Mia is the new girl at school, a funny, confident, drama queen. Ella and her friends are sure there's nothing suspicious about her. But when a old amethyst necklace helps them discover Mia's real home, they find themselves facing unimaginable dangers as they attempt to get back to reality. Chapter 1: The necklace Strolling along with my best friends by my side, I could honestly say that this was the first time I’d been happy in weeks. For just a few hours, I’d been able to forget my troubles and just enjoy being around people who didn't hide things from me.

I think my friends knew something was bothering me, but they accepted that I wasn't ready to talk about it. Instead of trying to draw it out of me, they did their best to distract me, gossiping and laughing like normal.

“Look!” said Mia excitedly, pointing at a newly opened shop.

Mia had only recently joined our group, after starting at our school a few weeks ago. She was funny and confident, a complete drama queen, with her own unique style. Not afraid to stand out from the crowd, her wardrobe mainly consisted of bargains picked up at vintage shops. She was pretty, but as long as she liked the way she looked, didn't care what other people thought (unlike some girls I know!).

We all looked towards the shop she was pointing at. My first thought was: ‘really Mia?’

The shop’s shabby exterior wasn't exactly a customer magnet. Paint was peeling off the window frames, and the name of the shop, ‘Hidden Treasures’, was barely visible, written in a tacky gold color above the door.

However, I understood why Mia wanted to look inside. Clothes that matched her style perfectly decorated the windows – for bargain prices too.

Amber rolled her eyes, looking at the shop as if it was chewing gum on her shoe. Sometimes, I couldn't believe how much my old best friend had changed. Now, all she cared about was how she looked and what other people thought of her. I have to admit, she was pretty, but unlike Mia, she knew it. She was arrogant, and acted like she looked down on the rest of us – especially Mia. But if Mia cared about Amber’s opinion, she did a good job of hiding it.

“Come on, Amber. We all spent hours trailing around TopShop with you,” Rosie was the mother hen of our group, considerate and caring, the one who looked after us all.

Amber looked as if she was about to disagree, but merely shrugged and rolled her eyes again, before following us into the shop.

The dim light inside was a sharp contrast compared to the floods of sunlight on the high street. I had to blink several times in order to make out the delicate, old fashioned furniture in the room – most of which were almost collapsing under piles of clothes. The dilapidated exterior of the shop certainly didn't do the inside justice. It was like Aladdin’s cave. Exquisite jewellery and beautiful clothes were scattered around the room and a towering glass cabinet took up almost all of the back wall.

Following Mia shyly, I ran my fingers over a soft velvet scarf on a table. Rosie and Jasmine were captivated by the almost magical objects too. Only Amber remained unimpressed. But I think that, secretly, she also admired the stunning artifacts.

The cabinet at the back of the room looked like it was constantly observing us, like those creepy portraits in old houses, deciding whether we were a threat or not.

Mia halted abruptly, causing me to walk straight into her.
“Mia!” I hissed, slightly annoyed. It was so eerie, so mystical in the shop, I felt as if someone would appear and pounce on me just for speaking. She didn't say anything. Just stood and stared at something I couldn't see, her eyes glazed over like she was being hypnotized.

Looking over her shoulder. I gasped in surprise. A single necklace was sheltered by the intimidating glass cabinet. Resting on a purple velvet cushion, the gold chain of the necklace wasn't at all tarnished. A single jewel hung from the center. An amethyst, I think. It was brilliant, beautiful, breath taking. The sort of thing you imagine only exists in fairy tales. Worn by the lucky princess, who is envied by all the day dreaming little girls.

It felt like an invisible wire was dragging me closer. I was living in a bubble, a magical bubble in which no one else existed. I was unaware of everything else around me. Nothing mattered – except the necklace.

A heavy mist surrounded me. I felt dizzy, but amazingly happy at the same time. Memories of long ago times played inside my head; memories I had done my best to lock away recently.

All too soon, the mist evaporated, my recollections fading with it. But I knew what I had to do to make the memories come back. I reached out, my finger-tips clawing desperately at thin air, before closing around a dainty key.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you,” a voice managed to penetrate my magic bubble, but only for a second. The voice didn't belong to any of my friends. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw them jump in shock.

In the corner, partially hidden by shadows, sat an old woman. She had long, silver hair, tumbling down her back in metallic waves. She was wearing a luxurious dress, not unlike the ones in the shop. But I only noticed those things for a second; it was her eyes that caught my attention. Clear, calm, crystal blue eyes, like a pool on a windless day. It was like she could see inside your soul with those eyes.

Beside me, I could see Mia also staring at the woman, before the necklace regained control of my head. This time, nothing could stop me from achieving my goal. Even with the old woman’s words still ringing in my ears, I turned the key. The door gave a satisfying click as it swung open, leaving the necklace unprotected.

With Mia at my side (she was also enchanted by the necklace’s beauty), I stretched out my arm. The memories came flooding back as I curled my fingers around the chain, pulling it gently towards me.

For a few seconds, my life was perfect. Just by holding the necklace, I could force any unwanted thoughts back into their titanium box.

Then nothing.

My illusions ideas of happy days with my whole family behind me were shattered; leaving behind only cruel, crushing realities

That was when the room started spinning. Spinning faster and faster, until the only things I could see were hundreds of blurred colors. Fear clutched tightly at my chest, suffocating me, crushing my lungs until I could no longer breathe. My brain began to shut down – I couldn't think, I couldn't move. I was paralyzed.

Reacting on pure adrenaline, I grabbed Mia’s arm, determined not to let go. My feet lifted off the ground – It felt like my body was weightless. I remember the terrifying spinning stop, and Mia shaking my shoulder.

Then I blacked out.