The Talisman

Chapter Two

I wake up the next morning to my alarm, at the ungodly time of nine AM. Okay, it may not be that early, but I could sleep through lunch if i was allowed to. But alas, today is my aunt Lily’s wedding. The whole family is going, because she has been through so many guys in the past 15 years I’ve lost track of them, and she’s finally getting married at the age of 38. I’m not that excited to go, actually. I love my aunt and all, but weddings are so long. So I drag myself to the kitchen, and somehow manage to shower, apply makeup, and curl my hair before eleven. Just before my parents and I leave the house, I catch a glimpse of the necklace. After standing in my room and debating about it in my head, I grab the necklace and put it on. It matches pretty well, actually.  

The day seems to drag on forever, and each slow dance makes me feel more and more loney. I find my rather tipsy mother, and plead her to let me drive home. She says yes, and I am so thankful that I drove in a separate car. After arriving home and laying in my silent home, I decide to text Charlie. He replies in minutes, saying. “I’ll be over in ten.”

Charlie walks into my house exactly ten minutes later. After some time alone, you could call it, we sit on the couch. Its dead silent, and its just us. I’m laying on his chest, and I listen to his heartbeat for some time before breaking the silence.

“Charlie, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course, Soph, go ahead.

“What exactly are we? I mean, we do this, but you don’t want to tell anybody. I don’t want to be with you if you’re going to make me keep it a secret. I don’t want to be a secret, actually.” I say to him. I could feel my anxiety increase.

“Sophie, no. I don’t want to keep you a secret. I just, I don’t know. I didn’t think that you wanted this to be serious.”

“So what you’re saying is, you only like me for the sex? Are you kidding me?” I say, standing up.

“Well, I didn’t mean to. I just thought that was what you wanted too. Sorry, I guess. Should I leave? Because I feel like you really don’t want me here.” He says, standing up as well.

Yeah, please leave. Don’t bother talking to me either.” I say, walking to the door. Charlie grabs his jacket and drives off. I slam the door behind me, and cried. I cried so hard I puked. After realizing that my parents were probably too drunk to drive home, I call Olivia and tell her that she needs to come over, because its an emergency. She shows up thirty minutes later with loads McDonalds fries and two large hot chocolates. I tell her what Charlie had said, and we both agreed that he was an asshole.

We ended up falling asleep around three AM, cuddling each other on the couch. She had to leave at ten the next morning, because of work. After Olivia leaves, I go to my room and take off the necklace.

“I thought you were supposed to stop my bad luck!” I scream, throwing it at my wall. I really did like Charlie. I lay in bed and cry more, listening to sad music. Around one in the afternoon, I get a text from an unknown number saying, “Get dressed and go to the mall. Meet me in the food court. -Chris”

How the hell does this creep have my number? I think to myself. I decide to ignore it, and skip the mall. I am in no mood for people right now. Two minutes later, he says, “By the way, if you don’t come, I will go to your house.”

I groan and get out of bed, because based off of what this guy already knows, I don’t doubt that he will come to my house, and I definitely don’t want that.

I drive to the mall, and walk to the food court. At first I don’t see him, but then I recognize his tall figure, dressed in all black. I start to walk towards him, but halfway there, I slip on a giant puddle, landing flat on my back. I see Chris rushing over, just as I am standing up. My pants are wet, and it looks like I just peed myself.

“You’re not wearing the necklace, are you?” Chris asks, pulling my away from the scene.

“Uh, no. It doesn’t work.” I reply

“Really? Is that why you just fell?”

“Alright, what is the big deal with this dumb necklace, and how do you know so much about me.” I say, standing in the middle of the mall.

“Come on, we have to go.” Chris says, trying to pull me along.

“No, I am not leaving until I get some answers from you.”
“Look, I’ll answer your questions. Just please, come with me.” He says, breaking my stance.

He takes me to a dark, boarded up building. The siding was crumbling off, and everything around the building was dead. Chris pushes me through the tall, black door, and flips on a lightswitch behind us.

“Answers, now.” I demand.

“Alright, come over here.” He says, walking over to a living room looking area. It had two couches, a few chairs, and a old TV. “Okay, first off, the necklace, its called a talisman”
“Whats a talisman?” I ask, feeling stupid.

“A talisman is an object that brings good luck, hence, why I gave it to you. Well, theres more than that. You’re special, Sophie. There are people, bad people, that want you.”

“Want me? Are you crazy?” I start to yell.

“No, sorry to say, I am not. When you have bad luck, and do stupid thing\gs in public, like at school or the mall, it attracts attention to you. And I am not the only one who has been watching you lately. Luckily, I got to you first. The talisman will stop you from having bad luck, and eventually they will stop watching you.” He says, almost too calmly.

“Who exactly is watching me?”
“Hard to say. You’re adopted, correct?”
“Yeah, but why would that matter?” I say.

“Well you see, your birth parents were involved in a lot of bad stuff. Thats why they gave you up for adoption, so you wouldn’t be in danger. But lately, your bad luck has drawn too much attention. Both of your birth parents had horrendously bad luck, and obviously that was passed down to you. The bad luck like a sign. These people that are watching you, they basically want you as a bargaining piece. Your birth parents would get you, but these other guys would get secrets, weapons, and many things that could be terrible, in the wrong hands. So you need to wear that talisman, Sophie. Do you understand?”

“Alright, I’ll wear it. But one more question, why are you watching me?”
“Like I said, I’m here to protect you.”