Somewhere To Belong: On the Way to Work

"I'm off, Uncle. Is there anything you need before I go?" Suko asked.

"Actually, I got you something today," her Uncle replied.

"Really? You didn't have to do that."

"I found it at the pawn shop around the corner. I thought it would be perfect for you," he said as he handed her a small, rectangular, black box.

Suko opened it and inside lay the most beautiful dark red necklace she had ever seen. "Oh, wow!" she exclaimed completely overtaken with glee, " it's so beautiful. I love it! Thank you so much. Will you help me put it on?"

No sooner than her Uncle had fastened it around her neck, she felt a strange, warm sensation flow through her body from the roots of her hair to the very tips of her toes. "Thanks, Uncle," she said as she kissed him on the cheek, " see ya' later."

" Be careful, dear."







It was such a beautiful evening in early September that Suko could still get away with not wearing a coat to work. And she loved to walk. Not only was it good exercise but she also got to learn every nook and cranny of her town.

She stopped and looked at her watch. Oh no! 4:15 already! She had to be at work by 4:30! "Better pick up the pace, Suko," she told herself, "almost there. Only a few more blocks to g-..." she stopped dead in her tracks as she saw a sight that sickened her. In the alleyway off to her left, she saw three grown men closing in on a little white-haired girl.

"Hey, cutie, what's that you got in your hand? Why don't you be a good girl and show daddy what it is," taunted one of the men. The girl said nothing, but only stared at him blankly.

"C'mon, sweetheart, we won't hurt you...much," laughed another.

"That's it! I have heard enough!" Suko said to herself. "Hey, you creeps! Get away from her!" she yelled out as she swung her purse and hit one of them in the head.

"Oh, you like to play rough, huh? So do I," said the injured man as he pulled a small pocketknife from his back pocket.

"Oh, shit," Suko thought, "he's going to kill me!"

It was only now that Suko was close enough to get a good look at the girl she (so stupidly) decided to play hero to.

This girl was strange. Her hair was the color of snow and she had deep, black, empty eyes that showed no fear or emotion whatsoever. And in her hands she held a... a mirror? What was that for? And, in an instant, the girl spoke...

"Give me your souls," was all that Suko heard as a bright, blinding light erupted from the mirror that the girl held tight in her hands. Suko closed her eyes and was plunged into total darkness, as once again she felt that warm sensation consume her body.