Chapter One

She exhaled loudly as she plummeted onto the previously dusty sofa that she'd worn herself out dusting.

There were cardboard boxes everywhere, both big and small. Packing into a new house with almost all of one's belongings was disastrous.

Riiiiiiiing.

The shrill cry of her phone pierced the silent air, save for her loud heaving. She pushed the boxes aside as she looked around for her phone.

"Kalu Geneva, you imp. I said, call me once you get there. It's hours ago already. Have you immediately forgotten about this ya lonely bestie?"

That's right. It was Geneva's friend, Sharon. They were both Africans that once lived in their various African countries before residing in Cuba at a young age. The only difference was that Geneva's family had relocated many a times before because of the nature of her dad's work before they finally decided to permanently stay in Cuba.

Oh, and Geneva was the only child of her parents. Her mother was a full time housewife that enjoyed keeping herself beautiful for her husband, cooking and not letting Geneva wander six inches away from her.

"I just got here Sharon! And would you keep your voice down? I can hear you fine despite the distance. A little reminder - we are talking over the cell phone!" Geneva laid back down on the sofa.

"Mind how you talk to me young lady. Just a minute in Quebec and you've learnt how to talk back at me. Who's influencing you? Whatdya hear you say? The weather? Yo girl, ya crazy."

She could hear the playfulness in Sharon's voice. On a normal day, Geneva would have gone on and on having mindless banters with her bestfriend, but today, she was exceptionally tired.

"Hearing your voice suddenly reminds me of how alone I am here. I already miss you dear friend."

There was a pause before hysterical laughter followed through. "Where is the Geneva that Instigated a cold war with her parents just for the permission to travel to any county away from home, watchful parents eyes, monotonous life- seeking independence, peace of mind, blah blah blah. Your drive is so little. Just after getting what you asked for, you are reduced to this. I spit on your idiotic brain, tweh tweh."

Geneva's eyes twitched as she fumed."What sort of friend are you? Anything that comes out of your mouth are blades, aimed for the heart to shatter. How on earth did I get myself this type of friend that mocks my downfall? I spit on your manners, twah twah. And I refuse to waste my remaining strength on you, arch enemy."

Geneva, seeing that she had the upper hand in this argument that she hadn't known when they'd started, cut the line. She'd won. It was a rare thing for her to out talk Sharon but when she did, she felt a devilish sense of accomplishment. She almost did a victory dance but ugh, her bones ached.

After resting for half an hour, she decided to face her fear- arrange her belongings!

She got up, tidied her things, dusted and cleaned the untouched rooms.

It was a little house not very far from the university that she would start attending in less than two months. It consisted of a living room, a bedroom which led to the toilet and bathroom and a little kitchen to finish it off.

After showering, Geneva went into each room again to familiarize herself with it. She'd found this building on sale online and had bought it the minute her parents approved of her staying alone.

She had wanted to live with Sharon but since Sharon refused, she had to live by herself. Geneva wasn't interested in looking for another roommate. What could she say? Blame it all on peace of mind!

The building wasn't a new one but it wasn't too old too. It had been refurbished before it was marketed but not many people wanted it as it was located in a small neighbourhood with the neighbour's houses far away from each other, separated by a large curtain of trees. But Geneva liked it.

She turned towards her room, heading for the snacks that she had bought earlier and stuffed in her backpack.

On her bed lay the snacks that she came for. Her steps slowed, then she frowned. She did not remember bringing them out.. But, oh well, talks with Sharon did this to her.

She came closer and her brows flew up. She definitely didn't see this before. There was a locket right beside her snacks.

She hastily looked around the silent house. The house suddenly wasn't seeming so silent anymore.

There was something eerie about the way that the trees that she could see from her window were dancing and clapping without a definite pattern. There was something definitely wrong with the way she was suddenly feeling like a shadow lurking behind her.

Returning to her senses, Geneva pursed her lips and flicked her forehead. What was she busy scaring herself for? Ghosts do not exist neither do vampires or any other form of creature with supernatural powers. She must have simply not been paying attention earlier.

Geneva sat on the bed and picked up the locket. It was cold, very. Some parts of it was already rusting from all the dust.

She wiped the dust and opened it. There was a purple hued ehhh...frozen liquid? Is this a kind of gem? She asked herself. Where then is the other half?

True, it looked solid and was cut in a perfect half with the other, missing.

She closed the locket and markings were revealed in English.

"Seeking to delve into mysteries, unknowns, unwanted.

Answers to past, clues to the future.

Linked to a soul...mate?" Geneva read aloud then scrunched up her face.

That's it? She thought, no beginning, no end- meaningless? She tried to understand whatever meaning that laid behind those words.

Riiiiiiiing.

"Oh my." Startled, she jerked and the locket slipped from her fingers. Geneva stood and headed for the phone.

She picked it up and screamed at the caller, "Sharon! You nearly gave me a heart attack."

Geneva soon forgot all about the weird feelings she had while observing the locket as she engaged in a full on screaming battle with her friend.