Chapter 1:
“Miss Richards…Miss Richards…” Professor Simonson called out to his class. Snickers floated around the classroom with all eyes glued on Miyo Richards. The young woman had a head of flowing black hair that draped a few inches below her shoulders. She had her vibrant green eyes glued to a warn brown book, unaware of the laughing of the students and the calls of Professor Simonson.
“Miss Richards!” Professor Simonson snapped.
Miyo slammed her book and jumped out of her seat as she replied, “Yes sir!”
Laughter filled the classroom and echoed down the hallway.
Four rooms down Chase Devin leaned back in his seat and glanced at Tisha Stevens with a slight grin and laughed, “Sounds like Miyo is having problems with Simonson again.”
Tisha sighed as she propped her head up on her right arm and stated, “ I warned her about reading that book in class but she never listens.”
Chase’s hazel eyes met Tisha’s green eyes as he turned in his seat and asked, “What’s the deal with that book anyway? It seems like it’s always getting her in trouble one way or another, and she reads it all the time.”
Tisha sighed again as she answered simply, “It was her grandma’s, the only reason she reads it is because of that one story about the two brothers.”
“Oh yeah, isn’t that the story about the twins who use magic and one of them is good and the other is evil, or something like that? Chase questioned.
“Yeah, it is.” Tisha answered back.
“Miss Stevens, Mr. Devin, is there something you would like to share with the class?” Mrs. Leon asked sternly pushing a few strands of her chocolate colored hair behind her ear.
“No ma’m.” the two replied in unison turning their attention back to her.
Back in Professor Simonson’s classroom the laughter had died down.
“Please sit down Miss Richards, and put that book away.” Professor Simonson stated coolly as he turned his back on the class and continued writing on the board.
Miyo slumped back into her seat as she carefully packed her book into her backpack. Seven minutes later the doors to the classroom flew open as the final bell rang, signaling the end of the day.
“Remember students, you have a test next week so study this weekend.” Professor Simonson called after the students already running out the door. He was sitting in his chair and knew they would not but tried reminding them anyway as he watched them disappear out the door. “Miss Richards, may I see you for a minute?” he asked before she walked out the door.
She sighed and walked over to his desk, already prepared for her regular lecture. “I caught you reading that book four times this week, is it really more important than your education?” Professor Simonson asked sternly.
“No sir.” Miyo stated quietly.
“Then why do you constantly feel the need to read it every time I turn my back?” he asked rising from his chair and walking around his desk to stand in front of Miyo.
Miyo did not respond as she looked down and shifted her eyes across the floor, she hated to be scolded when the reason for it was her grandmother’s book. She could not describe the reason she had for always wanting to read the book, but she always read one story in particular. Professor Simonson breathed deep as he reached out and took Miyo’s chin between his finger and thumb. Miyo’s breath caught in her throat as she brought her emerald eyes up to look at Professor Simonson, his black hair falling ever so slightly in front of his hazel eyes.
“You know I don’t like to snap at you, and I get so angry when the other students laugh at you.” he said gently.
Professor Simonson began to lean closer to Miyo, his eyes burning holes into hers.
Miyo pulled away from him as she stammered, “I…I have to go Professor, excuse me.” and she ran out the door.
Professor Simonson looked after her and smiled as the door closed gently.
“Why…why did he do that?” Miyo thought as she ran down the stairs to the first floor.
Before she left the building she turned and looked back up the stairs, half expecting Professor Simonson to be running after her. She had heard about teachers making passes at their students but she never imagined that she would have to deal with it herself. Miyo walked out the front door to see Tisha and Chase waiting for her.
“Hey girl, did you get punished by Simonson again?” Tisha asked with a laugh.
Miyo’s face reddened as she stated, “ What, what do you mean by that? He didn’t do…anything.”
Chase laughed as he said, “Whoa Miyo, she didn’t mean it literally. Jeeze, calm down.”
The three started walking down the sidewalk away from the school as Miyo sulked, “So you heard?”
Tisha smiled as she threw her arm around Miyo’s shoulder and replied, “Yeah, the whole school heard it again.”
Miyo sighed again as Tharin Stevens, Tisha’s younger brother, walked around the corner ahead of them and yelled, “Hey! What’s taking you guys so long? I could have been home and back again!”
After sharing a look the three broke into a run to meet up with him and when she was close enough Tisha threw her arms around him and said, “Hey little brother! Sorry, Simonson had to spank Miyo again.”
“Oh yeah, I heard the laughing on the first floor. I figured it was Miyo’s fault again.” Tharin laughed.
Miyo dropped her head and quickened her pace so that she was walking ahead of Tisha, Tharin, and Chase.
“Nice going Tisha, you know she hates it when you tease her like that.” Chase said with a frown.
“I don’t get it, she usually just laughs it off when you talk about Simonson like that.’ Tharin stated.
The three stopped dead, their eyes growing huge as they looked at each other then after Miyo. Miyo heard their footsteps stop and turned around to see them staring at her.
“What? Guys come on, what’s wrong?” Miyo asked nervously.
Miyo walked back to them and Chase questioned coldly, “Miyo, he didn’t…please tell me he didn’t.”
“God Miyo, I swear if he did anything to you I’m going to…” Tisha started before Miyo broke her off, “He didn’t do anything to me. All he said was that I need to stop reading my grandmother’s book in his class. That’s it, nothing else happened.”
Tisha sighed as she hugged Miyo and whispered, “I’m sorry, we shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions like that.”
“Yeah, Miyo wouldn’t take any crap like that from Simonson. She would kill him before he did anything.” Tharin said smiling, and with that everyone was smiling again.
“So what’s the deal with the book Miyo?” Tharin asked after they started walking again, “Why are you reading it so much, is it for a class or something?”
Miyo’s eyes brightened as she replied, “No, I just really like one of the stories in it.”
Tisha smiled and said, “Yeah, enough so that she has read it six times already today”
“Holy, I don’t even read books I’m supposed to for class and you’ve read one story six times in one day?” Chase said in amazement.
A smile ran across Miyo’s face as she stated, “Like I said I like one of the stories in the book.”
A voice called after them from the corner, “There you guys are!”
Jase Mathia ran to catch up with them as Chase said, “Well, well look who decided to join the party.”
Panting Jase replied, “I heard that. Why didn’t you guys wait for me?”
Tisha smiled and said, “We were, but once Miyo came out we kind of forgot about you.”
Jase scratched the back of his head and stated, “Yeah? I went to see Simonson but I didn’t see her on my way up.”
Chase shot him a glance and questioned, “Simonson, why would you want to talk to that weirdo?”
Jase crossed his arms as they stared walking again, “I had to ask the Blade Man something, but he wasn’t in his room so I figured he had a meeting or something.”
“Blade Man?” Tharin asked.
“Yeah” Tisha replied, “Simonson’s first name is Blade so some students call him that to irritate him.”
After that no one said a word until they made it to an empty lot where they normally parted with Miyo and continued on their way home.
“That’s weird.” Chase said suddenly.
“What’s weird Chase?” Miyo asked.
“Mrs. Leon usually tells us when the teachers have meetings so that no one stays around the school for tutoring.” he replied.
Slowly all five of them turned around and stared back at the corner they had just walked from. It was true that Simonson not being in his classroom after class was odd, since all the teachers were supposed to stay in their rooms until all the students left or if they had meetings. I wind blew from the south, shaking the tree branches slightly.
“Um, okay anyone else getting a little freaked out here?” Tisha asked nervously.
“Yea, let’s get out of here.” Tharin said.
The others started walking in the opposite direction before Jase stopped and turned back to Miyo, who was still looking back at the corner.
“Miyo?” he questioned, “If you want I could walk you home today.”
Miyo looked to him and smiled, “No, it’s okay. You guys go on and get home, I’ll be fine.”
She turned and started walking home when Tisha called after her, “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, remember we’re going shopping!”
Miyo raised her right arm and waved without turning around. She had just made it to the end of the lot when a fierce pain ran through her chest. She gasped and fell to her knees, something felt very wrong to her. She looked back to the others but could not see them; instead she saw what looked like black snow or ash falling in front of her face.
Then, all of a sudden she heard a voice calling her name, “Miyo…Miyo…” it called to her.
“What, is someone there?” she called to the voice.
“Miyo…” the voice called back, “Come to me Miyo…”
The voice seemed different now, it was more menacing and it sounded very familiar to her. Before she could say anything else a bright light flashed from out of nowhere, engulfing the black snow and making it invisible. Miyo screamed and shielded her eyes from the intense light with her arms.
Miyo’s world then went black as the first voice called out again, “Miyo…my princess…”
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
“Do you think it was a good idea to let her go home by herself? She seemed pretty freaked out.” Tharin asked Tisha.
“Yeah,” she replied putting her hands in her pockets, “she’ll be fine. I’ll pressure her about Simonson tomorrow.”
Chase’s expression darkened as he questioned, “You think she was lying?”
“I do, I could see it in her eyes and on her face.” she said.
“Whoa, hang on. What’s up with Simonson and Miyo?” Jase asked sternly.
“We think Simonson did something to her today that he shouldn’t have.” Chase replied.
Jase stopped walking as his hands turned into fists and he whispered, “What?”
“Jase, calm down. We don’t know for sure yet and Miyo even said that he didn’t do anything.” Tharin said while the others stopped walking and looked at Jase.
“Didn’t I just say that I think she was lying?” Tisha demanded.
Tharin looked down and shifted his eyes from pebble to pebble as he nodded. Before anyone could say anything more a white substance started falling from the sky.
“What the?” Chase started and put his hands up in attempt to catch what ever was falling before them.
“Snow in the middle of June?” Jase questioned.
Tharin looked up at the sky and stated, “I don’t think this is snow, for one it’s way too warm.”
Just as Chase was opening his mouth they heard a scream coming from the direction Miyo had been headed.
“Miyo?” Tisha called and started running back to the lot.
The others soon followed but a very bright light stopped all. The four stared ahead without shielding their eyes as the whole world around them turned white.
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
“Princess…Princess…”
Miyo kept her eyes closed as the voice continued to call out “princess”. She did not want to know what had happened, and for that matter she did not want to see it either. Professor Simonson must have done something to her to make her black out and hallucinate. She never experienced blacking out before and she did not like the feeling at all. Miyo did not know who or what was talking be she wished it would stop.
In that very instant the voice stopped, making Miyo’s heart skip a beat. Now it was completely silent, the only thing that could be heard was her rapid breathing and the steady thumping of her heart. Even though she was surrounded by darkness and silence Miyo did not dare open her eyes and she did not call out to whom ever or what ever it was who called out to her before.
Without warning the voice gave a final plea to Miyo, “Miyo, my princess…”
“What?” Miyo thought to herself, “Then it was saying that I was the princess, but why?”
Suddenly the voice answered her thoughts, “Because Miyo, you will free me from my suffering.”
Miyo’s cheeks grew hot as the voice ran through her mind. She did not know why the voice made her feel safe, but as long as she did not have to hear the other voice, the one that sent chills through her spine, she was okay with this one for the time being. Miyo desperately wanted to open her eyes now but she could not bring herself to open them. If Professor Simonson had done something to her then she would rather sleep through it, however she could not just lay in the lot for the rest of the afternoon and into the night. Miyo knew her and Tisha would laugh about this tomorrow as she slowly and cautiously opened her eyes.
