Midnight Black Locket

In a locket as black as night there is a picture of four daughters and four sons with their mother. The mother (Diana) (21), Dad (unknown and/or dead), the oldest three sons Prison (5), Nine (5), Sea (5), the fourth son Fangs (4). The oldest two daughters Rose (2) and Rosepetal (2), the Third and fourth daughters Night (newborn) and Lily (newborn). “I miss you all so much,” Prison says, clutching the locket to his broken heart. Prison picks up his ax and heads out for wood and food.

As he chops wood, Prison mumbles to himself about how his life turned out this way. Late one night Prison now 10 is awoken by sirens, he tried his hardest to get his whole family into the shelter, but he was the only one able to make it in. He still wakes up at night to the screams of his mother and siblings being annihilated. Prison screams as he cuts the last bit of wood. “I should have done more to save them.” He said punching the stump of a tree.

Prison hales the wagon of wood chunks toward his home, but hears rustling in a bush near him, he throws is ax and hits his target; a fat brown rabbit. “Aren't you a tasty treat?” He says, picking the dead ribbit. He heads home with his prize and fuel for his fireplace. Prison grabs a few chunks of wood, lighting the last one before tossing it in. He skewers the ribbit clean through and puts it on the fire. After an hour “Ok, the food should be done” Prison said, grabbing the skewer and biting into the rabbit. “HOT! HOT!” he shouts steam pouring out of his mouth as if he was about to breathe fire.

After many seasons and rotations around the sun, Prison is now 20 years old. He looks down at the open locket his mother gave him, “I miss you all, I will avenge your death” He said, closing it and letting it dangle from his belt loop. He continues on in his hunt for food. “Come out, come out wherever you are little animals” He says being driven mad by the lack of food and water. He approaches a hill overlooking a clearing. “food!” He whispers, aiming his ax, he readies his throw and BANG! A gunshot spooks them as the large buck he was aiming at falls dead.

Prison slides down the hill and undenounced to him; his beloved heart shaped locket snags on a root and the chain snaps and wraps around it leaving it dangling there. Prison gets to the bottom of the hill and limps over to the deer. While two hesitant young women walk to the deer with an older man. Prison sees the three walking over and takes a few steps back. “Nice shot” He calls over in a raspy voice. “You need some water?” the man in the group asks. Prison nods his head. The older man walks up to him “Hi I'm Lincoln and these are my two daughters Rose and Lily.” The man says handing over a bottle of water. Prison quickly gulps down half the bottle and says “Thank you for the water, My name is Prison.” while the man picks up the beefy, juicy looking deer. “Would you like to join us for dinner?” the younger daughter asks, clasping her hands around Prison’s hands. “Lily! You can’t just invite people without asking dad first.” The older daughter scolds. “Then it’s settled, kid you’re joining us for dinner.” Lincoln proclaims waving for the three children to follow him.

Prison walk with the 3 people home. “This is our home” The man said, ushering Prison inside “and yours too if you want.” Prison walks into the house last only to be met with a frying pan to the face. “Who is that man?” a female voice bellows. “It’s ok honey, this is Prison, our daughter Lily invited him for dinner.” Lincoln said calming the women. “Prison is my wife Mary,” he said. “Hello Ma’am, sorry to startle you.” Prison said with a shy smile. “Oh no, I’m sorry dear, I shouldn’t have assumed and just thrown it without asking my family who you were and why you were here.”

After a lovely meal of venison, Prison goes to the restroom to clean up. “Oh no, oh no, oh no, where is it?” he questions to himself frantically looking around the toilet, sink, and tub. Prison sprints out of the restroom and out the door. “Where are you going?” Lily calls running after him. “Prison, slow down!” she begs. He ignores her pleading and runs to the clearing. “Where is it? Where is it?” Prison says falling to his knees, tears welling up in his eyes. “Prison, what’s going on?” Lily says, kneeling by him and pulling him to a hug. “My black locket is gone.” Prison explains in tears. “It’s okay, let's go back and we can look at first light.” Lily says cupping his face and pressing her forehead to his. “No! I want to find it as soon as possible” he said standing up. “That’ll be at first light we don’t have any light out here” Lily said trying to talk some sense into him. She looks deep into his eyes and gently whips a tear from his cheek. He lays his cheek in her hand “Okay, first light.” he concedes and walks back to the house. “What happened?” Lincoln asked “Prison, lost something and he ran out to look for it” Lily said bringing Prison inside.

Prison had a long sleepless night waiting for day break to go find his locket and finally have his family back with him. “Wake up, Prison! Time to go and look for your locket.” Lily says, pulling the curtains open; the sunlight blinding him. “ACH! So bright!” Prison shouts covering his eyes “What time is it?” “1:00pm” Lily said “What!? You said we’d go at day break” Prison shouted. “I know, but you didn’t get to sleep till late, so I thought-” “Well you thought wrong” Prison interrupted Lily and stormed out of the house and to the clearing.

Lily followed quickly after Prison. “Lily, what happened? Why did he storm out like that?” Mary asked “he’s mad I didn’t wake him at day break” Lily answered as she quickly put on her shoes and rushed out the door. Lily made her way to the clearing to find Prison crawling on the ground. “Need some help?” Lily asks “Haven’t you done enough?” Prison snaps “No! I don’t” Lily snaps back. Prison sits up and stares at Lily; both have tears streaming down their faces. “Lily, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry. That locket is all I have left of my family.” Prison says looking at the ground. “It’s okay, I know you didn’t mean it” Lily said, kneeling down and hugging him.

“Now come on, WE have a locket to find” Lily said standing up and looking around “Now where was the last place you had it.” “In my home… Well was left of it anyway” Prison said looking at the hill, he descended not 24 hours ago. “It’s just up the hill… I slid down the hill; it must have gotten snagged somewhere in it.” He said “you’re a genius!” He kisses Lily’s forehead and runs over to the hill. Prison and Lily scour the hillside searching “AHH there it is!” Prison shouts and snatching it up and holding it to his chest and hugging Lily.

To be continued!

Hello dear readers,

This story was written in 2 days for a contest but we can't enter because we don't have a Vocal+ account. We hope you enjoyed reading it.

Sincerely,

Alexandria James and Emily Ball