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Six people find six charms, placing the ancient powers of the world in their hands (FULL) |
| [Introduction]
{c} ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Please add within three days or you will be skipped. If you need more time, please email me and say so. Thanks. I had a campfire by this name a long time ago, and now I miss it, so since my upgrade was renewed I thought I'd make it again. The idea is, select an element and make a bio block for that character for your first addition. Star ♥   WATER: (FEMALE) The water charm enables its bearer to control- you got it- water. It's not a case of shoot water out of your fingertips, but if there is water around, you can control it, and you can also control it's temperature, so if steam or ice is required, you're the girl for the job. Finally, increased swimming abilities and an ability to breathe under water, plus an immediate alliance with all creatures of the sea make this charm a very powerful one indeed. Friend: Earth Foe: Fire Location: Ilopango Lake, El Salvador ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Little Ray of Sunshine FIRE: (MALE)The fire charm enables its bearer to not only control fire, but to create it from thin air- as long as there is enough oxygen about to keep it burning. Along with the usual destructive ability to hurl fireballs, also very useful for generating light and heat in cold, dark places. Friend: Air Foe: Water Location: Mount Fuji, Japan ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** serenaslove AIR: (FEMALE) The air charm gives its bearer several abilities- the most enviable one being flight. Air also has a close connection with all birds and flying insects, and she may find they come to her aid when she needs them. The final abilities of air include being able to generate storms and being able to hold breath for long periods of time, if necessary. Friend: Water Foe: Fire Location: Mount Everest, Nepal/Tibet ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** KC under the midnight sun  EARTH: (MALE) The earth charm enables its bearer to control the earth- from minor earthquakes to controlling trees and plant life. Can make plants grow and entagle round people, and can make plant life bend to it's will. Also has an ability to burrow underground, as the ground will move aside for the charm bearer. All ground insects are drawn to the earth charm and could provide its bearer help if needed. Friend: Mineral Foe: Animal Location: Buried in the Amazon Rainforest ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Aiken4LOTR ANIMAL: (FEMALE) While birds, sea life, and insects all heed other charms, the animal charm calls out to all land mammals, reptiles, and to a lesser extent amphibians. The bearer can to a degree control any land creature, and, after touching one, can pick up certain skills from them for a short period of time. For example, after touching a chameleon, develops an ability to fade into the background. Friend: Water Foe: Mineral Location: Kenya, Africa, in one of the large wildlife resrves ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** mirror on the wall MINERAL: (MALE) The mineral charm enables the bearer to control all mineral substances, particularly, rocks. Also, the bearer has an ability to become rock-like in density, therefore giving him an immense strength. Also his body develops a rock like encasing, keeping him safe from bodily harm and rendering him almost invincible. Friend: Fire Foe: Earth Location: Matienzo Caves, Spain ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Setting: It is modern day. The six characters find the charms in the locations, as listed above. It is summer time, and the characters are all adventurous energetic types so they have headed out for some daredevil activity, whether that be mountain (or volcano) climbing, scuba dving, cave exploring, safari, or trekking through the jungle. The charms have hidden for hundreds of years, but suddenly they feel a need to be found... Plot: When each character finds the charms, they keep them secret, feeling their power but not sure what it means. They do not discover or use any of their power until later, when they put the charms on. For now, they finish their explorations and head to their respective homes around the world. There, they are idly surfing the net when they find an interesting advert- "HAVE YOU SEEN THESE ITEMS?". On it is a picture of each charm. They click on the ad and find that someone wants to meet them in an office in London, which is where they decide to head. Don't want to give too much away just yet, I'll send everyone involved an email with a few details before each new entry, but basically there is someone else who wants to hold the power of the charms, and he wants it badly. For now, the first addition should be the bio block, and the second addition should help introduce us to the character and should detail their discovery of the charm in the respective locations. They shouldn't begin to use their power, or even be aware of it except perhaps a mild feeling, like heat in fire charm etc. Sorry to be so strict but I've seen too many good camfires ruined because the leader didn't give enough instructions and everyone just took the plot any old way they felt like. That's about it for now, hope we can have fun with this! |
| Name: Adam Hanley Age: 19 Charm: Fire Hometown: Aberdeen, Scotland Skin Colour: Naturally very pale, but as he is an adventurous sort his face, arms and legs tend to be freckled and lightly tanned from his outdoor exposure. Hair Colour/ Style: His hair is red, and cut fairly short, sometimes if he can be bothered styled into little spikes. Eye Colour: Green Height/ Weight: Due to his mountain climbing habits he is obviously very fit. He about 6'1, and toned but not hugely muscular. Face: He has a slim and fairly handsome face, with a small mouth, thin nose and widely spaced big eyes. Interests: Mountaineering, of course. Enjoys most extreme sports including bunjee jumping. His other interests include music, as he plays keyboard and guitar, and he has always been good with computers. On the other hand he hates swimming, is not a big reader and can't cook to save himself. Family: His rich prents are divorced, so he generally just stays some time with one, some time with the other. He is an only child, so he is spoilt. Qualities: He has a good sense of humour and is always looking for something fun to do. He also has a strong sense of commitment- if he says he'll do something, he does it. Can take a while to make friends, but when he does he can be very loyal. Negative Attributes: He can be arrogant and self centred at times. Has a firey temper and can be very stubborn when he wants something. |
Name: Alex Holden Age: 20 Charm: Mineral Hometown: Matienzo, Spain Skin Color: A browner, golden-honey sort. Hair Color/Style: Dark chestnut hair with a slight wave throughout its shagginess. Eye Color: A light hazel- brown with specks of green. Height/Weight: 5’8. He has a nice torso, from his broad shoulders, shoulder blades to his masculine collarbone. Face: Angular face-type, strong jaw line, sharp eyes that can be hidden from time to time as his hair can get in the way. There is an inch-long, horizontal scar just under his right eye. Interests: Traveling is his central interest. His other interests are much smaller and simpler; they are- rock collecting, reading, playing the guitar, and he wants to retire young and rich. Family: He is from a good family of seven, not including himself (who is the youngest of the lot), and although they are a big family they are not the affectionate type. His brothers and sisters are scattered all over Spain married happy with kids or successfully rich and lonely. Qualities: Intelligent in a sense that he is good at thinking of solutions, even under pressure. He has great charisma and can use it to influence others (although he does not see that he persuades people so easy, and even if someone were to point it out to him, he is the modest type). Alex overall appears composed more often than not, and is not a worrier. Negative Attributes: He can be selfish, and a little unfeeling (callus or hardhearted) sometimes. |
| Name: Valencia "Val" Morales Age: 18 Charm: Water Hometown: Dangriga, Belize Skin Colour: Warm, medium brown Hair Colour/ Style: Very dark, nearly black hair with some gentle curl. About chest length and all natural color. Eye Colour: Chocolate brown Height/ Weight: val is curvy, but still with a proportionate and slender look to her. Face: Val has a very soft and innocent look to her. She has small eyes and full cheeks and lips. Her dark lashes and eyebrows frame her face which is spotted with dark freckles. Interests: Val is an avid swimmer, having grown up right on the ocean. Her childhood home was a short walk to the beach and her family's middle class status made the beach the most afforable hangout in town. She has grown up around food, making it something she enjoys very much. The first thing she would spend her money on would be fine dining rather than clothes or shoes. She loves to go off on her own and hike to various tropical locations in Belize. Because of the size of the country, she has had plenty of opportunity to see it all and easily has. Family: Val is the youngest of two daughters. Her father was the sole provider for the family while she and her sister were growing up, but as the girls grew older and became more independant, her mother went back to work also. She is close with her parents and they have always had a great bond. She resisted leaving her family and ended up staying relatively close to home and she started the next chapter in her life. Qualities: Val is very kind and almost naive. She would rather distract herself with the wonders of the natural world than care about the problems of the social and material one. She is not overly talkative with people, but rather listens to conversations. This gives her great insight into people and also tells her about everything going on around her. She is not shy when it comes to exploring, however. Negative Attributes: Val is very trusting and tends to be somewhat gullible. She isn't stupid, but rather hasn't experienced much of the bad things in life. |
Name: Pyotr Izmailov Age: 21 Charm: Earth Hometown: Peter's Creek, Alaska Skin Color: alternately tanned, wind-blown in summer and on the pale-side, pinkish from cold in winter Hair Color/Style: sandy brown, shaggy from an overgrown haircut and held back with a headband or hidden under a hat Eye Color: brown Height/Weight: 5 ft, 8 and 1/4 inches and average build at 164 pounds Face: More square than round, with a strong jaw and moustache, a few scars from his many adventures and a few dark spots on his ears from frostbite Interests: dog-sledding, hunting, hiking, canoeing, four-wheeling, skiing, flying his plane Family: Pyotr's family is descended from the first colonists from Russia and they are proud of their heritage. Both his parents, their parents, and their brothers/sisters are all still living, scattered across the state, but with a heavy concentration in Anchorage. Pyotr is the youngest, with older three brothers and one sister. The sister is the oldest and is a traveling doctor among the native tribes around Nome. One of his brothers is going to school in the "Lower 48" (California) and the other two are in Anchorage with their parents and fairly happy and successful. Pyotr struck out on his own as a Forest Ranger shortly after finishing high school. Qualities: Independent, fearless, confident in his abilities to get out of any trouble he might get into. Conscious of always doing the right thing for the environment. He is respected by the natives and is one of the state's best rangers. Negative Attributes: A loner, he has few friends outside the natives and people he rescues. He has no patience or empathy for people who get themselves into trouble out of ignorance or stupidity and doesn't disguise it. |
| Name: Jaclyn Princessa Age: 19 Charm: Air Hometown: Santa Clarita, California Skin Color: Slightly tanned from being outside all the time for softball. Hair color/style: Blonde with light brown streaks. Eye color: Green Height/Weight: 5 foot 5 inches Intrests: Softball, animals, nursing, children, reading. Family: Her father Ron and mother Carla left to live in New York once Jaclyn was going to college full time. Qualities: Quiet but can be feisty at times, very active, is always trying to please everyone and that can lead to problems at times. Negative Attributes: Too shy and quiet. She never speaks her mind because she is afraid that someone will laugh at her if she asks the wrong questions. |
Name: Aelina (pronounced A-lina) Shepherd Age: 20 Charm: Animal Hometown: Masai Mara, Kenya (on the Masai Mara Reserve) Skin Color: She has medium brown complexion that has grown darker due to being outside under the African sun while studying wildlife. Hair Color/Style: Her hair is dark brown, sometimes appearing a dark blue or black in certain light. It is very straight and reaches down to the middle of her shoulder blades and is most often tied back into a ponytail. Long bangs are swept to the side to frame the right half of her face. Eye Color: Her eyes are a vibrant, yet deep, dark-blue in color. They contrast sharply with her skin and are very enchanting. Height/Weight: She stands at 5’6” and has a somewhat athletic build. Although she enjoys being outdoors in the wild, she doesn’t work out much, so she has some curves as well. Face: Her features are soft and round, which gives her a dainty nose and full, supple lips. Her face has a round/heart shape to and always appears to have a natural, healthy glow. Interests: Aelina loves to write in her journal and sketch pictures of the sights on the reserve. She can be entertained by the simplest of things, such as lying out under the stars or merely reading a book, but she also enjoys exploring and trying new things. Family: She was born in America and lived there for several years. Then, she moved with her parents to Kenya and immediately fell in love with the new environment. Her parents managed a reserve in America and were given the opportunity to help run the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya. Qualities: Aelina can be very personable and friendly, but she can also have a bit of a bite. Depending on a situation, she can be very easy to work with or she can be stubborn and uncooperative. She mostly is an intelligent, reliable and efficient person, but she has her moments. Overall, she is humorous and fun-loving, but she isn’t someone you want to upset. Negative Attributes: She is moody and can be hard to read. Her reactions vary, and when she becomes irritable, she sometimes acts before thinking. |
| On the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka, stands the great dormant beast that they call Mount Fuji. Adam had travelled to Japan, the other side of the world from his hometown, to slay this beast. What's more, he had come in June. This was not part of the "official" opening season- only in July and August was Fuji considered to be safe- but Adam was an experienced climber, and he relished in the idea of a little danger. In fact, he craved it. After a long hard year scraping his way through computer science at university, and after just sitting his exams, there was nothing he wanted more than to escape to the wilderness of his passion. On the day following his last exam, he had flown to Tokyo and spent a few days there marvelling at the wonders of Japan. He had never been before and the action packed city amazed him, though each day he itched more to go to Fuji which was actually visible from Tokyo on a clear day. And now he stood facing the beast, the great volcano that had once consumed the landscape around him to ash. It hadn't erupted since 1708, but Adam fancied he could feel it's heavy, warm lava pulse beneath his feet. He licked his lips, and checked his climbing gear- all was in order. He was ready to go. It was late evening, but he was starting from the Fujinomiya 5th Station on the mountain and then climbing through the night, as this was the only way to to glimpse the sunrise from the summit. "Well, here we go," he muttered to himself as he left the station. There was nobody else on the route- it tended to be quiet at this time of year- but Adam liked it that way. He plugged into his ipod and listened to the kinks, getting into a rythm, relaxing as his legs adjusted to the walk and his body took over. For him, this battle of physical endurance was bliss, escape from having to think about anything. When climbing he was the happiest he could be. It took about five hours to reach the summit, which left a little while til sunset. Adam was cold now he'd stopped walking, and so he sat down and pulled off his backpack to get his sweater out. Just as he was zipping his bag back up, something next to one of his boots caught his eye- a little glimmer of something shiny. Reaching down, he removed some of the earth that was half covering the tiny object. He felt a slight heat from the little silver charm as his fingers brushed it. Well, he thought, that's a coincidence. A silver charm that looks like a little fire, and on a volcano... It intrigued him enough to tempt him to pick it up, and when he did, he almost dropped it in shock. The thing wasn't just warm, the metal was so hot it almost burned his hand. It was also a lot heavier than it looked- it seemed to almost be magnetised to his hand. Adam pinched it between two fingers and held it up close to his face. It was impossible, but the little charm almost seemed to be glowing. But... no, it was just the sky behind the charm that was glowing, because the sun had begun it's steady ascent into the sky. Almost without thinking, Adam slid the piece of metal into his pocket and stood up to watch the sun rise over Mount Fuji. |
Alex hitched up his backpack, taking in his surroundings. It had been a long time since he had taken any time off from his mechanic business. It wasn’t much time, he knew, but he would enjoy it nevertheless. He could have chosen anywhere in the world but had decided to spend it right here in Spain. Presently, he was standing with a group on an expedition approved by the Cantabrian government, touring the Matienzo caves. There were valley’s and lime stone hills surrounding the magnificent caves. He was there for more than travelling, being his central interest, but for his rock collection that sat neglected on his bedroom shelves. Alex wondered what rocks he’d find here that would soon be on display back at home. When he broke free from his thoughts, he realised that the group was leaving without him. Alex followed after them, his eyes scanning the floor and wall areas, trying to take in as much as his eyes would permit. He come to an abrupt stop and stared at the fork in the cave. Shit. Alex listening intently. There were voices coming from one of the paths but he had no idea which one. He wasn’t too worried. Before they had begun exploring the caves, the guides had said what to do if one of them got lost, and that was to stay put. Alex did not particularly feel like staying put, so he sat everything he did not need up against the cave. He wouldn’t be too far from where he was anyway, in case they came back. With a lit torch in hand, he took the left path with little concern of wether it was the right way. Further up ahead, he was almost certain that he had taken the wrong turn. The thought didn’t faze him much, so he crouched, shining the light onto the ground. Alex examined some rocks, but they weren’t anything special. He moved along in a crouch, dirtying a hand as he ran it along the grimy floor. He stood, turning around and running a sweaty hand through his shaggy chestnut hair, ready to head back with some interesting rocks in his pocket, when something hard hit him on the head. Alex rubbed where it had hit, looking up at the ceiling in annoyance and then down at the ground. He shone his light where he thought he heard it land. It wasn’t hard to find, though. It stood out clearly to him among the other rocks he’d seen earlier. He picked it up and studied it. Strange. Alex could usually tell what rock it was just from looking at it closely, but this one baffled him. He heard the return of his group and shoved the rock into his pocket with the other ones. He was interested to study it more, but he would first make the most of his holiday. |
| Val came to the surface of the lake and felt the warm sun coat her skin. She had just finised a dive to explore the waters if Lake Ilapango. She swam towards the shore and slowly waded out. As she sat down in the shallow water, she pulled out the silver heart she had found while swimming around. Figuring that someone had lost their necklace out in the water, she didn't think much of it. Val smiled looking at it and stood up out of the water. Holding it in her hand, it almost seemed as if she could feel the ripples in the water, even as she stood still and the the water remained calm. "It must just be the little minows in the water or something," she thought to herself. |
Mischa, Pyotr's brother, met him at the airport. "So how was Brazil?" he asked, giving his youngest brother a hug. Pyotr shrugged and grinned. "Hot." Within a few minutes, Mischa had thrown Pyotr's bag in the trunk of his jeep, and the two brothers were driving down the highway towards their parents' home. Pyotr stared out the window. After almost a year of living in the Amazon helping the Yanomani clean mercury out of their lands and water supplies, it seemed exceedingly strange to him to be staring at paved roads and cars. There were so many people! For most of his life, and certainly in his job, Pyotr had considered himself as living in harmony with nature; but the Yonomani people had taught him much about the balance of life. Even in a land and culture so vastly different from the evergreen and cool climate of southern Alaska, the Amazonian people had taught Pyotr much. He'd lived like a native for over six months, working side-by-side with scientists, environmental engineers, and sociologists helping to clean a section of the immense Amazon rainforest. But even as he found it strange to be back in so-called civilization, Pyotr was glad to be home. He looked forward with eagerness to getting to his own home, pulling out his canoe and backpack and disappearing into the wilderness. Here he knew the dangers and wonders and could truly be on his own. His entire time in Brazil, and in the lengthy traveling to get there, he'd only been alone to sleep, and even then he'd shared a tiny cabin with four other men. Mischa tapped his brother on the arm. "Hey, I asked how long you planned to be in town? You know Mom and Dad want you to spend some time with them." Pyotr nodded and sighed. "I don't know. Not long. You still have my car?" "Yep, and last I checked, that shack you call a house is still standing. Thorny'll be glad to see you." "Hmmm...." Pyotr could feel his eyelids drooping closed as his brother talked, trying, in a few minutes, to catch him up on all the goings-on of their myriad family. He hadn't slept much on the plane, not with a screaming baby right behind him and he'd been on the road or in an airport waiting for his plane, for almost three days straight with very little sleep. And then there'd been the trek out of the rainforest to the Amazon River and the trip upriver to get to a town that was big enough to boast of planes .... All in all, he'd left the Yonomani almost six weeks ago. Traveling with the scientists hadn't been boring, far from it, just long. And he'd brought back plenty of gifts, more than enough to satisfy those obligations with his family . . with one small trinket for himself. Pyotr curled his fingers around the small charm in his pocket. It felt like stone, shaped in an arrowhead, and looked like it might have once been an ornamental necklace piece and not an actual, working weapon. He'd found it whilst sifting through mud along a riverbank and testing for mercury levels. The Yonomani he'd been working with had said that such a thing was foreign to his people and the tribal leader had practically insisted that Pyotr keep it - not that he'd objected! The tiny object seemed almost made for him, which was ridiculous, but all the same, once he'd set hands on it, letting go, being apart from it was almost painful, and he had a peculiar reluctance to even discuss it, let alone show it to anyone. Mischa just drove, leaving his brother alone with his thoughts. Pyotr was a strange one, but he was the youngest and dear to all his family, who were well-used to his ways. Pyotr was often dreamy, self-absorbed, and antsy when he came in to town from the wilds. He'd get used to people again in a few days and relax and then actually enjoy himself for a while before he started to get restless again. For now, Mischa just enjoyed his silent company, glad that his wayward little brother had returned home safe and in one piece. |
| Jaclyn smiled as she looked up at the great mountain before her. Years of rock climbing and softball had helped her build up her strength and stamina for this one moment. She was to climb Mount Everest, the tallest mountian in the world. "Okay people gather around." The instructor called out. A group of five people, including the instructor and Jaclyn. She was the youngest person in the group at 19 but that didn't bother her. She was more then ready. "We're leaving right now so if anyone has to pee, do it." When everyone shook there heads no they set off. The group didn't stop for another four hours and by then everyone had to pee. Jaclyn carefully manuvered away from the group and prepared herself to go to the bathroom. But when she began to fall back she braced herself. Thats when she felt the cool feel of stone underneith her hand. But the felt different. Digging in the dirt, she found the small bird ornament. As she held it she could have sworn she felt the air around her stir. Jaclyn put the stone bird in her pocket and began the business that she had set out to do. |
Aelina sat quietly, waiting for the world around her to wake. She was in the middle of a field full of tall grasses. A light breeze rustled the grass as the sun began to rise. Usually, Aelina would still be sleeping at this time. It was still a couple hours before she would normally head to the lodge to help fellow workers jumpstart a new day on the reserve. Today, however, she woke up extra early in order to spend a moment observing a beautiful morning in peace. Aelina loved working with the animals, and she thought the other workers were great too, but most of all, she desired moments of simplicity, where she could merely watch and take it all in. Her eyes scanned the horizon, watching for any sign of waking creatures. Soon, her hand instinctively reached into her tote, where she pulled out a sketching notebook and drawing pencil. As much as she loved wildlife, what she loved even more was capturing its wonders and beauty by depicting it in drawing form. “You’re up early,” a voice came from behind her. Turning, Aelina saw her friend Zurke standing a few feet behind her. Zurke, which was his surname, was a tall, aging man. He had dark, weathered black skin and a graying, short beard on his chin. Wrinkles surrounding his eyes matched the laugh lines that were constantly lining his mouth. He was a friendly man, and he was the one who had invited Aelina’s family to the reserve. “Yeah, I decided today would be a good day to draw,” Aelina replied as she motioned for Zurke to join her. Although it was obvious at first sight that Zurke was an older man, his energy and ability to move could fool anyone into thinking he was half his age. He waltzed over and kneeled next to Aelina, leaning in to see what she had already drawn. Aelina flipped through the pages, letting Zurke look at her drawings. It had become a sort of ritual of theirs. Although Aelina’s decision to get up early for drawing was never decided beforehand, Zurke would somehow always show up to observe her work. Another ritual of the man’s was to scan the field when he was done. Plus, before leaving, he would always make a quick suggestion. “Why don’t you explore a little bit. See what else there is to draw.” Aelina smiled and nodded as Zurke got up and turned to leave. With a sigh and a shrug of her shoulders, she stood up to do as she was directed. Sure, she would always find some of the younger animals playing to draw, or even just a new plant she had never seen before. Despite this, Aelina felt that Zurke always had something else in mind. She knew there was something else to discover. The question was, would she ever find it? “Zurke, what exactly am I looking for?” She inquired before he had wandered off too far. Zurke turned his head slightly and flashed a quick grin. “You think I know?” He replied. “If I knew, I would most certainly tell you. Just look; I’m sure you will find exactly what you’re looking for.” Aelina shook her head and held back a small chuckle as she watched Zurke head back to the lodge. Sometimes his age did show in his vague answers. She had a feeling he didn’t really know what he was talking about. “Oh well, I have some time to kill.” She slowly headed towards some of the scarce trees, where she could sit under the slight shade. Although the sun had only just risen, the African heat was already very present. Dropping her bag, Aelina slumped down onto the ground, leaning her back against the trunk of the tree. She moved her shoulders around a bit, trying to find a comfortable position. Just then, she felt something prick her in the lower back. She quickly sat forward and turned around to see what it was. “Where in the world--” She began to ask as she saw something silver poking out from the bottom of the tree. She laid down her notebook and pencil and started to pull on the small object. With a final, great tug, Aelina fell back onto the ground with a smooth, silver trinket lying in her palm. “How could this get here?” She questioned as she examined it. She ran her fingers along the charm’s edges, still amazed of how it found its way onto an African reserve. “How fitting...” Aelina began with a smirk. She scooted back towards the tree and picked up her notebook and pencil. Soon, she was resting against the tree with the charm still in her hand. “...it’s a lion,” she finished as she began to draw a sketch of the charm. |
| As he stepped out of the front entrance of Aberdeen airport, Adam felt the usual sinking feeling he got in his stomach when he returned home from a trip. The weather was grey and drizzly, and the familiarity of the accents around him made him feel strangely uncomfortable. Ironically, Adam always felt most at home with strangers, and felt safest when surrounded by cultures, languages and lives that were different from his own. The city he was born in always let him down by being familiar and therefore dull. The taxi journey to his father's house was mercifully short. Every time he saw the house it seemed bigger than the last- although most of the time it's only occupants were his businessman father and his father's trophy wife, the house had six bedrooms, several bathrooms and a large handful of reception rooms, all of a good size. His father employed a gardener and a maid. Adam liked to make fun of this, but it was difficult when his father's money was the reason he was able to flit about on all his trips. He let himself into the house and dumped his backpack in the hall. "Dad? Rose? I'm back!" he called out, and wasn't surprised when there was no reply. He grabbed himself a quick sandwich from the kitchen and went to his father's study to check his emails. He ate the sandwich while the computer was powering on, and wondered if his exam results would be up yet. He wasn't sure that he had done that well, and resits would upset his plans to go to Mexico later in the Summer. However, when he checked his university website there were no results displayed, and when he checked his emails there was only some spam and a forwarded message about what girls really mean when they say things, which he skim read without much enthusiasm. Then something at the side of the page caught his eye- something vaguely familiar to him though he wasn't sure why. At first he thought it was some kind of jewellers advert, as there were a few little metal pendants on it, but when he looked closer he noticed the text read "Have you seen these items?" like some kind of parodied "WANTED" poster. He was just about to close the window when he realised what was familiar about the advert. Jumping up, he ran back into the hallway and unzipped the top pocket of his backpack, and there it was. A little metal campfire symbol, the exact same as the one on the advert. Five other little charms were also displayed. Adam felt slightly shocked at such a coincidence- that he should see this advert only days after finding the charm- and it was this curiosity that made him click it. The link took him to a webpage which was laid out in a letter form: "Dear sir or madam, You have presumably come to this webpage because you believe you have posession of one of the items shown in the picture above, or at least are aware of the location of one of the said items. If this is indeed the case, then you are lucky you clicked on the link. Firstly, beware, for as long as you are connected to these little "charms" you are in danger. I cannot explain the origin of this danger here, but believe me, it is of a most acute and real nature. Secondly, these charms are items very valuable to me, and as such I would be willing to pay handsomely for them, or for information as to their location. Therefore, I ask you to join me at my London office at 53 Baker St on the morning of June 30th, around 11am, and we can discuss your renumeration. I trust I shall see you there. Yours faithfully, Dr Arthur Wendigen" Adam had never seen such a strange arrangement in his life. How could the writer of this "letter"- Mr Arthur Whatever- expect anyone to turn up at his office on the basis of the promise of unspecified "renumeration" in exchange for items which it would seem have some value. He reread the page several times, trying to guess if it was a coded message, or a joke, but could make nothing of it. His first thought was to go on ebay, get an idea of how much a charm like this could sell for. But then his eyes were drawn to the little fire symbol and he realised he was not keen on parting with it. He liked it, he felt somehow, strangely, connected to it. And it wasn't as if he needed the money. On the other hand, he was curious to find out more about the charm, and if this Arthur was just an eccentric historian or something, maybe he could help Adam to find out. It seemed strange and slightly dangerous to meet a person he had never met, never even spoken to, in a big unfamiliar city, and that settled it. Adam went onto an airline website and booked his flights to London for the 30th. It was only a few days away, and promised to be an experience as interesting as his trip to Japan. |
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