Two Worlds, Two Girls, Two Problems (book one)

A Crystal Hidden Deep Inside: Aubrey

"Tabitha! Please! Give it back!" Aubrey wailed as she chased her older sister, Tabitha, around the grass.

Tabitha's ruby red eyes pierced Aubrey's skin as she held up the yarn doll." No way. This here?" she waved the yarn doll around, yarn bits falling to the green blades of grass. "It's mine now! Finders keepers!"

Aubrey started to cry, but kept chasing her older sister. If only Aubrey was taller. And if only she could stand up to her sister. But her long amber hair and her pink eyes were no match for Tabitha's pale skin and dark brown hair. Her features seemed to stab Aubrey's heart to pieces, as if not caring about the surrender Aubrey would always do.

"Tabitha! Please!" Aubrey jumped up and down trying to reach her doll, the wind ruffling her hair coldly. Tabitha stuck out a tongue." No! It's mine!"

"Tabitha!" Aubrey whined. Aubrey curled into her own familiar position of helplessness. Aubrey couldn't get her tongue to say 'stop' to her sister. The last time she said that was when she was five, she had gotten hit by her sister multiple times. She had to avoid that word at all times.

That is a typical day for the younger sister, Aubrey, the underdog. However, none can ever guess that the two were siblings. They both had a relationship in which it could not be resolved or destroyed. Aubrey assumed that if she would die, Tabitha wouldn't even spend a thought on her.

The cold wind swirled about. The days were getting shorter. The blooms and blossoms were disappearing and the birds stopped tweeting. The sky was no longer crystal blue, now it was becoming a drowsy shade of gray. Aubrey hated to think of it, but Summer was coming to an end in the small town of Erith.

"Tabitha! Give Aubrey back her doll! I spent every day working in that cruddy shed just to get enough money for it!" Mom's voice echoed from the hut.

Mom came outside, still in her kitchen apron which was tattered in all sorts of places. Coal was smudged on her left cheek. Her choppy hazel hair flowing behind her as she took the doll from Tabitha's hands, without hesitating. She then placed it into Aubrey's soft hands. Aubrey felt a chill of warmth as she felt the delicate yarn touch her fingers.

"Keep it safe this time, and dear me! What happened here?" Aubrey's mom pointed to the yarn strands that fell from Aubrey's doll.

"Sorry, mom." Tabitha started to pick the strands of yarn one by one as if she was always like that.

Aubrey found it strange why Tabitha would always act up with Aubrey around and not when her mom was there. Perhaps Tabitha would want to change herself little by little. Maybe Tabitha was a good girl inside. Somewhere, perhaps.

"Thank you. After you are done, please go to shed to clean a while. " Aubrey's shoulders relaxed until her mom added,"Aubrey, you too." and her mom walked back inside her hut without adding anything onto her order. Once she was in the hut, Aubrey couldn't help but squeak,"The shed?!"

Tabitha stood up, one hand on her hip." Yes, scaredy cat. There's nothing wrong with that." She then dropped the yarn bits to the ground, and didn't pick them up again.

"B-but!" Aubrey shivered. "It's dark! And nobody has been there for-"

"That's what makes it cool!" Tabitha grabbed her sister's hand and dragged her to the shed.

The shack door creaked open. The peeling purple paint scrapes on the grass. The pine trees casting a large shadow over the siblings. Aubrey shivered behind her sister. The wind felt colder there. Aubrey's mind was racing to just run for her life, but she stayed put. She had to prove herself to Tabitha that she was strong enough. Before Aubrey could think further, Tabitha walked inside without hesitating.