Hey hey, and welcome back to the project from hell. For this story, I'm going to be reacting to 2 chapters because they're both like 1000 words and part of a novel(ish) thing 😅

Also, if you didn't read the chapter directly before this, I would recommend it because it provides a little bit of background about this story!

Here

We

Go

It was the day of the Vernal Equinox. It was a lovely, picturesque

If there's one thing I remember from writing this, it was that I was obsessed with the word "picturesque"

spring day in March; flowers were budding in bright colors, and birds chirping sweetly in the trees. London was filled with activity, some birdwatching, some shopping and bustling about the streets, and much more, too. As 12 year old Jade Parker swiftly rode her motor scooter home from school, she couldn't help but smile. It was a rather splendid day, truly. No more thick, puffy winter jackets and mittens.

As Jade reached the suburbs, she spotted her house. She continued down the road. She rode into the driveway, and she made her motor scooter stop to a halt. She took her hands off of the handlebars. She dismounted her motor scooter, took off her helmet, and walked indoors.

Let's spend an entire paragraph talking about how we got off a scooter, shall we??

"Hello, Jade," called Jade's father as she stepped inside. "How was your school day?"
Jade smiled. "It was brilliant. We played dodgeball in P.E., which was rather fun indeed."

Just curious, does anyone else tend to always get hit in the face when they play dodgeball? Or just me?

*cries in dodgeball hatred*

"Well done. Listen, sweetie, I have to take the car for some petrol and run a few errands. Mum has to work a bit later tonight than usual, so you would be home alone for a while. Is that alright?"
"Yes, it's fine. Anyway, I have some homework to complete." Jade stated.
"Okay. I'll lock the doors, and if you need me, just ring me on my mobile phone." Jade's father said.
"Alright, thanks, dad." Jade said, as her father walked out of the door. "See you soon," her father replied.

Tbh, this whole no spaces in between paragraphs thing is giving me a stroke

Jade shuffled to the kitchen table, and unpacked her book bag. She began on her maths homework, which was fraction division.

When she finished her arithmetic assignment, she pulled out her geography paper. The teacher had said to color the countries in Asia based on their climates. Jade stood up from her seat and went to the 'art drawer' in the kitchen under the drawer with dishrags and such.

Just as she was about to take out some markers, she noticed a small note atop the counter.
Jade, curious, grabbed the note, wondering what it said. It read:
I'll see you tonight when the clock strikes twelve. I have an urgent and important message.
-E
'Huh?' Jade pondered. 'Who is E?'
Jade just shrugged, and went back to her homework. She could ask about it at dinner time.

Wait, so, we're just gonna ignore this completely random note from an unknown person?

At dinner, Jade chewed on her meatloaf slowly, savoring the delicious taste. She hid her broccoli underneath her napkin when her father wasn't looking, for she detested broccoli.
"Dad?" Jade said. "I have something to interrogate you about."

dAd, I hAvE sOmEtHiNg tO-

*ahem*

INTERROGATE

yOu aBoUt

"Sure thing, what is it?" Jade's father asked.
"When I was finishing my homework today, I found a rather odd letter. I didn't know of who wrote it, and I was wondering if you knew what it meant."
Jade's dad looked confused. "A letter? But we got only a catalog in the post. Well, no bother, let me take a look at it."
"Okay. Let me go fetch it." Jade replied.

Quick thing— I feel like I'm trying way too hard to make this sound British

Also, to my British readers:

On behalf of my past self,

Sorry

Jade walked over the the countertop, where she had left the letter. It was still there, so she grabbed it and went back to the kitchen table.
"This is the note," Jade said as she held it up to show to her father. A wave of confusion splashed over her when her father stated,
"Jade, sweetie, there is not a note in my sight. I don't what you're talking about, there is no letter here."

uH oH

Jade went pale. 'What?' she wondered. 'But, there is a letter in my hand right at this moment.'

right at this moment

"Nonsense, you must be joking with me, dad. There is a note right here." she stated flatly. Jade waved the note in his face.
Her father pursed his lips. "No, dear, you must be kidding. You're acting rather peculiar, I don't know why you think there is a mysterious letter among us, but clearly there is nothing."

Jade went as pale as a ghost this time, her eyes as massive as saucers.
"I'm not hungry anymore." Jade said. "I feel a bit ill."
Jade's father looked worried. "I don't know what's up with you tonight, meatloaf is your favorite. Well, for now, I suppose you should just rest in your room. Call for me if you need something."
"Sure." Jade said as she left the dining room.
Jade plodded up the stairs, petrified. How come her father could not see the note before him, but she could? Was she just seeing things? Had she gone mad? When she reached the top of the staircase, she sprinted to her bedroom and closed the door.

Did I mention how this "no spaces between paragraphs" thing is giving me a stroke?

That night, as Jade lay in bed, she watched the clock observantly. It read 11:50 P.m. Jade bit her lip in anticipation. Her mind twirled with thoughts of what could happen when the clock struck midnight. She clutched the note in her hand reading it over and over under the light of a flashlight.
When the clock reached 11:59, she felt a sudden exhaustion. Her eyes fell closed slowly, and she fell asleep.

I wish I could fall asleep in one minute 😂 Tell me your secrets Jade

But, right when she fell under sleep's spell, the clock struck midnight.
Jade had a dream. She was walking through her school amid her fellow students. She was walking to the lavatory.

Excuse me, um, may you show me to the lavatory?

When she entered the bathroom, she walked into a stall when she saw something that put her awestruck and made her jaw hit the floor.

what if she walked in on someone lol

just like

think about it

you're just doing your business and all of a sudden a 12 year old walks in and is like

I am so, so sorry

Standing before her was her dead twin sister, Emma, who was killed 7 years ago in a car crash. But she was alive, and instead of 5 years of age was 12 like Jade.

That's actually really sad, I actually feel really bad for her

"Emma? Is that you?" she asked.
"Yes, indeed. I have come to you for a significant reason. I sent you a note earlier today."
Jade suddenly remembered the letter.

"But..but..how....it can't be..." Jade stammered in shock.
"I know it seems impossible, but it's real. I'm back. And this is truly a life and death situation for the fate of our family. You see, many years ago, before you and I were born into the world, mum and dad received an ancient opal gem. The gem protected whatever family it was in possession of." Emma explained.

"Also, it was only available to people with powers beyond imagining. You see, if the opal was away from whoever owned it, the people would be haunted for all eternity if they couldn't find it again before sundown on the fifth day. And the opal- was stolen from mum and dad. That's why mum began working "overtime"-to take time to search for it while she was supposedly working."

Wait wait wait. So hold up a quick second here.

If you have the opal but then don't have it anymore, you are haunted, right? So why did this person give the opal to the parents in the first place?

"I don't understand- Mum and Dad have powers? And so do we?" Jade asked, confused and fearful.
Emma nodded. "Mum has hydrokinesis, and dad has time control. He can stop time and resume it without anyone knowing it. Mum can control even the vast Atlantic with a snap of her fingers."

"Emma, I don't get it- but why would someone steal it? The gem?"
Emma glanced at the wall clock. "I must depart. I shall see you again soon, dear sister." Emma said swiftly.

"I shall see you again soon, dear sister"

Welcome to the 1800s peeps

"Wait a moment, I have so many questions!" Jade shouted. "Don't leave!"
And then, Emma vanished into thin air, and Jade woke up, gripping her torch tightly, sweaty and scared.
"It's alright Jade. It was just a dream," she said to herself, less nervous.

...Or was it?

But, when she turned her head, right before her eyes was Emma. Her dead sister. Her only sister. The sister whom appeared to her in a dream.

Jade was in utter shock. Then she fainted into her bed.

Aaand that's it for chapter one of Everest's Gem! Let me know what you guys thought of this reaction 😂

-Mel