parking lot and onto the road that led her home. On her way, she stopped at the general store to get some things before resuming her journey. Sighing, she unlocked the door to her apartment building and greeted the old land lady kindly.

"Oh! Eleanora!" The landlady, Mrs. Scott, halted the teenager. "I have something for you." She informed as she rushed inside her apartment and returned with a lunch box filled with cookies along with an envelope.

"Oh. Thank you, Mrs. Scott." Eleanora smiled at the elderly as she adjusted the groceries in her arm before taking hold of the envelope and cookies. "I love your cookies. I'll come over in the afternoon once I'm done with my homework, is that alright?"

"Of course, dear!" She smiled brightly at her. "I'd love the company, and I'm sure you'd appreciate it, too. You should roam about with your friends."

Eleanora smile in response as she waved farewell and ascended the stairs. Unlocking her apartment door, she walked into the white and neat kitchen where she placed all the things before sighing tiredly and removing the hood from her head.

"Sebastian!" Eleanora called out. "I'm home!"

A bell tingling greeted her call as a little black kitten made it's way into the kitchen, meowing up at her, rubbing his head against her leg.