Editor’s Note: This article features the second and third chapters of Shayla Goodsell’s creative writing story “Lougaroo” which will be published at different points throughout the school year. If you missed any earlier chapters of the story, they are available in the arts and entertainment section archives on this website.                                                                                                                                           

                                                                            Chapter II

    The old woman sat in her chair in front of the six children once more, ready to begin her tale of Marianna, and the mysterious box. She seemed as excited as the children now, her eyes alight with remembrance as she begins the story without hesitation.

*****

     Marianna now sat in her room, holding the two small objects in her hand. Who would send such small things in such a large box? She thought as she turned them over in her hands. A ring and a necklace, each bearing an L insignia on the large jewels set into metal. On the back of the necklace and the band of the ring, read a single inscription. “You are the chosen.”

     “Chosen, chosen for what?” she muttered, slipping the ring on her finger to try it on. “Hm, perfect fit…odd,” she said softly, trying to take the ring off again. But the band seemed to tighten around her finger, refusing to come loose. She sighs, and gives up trying to remove it. It was a pretty ring after all, as was the necklace. She picked the necklace back up and wondered if it would be the same. If she put it on, would it be impossible to remove again. Curious as ever, she did, clasping the gold colored chain around her neck. She waited a couple moments before reaching back to unclasp it. But she couldn’t find the clasp. she felt along the chain, thinking maybe it had slipped down as most clasps did. But it hadn’t, there just wasn’t a clasp anymore.

           Then there was a knock on the door, and she jumped, hitting her head against the headboard. She winced, rubbing the already forming bump on her head and got up, going to the door to open it after slipping the necklace under her shirt. James was standing there, smiling the smile that he almost always wore.

     “Why did you leave like that, Mari? Everyone’s dying to know what was in the box…I really wanna know too,” he said softly. “But you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” She looked at him, before stepping aside to let him in. She shut the door behind him, locking it before going to sit on her bed, patting the space beside her for him to sit.

“I’ll tell you but you can’t tell anyone else, okay?” She asked the younger boy as he sat.

“I promise I won’t tell anyone, Mari,” he said, crossing his heart. She smiled at him before pulling the necklace out from under her shirt collar.

“I got this and this. I thought it was very strange, the only other thing in the box was rocks.” She told him, also showing him the ring. He looked at her in surprise, reaching out to touch the necklace, before jerking his hand back.

“Ow! It-It shocked me!” he exclaimed, and it was her turn to be surprised.

     “I’m sorry.” she said, dropping the necklace back under her shirt. The fact that it had shocked him made her curious. Normally it would have shocked her too, if it had been static electricity. But that was not the case. “I’m going to take a nap. Why don’t you go play with the others, James.” She added and got up, ushering him out of the room, before looking at the necklace. Why had it shocked him? Was it some sort of protection device? Machinery disguised as as jewelry.

*****

       The old woman yawned softly and looked at the children. She grinned at them with a grin that spoke of suspense and mystery. It was a grin that the children would hate to see for the rest of their lives. It meant story time was over for the night.

“Time for bed, rest your head. You’ll hear more of the story another night, ” she said, gazing at the fire with eyes that seemed distant, still lost in the story.

                                                                                                    Chapter III

               For the third night, the old women sat in the chair. The children piled themselves around her as she smiled, opening her mouth to begin the story as she gazed into the white-orange flames burning in the fireplace.

*****

       The ring and necklace proved to be more trouble than Marianna first thought. For the necklace would warm up when someone she disliked was around and the ring would chill to freezing temperatures just before a fight would break out between two, or more of her siblings. With each new “power” the two pieces of jewelry began to show, the more frantic Marianna became in trying to remove them. Her mind would whirl through different theories of the “witchcraft” the ring, and necklace possessed.

      For three nights, she obsessed over them, going from weighing the pros, and cons of having the jewelry to trying to pry them off. But nothing she did or thought, could remove them, because she was the chosen one. On the fourth night, they came for her, those who had deemed her the chosen.

     “Who are you?” she cried, trying to loosen the ropes binding her wrists to no avail.

     “We are the Lougaroo. We are your family, your brothers and sisters, mothers, and fathers. We plan no harm for you, so do not fear, Marianna of the Redwood Clan,” said a tall man with silvery-blue eyes.

     “W-What do you mean? I have brothers, and sisters, and my adopted parents. Take me back! I don’t know you,” Marianna shouted.

     “We cannot, you are one of us. You know it, you must, for your Lougaroo traits have started to reveal themselves,” he said to her, cutting the ropes binding her wrists.

     “Oh of you? Okay, listen, I have no idea who you are or what is going on. But I’m telling you, you’ve got the wrong girl!” she cried, trying to back away, only to bump into another one of her captors.

    “Marianna, it is you who we are looking for. If you were not our Marianna, then you wouldn’t have been able to pick up the ring, and necklace. They would have shocked or burned you.” He said, looking frustrated.

     “Then, what do you want from me? What does it mean to be chosen?” she asked, trying to keep calm in such a terrifying situation. The man laughed softly, grasping her wrist and dragged her toward the building they had parked in front of.

     “I’m going to start this all from the beginning, then I’ll answer your questions,” he said, shoving her inside the old building and leading her toward a well lit living room where two other girls,and three younger boys were already sitting, looking less frightened than she was.

     “Who are they?” she asked.

     “They are other chosens. Now listen, everyone. My name is Micah, I am the same as you. I, too, was in the same position as you once. Now I understand in full, what it means to be chosen. You are all children of the Lougaroo, shapeshifters. I will be your teacher, your guardian, and your best friend or worst enemy. There are for others you will look to for guidance. They are Justin and Jason. Jason, unfortunately, could not be with us today, but Justin is here. He’ll be by in a moment to take you to your rooms and roommates. Now I’d like you all to take turns saying your names, so you can learn who each other are. Not all of you are biological siblings, but we will always be your brothers and sisters, regardless of the blood that runs in your veins. Now, go.” The man-Micah-said, waving his hand at the oldest boy.

     “I am Michael June,” he muttered, looking less than thrilled to be there.

     “I am Sapphire Jesse,” the girl next to him said, her voice shrill and nails-on-the-chalkboard sounding.

     “I am Timothy,” the youngest boy murmured, smiling brightly at Marianna.

     “I’m Lysander Reich,” the last boy said in a soft and shy voice.

     “I’m Molly-Ann,” the oldest girl said, smiling gently.

     “Good, alright. Justin, you can take-Oh, Jason, when’d you get in?” Micah asked, drawing attention to the tall, blonde-haired man with gold and black eyes. He looked up, gazing straight at Marianna as he spoke.

     “A bit ago. Not long,” he said and Marianna looked away, feeling both threatened and intrigued.

*****

“You’ll have to wait until the next night to hear more. Now, it’s bedtime children,” the old woman said.

“But, grandmother…who is Jason? Isn’t that grandfather’s-” One of the older children began, only to be cut off by the old woman.

“You’ll have to wait and see,” she said.