Chapter 9 – A Turning Point in The Necklace That Protects Me by Miranda James
In this chapter of The Necklace That Protects Me, Miranda James introduces major changes to the story. Chapter 9 shifts the narrative tone, revealing secrets, advancing character arcs, and increasing stakes within the Internet genre.
I literally slammed into the light source. It was the teacher from my first class with a flash light. He grumbled a bit while righting himself, then helped me stand. He took out a walkie talkie from his pocket.
"I found her, everyone return to the dorms." He said into the walkie talkie.
He could see that I was shivering so he took his jacket off and threw it over my shoulders. I mumbled a thanks, he put his hand softly on my back and guided me back towards the school. Only then did I glance back, no monstrous animal in sight, I breathed a sigh of relief. If I told anyone about that animal they'd probably think I'd lost it, so I kept it to myself. Silently wondering what it was.
We arrived at the dorms and both Amy and Brie ran to me and engulf we with a hug. They took off the teacher's coat and replaced it with a thick wool blanket and brought me inside to the couch and sat down with me. Someone brought me a coffee to help warm me up. We were surrounded by concerned looking students and a few teachers. No one really talked. Going that far into the woods was forbidden.
Someone cleared their throat and everyone looked towards them. In the doorway stood Mr. Alan Lincoln. The headmaster of the school. He was a tall man, probably well over 6 feet tall. He had broad shoulders with lots of muscles. His hair on his head and beard was brown. He hard hard brown almost black eyes. He was giving me a very sharp look before I looked away. He was very intimidating.
"Everyone, thank you for locating Miss Smith. If you would all be so kind to please head back to your rooms to warm up and get to bed. It's very late so we will cancel school tomorrow. Thank you for your bravery and time, please rest up." Mr. Lincoln declared to everyone but me. Amy and Brie reluctantly left me when Mr. Lincoln gave them a hard look.
Once everyone cleared out Mr. Lincoln sat down on a leather chair across from me. He was so big the chair seemed to scream in protest. He intertwined his fingers and rested his chin on them before looking straight at me. I froze under his gaze.
"Miss Smith, would you like to tell me why you ditched class and why we found you out in the woods? Everyone has been worried sick. Thankfully some of your classmates saw you go into the woods so we had an idea of where to look!" He all but shouted the end at me. I was shaken and very intimated but I knew I had to reply.
I opened my eyes to see a woman standing in front of me. I don't know who this woman is or what's wrong. She has beautiful silver hair that's matted with leaves and sticks. Her face though beautiful is distraught, her face is a very creamy pale color. Her lips are as red as blood. She has tears running down her face and a bruise just below her left eye. She's holding my necklace. The moonlight shines on the single engraved word "Noel".
"Take this." She says, "Noel! Take this and run. Put it around your neck and never, NEVER take it off. It will keep you safe."
The woman hears something and turns around to look, then looks back at me with panic and sorrow in her eyes.
I hear a male voice behind her mumbling something, I can't make out what he's saying. I can't make out the man's face as he walks up behind the woman and squeezes her shoulders. He takes the necklace, wincing, and slips it over my head. They're talking to me but I can't hear what they're saying. I only see the panic in their face.
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