Prologue

Lara isn't like others, she is different, she is rare, she is a mystery a book with missing pages. Lara is like a wind, a storm that destroys others. That is her specialty, that is who she is?.

Rain poured as flashes of lightning danced across the cloud-blanketed sky. I remained near a tree, folding my hands into my sweater. The strong winds hit me as lightning streaks, followed by booms of thunder. Today was already hectic enough as it is.

“Come on, Mona, just forget it. Let’s go,” I said. My pleas fell on deaf ears as Mona was busy adorning herself in her swimsuit. “Mona, trust me, there isn’t gold in that water. The people said the water is sacred? Aren’t you scared something bad will happen, or we could get cursed?, Mona listen to me”.

“Come on, Sammy, we could get rich, and there is nothing like sacred or curse. Now, keep watch. I’m going into the water,” she said.

“Mona, please don’t do that” I cautioned, but she didn’t listen to me, she went into the water.

My heart pounded in my chest, and my breathing picked up speed. Here we were, in a thick jungle, with the wind whistling through the trees, and animal sounds echoing around us.

“Be fast, Mona, it’s about to rain,” I said. She remained there for almost half an hour. “Mona? Mona?” I received no response. “Mona, are you okay?” Still no response.

A hefty weight pressed deep into my stomach. What if something happened to Mona? Was it the curse?, What if the water is sacred like the people said. I kneeled down near the river, catching any glimpses of her, but nothing. Just before I could break down, laughter caught my attention. Trembling, I didn’t want to face the source. As the laughter continued, I put my hands close to my ears when something tapped my shoulder. With my heartbeat still racing, I turned my head slowly. Mona was behind me, laughing.

“Sammy, look at you. It’s like you saw a ghost,” she said.

“Stop, man, that wasn’t funny. I thought something bad happened to you.”

“Aw, you can’t live without me.”

“shut up, that wasn't funny".

I rubbed my hands on my chin when I spotted something shiny on her hand. “Wow, what’s that?”

“It’s a golden necklace I found,” Mona said. “I found this human skeleton holding it, so I took it.” She puts it around her neck. “Doesn’t it look nice on me?”

Mona was crazy. She cared about nothing, nor was she scared of anything. She always lived life to the fullest.

I rolled my eyes. “Mona, who steals from a dead person? Return it back.”

“No, I will not.”

Before I could say anything, the wind grew stronger. The clouds darkened with lighting still dancing, followed by booming drums of thunder.

“Mona, the weather is bad. Let’s leave. You’ll return it tomorrow,” I said. I grasped Mona’s hand and headed back home, unaware that tomorrow may not come.