Soul Saver

Chapter 1

I was walking home from shopping, my backpack full of groceries, when my foot caught something, causing me to trip. I looked back to see a creepy-looking jar. I pick it up to examine it closer. I go to put it down, but I can't. The jar is stuck to me. I go to rip it off with my other hand, but it just gets stuck to that hand. I try shaking it off, but it won't come off, no matter how hard I shake. 

I begin to panic, thinking that I'll never get the jar off of me, and then I calm myself thinking. I spot a thick branch, so I grab it with my free hand and shove it between the jar and my hand. I attempted to pry it off, but as I pushed on the stick, it felt like I was pulling the skin off my hand, causing me to quickly stop giving up on that idea and any hope of getting the jar off of me. 

I then realized that if my friends saw this, they'd freak out, so I quickly searched for something to hide it with. Still, I see nothing that could conceal this, so I place the jar near my hip to attach it and cover it with the edge of my jacket, hiding it as best as I can as I keep moving through the woods. 

Eventually, after wandering in the woods for hours, I find what I'm looking for: The House of Memories. At least that's what my friends and the owners call it, but honestly, it's just a two-story house in the woods with blacked-out windows and a red door. The house has a neat green lawn with a flower bed out front. 

A narrow path led to the door; everything looked clean, even though the house looked deserted, but I knew better. As I walked up the neat little path to the door, I straightened out the hood of my black jacket and looked around for any followers. Then I raised my hand as if to knock before suddenly turning on the spot to look behind me, and I saw nothing still, so I raised my fist and knocked twice on the door.
Then, stepping back a little, I examined my black jeans, brushing off a small white spot that had somehow made its way onto my pants; as an older boy with platinum blonde hair, skin that was so pale it was almost translucent, and shockingly bright purple eyes that seemed to see straight into your very soul and stood out on his otherwise regular face. He opened the door only a crack, not speaking until I lowered my hood just enough for him to recognize me, which he did almost immediately as he said, "Ella! We weren't expecting you so soon. We thought it would be another day, at least! You will have to wait while I alert the others, okay?"

I nodded as I said, "No problem, Peter."

He shut the door as I pulled my hood back up and sat on the doorstep facing the forest. While I waited, I pulled the strange jar off my hip, examining it closer, and I took note of the handles, which were small and located at the top. The main body was a beige color with dark blue stars all over it, but the lid caught my attention. It was a bright red color with baby blue writing that was illegible at first glance, but then the lines started to rearrange themselves, and I watched, mesmerized, as they quickly formed the words 'open me.' At first, I was hesitant, fearing what might be found within, but soon curiosity got the best of me, and I grabbed the lid, slowly pulling it off.

The minute it was clear of the jar, a blinding purple light hit my eyes, forcing me to close them. When I opened them again, I was no longer on the house's front porch; instead, I was on a frozen lake with a surrounding forest. I heard laughter, and looking behind me toward the lake, I saw ten boys of varying ages, ranging from eleven up to seventeen, all playing a particular game, which included them passing a flat rock with sticks from boy to boy. They were laughing and looked like they were having fun well, except one, who had jet-black hair and bright green eyes and looked around ten. He was standing at the edge of the lake with what looked like homemade skates in his left hand and a small stick in his right hand. He looked incredibly uncomfortable, but I approached him and said, "Hey, kid, could you tell me where I'm at?" He didn't seem to hear me, so I reached out to poke him in the shoulder, but my hand went right through him! I quickly pulled my hand back, gasping at the icy feeling of my hand going through his shoulder. Then I decided to try a different tactic, so I waved my hand before his face as I yelled, "HEY! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!"