Chapter 1 - Birthday Revelations

As daylight fades, the sky turns gold, and a quiet hush, as the night unfolds, the air grows cool, the shadows long, evening singes its gentle song as it was the eve of my 18th birthday and yes am turning legal tomorrow as I sat at the dusk wondering what it would be like and why my parents had to invite our whole family and not allowing me to invite any of my friends from school for my birthday party. My name is Eve, and this is my story. 

I had a little argument with my mother earlier today when she dropped the bombshell that I should withdraw my invitation and tell my friends that the party has been canceled without telling me the reason for that, and it cringes me out not to have any friends over, including damecove my best friend. On the bright side of it, I was told that all my relatives both old and young, including Aunt Everson whom I know for any reason shouldn't be interested in attending my birthday party would be coming over as my mum says that's necessary as it was a family ritual for every child who turns 18, which I find very weird. 

As I was outside, still pondering about it, I felt a tap on my back, and it was my mother; in that instinct, I frowned, my face showing visible anger so she would know how hurt I was.

 "Hello, my darling daughter," she called.

 I didn't answer; I was just still and maintained my frown face. 

"why are you wearing a sad face? Talk to mummy".

 "why wouldn't I? Since I don't get to celebrate my iconic birthday with my friends but with people, I know nothing much about me". I talked back angrily. 

"Hey, it would be alright. It's just this birthday that you didn't get to invite friends over", she said, trying to console me.

"But mum, I would be laughed at when I get back to school, and the mean girls would surely insult me," I said, trying to give her reasons to invite some of my friends. 

 "They will say that I am still a mummy's girl that I can't even throw a party and" ...….

She immediately cut me shut without hearing all I had to say. 

"Let them say what they want to say," she shouted angrily. 

 "And perhaps you might not even go back to that school again" she added lastly.

 "I raised my eyebrow in dismay. I can't just understand what's actually going on.

 "I just don't understand you, Mum; I'm not just going to invite my friends over; I am also quitting to continue school with my friends," I rephrased what she said. 

"What wrong have I done?". I asked in confusion. Not directing the question to anyone in particular. 

"What about Damecove, my friends at school?" I reminded her of Demecove, and how close we are as friends; maybe she might change her mind even if it's to invite just her.

"Hey babe", she called with a smile.

"You're going to be alright; you will make new friends once again." She assured me.

 "Now go upstairs. Your food is ready, pumpkin," she said, beaming a smile at me. 

"Oh gosh, pumpkin?" I said frowning. 

"I so much hate that name, Mum; I'm no longer a baby,," I cleared her. 

"But you're still my baby", she replied with a smile.

I went upstairs to the dining and ate the food she kept for me, which was rice. Although it wasn't my best food, I ate it with a broken heart. To be sincere, I didn't enjoy the meal. 

It was around 6:00pm. I decided to sleep at least an hour before the party started around 8:30pm.

I immediately got up and went to my room to sleep.

 I had the weirdest dream.

In this dream was a tall hall where both men and women glowing in their white apparel were all standing. I couldn't see their faces, so I couldn't tell exactly who they were. Before me was a book in a glass container that looked old enough to have existed three thousand years ago. The people in the hall all spoke in unison and I couldn't understand what they were saying. Then the book in the glass container left its container and placed itself on the table and opened to the first page. I couldn't see anything written on it from where I was standing. Then I heard an echoing voice that asked me to go closer to the book. 

Immediately, the first page magically appeared, and the book read out; each word appeared it rrereadEVELYN EVERLON THIS IS YOUR REIGEN WELCOME THE CURRENT BEARER"

 Then, immediately, I got up, sweating profusely. I quickly glanced at my wristwatch to see if I had slept past the given time. It's only 30 min to 7 pm. 

"Just a 30 mins sleep?" I asked rhetorically. 

I sat at the edge of my bed for a while and tried to recall all that happened in that dream. 

Still heavily confused, I took the stairs down and saw my mom cooking. This could be the food for the party I guess. 

 "Oh, birthday girl, come over and help; your cousins and aunts are on their way." She said as soon as her eye caught me.

I sluggishly and lazily went over there to help with the food preparations as there were different types of delicacies my mom was preparing, and I wanted to tell her about my dreams, but I knew I needed to wait till after the meal preparations, which took almost close to an hour before everything was ready. 

My mum went upstairs to take her bath so I waited for her. It was 7:40pm already, and a few of the guests had started coming in with their cars.

 I hurriedly went to my mum's room to inform her of some of the guest arrivals and I seized this opportunity to tell her about the dream since I might not have the chance again to tell her before the meeting.

"Hey, mum". I called her 

"Why are you not dressed?" She asked.

"I just came to tell you about the guest's arrival and also inform you about the weird dream I had some hours ago," I said. 

"What dream?" she asked, although she didn't sound too curious to know what the dream was all about. 

I told her everything about the dream I had, and she just smiled and said it was just a figment of my imagination. 

I felt that feeling I feel whenever someone lies to me. I can't say what it was, but I have always had this gut feeling whenever someone lies.

 "Mum you know you can't lie to me". I said. 

"I will explain everything this night during the party celebration, okay?" She replied and kissed my forehead. 

"Now go and prepare for your party you don't want to 6:00pm.be late for your own party", she added. 

Then I left for my room. Getting to my room, I bumped into a guy looking through my stuff, which got me raging because I respect my personal boundaries and space very well; the only person who has the right to trespass through my stuff is only dame-cove.

"Hey, you're not supposed to be here. Go downstairs where the others are". I shouted angrily.

"Slow down, tigress; I didn't take out any of your stuff,." He said.

"Just because you were chosen by the key doesn't mean you get to shout at me like that; I could burn you to a crisp with just my mind," he added.

I was lost for a second. What does he mean by the Key? And burn me to a crisp?

Everybody around has been acting whirled since. 

I still gathered the courage to talk back at him even though he sounded so mean. 

"Dude you're seriously drunk", I said.

He immediately smiled. And he looked through my eyes.

"You mean you don't know?", he asked. 

"Know about what?" I asked.

 "Well, you're about to find out this night is". he said and left 

I stood there wondering what he was saying for a second then shoved it aside. I quickly dressed up, ready to go and meet the weird people downstairs. 

As I finished dressing, I went downstairs and saw people that I hadn't met in my life except for Aunt Everson, who just came over and went anytime. 

 A sound was heard which was coming from my grandparents.

"Happy birthday princess", my grandpa said.

"Hey, Grandpa," I said, smiling.

"Happy birthday, pumpkin," my grandma said and smiled, which I returned back.

An eerie silence enveloping the room. What truth? What was happening? As the sounds of laughter approache, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, knowing that tonight, everything was about to change.