Lora Jayne Taylor was a poor girl living in small town Salem. Her Mom died when she was just a baby and Her dad Edward worked overtime at the printing factory just to keep a roof over their heads.
Every day she walked to school alone with her thoughts, the sounds of birds chirping and Mrs. Maxwell, broom in hand just sweeping awaythe footprints from her porch. She enjoyed the morning walk in silence but dreaded entering the threshold of Aden Junior High. From the instant she stepped foot on campus, she was instantly ridiculed. Laughs and jokes echoed in her ears. Most of the torment was instigated by Miranda Stevens, the most popular and prettiest girl at school. Her dad was the police chief and her mom was a social worker for child services. She was born with a silver spoon and the best of every thing. She also targeted Lora and took great pleasure in making fun of her unfortunate life. Miranda even started calling her Rags to mimic her limited access to unused clothing.
Day after day, Lora Jayne would walk that lonely walk to school and day after day Miranda made sure she and the entire student body would make her the butt of their jokes.
One day, Lora came home, tears dwelling in her eyes and was surprised to see her dad was home. He was sitting on the porch as she approached the house and called for her to join him. She sat beside him on the porch swing with her head hanging down trying to hide the tears so he would no worry. She never wanted to bother her hardworking father with her trivial tribulations.
"Buttercup," he said softly. "I know I haven't been the best father and I haven't been paying much attention to you, but I think its time to tell you something about your Mom." Lora instantly perked up and was in tune to what he was about to say. "Your Mom was beautiful, smart and loved to laugh, but she was also special," he paused, handed her a silver ring with an emerald green stone, got up and went inside. She placed it on her right middle finger and achieved a perfect fit. Immediately she felt a connection, a closeness to her dearly departed mother.
Later that night as she lay fast asleep, her mind began drifting to an unfamiliar time and a lady in a black Victoria dress sitting in a rocking chair with her back turned to the view Lora had. In her hand, she had a needle and thread, but Lora couldn't see what the woman with her black hair was so focused on completing. As Lora slowly walked around the chair, she saw a voodoo doll with a piece of blood stained cloth in lady's lap. The lady turned to Lora and said, " You can save us." Before Lora could ask her what she meant, she woke up startled at the statement. "I can save them? Who are they?"she said to herself. She looked at her precious gem and noticed it appeared to be glowing. As she stared at it, she found herself in a state of trance. She felt her self becoming somewhat of charged with an unforseen power.
The next morning, she woke up to get ready for school. Her dad had already left for work and like every morning she ate breakfast alone. She brushed her teeth, put on her overly worn clothes, brushed her flat hair and began the journey down the sidewalk to school. As she approached Mrs. Maxwell's house, she noticed the widow was glaring at her as she walked passed her house and as Lora looked back at her, her eyes appeared to be black and her expression appeared to be evil.
The day seemed to zoom by and next thing Lora knew, she was in gym class. Lora hated gym, she wasn't like the other girls. She didnt enjoy playing volley ball or tennis or dodge ball. She preferred to just sit on the bleachers and write in her journal. All the while, Miranda and her gang of mean girls was making snide remarks.
As Lora began her trip home, she saw Mrs. Maxwell again, this time pouring bleach on the sidewalk in front of her house. This time the old lady didnt pay any attention to Lora as she walked by.
Once home, she went straight to her room to get started on her homework. As she place her book bag on her bed she noticed a dark red book with a weird design,resting on her pillow. As she picked the strange book up, she noticed it has a claspe lock that would not open. "Where did this come from and how am I supposed to see what's in it?" She said aloud. She then said, " I wish I could see inside." The clasp came undone. She opened the old book only to find the pages blank.
Thinking it was a new journal, she began writing her inner most thoughts in it. Stuff about how much she missed her mom, how she wished she didnt look so drab and how she wished Miranda would be nicer to her. The words were endless and reached the pages without hesitation. Lora fell asleep with her head resting gently on her newly found diary of secrets. She drifter off to dreamland and again she saw the lady in the black dress. This time she greeted her at door and introduced herself as Mary Sibley. Mary told Lora that she was a descendent of witches like herself and Lora's mother and continued to tell her how she would be their savior. Just as Mary was telling her the secret to defeating those who wished to do them harm, Lora was ripped from the dream state, never to dream of Mary again and never to her true destiny. The End emerald green evening dress