Chapter 1

         Chapter 1

 

                Savannah Stall sighed. She and her sister, Libby Stall, were sitting on their grandparent's 100-year-old house's porch. It was a huge, Victorian style house with a strange look to it. Strange, as in creepy-evil-face-like house kind of creepy. Creepy, all right.

Around them were trees and… trees. An almost endless forest surrounded them, looking almost frightening in the dimming evening light. The two blonde, blue-eyed sisters sat, each buried in their own thoughts. While Savannah was fuming over the Bahamas incident, Libby was confused about what was going on. Why was Savannah so mad?

            Libby looked at Savannah, wondering why she was so puffed up. “Why are we mad at Mom and Dad again?” The 11-year-old asked, twirling a curl of her dirty blonde hair around her finger. “Because they made us come to Grandma and Grandpa's while they got to go on a summer long cruise around the Bahamas, that's why!” 13-year-old Savannah huffed, showing off her famous temper.

            Libby sighed since it was her turn to, and, being the sensible and peace-making one, tried to convince Savannah it was for the best. “For the best!?!?!?! The first time we get to go to Florida, the land of dolphins, beaches, and Disney World and we're stuck at Grandma and Grandpa's and you think it's for the best?!?!?!” Savannah said with a furious expression on her face. “Come on Savannah,” Libby said softly, as if trying to get a puppy to let her pet it without it biting her. “Mom only won tickets for two, you know she couldn't have done anything about it.”

            Savannah straightened her back and looked straight ahead, not wanting to admit she was wrong. “She could've bought extra tickets.” She said, stating the impossible. “No way, Savannah, you know how expensive they are.” Libby concluded, her eyes wide. Savannah didn't let go of the argument. “But still.” She whispered, looking at the dark forest that seemed like it was under a full moon, even though it was only 6:30. 

“Savannah! Libby! Dinner ready!” They heard their grandmother yell in her Bosnian accent. They were both starving since they hadn't eaten since breakfast because the plane they had flown in hadn't served lunch. They stood and dusted themselves off. Then they raced through the house to see who could get to the dining room first.

Savannah got to the dining room first, and smelled it before seeing it. She wore her disgusted face as she sat down at the dining table. Disgusted, as in: nose and eyebrows scrunched up, mouth in a deep frown, and an unmistakable roll of the eyes. On the table was Savannah's worst enemy:  Spinach.

            She looked around the table and realized everything was spinach. There was a whole feast, things that included spinach wraps and rolls, salad and sauces resided on the long table. There was even mashed potatoes with bits of spinach in it and green gravy. At least Savannah hoped it was green gravy and not some kind of spinach soup. Libby loved spinach, and her most hated vegetable was broccoli.  

            Savannah put in her plate everything that looked remotely normal, such as spaghetti and meatballs, with some spinach leaves that Savannah could easily take out. Savannah ate her small portion of spaghetti in silence, as Libby pigged out with all the new spinach foods to try.

            Libby turned to face their grandparents and immediately began chatting, since socializing was her strong point. Sometimes Savannah wondered if Libby had socialized her way into becoming president of the student council, captain of the cheerleading squad, and winning the science fair for third time in a row. That would make sense. Libby could socialize her way out of a monster’s belly.

            “So, Savannah,” Grandfather began in a deep, rumbly voice. Grandfather looked big and beefy, like a rugby player, which he was. His thinning white hair was combed smoothly on his scalp, with one single hair sticking up on the top. “How do you like Florida, so far?”

            Well, so far all Savannah had seen was the airport, the back of her grandmother’s seat in her grandparent’s car, and the Woeful Woods (Savannah’s new name for the forest. Creative, huh?). Savannah thought about the eerie looking trees, almost as if they had huge, frowning faces. Their branches sticking out like huge, pointy arms trying to grab Savannah.

            “Oh, Florida’s great!” Savannah lied through her teeth. “That’s wonderful, dear,” Grandmother started. “Then maybe you’d like to take a hike out in the forest tomorrow with Libby.”

            And that was when Savannah had a mini-heart attack. Hiking around in a place filled with creepy and dead trees? No way! Savannah would much rather go to the mall, or maybe out to a movie, or something else! But Savannah could just imagine her grandparents complaining about how rude she was compared to Libby.

            “Sure, that would be great!” Savannah found herself saying, half hoping her grandparents would change their minds. “That’s great!” Grandfather chuckled. Savannah groaned inwardly, but grinned on the outside.

            Libby smiled. “That’s cool, I’ve always wanted to go hiking with you!” Savannah just nodded, only half listening. Libby kept grinning, not noticing Savannah’s rudeness. But it wasn’t like Savannah was actually doing it on purpose, she was just wondering about Woeful Woods.

            Savannah picked at her food, barely listening as Libby went on and on about how getting straight As on her report card again had made her so happy. Savannah had gotten straight As, too, but her parents overlooked that when Libby had to dramatically act out the moment she had opened her report card. Savannah should’ve been congratulated, too, but Libby was the one getting the applause.

Savannah decided not to mention her grades, because after already hearing about Libby’s achievements, they might try to compare the two girls. Savannah would hate that. They would see how Libby had beautifully long, wavy blonde hair while Savannah’s was plain and straight. They’d also probably notice that Libby’s skin was perfect, while Savannah was breaking out.

           Libby was so much better than Savannah, younger, but better. They would clearly see that and they would think of Savannah as second class compared to Libby. Savannah stayed quiet, hoping dessert wasn’t going to be spinach pie.

After dinner, the girls went up to their rooms to finish unpacking. Savannah had gotten her mother’s old room, which had been newly renovated, but not very changed. It had pink wallpaper with big yellow flowers on it. There was an old 1960s T.V. with an antenna.

There was a small vanity with a stash of powder puffs and compacts, strangely fitting on the table. A small bed with pink covers stood at the corner of the room, which was a little too girly for Savannah. On the bed lay about a million and one quilts, ready to smother anyone who dare lay on it with goose feathers.

The floor was completely covered with differently unique yet strange patterned rugs. A night stand stood next to the bed, holding an old fashioned alarm clock, and a tattered old lamp.

In other words, it was Savannah’s bedroom nightmare.

Libby wasn’t that unlucky though. Most likely due to her magical socializing, she had gotten the newly renovated and completely changed guest bedroom, voila! Lucky her, huh?

Her bedroom had a 65 inch flat screen T.V. hanging from the wall in an angle that allowed you to be able to watch T.V. sitting up or lying down on the bed. The bed was a huge bed with hot pink, orange, purple, and white polka dots on the covers and pillows.

The nightstand next to it held a digital clock and a brand new lamp with a violent shade of violet lampshade. A vanity with a make-up kit sat next to the door, and the room had its own bathroom.

Savannah couldn’t help but feel jealous, even though she had gotten the opportunity to search through her mom’s old stuff from when she was a kid. Savannah decided to let that one go, so she wouldn’t have to waste time planning sweet revenge against Libby. Plus, there wasn’t any real proof Libby had done anything to be treated better, so Savannah would get in trouble if she did anything.

Savannah finished unpacking, and sighed. She sat down on the bed, and played with her locket. It was diamond mermaid that she had gotten for her thirteenth birthday that she had chosen herself. Out of millions of pendants, Savannah had chosen the impossibly beautiful mermaid.

It had flowing hair that ended at her back, and an expression that said that she had a secret. Savannah was really good at reading expressions. Savannah wasn’t sure why, but she felt like there was something particularly special about the necklace, other than the fact that it was diamond.

She fiddled with it, turning it to get a good look at the mermaids face. The strange thing was that Savannah always found a new detail about the mermaid each time she looked at it closely.

Savannah had vowed she would never take the necklace off, because somehow it always reminded her to be brave, confident, and, gentle, as well. It reminded her that to be brave doesn’t mean you can’t be scared. Savannah treasured the necklace.

She sighed and decided to get some sleep to prepare her for her big day hiking through the woods tomorrow. She smiled, fingered her pendant, and fell sound asleep.

Savannah dreamed of water. Gallons of water surrounded her, creating figures and images and shapes. One made a figure. That’s when she realized it wasn’t the water making that image.

Savannah saw a girl with long, flowing hair that stopped at mid-back, bright blue eyes, and a beautiful face. Her mouth was open, as if she was singing, but her expression ruined everything. She was crying, as if she was being forced to sing. A faint voice, which Savannah decided was her conscience, told her to help the girl. “Help her! Help her!” The voice called, slowly dying down.

Savannah reached out, trying to help the girl. Her hand went through the image, revealing that it was just simply a picture, a mirage, or something.

Suddenly the water disappeared and Savannah stood in a dark cave, which echoed the words “Help her! Help her!”. Savannah turned, only to see more black. Where was the girl and how was Savannah of all people going to be able to help her? “How can I help you?!” She screamed in frustration.

Why hadn’t the girl asked someone else to help her, like Libby. Why Savannah? “Please, how can I help you?!” Savannah was sobbing now. “How can I help you?!” She cried. “Please, How?!” She was sobbing uncontrollably. “How?!”

Savannah sat bolt upright in bed, covered in sweat. It was all just a dream. Good. Savannah could hear the voice yelling at her to help the girl, sending a chill down her back. She got up to check the wall clock shaped like a crescent moon. It was exactly 11:59.

The clock wrung midnight. All of a sudden, Savannah’s window blew open, her curtains blowing wildly. Savannah grabbed at it, quickly closing the window. She sighed in relief. Before she could wonder how that had happened, the moon turned blue.

Savannah backed away in bewilderment and confusion. She decided this was just another dream so she turned around to go back to bed. Savannah calmly started towards her bed, but tripped on something. And it actually hurt, which, of course, meant that it wasn’t a dream.

Savannah scrambled to her feet and took a good look at the thing that had tripped her. It was a small, white box with a golden bow. It had a tag with fancy script scrawled on it.

“To Savannah, our savior.” Savannah read, disbelievingly.

Reviews

[Ravyne Hawke]

I love how you've made Savannah a character one must care for.. not just need to care for, but must care for. She is personable, witty, and loveable. I cannot wait to keep reading more about her adventures, adventures in Florida that she wanted but got something entirely different. Excellent first chapter. I will be subscribing so I can continue to read!