The Little Black Book

April in Buffalo, NY. Growing up, I've never once left out of New York to see a concert, go sightseeing, or any road trips. Although beautiful, it lacked life's more...valuable moments. The same friendly faces, same tourist destinations, the exciting gleams in stranger's eyes that come; how dull. I want excitement, not more-or-less small town dribble. Although, nothing bad has ever occurred to me other than breaking a bone and getting a gash on my hand as a teen, naught that would stick with me - truly - through years to come and feel like it just happened.

Yet, I'm stuck here, waking up with the selfsame mass of disappointment and wishful hope to be somewhere new each sunrise; no matter how beautifully it sparkled like smelting diamonds over Lake Ontario. Yeah, guess I still have an attachment here, even if I feel I'm meant for something...more.

Forcing myself to rise from bed, I glanced out to the lake, seeing the dancing shimmers on its stillness. Only then noticing the time, I realized I was late to meet with Michelle; a down to earth, yet classy cheerleader since middle school, and my best friend ever since 7th grade. Did she have anger issues? Sure, but how badly for being an hour late to meet her at the bus station? Uh-oh. In a haste, I shuffled to manage a decent outfit and comfortable boots plus hoodie before toppling out the door, purse in hand, glad I made sure to stock with toiletries for moments like this.

After making myself satisfactory on the way to meet Michelle, I stopped and sat down beside her with an apologetic smile - no matter how much I wanted to laugh at the vein popping in her forehead and looked like a scolding mother.

"Morning, Mi-Mi," I spoke gingerly, sweetly as if that would appease her frustration at my tardiness.

"9AM, Dev. Not 9:20AM, and not 10:26AM!! I can't believe you're an hour and a half late, and I tried to call you twelve times now! Where is your phone?" she challenged with furrowed brows. Again, I wanted to laugh, but I had no right when I was so remiss. Reaching into my Chanel bag I busted myself to score rather than relying on my parent's funds to find my phone, realizing it powered off last night. Odd, never does that when I know I charged it. Turning it on, notifications of missed calls and texts alerted their numbers as if they, too, scolded me for my lateness. Ouch.

"Sorry, my phone must've powered off in the night," I said while tucking the cell away again.

"Yeah, right. You always seem to make excuses, Dev, but...I know you never lie to me," Michelle resigned with a sigh before smiling at me, tossing her arm around me.

"So, we're heading to see that awesome cemetery party going on at Forest Lawn, right? Supposed to be hot college guys there with great booze."

"No thanks. It's...too many people..." I trailed off, knowing she knew about my social anxiety of being near so many people like that, especially while getting intoxicated.

"Yeah. Which is why I push you out of your shell, girl! We'll even go to the mall, get makeup, and a cute outfit to show off!" she exclaimed while clapping her hands together. Sometimes I wondered if she enjoyed torturing me... Shaking my head, I groaned in annoyance as my palm ran over my ebony hair since I knew she was merely going to break me down until I caved.

"Fine. But I want to check out the cemetery first. We need to look for escape routes in case the cops come to kill the party, deal?"

I asked, giving my stern, 'you-know-I-won't-take-no-for-an-answer' expression. Holding up her hands and presenting a smile, she nodded once.

"We'll do that as long as we shop, and I'll be on my best behavior for the party."

'Sure you will,' I mentally countered.

- - -

Forest Lawn Cemetery was certainly a time-worn beauty. It was as if the antique touch of the ages chiseled their marks on each of the headstones, monuments, and mausoleums built for the dead, only gracing them with more finesse and charm that embodied the entire cemetery. Since we have some very old ancestors laid here, we managed to visit on occasion at times, but I always got the strangest sensation. Each time it was as if someone were watching me or waiting, which now made me uneasy coming here so late.

After spending our day around town purchasing anything we thought of, went home to dress to impress, and made our way back to the crested, yet ageless land I've grown to admire although dislike. We strutted our way through the moonlit tombs, and all resembled a true horror flick. Even how the music blared in a cornucopia of musical tones, laughter, chatter, and cheering noises all came from a light that cast through trees. Nearing the flickering flames within metal drums, we suddenly heard a man scream like a wail that made us all seem to freeze in our tracks, dead-still. It was like waiting for a pin to drop, something other than just holding our breath and waiting in eerie silence.

To our left, we noticed a man crawling forward, a sudden crack of thunder hitting the skies angrily, and lightning searing violently that made us all scream. Everyone abruptly bolted, but I was frozen in fear as the man gazed at me with desperation. Either from his fleeting life or something to do with the small book, black as lacquer with trimmed gilded edges of its crisp, dew-kissed pages. Unexplainably, I felt the familiar sensation I felt coming here strongly, advising me to seize it at any cost. As if on queue, I bolted over to the bleeding man that attempted to make something out, but his slashed throat prevented any sound as he reached out urgently with the book. All that came was a gargle, then he was gone.

The rain decided then to start a curtain of pelting droplets overhead as pitch, menacing clouds moved in swiftly. As if the scenery already needed anymore terroristic appeal than this? It wasn't strange for a sudden storm at the Great Lakes, but this storm seemed...ominous. It was far too fast a swoop, too unlike natural storms here. Michelle still remained frozen, eyes beholding all unfold with terror stark against her skin and sapped of all color, much like mine had surely been. Glancing at the small book in my hands and wiping it free of blood onto slick grass, I wondered what secrets its pages held. My gaze shifted back to Michelle, and with one glance, I knew she had the selfsame idea.

- - -

Returning to my house in haste, we locked ourselves in and ran upstairs as if that would keep away the night's catastrophic, unusual events.

Standing at the foot of my bed drenched, Michelle hunted through drawers to find us dry clothing as I held the book in my grasp, running my fingertips over its gilded edges in piqued curiosity... feeling as if it were home. Why would it? I've never seen this book in my life. There's not even a title! But that man...he was so frantic to hand it over as if I were the only one that could. Why...?

Changing our clothes and wrapping our hair, we perched on the floor with the book between us - simply staring at it in disbelief and intrigue. We shouldn't read it...right?

"There's no need to get ourselves caught up in whatever this is. Let's just take this to the police like we should have instead of you taking off with it in your jacket and clutched to you without even saying anything to me! I had to chase you down for a mile in heeled boots, Dev! This is insanity!" Michelle panicked in a hushed tone as if we were suspects on the lam.

"Mi-Mi, I can't... It's difficult to describe. You know my 'sensations', yeah? You know they're not wrong when I get one so fiercely," I said affirmingly, never once taking my sapphire pools off the book as if it were to be stolen away at any moment. I reached out and grabbed the book, opening its mouth to begin to leaf through the crisp, slightly damp pages. It appeared likely to Michelle I was mad with how my stare got broader as I continued to read, turning from awe to startled to comprehension to thrilled in a matter of moments.

"Oh my GOD!" I exclaimed, pointing eagerly on the book's open face. "Do you know what this has? Everything! Gain Beauty, Vitality, a Lover, Achieve Enlightenment, Understand the Universe's Laws, Earn a Fortune, Stabilize Your Life, all of these are different algorithms or ancient secrets people have managed to achieve using the laws of the universe and access your power! I've never read anything like this!" I claimed, running my index finger over the script style lettering in awe.

"...Dev, this is some strange language. How can you even read that...?" she carefully distinguished, becoming ever more apprehensive to its contents judging by her expression.

"It's... What? This is written clear as day, you can't read this?" I asked, wondering if she were playing a cruel joke to make me feel as crazy as it all had seemed.

"No, Devon, I can't, but seems you can, though, for whatever reason. We c-could...try testing one out?"

That sounded reasonable...right? I thumbed over the variety of exceptional secrets to life sought after by...well, everyone. Nodding finally after moments of pondering, I pointed to one. Earn a Fortune.

- - -

We performed the steps required the book had described of how to achieve such wealth with no attachments or sacrifice necessary to compensate the reward. After we finished, we looked at the clock to notice that it was already 5:32AM after staying up all night studying the book, performing a small ritual of sorts, and made charms, recited what was proposed, and finished feeling drained.

"So...When do you think we'll receive the fortune, Dev?" Michelle squeaked with a jittery, buzzing energy and expression. She seemed like she had thumped her foot on the floor for the past hour now past 6:30AM to see the sun beginning to peek its head over the horizon and bathed the lake and town in angelic light of varying blend of hues.

It was then that my cell rang, seeing it was a restricted number. Odd. Answering with a curious 'Hello?', I was answered by a man from the Buffalo Police Department, saying that they received our anonymous tip about a stabbing in the cemetery. The man had been an international criminal, wanted in four countries for a mountain of offenses and harsh crimes. By utter shock, my mouth hung on its hinges and Michelle's had done the selfsame in utter disbelief.

"Miss?" the cop pulled my stunned attention back to the present, mentally recovering.

"Y-yes, sorry. That's...so good to hear," I stuttered in response, quickly shaking my head 'No' to Michelle who was trying to tell me to ask if there was trouble. "Was there anything else, sir?"

"Yes. There's a $20,000 reward for the lead to or aid in arresting the criminal. If you come down, we can have that prepared for you however you need to." ...What?

So, I suppose it started ever since the evening of that awful storm... I had no idea my life's tide was going to be hurled into something unimaginable. Now? I can attain anything I've ever longed for or dreamt of, all thanks to my mysterious black book. Wait, does this mean I'll have someone after me, also...?