Hear me out, I never expected to be in this predicament.
If you're reading this and weird things have been happening to you, you're in the right place. My advice to you is: don't trust anyone in your life right now. Play along with the stories your family has told you about your birth, but always be careful. I only found out the truth a few months ago. When coming back "home" from college, a mysterious creature tried to warn me about the troubles that lay ahead.
Being non-human is dangerous and extremely scary. Most of us don't reach adulthood because we get killed in painful and nasty ways.
My name is Ruby Ashbluff. I'm 16 years old. Until three months ago, I was a normal, typical student at Morley college in central London. But, as expected, everything changed.
It was a rainy evening. I had just finished writing a gruesome report for my anatomy class (which took FOREVER) when, walking out of the library, someone or "something" covered my eyes and mouth. I tried to scream, but only muffled sounds came out. Its hands were light, almost like smoke, yet I couldn't see through them. It dragged me to some kind of enclosed space, which I'm guessing no human could enter.
The interaction happened so suddenly. At one moment this dark shadow whispered into my ear while still covering my eyes and mouth: 'Head to your basement and find a black box hidden in one of the old closets. And make sure no one sees you. No one.'
The next moment, I was back at the library building. It seemed like nothing had even happened. But I knew something did. I felt it drag me. Chills-literal chills-went down my spine, and I stood there for what felt like forever, questioning whether I was insane or losing my mind. Suddenly, my "mom" called me: 'Where are you? You should've been home half an hour ago.'
Quickly coming out of my trance, I replied hesitantly, 'Sorry, the report took longer than expected, I'm on my way home right now.' My "mom" replied sweetly, 'Okay honey. See you soon.' Then she hung up.
Walking back home, still shaken up about the "shadow thing" I felt and heard, the only thought that kept emerging in my head was: Why?
Okay not the "only" thought, but all of my questions DID start with "WHY". Why did that "shadow" appear? Why did it drag me and didn't kidnap me? Why did it only talk to me? Why did it mention a box? Why a black box in my basement closet?
These kind of questions kept surfacing in my brain. Without even realizing it, I was already back "home". My mom greeted me at the front door. We ate supper as we always did, yet something felt strange. I didn't know exactly what it was. The atmosphere just seemed kind of... cloudy.
I decided not to think much about it. I'd been through enough for one day. After supper, I headed to my room and decided to wait until midnight, when my "mom" would be asleep. Then I could sneak into the basement and hopefully find some answers to the questions that have been haunting me all evening.
After waiting what felt like eternity, midnight finally hit. The clock showed 00:00. It was go time.
I was so thankful that my bedroom was on the main floor and that I didn't have to risk walking past my "mom's" room. Knowing me, I somehow would've tripped and broken her bedroom door (yes, I am that clumsy).
Finally reaching the basement door and opening it, a weird rush came over me. It was like a strong force pulling me deeper into the room. I went along with it, I couldn't even pull back if I wanted to. It pulled me straight to an old antique closet placed in the corner of the basement.
Covered in cobwebs, I carefully pried open the closet door. Before me laid a black box covered in dust. Nothing about it looked out of the ordinary. Despite that, the force that had been pulling me earlier was coming straight out of the box. Cold sweat covered me instantly. I didn't know why I felt this way. It was only a box, right?
I quickly wiped off the dust on the box and opened it, scared out of my mind to see what was inside. I closed my eyes and decided to take some deep breaths. 'Come on Ruby, just look inside already.'
My eyes widened as shivers went down my body. I immediately started looking around the room. 'W-what was that? Is someone here?'
The basement seemed empty; everything was in its usual place. But who had just spoken? 'Come out, I know someone's here!' I said without stuttering, trying to sound confident.
No one answered, teardrops began forming at the corner of my eyes.
Taking a deep breath, I finally looked into the black box. At the bottom of the box laid.. A necklace with a handwritten note? I picked up the necklace, admiring its beauty and simplicity. It had a small ruby gem as a charm. That was such a coincidence, since my name is Ruby. I laughed softly under my breath.
But when I touched the ruby gem, everything suddenly went black.