The Necklace

Written by Ruth O. Caluban

Andrea Rosette isn’t your typical girl. She has curly brown hair, some freckles, and her eyes are as blue as the ocean. She is a lean fifteen year old orphan; her parents died when she was ten years old and she was left under the custody of her wicked aunt. She has an older brother named Chad; although she has never seen him since the car accident.

Life is unbearable and miserable for her. Laundry here and household chores over there, name them, she does those things for her aunt, Ella. It seems like nobody will save her from her aunt and now she is suffering terribly with what’s going on in her life- no one to talk to, no one to rely on. If only she can follow her parents where they are, but she promised them to live. They died as they embraced their son and daughter to protect them from that unfortunate accident.

Ever since the accident, she wasn’t herself anymore. She would always wonder why that accident had to happen and why it had to be her family who died. Days, weeks, and months passed and she felt that she cannot live like this anymore. She has to do something that will change her situation.

She planned her escape that night when Aunt Ella was intently sleeping because of her birthday celebration that day. Andrea thought of that opportunity and prepared everything for her escape. It was past 12 when she scurried through the entrance door. She had to be very cautious or she will be trapped in that hell forever. She made it through the main street, then to the highway. She was as nervous as a pug but felt relieved at the same time. She’s on her own now.

She tried to board a transport bus and go somewhere but there weren’t any buses available at that time of the night. She waited and waved as a desperate passenger but all was useless.


Suddenly, a white van halted in front of her. She did not expect something like that and she felt as if her heart will explode due to fear. Two men in black went out of the van, dragged her in, and covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming. Andrea then lost consciousness.

Everything was as dark as oblivion. There were no sounds or lights at all. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a flashing light appeared from a distance and approached near her position. She was terrified of what lies beyond that light; but she heard familiar voices, her parents.

She tried to reach out for them but she wasn’t able to. Instead, Andrea fell from a certain bed unfamiliar to her. She embraced herself and cried. She wished that incident were real but she was only dreaming. She held tight to the necklace given to her by her parents on her 9th birthday. The only remembrance she had from her parents – a pendant with a picture of her parents with Chad and her and with different colored jewels each having its own meaning. She always wondered what’s behind those jewels.

Now, she is in a place unknown to her and who knows what is going to happen now. If only I stayed... If only I... many if’s but here she is now.

She heard men’s voices from afar and they are now going to her direction. She had no idea what to do and where to go. Still hurt from what happened last night, she was escorted by a man in his forties to a room filled with children her age.

Thirteen, fifteen, and more than that, girls and boys are in that hall. They were asked to listen and to pay attention. She realized that she is under the largest child syndicate in the city of Seattle. They will be deployed to some urbanized areas to ask for alms from the people. Eventually, their collection will be given to the leader of the gang.

Andrea did not know what to do but she was oriented by her fellow victims. She did not dare escape since there were many eyes watching over them. She never thought that this incident would happen.


Days, nights, weeks, and months passed. Andrea could no longer bear the job. She never had a bountiful meal and peaceful sleep. She only felt comfort when visited by her parents in her dreams. They are trying to show her something within her, but when she’s about to get hold of it, she wakes up. She can only remember one thing, the necklace.

How can the necklace help her? She thought of ways and examined the gift she received. “Discover your power” is the inscription written at the back of the pendant. Day by day, she thought of something, a plan to escape or to defeat the enemies, but how? The day before her birthday, she must do something, whatever it takes. She doesn’t want to be suffering in this hell-like place.

It was almost midnight and everyone was sleeping. She tiptoed until she reached the key of the guard on duty. She tried to awaken the children and teens. They made their way thru the dark tunnel and were about to escape when they were stopped by many guards. Everyone was worried and Andrea never thought of this instance. She closed her eyes and thought of her parents suddenly everyone seemed astonished. Andrea opened her eyes and saw her necklace glowing. She felt something unexplainable within her. Guards surrounded them but she was able to overpower them.

She did not know exactly what happened but she defeated the syndicate with her powers. They all fought, but it was the necklace that boosted her spirit.

Captives were now freed and they were put back to their homes. Andrea never heard of her aunt again. She continued her studies while she was working. No one can explain what happened back then that, for an instant. turned her into a superhero. Today, she is now a manager of a restaurant and is looking for her brother, Chad, for answers. What happened to the necklace? She still has it with her – something that gives her power over evil.