Chapter 1: The Red Ruby
Today was the day. Today was my birthday, and my three year anniversary. We have been planning this day for a few weeks.
[I hope I'm not late.]
I just turned onto Willow Road. It was the newest street in the neighborhood, bordering the forest. The forest, for the most part, was mostly unexplored and truly the definition of the wilderness.
There were sightings of bears and wolves from time to time, but they tend to stay away from humans. They're usually spotted near the edge of the forest but never out of it.
I looked down at my watch, 10:55. [I should be fine. I'm not too far now. I hope James is ready. I have to meet Isabela later and I don't want to be late. I hope he dressed appropriately. I don't want to hear him complain all day.]
The weather was nice for the time of year. There was a nice breeze as the sun partly shone through the clouds. I was wearing a white hoodie and black sweat pants.
I pulled out my phone and checked the weather app.
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10:58 95%
10:58
Evergreen, Alaska
Partly Sunny
54°
Sat, October 7
Updated 10/5/2018
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[It's better than last Fall. Last year it was getting ready to snow around this time.]
I was walking to my boyfriend's house. It was one of the last houses one the street, pretty much touching the forest on two sides. It was a pretty average suburb two story house with a garage and fenced off yard.
His house came into view near the end of the street. The drive way was empty. [His parent's car isn't there. Maybe in the garage?]
I kept walking and saw the garage open[...and empty. Weird, they're usually here on Saturdays. Maybe they went last minute shopping.]
I got on the walkway approached the front door and knocked. I awkwardly looked around waiting to be let it. I've been told that I can just waltz in without knocking, that I was practically part of the family. [It's rude though.] I've only done it a few times when I was in a big rush or they invited me over, but I feel like a trespasser everytime I do it.
I hastily looked down at my watch, 11:05. [That's weird, he said he'd be here.] I knocked again and waited. [Did he leave with his parents? No, he would've texted me.]
I softly tested the door knob, it's unlocked. [Now that I think about it, their garage is also open. I doubt they'd forget to lock their house. James is probably still here. He forgot to close the garage when his parents left.]
11:08
I checked my phone for any notifications. [Nothing. It's not like much people text me. I sighed and put it away.] *Ding* "Really, after I put it away," I mumbled and opened my phone.
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11:10 94%
Facebook:
You have a memory from 6 years ago. Share it with your friends!
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Irritated, I let out a wry smile, [of course it's Facebook.] I stashed away my phone and looked back up. [Keep waiting? Worse case is that no ones home and they actually forgot to lock the doors. I'll just go in, I have diplomatic immunity after all. I'll lock the doors if no one is actually home and go out the garage.]
I knock again before opening the door,
"Hey James I'm her-," I stopped, paralyzed."
"Wha- WHAT THE HELL!" I yelled, voice broken. My eyes must be betraying me. I stood in front of the door, shocked. Shock turned into disbelief; disbelief turned into anger. [No, he betrayed me.] Boiling water trailed my veins as I witness my lover with a woman for every year we were together. Three half-naked women... Three wasted years.
"WHY JAMES?! WHY?!" I shouted, "DIDN'T I MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU?"
"Nora, it's not what it looks like, they're just friends," he spoke hastily as he pushed the girls off him and stumbled off the couch, pulling his pants up, "They aren't important." James came towards me with his arms in a welcoming gesture.
My temper flared. I couldn't fathom the depth of his nerves. I was breaking apart. His lies carved deeper than a knife.
"REALLY, JUST FRIENDS?!" I screamed at him. I pushed him and he stumbled backwards over some bras. "What type of shit is that? Does that make me the fucking aquaintance or some shit? I walk in here and it's raining women. THEY'RE NOT EVEN PRETTY. I- I loved you James..." Tears sprinkled down, "but this is it. I am done with the games, I am done with- with all the bullshit! You just can't keep it in your pants. You're such a fucking liar."
I stormed out of the house, slamming the door shut. Tears flooded down my face.
The door opened behind me, "Nora, please wait! I'm sorry," James stumbled out of his house.
I turned around and saw his blurry figure, "Stay the fuck away." I pushed him with all my force. He fell backwards and hit his head on the door frame.
"Fuck!" He rubbed his head, "Nora just listen."
I neglected him, running as fast as I could into the nearby woods.
"NORA!" His voice was getting farther away.
I didn't stop, I didn't glance back. I kept running, shoving past branches and up the side of a hill. James was far in the distance, no longer audible nor in sight. The forest kept getting denser, but I didn't falter. I didn't care where I was going, as long as it was as far as possible. Branches started scratching. The foliage got thicker. The forest was resisting. The trees were closely packed, with roots interweaving. I was sprinting now, hands protecting my face. Everything was blurry. The world was a green mesh.
I tripped face-first into the dirt. I laid paralysized as tears after tears escaped. It didn't feel like it was going to stop. [This can't be happening.] I found it difficult to breathe, [am I losing myself as I have lost him?] My breaths became erratic and harsh as I breathed through a mesh of woven lies. [Maybe he was never mine.] The world sunk me into the depths of the sea of despair as I suffocated. The weight of a broken heart burdened my chest. [What did I do to deserve this? Why is it always me? Why can't anything good ever fucking happen to me?] The world ignored me. The world doesn't care, I was insignificant before it's vastness. [Why?]
My tears formed a shallow puddle in the dirt. [Get a hold of yourself.] I rolled over and took a deep breath, sniffling. I looked up at the sky, "Why...why me? Do I not deserve better?" I whispered. The sky was dim and cloaked in grey clouds. It passed judgement in silence as a slight breeze passed.
My eyes ran until they dried. I wanted to keep crying, but nothing came out. I push myself off the dirt and sat up against a tree. My face was coated in dirt adhered to the drying tears. [Breath Nora, breath.] I rubbed my face off with the sleeves of my white hoodie. My face still felt sticky, but the world was clear.
I calmed myself down doing a series of breathing exercises. [I know I did nothing wrong, but why does it hurt? Why me? I loved him. Cared for him. Was it all a lie? Was I not good enough?] Somewhere deep inside I knew I was blaming myself without cause. [Why? It was all a facade.]
Eventually cold logic dominated whatever feelings I once had. My heart closed it's walls. [You know what it's not me, it's him. Bitch, I am fucking flawless. That's why all he had was ugly bitches.] I rub my eyes, getting the last tears to be shed.
My self-hype motivated me. I got myself up, took a deep breath, and took a moment to take in the unusual scenery I led myself to. The ground was sprawled with thick roots. [I probably tripped over one.] The ground had a depression where my face implanted. [Glad no one was around to see that.]
Glancing around, I was completely in unfamiliar territory. [I've gone into the forest a few times in small trails, but nothing like this.] The trees grew great and loomed over the forest floor, obstructing much of the sunlight. Never knew the forest was so dense. I could barely spread my arms without touching a tree. I was completely loss. [It's not like I can retrace my steps, I was blinded by tears.]
[Oh wait, what's this?] A several meters ahead the forest thinned up. [Hopefully I'm actually not that deep in the forest.] I dusted myself off and made my way through the trees. [How the hell did I run through this?] I was stumbling on the roots. My tennis shoes were very flexible, which threw me off balance at every curve and nudge. Several minutes passed before I saw a clearing pass the thinning trees. [Almost there.] I slightly quickened my pace, staying cautious of unexpected roots.
When I got near the edge a small clearing started opening up. It was about hundred meters wide, completely enclosed by the forest, [Ooo it's like those movies.] I looked at the time, 1130. My eyebrows raised in surprise, [did I really cry for that long? Oh, I also got lost in the forest. Well I don't have to meet Isabel until three. No harm in exploring.] Curiously, I walked towards the edge of the treeline, where the whole clearing came into view.
In the center of the clearing, laid an old cobblestone structure in ruins. It stood out majestically in the dim light that bathed the small clearing. Intrigued, I headed towards it. It looked like a cube more than anything else, it looked bigger from the treeline. I toured around it. Lush green vines and vegetation seeped through the cracks in the stone. On the far side, I found dead vines and moss obstructing the entrance. I held them to the side and peeked inside. Red mist slowly escaped from the opening. My heart briefly stopped, [that's not ominous at all.] I rubbed my head, "Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained." [This ain't time to be a bitch.] I feigned ignorance and entered.
The inside of the ruins was no bigger than a humble bedroom. The inside was home to a red mist making the air humid and damp. The walls were coated in moss, vines draped down from the ceiling, and grass took roots in portions of the floor.
There was a hole in the ceiling, where a modest amount of light illuminated a small stone pedestal at the core of the room. Sun rays reflected off a blood-red ruby that rested on a pedestal, furnishing the chamber with a red tint. The pedestal rose about three feet tall and resembled a rectangular slab decorated with runes and ancient calligraphy. [Weird.] Despite the state of the ruins, the pedestal and ruby seemed in perfect condition.
I started walking towards it, entranced by the enchanted red glow. Then everything went silent. There weren't any birds chirping and the trees ceased swaying. The rustle of leaves left a void in the atmosphere, nature was voiceless. The air became icy, sending goosebumps up my back. The hairs on my arms rose away, as if repelling away from the pedestal. I felt a slight icy breeze rush up my sleeves, and then everything went still. I stood frozen, I wouldn't dare move, but I felt something urging me towards the pedestal. A pulse. I was drawn in.
The ruby started radiating it's red shine, emitting heat…
Four feet... Another pulse.
Three feet…It was rhythmic.
Two feet. It was almost like a heartbeat.
The light began to intensify, blinding me. The room, now blood red, twirled.
One foot... I touched the ruby.
Darkness.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ForgottenChronicle
ForgottenChronicle Text in brackets [ ] indicate internal thoughts.
Text in Japanese quotations 「 」indicate telepathic communication.
Text in quotation " " indicate standard dialogue.
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