By the time I got home, the night felt heavier than when I first stepped out. The case in my pocket kept pressing against my side, warm and alive like it had its own heartbeat. I closed the door quietly and sat on the edge of my bed, pulling the bundle out carefully.
The fabric seemed even more frayed in the light of my bedroom. I slowly untied the ropes, as if the case would bite me back if I wasn't careful enough. My hands trembled slightly, but I told myself to relax.
I lifted the lid and gazed at the pendant.
It was lovely, in a strange manner.
The blue metal was glowing softly, as if it was lit from within. Swirling patterns danced across its surface, curving like tiny waves or vines. I hunched forward, hoping to find something more—perhaps a message or a secret design—but there was nothing. Only the odd pattern, clean edges, and that odd glow.
I reached out and touched it once more.
This time, it felt ordinary.
No shocks. No heat. Just cool metal across my fingertips.
I closed my eyes and withdrew my hand. "So. that's it?" I said to myself.
It didn't seem like much anymore. Perhaps I'd imagined the initial shock. Perhaps the heat was nerves.
I gazed at the pendant for a few more minutes, turning it around in my hands. I attempted to locate something unusual, something that accounted for why it was feeling alive. But nothing. It was simply an object of metal—beautiful, perhaps, but typical.
My eyes stung. The weariness of the day at last overtook me. My body hurt, my head ached, and all the questions simply flew out of my mind. I rewrapped the pendant in its cloth, loosely knotted it, and slid it into my drawer. It was preferable to forget it rather than think about it.
I climbed into bed and wrapped the blankets around me. My eyes snapped shut before I could even start to wonder what it all meant.
The morning after, I woke up earlier than I normally would. Light crept through the window, illuminating the room as if nothing had occurred. For a few seconds, I remained motionless, hearing the quiet buzz of the city coming to life.
I pushed the blankets aside and stood up. My body was tired, but I knew I couldn't afford to waste the day. My little brothers and sisters would require my attention, and work wouldn't be delayed.
I walked into the kitchen where Liam, Noah, and Grace sat around the table with cereal bowls in front of them, half-eaten.
"Morning," I said, filling Grace's bowl with milk.
"Hey, Ethan!" Liam smiled, still rubbing his eyes.
Noah simply groaned, "Five more minutes."
I chuckled softly. "Come on, guys. School's not gonna wait."
Grace smiled up at me. "Can you teach me how to shoot like you today?"
I grinned back, mussing her hair. "Maybe later."
For a short while, I assisted with homework problems and prepared their lunches. It wasn't much, but I enjoyed the way their faces brightened every time I hung around, even though I felt exhausted.
I said goodbye to them and took my bag to work.
The characteristic odor of oil and metal greeted me the moment I entered the warehouse. The machinery clattered and crates were being piled up by other laborers. I went through the motions, but my thoughts couldn't help but wander back to the pendant in my desk.
Later in the morning, taking a quick break, I sat beside the loading dock with Marcus—one of the few individuals I could speak to freely.
"Yo, Marcus," I said, keeping my tone low. "You ever come across… strange things?"
He stared at me, raising an eyebrow. "Strange how?" Like broken equipment?"
No, not really," I faltered, and then I reached into my jacket pocket and opened the case to reveal the pendant.
His eyes glanced over it, but he wasn't impressed.
"It's… cool," he offered. "But I mean… looks like some old keepsake, right?
"I don't know," I confessed. "I picked it up last night in the bushes outside the court. It's strange—it kinda… seemed alive or something when I touched it. Like it zapped me or something."
Marcus laughed. "Man, you're exhausted. You must have just freaked out. When you're fatigued, things seem larger than they are."
I frowned. "But it wasn't like that. I swear. It felt .... warm, and like it was inviting me to touch it."
Marcus shrugged against the wall. "Dude, you work insane hours. You're on fumes. Anything you touch feels like it's zapping you. Ignore it, okay? Don't fuel it. Sounds like you're just just plain tired."
I glared at him, expecting more from him… but he just smiled, patting me reassuringly on the shoulder.
"Take a break if you need it," he said. "Don't make your brain cook itself."
His words should have helped, but they didn't. Nevertheless, I knew forcing it would only lead me further down the spiral. I nodded
"Yeah… maybe you're right."
That night, I returned home on foot with the image of the pendant still lingering behind my eyes. I stuffed the case deep into my pocket and kept my expression neutral, pretending nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
But deep within me, I knew it wasn't finished.