Mystery

Caroline

I stepped of out my L.A. house and sniffed the fresh L.A. air. My mom doesn’t like the way the L.A. smelled. Smell-A she called it, but I love it. I started the long trek down the hill to where the bus picks me up to go to school. I walked and looked around myself at the small bushes and flowers adorning the hillsides. It’s so beautiful. I sighed and looked back at my big adobe plaster house with its balcony and large wrought iron fence that patrolled the perimeter of our property. I was almost halfway down the hill when my best friend Stephaney called out to me.

“Hey! Wait up!”  I stopped and waited. She rushed down a small hill. Her blonde hair danced around her.

“Hey,” I answered, carefully eyeing her. She had been through so much trauma.  A mysterious woman had just killed her sister, and we were all still reeling from the tragedy. All that my dad and the rest of the police had found for evidence was a long strand of dark brown hair and a note saying, “Katarina and Rebecca were my babies. I loved them more than anything. Katarina’s father came back, so Rebecca needed to leave because he didn’t know about her. So I killed her.  But I love her and her half sister. Katarina can live so she can carry on our family’s curse. But beware if this gets out I will kill everyone on this hill. Even Katarina.” The only problem was no one knew who Katarina was. My dad had been stressing over this case for days! He was getting no sleep. So one night I snuck into his office. He was asleep in his big brown leather chair. He looked many years older; he had bags underneath his eyes and he looked very un-rested. That’s when I saw the note. I didn’t want to read it but I did anyway. I really wanted to know, for Stephaney’s sake. So I took a picture of it with my phone and ran back up to my room to read it. I wanted to erase the picture but I just could not bring myself to do that. 

Stephaney had been very moody and unpredictable lately. Just yesterday she had violent fit and was sent to the office for disrupting the class and yelling at the teacher.   I hope that won’t happen again.  No, I won’t let it happen again. At that point we reached the bus stop and I noticed a woman who looked exactly like me, with straight brown hair, round face and hazel eyes.  I started in surprise.

“Steph! Do you see…” my voice trailed off as the woman put a finger to her lips, telling me to be quiet. She beckoned to me, so I walked forward. When I reached her she grabbed my hand and pressed a piece of folded paper into my hand “What is this?” I was about to say, but as my lips were about to form the words, she turned around and walked off. I just stood there looking after her until Stephaney grabbed my arm and dragged me onto the bus. We sat down in the back with all of our girlfriends and soon I forgot about the woman and the paper.

After school I went home and started my homework. I opened my folder and the note fell into my lap.  I opened it up and started reading it. “At midnight on the 6^th day of the year 2011, the one remaining from the Adam family will disappear and marry a man in the world Sari. Her mother will come and take her to the woods to meet the man.  When she has a baby, the baby will be taken away and given to a family to live a life in the real world. This is a curse planted on the family because of the great- great- great- great –great grandmother who refused to marry the man from Sari  so he planted a curse on the family that they will have to marry every one of his descendants. If there are two, one must die, and if there is a half sibling and the other planet finds out, they will kill anyone in the house of that child.”  “Oh wow. Oh wow. Ok, oh my god!” I thought “that sounds like the note the killer left. Could they be connected?  If so how? How can I be the one? What if they got it wrong? Well ,I am adopted… but then how could Steph’s sister be *my* half sister? Should I even believe this?”

I sighed and got off my bed and walked downstairs. The woman was standing in our living room. I reeled back and shrieked in surprise.

“Hello, my dear daughter,” she said in a whispery voice. “So are there any questions you want answered before you come with me?” 

“I am not going with you,” I answered. It would have sounded more convincing if my voice hadn’t quivered.

“Oh yes you are. Or I will kill everyone. And still take you against your will.” 

Damon

“Hey! Damon! Come over after practice? I have some guys coming over and we’re going to have a party” my friend called out to me as I walked out to the field.

“Ummm, I can’t tonight. Thanks though.”

“Ahhh to bad! But why not?”  

“I have to get back to Caroline. You know our parents are out and they want me to watch her.” Some guys whistled when I said Caroline’s name. I rolled my eyes. She was the most popular junior in this high school.  I had been fighting off bad senior boys since she got into high school. It is a little tiring, but you know, I loved her.

I finished with football practice and went home. I stepped into my house. “Caroline! I’m home!”  I heard no response “Hey! Where are you!?” Still no response, “CAROLINE!”  All of a sudden, I got this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach that there was something wrong since our neighbor’s daughter had been murdered. I raced up our stairs and banged open her bedroom door, and stepped inside. When I first looked around, I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but then I saw a little piece of paper crumpled up on her desk. It was probably just her homework, I thought, but still it could be something. So I strode over to her desk and grabbed the paper. As I began to open it, I became scared. I was scared of what the paper might be, scared of what could have happened.  I took a deep breath and started reading, “don’t come after me.  I chose to go. I will be back when the curse has been broken. I can’t put everything into writing right now but know I love you. Tell Sarah and Tom I love them.  Tell them I am at a sleepover for the whole weekend. I will be back! Just know I am ok.” Oh my god! I knew something was wrong. And that’s why nothing was out of place, she went willingly. But what curse? What in the world is she talking about?

Caroline

“So do you know anything about the murder of Rebecca Tomas?” I asked the woman as she drove towards a part of town that no one lived in. I watched her closely to see her reaction. She gripped the wheel tighter and started shaking.

“I do not want to talk about Rebecca. Not now, and not ever.” She swerved. OK then weird, I think. She knows something but is not telling me. “Ok… so then who’s Katarina?” This time she turned and looked surprised. “Why you are! What else are you called?”

“Um, well my name is Caroline,” I answer

“No! I named you Katarina. Unless Karl changed your name to keep you safe… I guess he would do that.” She seemed to be talking more to herself than me.

“Who’s Karl?”  I asked confused.

            “You know him but don’t remember him. You will soon, though.” And she would not say anymore the whole car ride, no matter what I asked her.

            When we reached the trees, she stopped the car and got out and said,

“Stay here, I am getting Karl.” I watched her slowly walk away. I leaned back into the unconformable seats, wondering if Damon had gotten my note back at home.  I closed my eyes for a little cat nap

            I woke with a violent start. Gasping for breath I looked around, there was a man at my window with my mother standing behind him wringing her hands nervously. I open the door and step out.

“Hi,” I said.

“Hello child. I am Karl,” I smashed my lips together; I hate being called a child. I mean, I am sixteen years old! He had a deep booming voice that made you listen. “I am also the father of the man you are going to marry. His name is Jace.” I blink confused. “Has Kat not told you anything?” I shake my head no. “Are you MUTE!!??” he yelled.

            “No sir.”

“Good, because the new Prince of Sari will not marry a mute. You understand?”

            “Yes sir,” I answered.

“Good OK so, what happened was…” He went on to tell me that my five times great- grandmother met a man by the name of John. Little did she know who she was dealing with. He was the Prince of the world Sari. She thought she could play games with his love and always keep him on his toes. When he asked her to marry him, she said no. He became infuriated and placed a curse on the family that every descendant from then on would be a female and have to marry the next prince of his land.

“Wait wait! Wouldn’t that be like marrying a relative of yourself?” I asked.

“No because the prince is elected not born into it.” Oh ok I got it now. “But,” he went on, “Kat had a child with me after you were born. And when your father came to tell her that she needed to go get you, she had to kill your half sister. Who was adopted and living with your best friend and her family.” Whoa, this is a lot to take in. “She left a note explaining why. And she found you.” “

“Ok, well how do you break the curse?” I asked.

            “Well you must kill the prince. It will collapse the other world, my world,” he answered.  Oh My God! I will have to kill someone to live my normal life? I must live my normal life.  “The prince is right here with us,” Karl said. “Would you like to meet him?” Without waiting for an answer he called, “Jace!!!! Where are you! Your bride wants to meet you!”  I looked at my mother. She nodded. I gulped

            “Before I meet him, may I talk to my mother? Alone?” Karl nodded .

“If you insist.” I nodded and walked over to my mother and grabbed her hand and walked away from Karl.  “I can’t do this! I am 16! I can’t get married!” I exclaimed.

“Yes I know. I hope Karl will forgive me. I do love him after all. I just need this bond that ties me to my husband to be broken. So please kill him before they tie you to him.” She pressed a dagger into my hand. “Katarina, I believe in you and I love you. Now go do what I could not do! Be braver than me for your child and my grandchildren.”

“Wait!” I murmured “How to they tie him to you?”

“It’s called the Blood Ceremony. They cut your finger and his finger and then press them together. It’s gross and painful. Now you must go!” She pulled me into a hug “I hope you will forgive me for leaving you.” I nodded into the crook of her neck, tears burning my eyes.

“I forgive you.” We walked back over to Karl. “Ok now, Jace come out!” I look towards the trees where a tall man walked out. He was 20 by the looks of him. I made a face. I walked toward him, “Hey! I am glad to be marrying you.” He stared at me blankly. Well fine then, be rude. I hugged him and while hugged him, I drove the dagger home. He stifled a scream. I heard Karl gasp. Warm blood seeped through my fingers ,staining them red. I collapsed under his dead weight. I was on my knees crying because of all the pain I caused this night. Karl ran over, pain in his eyes as he cried out in anguish.

            “No! This can’t be! My only son! DEAD! Gone!” I got up and went to my mom’s car with my mom and drove back to my house. I could not believe it was over just like that. Just killing one man. It had turned me into a killer. I got back to my house. I stepped into my house and my brother came running up. He scooped me up in a big bear hug.

“I was so so so so worried! Are you ok?” he exclaimed when he saw my hands.

 “I don’t want to talk about it OK? I just need a shower and bed.” I turned around and my mother was gone. In her place was a silver bracelet with the name Katarina engraved on it. I smiled and picked it up.

   

Later that week, during breakfast, I was reading the paper. I saw an article about a body found in the woods. It was a man and he had been stabbed. They had the killer; it was a woman by the name of Kat. She had turned herself in just last night. My spoon dropped with a clatter. I sucked in my breath, taken off guard.                                     “What’s up? You seem shell shocked,” my brother questioned.

“Oh um its nothing. I’m just glad that woman was caught,” I lied.

“Oh yeah! Me too! I so glad I don’t have to worry every time you are home alone.”

I somehow managed to pull off a weak smile, and then rushed up the stairs claiming that I needed to get something for school. I reached my room and tears were already pouring out of my eyes. I grabbed the bracelet off my dresser and snapped it on. 

The North, the South, and the Rosemary

Taylor Adams

(The North, the South, and the Rosemary)

I was born and raised on a beautiful Summerville rice plantation next to the Ashley River with Spanish moss hanging from towering oak trees and herons lining the river. You can just look out and an outstanding and changing view will be laid out before your eyes.  It winter the Camellias are in bloom, the spring the Azaleas. There is always an array of color.  We don’t farm rice anymore as when my 2 times great grandmother was living on it.

My great great grandmother Taylor was originally from the North. When she was 16 years old she moved here because her father had to come this way for his work on the railroads. Her mother had died of heart failure when she was 13 and her father was so overcome by grief that he shut himself out of Taylor’s life and she took care of herself by herself and dealt with anything life threw at her.  Before her mother died she said, “Taylor, please take care of my rosemary bush forever in memory of me. I love you.”  And with those last words she died.

When Taylor was 18 she met a rich southern man by the name of Edmund, they fell in love and when she was 19 she married him and moved to his plantation instead of going home with her father. She picked the pot up that contained her mama’s rosemary bush and planted it in the field. The land was so different from where she grew up, and the rosemary reminded her of home. They had slaves but she hated having them there to help her. She was a very independent woman. She took care of her rosemary bush and herself without much help. Her husband always offered to have slaves help her but over and over again she would say no. she felt like she would be dishonest to her mama if she just sat at home not caring for the rosemary and having other people doing that for her She also didn’t like the thought of unfair labor, and she felt like it would be dishonest to her mama’s do it yourself memory and it was curl to the people.

A year later she had twins, a boy and a girl. She named them Anne and Stephen. she loved her children very much. When the war came in the year of 1861 Taylor’s husband went to war on the confederate side. Taylor was very worried about her husband but she relied on her faith and taking care of herself (she relieved all the slaves. They still stayed at her house but they didn’t work). The next year was the hardest for her, her son died of an incurable disease. Then later in the year a solider came to her to tell her, her husband was killed. The next 3 years were hard because she had to raise a baby all on her own. Finally the war ended the North won. It had caused so much pain for everyone. Taylor’s child grew up and that’s what started my family living there. The rosemary bush died but rosemary still is very important to my family. We have rosemary with almost every meal. My grandmamma always tells me to believe in myself and be like the Taylor I was named after. So I always try and be brave like she did.       

Memoir

Memoir

I turn the corner off my 2^nd jump. It’s a tight turn. I leg up my horse up, and I feel his muscles tense up, then relax. His strides going 1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3. Its big I think it’s a 2’ 9” oxer. Now I’m at stride one, once again I feel his muscles tense up but this time they don’t relax they spring. I go into two point, my hands move up his neck. I hear the wind sing in my ears. There’s this moment where I feel like I’m flying and all too soon its over we land. I look down I’m on the right lead, I smile.                       

“Congrats Amelia!” I hear. I look up surprised “you just jumped 3 feet” I look at Cammie. She’s smiling. I hear people clapping. I reach down and hug the most amazing horse ever, DJ.           

run and never come back

this is a little rough i just made it up off the spot

I feel the ground shake underneath me. This has never happened before. I see men in a dark blood red flood out on to the streets and push children and woman into walls roughly. I hear mothers screaming for there children. I push my self farther agenist the bricks remembering what the strange man said "run just run. Never come back. i will tell you why when you are safe"