Ruby Shimmer (re-write)

CHAPTER ONE

My day began like any other.

I was on my way to my latest short term job, this time selling t-shirts at a local concert being held in my hometown of Myrtle Springs.

A few days earlier, I had gotten a call from my old classmate asking me for help with running the souvenir booth at the event. And I happily agreed, if only because I had had a secret crush on Tristan Mathers since junior high.

So, I was kind of hoping that since he called me himself, I would finally be able to gather the courage to tell him how I had felt about him all these years. I even went so far as to dress entirely different from how I normally would, in hopes of gaining his attention.

Instead of my usual blue jeans, simple t-shirt, and my favorite pair of rainbow high-tops, I now wore a dark blue denim miniskirt paired with a brown braided belt and a bright red over-the-shoulder blouse, the tightness of which helped to enhance my less than ample chest. Completing my new look was a pair of dark brown western boots that gave an extra few inches to my usual height of 5'2". And just yesterday, I decided to get a manicure, so my nails were tinted a deep crimson red.

I eventually made it to the fairgrounds where the concert took place every year. I quickly parked my truck in the dirt lot, then made my way towards the merch booth, which I found just a short ways from the main stage.

However, the moment I arrived at the booth in question, I was surprised to find that there was no one else there, even though the concert would be starting in just a few hours and we still needed to sort through the inventory, as well as put everything on display and ready for purchase.

I only meant to wait for a few minutes, but before I knew it, I had been waiting for over twenty. In fact, I was just about to give up and head back home when I suddenly heard the sound of muffled voices coming from around the next corner from my current position.

Hoping that it might be Tristan, I immediately headed in the direction of the actual voices, only to be completely horrified by what I saw.

Tristan Mathers himself was on one knee, proposing to none other than Michelle Carlton, the richest girl in town, the mayor's daughter, former head cheerleader(though she only got the position thanks to her daddy's influence), and my long time rival and mortal enemy.

I watched on in anguish as the love of my life slipped a ring on her finger before she pulled him into a passionate kiss. And after that, I couldn't bear to watch them one more minute, so I ended up running away from the newly engaged couple with heartbroken tears streaming down my face.

I ran as fast as I could, not slowing down for a second until I had reached my truck, after which, I yanked open the driver side door and practically threw myself into the front seat, determined to put as much distance between me and my hurt as physically possible.

It took far too long for my taste, but I finally made it out of the parking lot. And once I had reached the main street, I slammed my foot on the gas pedal and raced out of there at top speed.

However, I was so upset that my eyes were starting to well up with tears again and I was unable to see exactly where I was driving. So, by the time I had calmed down enough to think rationally, I realized that I was now in the middle of nowhere with my gas tank running on nothing but fumes.

I tried my cell phone right away, but unfortunately, I was unable to get a signal. Not one single bar.

Growing anxious, I cautiously exited the truck and glanced around until my eyes eventually landed on an old rusted street sign lying on the side of the road.

I walked over and picked it up, thinking that it would at very least tell me where I was. But, it was far too faded and rusty to read anything. So, all I knew for sure was that I was utterly lost and that I had no reliable way to call for help. And to make matters worse, I had realized that it was even starting to rain.

Just my goddamn luck.

Because of all this, I was starting to panic about being stranded on the side of the road in the falling rain.

I spent nearly fifteen minutes trying to come up with a decent plan before I eventually came to the conclusion that I had no other choice but to find a way home on my own.

So, I pulled out the foldable umbrella I always kept beneath the back seat, then dropped my phone into my backpack, along with the charger for obvious reasons.

After doing this, I flung my bag over my shoulders and with a heavy sigh, just started walking in a random direction. At this point, I was hoping against all hope that I would be able to find someone willing to help a person in need, even if that person was a total stranger.

And if I proved lucky enough, they might also be willing to let me ride out the storm somewhere warm and dry. Maybe even give me a ride back to town.

I knew I could end up walking for some time, but thankfully, I always keep a few energy bars in my backpack, just in case. I also thought that I would have been spending at least a few hours working the concert event, so I also had a tall sports bottle I had filled with ice water. So, I luckily had enough food and drink to keep my energy up.

However, after over an hour of uneventful travel, the skies had suddenly opened up without warning. The next thing I knew, I was caught in a heavy downpour that within seconds had grown so strong that I could barely see, all of the surrounding area reduced to nothing but shapes and shadows.

I immediately pulled out my umbrella, but since I both couldn't see and didn't know where the hell I was, I began to wonder if I should just head back to my truck. This was especially because for all I knew, I was still miles away from anything and would just end up wandering around for hours in the pouring rain.

I had just decided to start retracing my steps when I was suddenly stopped by a strange new sensation that spread from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I even felt it seep into every bone and muscle.

I didn't know what it meant back then. All I did know was that the sensation itself seemed to be calling out to the deepest depths of my very soul, the mysterious new pulses irresistibly drawing me towards its source, whatever the hell that might be.

And when I say irresistibly, I mean irresistibly, for my feet had already begun to move all on their own, forcing me to continue to travel through the storm. My umbrella had already been dropped to the ground, resulting in me getting more and more soaked with each passing minute.

I fought and struggled against the mysterious force as best I could, but it was all in vain as I continued to be dragged against my will for an unknown amount of time.

Eventually, the rain had finally calmed down enough for me to be able to make out some sort of massive structure through the downpour.

But, there was something incredibly weird going on with this unusual situation, for I could still feel those same energies that I had felt when my body had first begun moving. And not only that, but I had also noticed that, wherever I was being led, the closer I got, the stronger the pulses became.

This went on for quite a bit of time and only continued to gain more and more strength until I was completely overwhelmed by the energies that I felt as if someone were driving a large metal spike directly into my skull and right into my brain.

But, what truly scared me was the fact that I seemed to even be losing control over my own thoughts as I had begun to feel my consciousness slowly fading away into a dense fog.

And finally, the world around me had drifted away into a silent void.