'Alrighty, so what do you want to do?' I ask Amber as I sit down on the chair in my bedroom. She shrugs and chuckles. Why did I even bother asking? This was exactly the reply I expected. I look out the window. It's a lovely summer day. Amber sees it too.
'We can go to town? Get some ice cream!' she offers.
'Yeah, let's do that! There is also this new shop we need to check out. It's where the florist used to be. They sell all kind of Celtic stuff now. Jewelry and what not.'
'Sounds cool. Let's go!'
The store is completely abandoned when Amber and I walk in. The dark, heavy curtains allow only a few rays of sunlight to enter the shop. The moldy air makes me a little lightheaded. I immediately walk to the enormous bookcase in the back of the store. The books all have yellowed pages and some are falling apart. I let my fingers run along the backs as I read the strange titles. "Whichcraft and Satanism", "Guide to Inferno", "Runes of the North". Amber calls me over from the other side of the store. She is standing in what seems to be the jewelry section.
'What's up?'
She points at two necklaces which appear to belong together. They both consist of a black cord with a hanger shaped like half a circle. Although, one hanger is purple and the other yellow they seem of fit perfectly together as though they came from the same stone. They are as extraordinary as they are beautiful.
Out of nowhere a voice comes from behind us: 'Nice necklaces don't you think?'
Amber and I almost jump because a second ago we were the only ones in the shop. There is a neatly groomed, middle-aged man standing behind us in a striped suit. On his golden nametag it says: Mr. Barter.
'Yes, they're gorgeous.' Amber replies.
Without saying another word Mr. Barter opens the case and the necklace with the yellow hanger on Amber and the one with the purple hanger on me. He grabs a mirror from behind a curtain and holds it in front of us so we can see for ourselves. The necklaces sure look good on us.
'Beautiful. Like they were made for you.' Mr. Barter says without really showing any kind of emotion. I know better than to fall for selling tricks such as sweet talk. They are probably very expensive. I catch Ambers eye. She likes them too I can tell, but she knows that they are probably way out of our price range.
'They are really beautiful, sir, but I don't think we can afford them.'
Mr. Barter puts the mirror away. I expect him to take the necklaces from us, but instead he takes a step back and examines us from head to toe.
'You can have them.' He says eventually.
'Really?!' Amber and I shout simultaneously. Mr. Barter nods. I can't believe what just happened.
'Thank you so much!'
'You're welcome, ladies.'
Outside the store Amber and I burst out laughing.
'That was quite extraordinary.' I say in between giggles as I examine the hanger from my necklace.
'It surely was. Let's see if the hangers fit together.'
We bring the two half circles together and they make a perfect fit. As soon as the stones touch they begin to glow a bright blue. And then a female voice begins to call: 'Help me! You have to help me!'
Completely freaked out we let go of the hangers, but they seem to stick together and the voice continues: 'Please, you are my only hope!'
Completely shocked Amber and I look at each other. I try to analyze the strange event and to decide what our next move should be, but I'm too flabbergasted. I look at Amber again. This stuff is completely out of my comfortzone.
"We should go back to the store." I say to her in my mind. Upon reading my message Amber starts to run back to the store dragging me behind her and half chocking me in the process, since our necklaces are still attached. Inside the store I quickly detach the hangers and rub my throat.
'Hello! Sir!?Are you still there?!' Amber shouts.
Mr. Barter appears out of a backroom and stiffly stands behind the counter.
'Yes? Can I help you?' he says as if he has never seen us before.
'Our necklaces...' I say in a hoarse voice. Luckily Amber quickly finishes my sentence.
'A... A voice came out of it.'
Upon hearing this Mr. Barter starts to frown.
'Are you certain of this?'
'YES!' we cry a little louder than intended.
'Okay, don't shout I'm standing right here. Follow me, please.' Mr. Barter gestures for us to follow him into the backroom. This guy is starting to give me the creeps.
The backroom is set up as a study with a large antique desk and an old chesterfield. Next to that, the room is filled with all kinds of fantastic objects, dark relics and colorful potions.
Mr.Barter quickly closes the curtain of the only window in the room and gestures for us to sit down. He himself leans against his desk with is arms crossed.
'You have been chosen...' Mr. Barter says mysteriously.
'Excuse me?' I say as I raise an eyebrow.
'You've heard the voice. You have been chosen by the necklace. Or rather, by what is inside it.'
The thought that there is something inside the necklace makes me want to throw it out of the window. From Ambers facial expression I can see that she is thinking the same thing.
'If you decide to accept the quest, your journey begins immediately. I will make sure that your parents are informed and everything is made ready.'
'What are you talking about? What quest?' I say a bit skeptical, this guy is crazy I swear.
'To free the entity out of the necklace of course.' Mr. Barter say impatiently as if all of this completely makes sense, 'The necklace chose you and therefore you have the power to succeed just like the ones before you.'
'So we are not the first to be chosen?' Amber askes completely fascinated.
'No, you are not. But time is running short. If you don't succeed she may be trapped in there forever.'
I look at Amber and talk to her with my mind.
"I don't know if we can trust the guy."
"Who cares! This is so awesome! This morning we were just complaining about how boring our lives are."
"I guess that is true..."
"Come on! I have a good feeling about this."
I still don't fully agree with her, but I suppose we could give it a shot. Who knows, maby this is the opportunity we have been waiting for.
Simultaneously we look back at Mr. Barter who is patiently waiting for our reply.
'We're in.' we say.
'Excellent!' he says and walks over to a big wooden cabinet behind his desk. Out of it he gets two large suitcases, one for me and one for Amber.
Amber and I quickly exchange looks after which we open the suitcases.
Inside is what looks like a school uniform neatly folded, something that looks like a cloak, and multiple flasks, bottles and kettles, and a strange stick that looks like a wand. My attention is drawn to the white envelope that is addressed to me. From the corner of my eye I see that Amber is already holding hers. Together we open the envelope and read the letter inside.
"Dear Miss. Silver,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
YOU ARE READING
Adventures Come To Those Who Ask (Part 1)
FanfictionWhen two friends decide to visit a new store in town their lives change forever.