Lost Flame

Lost Flame - Chapter two

Chapter Two  - Pendant of Power

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"Hey girl who likes barbies and all pink stuff! Wake up!" I heard someone say as my room's door was smashed. I covered my face with a pillow. It's so freakin' early for a war! God!

"Hey birthday girl! Come on, don't play sleep! Wake up already!" I growled. Why does it have to be like this every morning? Ugh!

"I'm not playing sleep! I want to sleep and it's for real!" I berated. I felt someone sit on the corner of my bed. Obviously, it's April. Who else?

She shook my left foot vigorously causing me to look like a worm or something on a bed. I opened my eyes for a while and intently looked at her. "Stop it." I said.

"Ugh come on! Why are you sooo boring?! Come on sleepy-freaking-pink-head!" She jeered. I just rolled my eyes in the air.

"Alright, alright! Just— Ugh, nothing!" I rose up and found her smiling sheepishly.

Please don't tell me she did what I'm thinking.

"April, what did you do? What's with that smile? It's.. horrifying!" And that's even an understatement!

"Oh Lillianne. Why would I do something unusual or furtive on your birthday? I just like to smile, you know.." She said. And it was in a weird way. I looked around—everything's intact. My room's window panes are still pink, my curtains are still pink, my wallpaper still has white and pink stripes, my door is still pink, my carpet too, my bed and everything in my room. They're still pink. Thank God.

"So, what's up?" She casually asked when I got my eyes back on her. She was still sitting on my bed and I'm still leaning on my bed's head board.

"I don't know. Any suggestion?" I asked and she frowned.

"It's your birthday, Lillianne. Don't you have plans?" She asked. I shook my head. I mean, what's with the plans? It's just my birthday. I know I'm 18 and I should have this debut party and everything but I told you, I'm not even close to interested. I want to be a princess but definitely not a princess of parties.

She rolled her eyes on me and looked around my room. It's just plain, actually. A study table, a bed, a closet—normal things you'd see in a room.

"You know what? If ever you'll be a princess? You'll be the most weird one." She said and shook her head while laughing and so did I. I know that.

"Hey, Ap. I got an idea. Alot of people handed me gifts and stuff. I could use some help opening all of them." I said. Her eyes lit up. I knew it, she'd go gaga over gifts.

"You know you can always count on me! Where are the gifts? Let's go, let's go!" She said enthusiastically. She immediately jumped over one spot of my room to another from just sitting on my bed. She was wearing her ear to ear smile, showing her shiny teeth. I just laughed at her excitement. She loves opening my gifts because she knows that I'll share those with her. I don't want to be rude to the people who gave me those but she's my bestfriend and what's mine is hers as well.

"They're in my closet. Go on, I'll just change my clothes. We'll have picture taking later. Good for you?" She nodded like a dog and it made me laugh and awe. She's such an adorable (and sometimes annoying) girl.

I got some clothes and a towel and got in my comfort room.

I opened the shower and tested its temperature. Warm. Perfect for me.

While soaking myself in the warm water, I remembered the girl from yesterday. It really makes me wonder why her gift was said to be opened today and in not any other day. It could be normal but.. I don't know. Seems unusual for me. Oh well, I reckon I am the one whose weird. After all, i'm not denying that I am.

I turned the shower off and started scrubbing myself with a soap. Shoulder to fingers, neck to thighs and knees to toes. I closed my eyes and again felt the warm water. It's just so.. refreshing.

"Lillianne! Lillianne! Come, fast!" I shook my head over hearing Ap's voice.

"Okay, okay. I'm coming!" I replied. I did my final rinse and dried myself with a towel. I wore my clothes as soon as I was dried out and twisted my hair with the towel upwards. Then I finally went out of the bathroom.

"What is it, Ap?" I asked but received no reply. She was out of my sight. She's no longer in my room. "Ap?" I asked over again but to no avail. I heard something outside. It seems that something had fallen and was broken.

"April, you there?" I asked as I reached the kitchen. I saw a broken vase on the floor and the knives were scattered all around. My heart started pounding, loud and fast. "Ap, where are you? Are you okay? God, it's not funny! You're giving me a heart attack, for pete's sake!" Hoping for a response, I again shouted. Concern evident in my voice. Where is that lovely weirdo?

"The pendant—! It's on.. It's on fire!" I heard April scream over and over again. I felt my senses and immediately ran to the dining.

"What the—!" The lights went off and I don't know why but I only see eternal darkness. My heart pumped back and forth. I suddenly felt water rushing down to my cheeks. Am I crying? I tried to compose myself while hugging my own torso. I suddenly felt cold. My body was shaking and I knew something was wrong. It's still morning. The lights may go off but it wouldn't be this dark. Then I felt scared and unsafe. Where are you, April?

"April? Please tell me this is just one of you're surprises?" Scared and unsure, I gave my best not to stammer.

"I'm afraid not." I fastly looked behind me. That's not April's voice. It's not familiar to me. It seemed more mature.. sweet.. and scary.

"I'm Fotia. I am the daughter of Pyre, the king of gods. And I have chosen you... to be my guardian."