Staci had bullied me since middle school with her snide, underhanded remarks. After bumping into me and knocking my books out of my hand with a, “Careful, Calista, your clumsiness is gonna trip someone,” I thought, “You’re gonna trip, bitch.” And she did. Right down the stairs, breaking her nose and her wrist.
I already suspected the stone was listening to my thoughts and making them happen without wishing for it. That incident was the clarification I needed, and it petrified me. Staci could’ve been gravely injured or died. She may have been a shitbag teen, but she didn’t deserve that, and I didn’t want it on my conscience. As soon as I got home from school that day, I put the pendant in my jewelry box, and that’s where it stayed even after I moved out on my own. That was, until I brought it back here to get it away from me. I eyed the vent, but I couldn’t tell if it had been moved.
The shimmery black stone dug into my palm as I squeezed it. I cursed and eased my grip when an enthusiastic jolt of energy seeped into me.
I could do it, I thought. Ease one of my worries and ask for money to tide me over while I job hunted. Stop screwing around on the HookUp app so there was no risk of pregnancy, then he couldn’t come for me. I’d get my life back in order. I could be successful, albeit celibate and lonely.
“What are you doing in here?” Patty’s stern voice made my back stiffen.
“Uh, nothing.”
She pursed her lips when I stood and faced her. Her cold, unforgiving stare scrutinized me. “What do you have there?”
I dropped my chin and squeezed my eyes as tight as I squeezed the necklace. I didn’t want her to ask me any questions or demand I give it to her. It pulsed in my hand as if I made a wish and declared it a done deal. My terror mixed with relief when I held the pendant up by the chain. It dangled from my fingers, lightly swaying back and forth.
“I was looking for this.”
Patty’s nostrils flared, and she reached for it. “That ugly old thing?” Before she could touch it, it shocked her. She jerked back and hugged her hand to her chest. “I swear I threw it out ages ago.”
I tried to hide my surprise as I slipped the necklace into my pocket, but it didn’t escape her notice. Honestly, I was shocked she hadn’t thrown everything out of my old room. Dad probably kept her from doing it.
“We better get back to dinner.”
As I passed her, she said, “Are you forgetting something?”
Eggshells. Eggshells everywhere. To keep from fighting with her, I dropped my gaze. “May I take the necklace with me?”
She joined me in the hall and closed the door to my room. “Yes, you may.”
I followed her down the stairs and slipped my hand into my pocket to make one final wish before I hid this godforsaken nightmare once and for all.
I wish for ten thousand dollars.
