The Earth is a Jewel Box

He was angry. He was faced with his raging jealousy again. His wife often spoke to this other man with great laughter and joy. She seemed too happy around him. Maybe he was imagining it. Maybe he was too in love and it was making him crazy over nothing. But, this was a common occurrence. And he was tired of it. He felt like he couldn’t deal with it anymore and he had this strong feeling of just running. Running as far as he could in an exasperated rage.

His wife saw him slam the door and make a break for it. Just run out. They had guests for dinner, and people were waiting for him back at the table. Maybe he was going out to get something more to eat, she thought. Or to pick something else up. He had some work to finish on the farm, maybe? There was always something that needed to be taken care of. Work was never ending. That’s probably what it is, she thought. She shrugged it off and thought nothing of it.

Where is Reggie? Her mother asked as she was leaving the dinner party. Her daughter, realizing for the first time that her husband didn’t come back, looked a little confused. She forgot that her husband stormed off. “It’s been awhile, he must have been doing something for the animals, I guess. He should be back soon.” “Okay, Clara, tell Reggie tonight was great. Love you.”

Clara didn’t start worrying until after the party was over, she was alone and everyone else went home too. She checked outside and saw nothing. It was getting dark and the house felt extremely quiet and still. Clara felt very alone. She was so worried that she fell asleep very late. Reggie was never out this late before.

A few days went by and all the neighbors, friends and family, were talking about how Reggie disappeared from the party. Almost everyone in this small community was looking for Reggie. There weren't that many places that he could go. The only habitable parts of the Earth were in the far north within Siberia. And only a small human settlement lived there. No one ventured outside of this area. No one even discussed it or dared to. It was common, unspoken knowledge that’s just something you don’t even do.

Gossip spread, no one found Reggie, dead or alive, and rumors that he ventured to the unspeakable land beyond became commonly talked about.

Clara was very uneasy. She considered the rumors that Reggie would go to the forbidden world. She didn’t know much about it. Her mom was the one to turn to with questions. Hushed rumors had it that her mother’s family are part of the few who dared to leave Siberia. It was difficult to get her mom to talk about the world. Or anyone. But, hushed rumors of her mother’s family remained.

The great unknown outside of Siberia wasn’t easy for anyone to discuss. No one really wanted to help Clara look for her husband outside of their settlement. Clara felt she was on her own.

“Clara, here’s a locket.” Clara’s mom handed her an unimpressive, old and worn, heart shaped locket.

“I know it doesn’t look like much, but this locket will protect you. I don’t think it’s safe for you to leave and search for Reggie outside of this land. I would forget it if I were you. But, I know how much you love Reggie. So I am going to give you this locket. I am not sure if I should tell you what you are up against. Maybe, it’s better to not know. But, you have to know. So you can decide if you really want to go. Just speaking of it is bad luck.”

Her mother sighed. She looked wide eyed and her eyes darted about. How could she express what she was up against? “Clara, the world changed. That’s why we can’t live there anymore. They didn’t want to warn us and everyone was blindsided by what came. A dark planet, huger than Jupiter, so huge, you would think people would have noticed it. But, it was hidden in plain sight. It was a black planet that didn’t reflect light, but whatever the reason, most people didn’t realize that there was a huge black planet so near us. This planet was magnetic, made from iron. It’s gravity, and magnetism pulled on the Earth’s magnetic core. The Earth’s magma started to shift. The volcanoes started to be very active. The volcanoes erupted, the active, dormant and even extinct volcanoes all became very alive. Now that the planet has mostly calmed down, and the volcanoes have cooled off, it’s still not safe.”

Clara, filled with curiosity, asked “But if everything cooled down, why can’t we just venture out of here?”

“The supernatural world took over, Clara. Before, most people didn’t believe in supernatural creatures. Ghosts, goblins, elves, fairies, bigfoot, and trolls. You name the supernatural creature and people thought they were myths and completely untrue. The volcanoes changed all that. You see, it’s a miracle that we can even touch each other and feel something. That we don’t sink into the chair is a miracle. To be like a supernatural creature makes more sense. Electrons, protons and neutrons can have so much space between them. Atoms can be far apart. Many creatures are hovering between two dimensions and can travel between things. Their matter is different and more refined. They can walk through walls and disappear. They were invisible or like fleeting dreams. That’s why many people didn’t believe in them. We can’t venture out of here because these supernatural creatures have taken over since the volcanoes.”

“What?” Said Clara. “I have to deal with strange creatures?”

“The volcanoes unleashed so much energy that they changed the Earth into crystals and granite rock. The Earth became like a beautiful sea of crystal jewels. It’s like a sea of glass of the most beautiful deep red, green, orange, purple and blue colors. Every color you can think of. But, these crystal rocks conduct electricity and create a strong energy field. Those supernatural creatures that existed between dimensions, made of refined, spacious matter, fleeting in this world, became the dominant force that took over. The energy and electric fields created from these new electric, crystal rocks created a world where they now rule and we are the ones in the shadows. We are like the ghosts of Siberia now. It’s quite the reversal of fortune.”

“This heart shaped locket will protect me? I have to try to find him.” Cynthia, Clara’s mom, was prepared for this answer. She knew her daughter was going to go. That’s why she gave her the only hope. The locket. “This heart shaped locket seems like it’s just an old necklace, but it’s important. The only reason these shadow people can have any power and come into the forefront is this strong electric field created from the new jeweled Earth. This locket will help you not have a strong field around you. It will diminish their power. It’s like they will go back to being refined, spacious and far apart matter as long as you have that with you.”

Clara headed south. Resentful that no one in this whole town would help her search for Reggie. Not even her mother would come. Siberia didn’t have any volcanoes that went off, the whole earth bursted with magma at the seams and the aftermath was dazzling. It was a jewel box now. Clara was deep in thought. She was considering how people could miss a huge planet like that, just because of its color. She started to wonder what she could be missing right now. What invisible thing could be here now?

Clara finally made it outside of the clearing of the last human settlement. An unimaginable fear took over. It felt primal, like something deeply programmed in her gut. Something was wrong. She felt like something was watching her. She saw nothing. Looking around, she shifted her weight back and forth to look up and around. It was breathtaking. Vibrant hues of blue and green. Smooth and shiny glass like crystal was everywhere. What was once rare gems, was now the majority. Everything was a gem. But that meant certain creatures weren’t so rare anymore either.

Clara heard a screaming. Looking around, there was nothing that she could see. She turned around, then back and then a huge thump was heard. She heard a running. What was that? Clara thought. Then more screaming. It sounded terrifying. Clara walked for a few more miles feeling a very strange presence and like something was watching her. The energy from the crystals was something she could feel. It was a strong sensation that felt exhilarating. Clara never felt so alive and energetic before. Her fear was dwindling. This feeling was something spiritual. Never did she feel so clear like this. A creature that was huge and dark appeared in the distance and he looked horrified with disgust at the sight of Clara. He screamed. It was the same scream she heard earlier. Then he hit her and she fell unconscious. This beast was terrified of Clara.

She woke up in a dark room. Not remembering that she was knocked out by a scared, huge beast. She looked around and was relieved to see her husband Reggie there too. She woke up to him staring at her. He was sobbing. “You came for me?!” Clara tried wiping his tears away. “Where are we Reg?” He looked up and said “I just had food thrown at me a few times. It’s been so dark lately. I haven’t seen anyone. I have been sleeping a lot.” Clara grabbed at her neck and in a panic searched for her locket. “Did you see my locket?” “No. I didn’t see anything.”

The dark room began to feel more gloomy. They waited for hours. She hoped that something would happen out of sheer boredom. Finally, someone made an appearance. A large, blue elf approached the window. He was extremely tall with long black hair. He was very muscular and intimidating. Clara was too shocked to speak. Reggie yelled with great anger; “Who do you think you are to lock us up here!?” He started hitting the glass window. This tall muscular elf started to laugh. He grabbed his girlfriend and pointed at the humans. They couldn’t understand the humans, but started to mock the way Reggie yelled and waved his hands, doing the same movements and laughing hysterically afterwards. The elf’s girlfriend seemed very amused too. She started speaking, and Clara listened very carefully. Hoping for some answers. But, she understood nothing that was said.

The elf said, “It was so worth it to come to the zoo today. We got to see that extinct species that used to overrun the Earth. Such an incredible rarity! What a discount! They look weak and stupid. How did they once take over the Earth? So crazy!”

Then Clara looked on the floor and saw her locket out of the corner of her eye. She picked it up and opened it. She thought, what a worthless piece of junk. It doesn’t even work. But, after she opened it, the Elves and their prison zoo disappeared and became invisible. The energy from the crystals was reduced and the supernatural world went into the abyss around them. Reggie and Clara fled back to their settlement, the open locket near them the whole way back.

Clara and Reggie brought back beautiful crystals to show off from their adventure. They told everyone how they were locked in a cage and about a huge monster and elves. People mocked and made fun of them. Telling them these things didn’t exist. But, no one dared venture out of the settlement.