Chapter 1

My name is Stephan Paul. I am sixteen years old. I am being targeted. Why someone wants my life, I don’t know. By the time you’ve read this I’m probably already dead. I am another victim of the Shrine God’s curse. There is no other explanation.

 

Prologue

 

            Simone twirled the spoon in her tea rapidly, gazing at the empty road outside of the Hammermill Café. It had been a while since she’s been at Golden Bull. The café was no different than it was five years ago, the booths red and sturdy with dull mahogany tables to match. The lighting was better though, and it was more busy than usual. Len looked up at her nervously.

            “Simone…” he started hesitantly. “I booked you in a hotel outside of the village. Please, don’t let your grandma get any sort of idea that you’re here.”

            She slammed her hand on the table. Her tea shook. “Oh, why not? Let that old b***h know I’m here. It won’t make a difference.” The chatter in the room softened as unfamiliar heads turned towards their table.

            “Stop, you know what she can do. Plus, people are staring.”

            “Let them stare.” Simone crossed her arms and sunk back into the booth. The doorbell of the café chimed and she saw Rena, an old childhood friend from Golden Bull, slowly stride in. She was alone, and had a lost look on her face. The look that Simone had seen much too many times. Rena’s hair was still short, barely touching her shoulders. Her hair had gotten to be a lighter brown, her skin a healthy form of peach. She was dressed in what Simone remembered to be the village’s school’s uniform. She seemed to be intensely lost in thought, her fists were clenched together and her eyes hard.

            “Hey, Rena!” Simone said cheerfully, waving her over. Rena slowly turned her head, looking at Simone and Len.

            “Miriam…?” she said blandly. Simone laughed.

            “No, it’s me, Simone!” Len shot her a look. “I mean,” she stuttered. “W-what a coincidence, since I only came here for today!” she finished, saving herself.

            “Oh, Simi, it’s been a while,” She made a delicate turn to Len, analyzing him for a few moments. “Who is this companion of yours?”

            Simone grinned. “Oh, that’s Len,” she said, patting his shoulder. “You could say he’s sort of like my bodyguard, or something. For example, if someone or something were to endanger my life, Len would protect me. Right, Len?”

            “I’d rather not.”

            Simone glared at him. “See? He’s a pretty funny guy.”

            Rena didn’t say anything, her lost expression staying the same. Simone got up. “Well, we have to go now. I’ll see you at the festival ne�"

            Len kicked her shoe from under the table. “Yow! I mean, I’ll catch up with you some other time in the far future.”

            “Alright,”

            “Well, until then, bye!” she said as brightly as possible, dragging Len along with her out of the café. She got into the backseat of his car, leaning in and looking out the window. She zoned out of Len’s lecture on being more careful on revealing too much, thinking about what she was going to do when she reached the hotel. Simone decided that she would call her sister, Miriam. Miriam was her identical twin. They were the daughters of the Sonozaki Clan, who are the heads of Golden Bull village. Except, Simone didn’t count as one of them. Miriam was the first one out of the womb, and the successor as the village head. Simone had been the child that wasn’t meant to be born, according to their Grandmother, who was the head of the village. And because of that, she had been sent to a boarding school in the city, forbidden to have anything to do with the Sonozaki family and to never come to Golden Bull. Len had been assigned to be her guardian. Despite the complications throughout their family, Simone and Miriam were still very close. Though forbidden, they constantly spoke over the phone and had a good relationship.

            “We’re here. Call me if you need me, I’ll be in town.” Len said. Simone nodded and got out of the car. When she got in her room, she settled her bags down and dialed Miriam’s phone number.

            “Hello?”          

            “Miri…”

            “Simone! What’s up?”

            “I’m in a hotel near the village.”
            There was a long pause. “Does Grandma know?”

            “No, I just came here to see you and everyone else again. I’ll meet you at the shopping district in Golden Bull, outside of the coffee house?”

            “Uh, sure. I’ll do my best for Grandma not to find out, but�"

            “Thanks, Miri, I can’t wait to see you.”

            “You too, Simi…” Miriam’s light voice echoed softly. There was a muffled noise coming from Miriam’s side of the phone. “I have to go,” she whispered. “See you tomorrow.”

            “See you,” Simone said, and put the phone down.