Crustel

Chapter 3

 In a few minutes, I was able to witness a white mansion vividly. I thought my mom would be mad at me! I stepped into my house. I was elated and relieved to know that I am back home. To my surprise, there was a box wrapped with blue wrappers and tied with a yellow ribbon. I was wondering and wandering around it. To clear my doubts I lunged out, "Mom! Mom! Where are you?" There was no reply. I shouted louder. It was a shock for me to see an old lady covering herself with a blanket coming towards me. I went near the lady. She was familiar to me. Her skin was not as soft as my mom's. I couldn't see her face vividly.

 She stared at me. I questioned her, "Mom is it you?" She laughed loudly and creepily. Oh no! That was not how mom laughs. "Who are you?" She walked towards the door. I couldn't see her face but her hands were like charcoal. She turned and looked at me. Her red eyes signified something evil to me. I headed nearer. She started laughing creepily again. "Coming back from Crustel? How was your day there, young lady?" I was shell shocked. I was speechless. My hands were shaking. I was wondering who might it be.

 All I knew was that lady was not mom. I asked her where my mom was with full of anger. She revealed herself. Based on the descriptions of Erica, I suspected her and it was true. I didn't expect Bargan to come home. I thought she was dead. "Bargan?" I whispered her name but she had strong hearing power. "Yes, indeed. The one and only Bargan! You knew me. This made my work easier. Listen carefully. If you want to see your mom alive do what I say!" I had no choice. I nodded but she was not looking at me.

 "What do you want? Why are you in my house?" I continued our conversation with questions. She didn't answer my questions. (How arrogant). "No questions. Now listen to a riddle. Follow what I say, or your mom will leave this world. *Far away in a new world you saw, the heir of the throne is going to be a black hair, the royals are going to be the servants and the one believed as servants are going to be the royals. Only when the heir of the throne gets the gem. If anyone else gets the gem say goodbye to that world where it means that it is the END OF THAT WORLD* Now, Cora thinks wisely," She told me a riddle and disappeared. I was puzzled.

 "If Erica is the heir of the throne, she should get the gem but if someone else gets the gem that means Crustel is going to vanish. Oh no," I was mumbling around my house. I had no idea what should I do. I wanted to relax and think wisely. ( You know right! Basically, wise ideas approach when you are taking bath) I headed to my room after having a bath. My room was a mess. After swimming, walking and escaping from Tranquets, I just sat on the edge of my bed. In few seconds, my eyes were heavy. I closed my eyes and in that split second, I had an unusual dream. It was about the riddle. I could see Erica sobbing aside and her mother in the dungeon. Someone else with black hair, crowned and a pair of dark brown eyes was holding the Trident. Everyone was shouting in joy but I couldn't hear the name clearly, "All hail Queen..." My adrenaline rushed faster. I woke up immediately.

 I was confused now. If Erica wasn't the heir of the throne who was that. Erica has blonde hair and a pair of blue eyes. So, my mission was to stop Erica from getting the gem. I ran downstairs. My eyes met the blue box. I hoped there was any clue about Crustel. I unwrapped the box. I got a letter. It was written in a language where I couldn't understand. It stated: Eht eno ohw si gnidaer si eht rieh fo enorht. Letsurc si ni regnad.

 I knew the right person who could help me and it was Milo. Milo is my classmate, a typical high school nerd where he comes to my house every Saturday. He loves adventurous clues, missions and riddles. It was Saturday. I knew he might come. I sat on the sofa and was waiting eagerly for his arrival in the living room. Suddenly, I heard the doorbell rung. I thought it must be him. I bolted and answered the door. It was him. "Hi, Milo. How are you?" I greeted him in. When he entered my house, he was dismayed. He noticed the mess in my house and the absence of mom. "Where is your mom, Cora?" I didn't have much time to answer him. "Look. Milo, I need your help. You need to tell me what is stated in this note. Now! Please..!" He was staring at me creepily but he did offer me his help. We spent almost three hours wondering what it might be. At some point, I made terrible coffee until Milo cried loudly and begged me to stop making coffee. (Puppy shame for me).

 I tried to connect the riddle with this clue. I looked closer. "Hey Milo, are you able to figure it out?" Milo didn't say anything. He looked at his grandpa's watch and realized that he should have been home. He told me that he will think about this riddle. He left my house as fast as a cheetah. I have never seen him running to his home at this speed. I knew Bargan was the one who left this note. I kept thinking about our conversation. I went to make coffee for myself. As I poured the boiling water into a white mug I witnessed moving images. There was a shadow on the mug. Suddenly, the shadow became clearer and to my dismay, I was able to see my mom. She was tied to a wooden chair. She fainted but she was not alone. There was another person with her. That person was holding an axe. That person headed towards my mom and all of sudden the images faded.

 "I have to save mom but what am I going to do?" I was questioning myself. After a few minutes, I heard the ringtone of my mother's handphone. I went to answer the call. It was Milo. "Hey Milo, did you figure it out?" but all I heard was laughter and that was Bargan. "Hey, Cora you don't have much time. Better think wiser. That riddle is not as though as the decision you are going to take after you figure it out. Remember, if the heir of the throne loses in this battle, Crustle is going to vanish" she hung up while laughing with her evil tone just like all villains. I didn't know what to do.

 All I know is to save mom and Crustel. I took the note and reread it carefully. I took a piece of paper and a pen. I guessed maybe the words were all spelt backwards. I really hoped to find it out. I wrote that statement spelt backwards on a piece of paper and it stated: THE ONE WHO IS READING IS THE HEIR OF THRONE. CRUSTEL IS IN DANGER. I was stunned. I couldn't accept the fact that I am the heir of the throne but I knew I was not the royals. It was Erica. Not me. Maybe this note was meant for Erica. I needed to talk to her.