She watched as the chimes jingled together in harmony in the gentle breeze. She was knitting a sweater for the boy who would always wave to her when getting off the bus. He was such a sweet boy who was next door to her. That sickly sweet smile always reminded her of what could have been. She would dream of running outside with her family and laughing together as they enjoyed the flowing breeze. Sadly, she would never know that feeling as life had cruelly taken that away from her. Sitting in her nostalgia, she put the finishing touches on the boy's sweater. There was a particularly strong gust of wind that blew back her long black hair. She got out of the rocking chair after completing the intricately knitted sweater she patted down her black spring dress. She walked back inside her home and decided to make a sandwich for lunch after wrapping the sweater. Sandwiches were something her husband always loved to make, a strange combination was made each and every time from basic to mystery meat for the taste tester being his wife and daughter. It would always bring her so much joy, and now it's nothing but a memory to reminisce and cherish when doing the things he loved. While cleaning up the remnants of her meal she heard the ring of the door bell. "Coming," drying her hands she went to open the door. "Hi, Ms. Santos," the boy she made a sweater for was on her porch with a medium sized box in his hands.
"HI, Lukas, are you just getting home from school?"
"Yeah, i'm on spring break now, I wanted to give you a gift before I went on vacation, my mom helped me with it.''
"How nice of you, you didn't have to do that. I also made a gift for you, let me go get it." She quickly went to the dining room table and retrieved the wrapped sweater. "Thank you so much, I can't wait to wear this, see you later," after exchanging gifts the boy ran down the street to his own home as Jade waved to him in the distance. She locked the door behind her and went to open the box on the dining room table. Inside she found an intricate book with a purple ring on top of it. 'For this to be handcrafted it looks quite professional,' she thought to herself. She opened the book first and was surprised to see blank pages. 'Maybe it's meant to be a journal.' She then closed it and moved onto the ring. She slipped the ring onto her finger and it fit perfectly. Suddenly she saw a purple mist slowly start to invade her vision. She began to see a dark figure appear within the haze. Four dark purple legs with sleek black hooves were seen as the haze parted. Its dark black mane cascaded down its neck. Eyes like never ending silvery pools staring into the depths of her soul. "I've been waiting a long time, contractor."
"You've been waiting?, Who, what are you?" she backed away a few steps.
"Fear not all will be reviewed soon, for now you may call me Alfred. I am a species known as Puca."
"You now have a choice to make, will you remain living life in ignorance or learn the truth involving the death of Earl." Her heart began to beat with a heavy pounding reaching her ears. Hands began to tremor as they curled into fists. "What the fuck do you know about my husband?!"
"I'm unable to answer questions related to Karta until you have accepted your duty as a guardian," the horse-like creature responded calmly.
"You must think very little of me if you think I'm agreeing to something as vague as that!" She said scowling at the purple being. "How do I even know your not lying."
"Honest answer, you don't, you'll just have to take a leap of faith to fulfill a higher purpose, and reach your own answer." He seemed very blunt as he responded earnestly. "I'll give you some time to think, " he began to dissipate into smoke and was seemingly sucked into the ring on Jade's finger. With the daunting figure gone she collapsed onto the floor. Body shaking with anxiousness and confusion she contemplated what happened to the life she once knew as reality.