Real quick, I'd like to thank JesusFreak for the title idea. She's the reason I actually gave this book a name.
Let's get started
Dear SJ,
A new journal already...
Violet must know how I keep a journal, because she's the one who sent you, SJ the Third.
Three journals....
Wow.
Anyways, my name is Lux, as you remember.
Oh wait, you don't.
You're a book.
But that's not the point.
The point is that my story must go on.
So Derek took me away from Violet's house and blah blah blah....
He brought me to this abandoned jail about a mile out of the old western town.
And you know what he did?
He locked me up like I was some kind of criminal!
This is how it went:
"Sorry old friend," Derek said through the bars of my cell door as he locked it with the only key you could find in this place. "But you mustn't hurt my family."
I stared at him, my blue eyes wide.
"What do you mean? Wait... you know about the basement ninja guy?"
Derek laughed, stuffing the key back into his pocket.
"Of course," he said casually. "I was there when he assigned you the mission."
I flexed my wings, gazing at the unusually large window against the far wall of my cell.
Just outside I had a clear view of the gallows.
This was a death row cell.
Now that I think about it, I believe I did see Derek in the basement.
That odd dark shape crouched in the corner when the strange sunlight had filtered in.... had been Derek.
"What was that all about, anyway?" I asked, suddenly curious. "Why did he want me to kill Violet and the others?"
Something crossed through Derek's eyes, but it was gone before I could decipher it.
"Let's just say he's got a bone to pick with our family for taking his home away," he said, plain and simple.
"Why? I mean, I figured it was something like that, but I just don't understand. And why would he choose me to dispose of them?"
Derek shrugged.
"Not sure, but that doesn't matter now. What matters is that as long as you're in this cell, you can't hurt my family. Lux, I knew this would happen since the day we met. I just never took action until it got serious."
I stared at him, dumbstruck.
"You could've warned me," I said, suddenly mad. "We could've prevented all of this from ever happening. You should've told me!"
"Too late now," he said. "Now, listen carefully. I have guards everywhere in this jail. If you even think about busting out, you'll be caught and your death sentence will come early."
I charged him, coming nose to nose with him from between the bars.
"Look Derek," I snarled loudly, "it's not like I would hurt your sister or parents anyway. I'm not going to listen to some weird cloaked guy!"
Something shuffled and fidgeted nearby, but I was too angry to pay any mind to it.
"No," he said darkly, "you will. That dog has... ways of manipulating others. He'll play with your mind and make you be on his side. I should know..."
I calmed down a bit, intrigued again.
"He... he possessed you?" I asked.
"Not exactly. But his words are very convincing."
And without another glance at me, Derek disappeared down the hall.
Well... at least I have my journal... Nothing else to do in this boring cell.
Later, SJ the Third.
~Lux
