1 Chapter 0 || Same Day as Always

Birthdays are so generic. I don't see the need in celebrating it EVERY year. I mean, I get it. Sure. But--

I look over the piles of unused paper, scattered generously on my study desk, only it wasn't a study desk, I called it my procrastination desk--where all procrastination starts and forms! I pick up the only piece of parchment that had something written on it. It was hidden between the pile. A mere date written in a corner of the page. I've forgotten you for months now.

Something I wrote so long ago.

It was a thing I've always looked forward to.

...

But now what?

The way I feel for it just...suddenly changed.

I for one wished for no one to remember. But of course, when you're royalty you don't have to worry that people forget. Since your birthday is like a holiday in your family's country. Imagine, everyone rejoicing a stranger's birthday like it was a big deal in their lives. OH JOY!!! Mind the sarcasm.

A knock happens to come by my door. "Uhm, miss?" I choose to dismiss the person's call. "Are you awake yet?"

"..."

I hide myself among my humongous pillows and bed sheets. Not to ruin your imagination but it's not as lavish as you may think. It's not like I'm a princess or anything, a daughter of a chieftain, yes.

"Hey," The person says, in a tone that sounds like he was threatening ME. "I'm going to come in if you don't start talking."

I decide to continue playing dead.

Silence...

I waited for what seemed like an eternity. I thought he was going to barge in like he said so? I'm getting a bit of a cramp just by not moving.

Faint voices were heard if you were observant enough. Looks like his mission to get me out of my room failed. Heh.

I squirm a bit and as if someone saw me move, someone shouts. "You!"

I was able to let out a teeny squeak since that voice sounded really cold. And frightening. My body frigid and frozen in place.

I take a peek out of a gap--

...no one was there.

I let my feet take me outside and to a place where I might possibly be safe.

Before I could even hold the door knob, my fraternal twin sister, Alina stands as an obstacle in my way as she opens the door first and isn't offering to move out of the way. "Happy birthday Lilette!" She smiles, the same as always. Maybe I was the only one who changed after all. "Now, now." I say. " Don't make it sound like it's not your birthday too." A tired smile making its way up to the surface.

"Tut, tut!" She shoves me into my bed and sits with me. "I'd rather we'd have different birthdays just to be honest."

I voluntarily ask. "Why's that?"

"Because," She pauses. As if to think about a witty answer. Her seriousness deforms into a worried grin. "More cake." She begins to stand up.

She almost said it like a question. I remain occupying the space of my bed.

She was right by the door when my mouth moved without my permission.

"Happy birthday to you too Alina."

She turns to look me in the eyes, her mouth agape.

"It's been a while." She sadly mutters and then leaves.

There's something fishy in the air.

But I don't know what.

I was still loitering in my room, thinking about what my sister said. What was that about birthdays?

Anyhoo, I better get ready. My assistant might have had enough of my foolishness and didn't bother to check up on me anymore.

I grab the piece of paper again. Admiring the penmanship and the date itself. "What's wrong with you?" I whisper to myself.

I look at myself in the mirror. The reflection on the mirror helped me look behind me at ease. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of a ball. This particular ball I sort of recognized.

The ball partly consumed by the shadow of my desk side table.

Sighing to myself, I approach and pick it up. It was a ball I got from--?

I--Why can't I remember. I remember the hand that offered me this ball as clear as day. Why won't you remember the face? Dumb skull. I can't depend on my brain for answers. Unbelievable.

Now is the time that I notice a slight bump when I tried feeling it in my hand. I fidget it more. And I think I could have sworn I heard a beep from the ball. That bump remains to sink in.

I jump when it opens like an eggshell would. The lid still attached though. "Eek!" I accidentally drop it on the floor in the process.

Okay. If anyone asks. I blame the mirror.

Don't tell me I led a door to a monster that'll come out.

The most random thing comes out. Okay. Maybe not random but I didn't expect it to be--er...

It pops out of the container like it was a late reaction to the fall.

Glimmering in the sunlight. Of course it was,

but an accessory.

"A necklace." I stare at it unamused. My expectations turned to shambles.

Haven't I seen this before or am I just dreaming? I sit against the wall. The more I stare at it, the more I notice its intricate detail.

"Lilette!" A voice that could only be owned by Alina burst through the door. Ignoring the morals of knocking while she was at it.

I quickly hide it in my pocket. Unsure if Alina saw me. "I don't know what happened. But you have to see this."