The Greed That Doomed Me

How was it that only moments ago, I was running freely on fresh-cut green grass. Running under the sun who shines like there is no tomorrow. Running toward the tall buildings in the far, filled with families enjoying a quiet lunch. How is it that now, I stand in an empty field, nothing but lifeless land. The sun dim, shying behind the clouds. Tall buildings reduced to piles of ash, with no families to be inside. All of this caused by some darned pendant. Beautiful, may I add, with the black diamond heart center, encrusted with rubies all around, finished with a silver chain. I had just happened to pick it up and put it about my neck, when the world seemed to go into chaos. No longer was I some city girl with everything given to me on a silver platter. No, I was left to fend for myself. Left to get silly things such as food, water and shelter. Who would want to work for those! That’s why jobs were created, for others to serve others. Either way, whatever happened here wasn’t pretty, and I was not about to stick around longer than needed. In all directions were open fields, so I decided to start forward, seeing where this dead land would take me. About an hour into the walk, my feet started to ache. I had never had to walk such a distance before, always being driven everywhere in fancy cars. I debated on calling for help, soon to realize I had no phone. Not like there would be service here anyways. I continued my treacherous walk in the deserted land, when long, wooden structures came into view. Most had fallen, with their pines and leaves scattered across the dry earth. It had only been another hour, yet I was parched. Despite my body wanting to stop, my need for water was greater, and I pushed farther into the deceased forest. There was no water or shelter in sight, but my stomach was starting to feel slightly empty. Great, another problem to add to the others I already had. As if things couldn’t be worse, droplets of crystal liquid started to land on the few standing logs, soon falling onto my red cheeks. Finding water was no longer my top priority, but getting out of the polluted tears falling from the sky was. I didn’t need my clothes more ruined than they already were. I had few options, so I opted for under a group of trees. It never occurred to me that it could be extremely dangerous, since in movies the actors always hid under trees in a storm. By now my insides were screeching for food and my throat begging for water. The thought disgusted me, but I reluctantly stuck out my tongue, catching a few of the clear beads and swallowing them down. Too queasy to get anymore, I started looking around for a bite to eat. I could never kill an animal, that’s what hunters and butchers were for. There was little life around, besides some of the leaves still stuck to the fallen trees. I couldn’t. I mustn’t. That would be utterly revolting. But my stomach spoke louder than my thoughts for delicacy, as I pinched a few of the green and brown plants, careful to pick off the stems, and placed them in my mouth. The taste was as horrible as I had imagined, but I gulped them down with more rainwater. With a sigh, I sat on the cold, hard ground, with nothing but my thoughts and the pendant. This same process occurred for several weeks. Drinking and collecting rainwater, eating the half alive leaves from the floor, and hiding under bundles of trees to have a fitful sleep each night, filled with horrid terrors of what may happen to me the next day. A month has now passed, to which I have developed a sort of routine. Wake up, eat dead leaves. Walk around for a bit, drink rainwater and eat more dead leaves. Find a spot for the night with more rainwater and dead leaves. Sleep on the hard, dead earth, dreaming of the life I should have, and repeat. One day, though, I came across a boy. He wore the most awful clothes in ugly shades of brown and beige. He had a lean figure, probably from cutting down wood, or working on a farm in the past. Either way, he looked poor. No one I would normally associate myself with, but in these circumstances I was in, I would settle, just this once.

“You, boy!” I hollered at him, “I need your help!” He turned around from his place on the dried turf and walked to me, stopping a few feet in front. He looked up at me, ready to take orders of whatever I wished. As it should be.

“Would you mind fetching me some proper food, water and maybe nicer clothes? I can't bear to live like this any longer,” I said, distressed. I waited, expecting him to run off and grab the things I requested. Instead, his eyes narrowed, and his lip curled,

“You ain't the only one livin’ on leaves and rainwater, girl. Don’t be tryin’ to make me do your dirty work,” he spoke sternly in my face. I gasped.

“That is no way to talk to any woman, boy! Didn’t your mother ever teach you any manners?” He scoffed and started walking away, muttering,

“You ain’t a woman, but an immature girl who can’t take care of herself.” I was again, left alone. The only chance I had at a somewhat similar life, gone. It’s all because of this pendant, but I refuse to take it off. It is the one thing I have that hasn’t been ruined. The black diamond still sparkles, and the rubies are still bright. The silver chain never rusting, still sitting about my neck. It is of great value, I’m sure, and once I return home for this treacherous misery, I shall wear it for all to see. Girls will bask in jealousy of me, while boys will come kneeling to my feet. I will have everything I’ve ever wanted again, and more. Suddenly, the heart of the pendant started glowing, an odd gray mist rolling from the center. A shimmering figure soon appeared in front of me. She had long silver locks, with creamy smooth skin. She wore the most beautiful gown I had ever seen. Amethyst in colour, with crystals around the bodice. Her ebony eyes locked with mine, dawning with disappointment.

“I see you have not changed a bit, foolish girl,” she spoke, her voice deep and powerful.

I did not understand. I had done something wrong? I was the one put through this torture, and I was the one who had suffered this long and dreadful month. She held out a pale hand, her eyes still on mine. I knew what she wanted.

“No!” I cried, “This pendant is mine! It’s the only thing I have!” Her hand did not retract, but reached out and yanked on the delicate silver chain, snapping it. She weaved it from around my neck and held it close, then vanished. That’s when it clicked. She had been the one to put me through this torture, and she had been the one to place that pendant in the first place. Horror dawned upon me as I realized that I had lost my one and only chance to be free from this world, but was it really because of this pendant?