INSIDE MY MIND

-By Lady Lucritia-

~Prologue~

"Grandpa, I'm tired. Can we go home?" Christine asked, tugging on her grandfather's sleeve.

The old man peered at her affectionately, straightened his glasses, and smiled.

"Not quite yet. Just a little bit longer, Chrissy. Go look at the stuffed animals," Grandfather replied.

Chrissy hurried over to the toys while Grandfather sighed and looked around. This was the 5th garage sale he'd been to, and he still couldn't find it. He had searched and asked and bargained, but nothing was there. He hoped that 5 was a charm and began to search. Yard supplies, a lawn mower, silverware, and old CD's; none of them was what he wanted.

Suddenly, as he was running his fingers along some fake pearl necklaces, he found it.

Picking it up tenderly by its $10 price tag, he draped the golden chain over his hand. A heart-shaped locket dangled from the chain, and Grandfather could clearly see the musical note engraved on the golden front. His hands shaking, he opened the locket and gazed sadly at the picture inside. A serious looking, handsome boy with a long jagged scar running down the right side of his face was next to a timid looking but smiling brunette girl who was wearing the very same locket Grandfather was holding.

A soft, ethereal song played from the locket, and Grandfather listened to it with tears in his eyes. Chrissy, clutching a stuffed panda, rushed to her grandfather and grabbed his hand.

"Grandpa?"

"It's right here," Grandfather whispered, looking at the musical locket. "Just as she said. Now Peter, tell me: did her nightmare ever end?"

Chrissy looked at him in surprise.

"Nightmare?"

Grandfather squeezed Chrissy's hand.

"Let's go buy our things. There's no nightmare."

And as they left with their things, Chrissy heard a quiet, haunting voice.

"Christine . . . Christine . . . "