Soul

Copyright © 2014 by Jazmin Acosta.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014919694

ISBN:                  Hardcover                  978-1-5035-1330-3

                            Softcover                    978-1-5035-1331-0

                            eBook                         978-1-5035-1394-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 11/04/2014

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Epilogue

To my sister, Itzel

Prologue

Come here, Soul. Let me tell you a story. Ana, my mother smiled and extended her light tanned hand toward me. The dark green sofa she sat on looked as inviting as it always did, especially after the day I just had. There were three cups of hot chocolate, set on the coffee table. No wonder our small cabin home smelled sweet when we got home from school today.

As stubborn as I could be at 15 years old, I refused to budge. Why wouldn’t she answer me? I just asked her the most important question of my life and all she wanted to do is tell me a story! She doesn’t even have a stupid book! My little brother, who just turned nine, walked into the living room.

Where’s the book? Unlike me, he neatly placed himself on our mother’s lap. He loved any story that he was able to listen or read for himself.

He certainly wasn’t going to miss this one. She smiled at him and stroked his dark brown hair. Even his skin was tan like mine, and he had the same colored eyes. The only differences between me and him was that his hair was darker.

I don’t need a book for this story, Danny. She explained. Danny’s dark brown eyes shined in excitement. So this is going to be an amazing story! Ana nodded.

Forget about the stupid story! I shouted, demanding to get back on my question. Is it true that we were adopted? Please, tell me! Ana looked up at me, her light brown eyes studying my face carefully.

Yes, it is true, Soul. Why would you be mad about that? She asked calmly. Why, she asks! Why?!

Because you wouldn’t be in trouble from all my problems all the time! You wouldn’t get yelled at by those kid’s parents! You wouldn’t get sad about what to feed us sometimes! You could probably even get out of his island and go out there and be happy! I just couldn’t control my voice anymore.

Danny gasped at my audacity to yell at our mother. She would never let us disrespect her at all, yet, she wasn’t snapping back either.

The tears in my eyes were falling free now and more kept coming no matter how much I tried to wipe them away. Earlier, a bunch of girls in my schools told me that my mother would have been happier if she hadn’t adopted us.

I didn’t realize until now, that I believed them. I can’t do anything to help her as I am now. I’m just a burden! Before I knew it, warm arms wrapped themselves around me and held me in a comforting embrace. I hugged her tightly back, because I didn’t want it to be true and I didn’t want her to let go. Shh, shh, Soul. Shh…

My little brother, who had been left on the sofa also slid off the couch and came to hug me. Shh, shh, Soul, shh… He repeated after mom. I couldn’t help but to chuckle. Our mother brought us back to the sofa and set us so that we were all comfortable.

Once upon a time, there were two very powerful people who were very different from each other. She started. I didn’t have fight in me to get mad, and frankly felt too nice to complain. Mom started to stroke my dark brown hair as well as Danny’s.

One had the power to make things come to life, but he had only seen the bad things about life, so never really used his power, unless it was to protect himself. The other had the power to make things real and she always expected good things to happen wherever she went.

"Most of the time, good things did happen, but she never learned anything. One day, they met and their worlds changed forever. She finally understood the price of joy and he finally believed that even good things could come from tragedies. They ended up loving each other more than their own lives.

They lost each other many times, but they could always find one another every time. They traveled to many different places and found it in themselves to love those worlds and everyone they met there too.

Places that you could have gone to too? Danny asked quietly. My heart beat faster and I felt really sad again. Ana kissed him and smiled, Shh, let me finish.

After many adventures in many different worlds, they decided to keep a record of all the places they visited. These records were actually shortcuts to get to those places again. One day, they found out that all those different places were in trouble.

What’s wrong? What’s happening to those places? Danny asked clearly worried about this story.

Those worlds each had events that would lead to them disappearing. It was only because those two had kept records of those worlds that they had the opportunity to stop this disaster from happening. They had the power to save those places, but then they had to do something that would hurt them deeply.

What was that? I asked, also becoming afraid for these powerful people.

Those records needed a stronger form to hold the worlds. Mom sighed, Those two powerful people decided to use their souls to hold the records together.

But if they are in many pieces, then they will be separated forever! Danny gasped. I waited for mom to finish. There must be something she wanted to tell us with this story.

That’s true, they would be separated for a long, long time. Especially, since they even locked the records and the building where the worlds are kept.

Then that’s impossible. They will never get together again. I sighed.

No, they will get together again, because time is not supposed to be stopped like that. Especially for all those worlds, so they made a ticket for one soul to find their buildings. One soul to open the gates and unlock the books.

If this soul could save one of the world’s then that soul would gain the ability to invite other inside. They would all change the worlds’ fate so that they may not disappear. If everything is successful, the two powerful people will be able to meet again. Like they promised each other when they fell in love.

A moment passed before I spoke again. So what are you trying to tell me mom? That you have to wait for a long time to get back together with the life you wanted because of us?

Ana smiled and kissed my cheek. Just like those two knew that they had a price to pay for the safety of others, although, my price was not as high as that, they knew it was worth it. She hugged us both and I couldn’t help the last few tears that rolled down my cheeks.

Danny had been holding onto his chocolate milk and ended up spilling some on all of us. We all had to take a shower together, even though I complained that I was too old for that. It was nice.

The next day, when we came back home, we found out that our cabin had burned to the ground. Some kind of fire accident. Our mother’s body was found in the ash.

Chapter 1

Soul

How typical. Why is it that when something goes super amazingly right, something else has to go terribly wrong. Especially after all the burdens my little brother and I had to go through just to get this opportunity. Not too long ago, this morning fact, we received a letter from the mayor of this small island we call home.

In one of his very rare and surprising acts of kindness. He invited us both to live with him at his small light-tanned mansion. No one, especially not I, or my little brother, Daniel (Danny), expected something like this to happen. We’re nothing but a couple of scrawny orphans trying to figure out how to earn the money for this month’s rent.

Besides, the mayor is well known for being antisocial, very secluded and very mysterious. In fact, the mayor only lives on this small tropical piece of rock for one to two months before leaving to go who-knows where else.

He had only been on the island for three days before sending the letter. Danny said it was weird. I disagreed.

It was practically a miracle! We weren’t going to say no to such a beautiful gift! No more scrubbing for cents, no more worrying about the money for school and no more owing a lot of people a lot of stuff. And especially no more worrying about bullies stealing stuff from our apartment.

After all, I was going to be 16 in a few days, admittedly only 5’, 1 and my brother just turned ten. Of course his height was no more than 4’, 5, his skin, though it was as tan as mine was, could still be easily sunburned.

His hair was dark brown, though it often only looked black. The only reason we survived so long was thanks to our late mother’s emergency money, money she made by painting for the mayor. Of course, she also painted for her friends here at the village and a lot of helped us out too.

All that doesn’t matter at the moment, because my brother had to be snoopy and three other girls had to go and mess with me again. I wanted to teach them a lesson once and for all, so that they would stop, but instead I ran right into their trap.

Of course things had to end up like this. I growled to myself, making sure my grip on the rotting tree was as firm as I could make it. I didn’t want to end up falling in the darkness below. This is the kind of luck I have. Heh that was what one of my mother’s old friends told me this morning.

***

Wow, that’s some luck you’re having Soul. My convenience store manager smiled at me, that afternoon. Only a few of his teeth remained in his gums. Even less white hair remained on his head and his tanned skin was wrinkled all over, but his eyes were a light brown. As warm as my mother’s eyes.

He was about to be 50-something, he won’t really tell, but he was still as optimistic as a child. At least then you won’t have to get so worried about working too much now, or surviving on very little. He sighed a bit, knowing I was his only other employee these days. I paused in the middle of cleaning the counter and smiled at him.

Don’t worry, Mike, I’m still going to work here a little bit longer. After all, I don’t really know the man. I wouldn’t feel right asking him for money.

I laughed lightly. It still hadn’t felt real that my brother and I were moving from a cruddy apartment to something right out of a fairy tale. But anyway, I won’t be here for the night’s shift, so maybe you should close up early.

There you go again with your worrying, Soul. That attack happened only once and no one was hurt. Why wouldn’t I worry? Someone threw rocks at his store, broke two windows and took a lot of snacks.

Mike went on, trying to convince me. Besides, my nephew should be arriving on our shores soon. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind helping me out with the store for just one night. I shifted from one foot to the other. It’s hard to trust someone you’ve never met, but Mike always said he was a good person.

Well, even if he does come, I still don’t think you should be walking around at night by yourself. When will your nephew get here? I’ll walk you to the port. I stated decisively. Maybe my new guardian won’t mind too much, if he does, I’m just going to have to sneakily get out for a few minutes.

Really Soul, you worry too much. I will be fine. Anyway, it is you who I should be worrying about. After all, that man really is mysterious. His father never really let us see him when he was young, so I don’t really know what he is like myself.

Ha, ha, ha! Really, Mike, it’s like you don’t know me at all. After all, I managed to gain a reputation on this island, mind you, kind of a bad one. Something to do with being able to knock out other girls and even guys if they ever threatened my little brother or me. I know I said earlier that we were scrawny, but fighting to protect ourselves was something every kid on our island learned quickly.

Mike chuckled and shook his head. But what else am I to expect from the quick-witted strawberry girl? He reached out and messed with my pink-dyed hair. There were a two long green streaks near my ears as well. Ever since I cut and dyed my hair, my antagonizes tried to nickname me as the strawberry-headed-fool.

It ended up backfiring, as I was able to beat them all senseless for trying to break into Danny’s and my apartment. I was able to kick them out thanks to my brother who told me about all the stuff I could use to my advantage.

By the time the local police arrived, they were all out cold. That was about six weeks ago, but people still talk about it sometimes. Now I’m known as the quick-witted strawberry girl.

Living by ourselves was a whole lot harder than it sounded. There was rent, food and school to worry about. Plus, because we had no one to defend us, the bullying we had to go through got worse.

In the beginning, we didn’t understand why they kept pestering us and took it on in silence. On the day they attacked our apartment was when we have had enough and we took a stand. When this happened, I realized that they were all freaking idiots.

One of them told me that it was so unfair that we didn’t have to answer to any grownups while they did. They were only jealous of things they don’t understand.

Laughing again, I took his hand off my head. He looked at his watch and jumped. Goodness girl, your shift was over ten minutes ago! What are you still doing here? You have to go pack your things now. Your new life awaits! He began to shove me out the door. I managed to pull my apron off and put it in his hands before I left.

Alright, alright, Mike. I’m leaving already, but I’ll be seeing you tonight anyway, just to make sure your nephew has your back.

Fine, fine. See you later Soul.

See you later! I stepped out the door. The sun still had a few hours before it set and my apartment wasn’t too far way. By this time, Danny would be reading at the library. That’s where he always stays after we both get out from the local school, while I work.

The library is only two blocks from the convenience store, I might as well head over there now. Most of the time, Danny waits just in the library’s doors until I pick him up. It’s just safer for him that way.

However, in the alley down the first block of my job, who do I see, but my little brother, surrounded by three other girls, who look about ready to kidnap him, or something along those lines? As soon as I saw this, I hid behind one of the trashcans and became as quiet as I could. Inside my head I was complaining loudly.

Why in the world didn’t he wait for me?

Chapter 2

Daniel

Instead of going to the library today, maybe I should go see our future home first? Maybe this way, I could see everything before Soul and then tell her about it while packing our stuff? That way, she won’t be too freaked out by anything there.

Well, I have got to at least try. I know I’m grown up enough to help her out. I want to give her something back, like she has done to me. Since I had asked her so long ago that i needed her, maybe this time she could need me. I kept thinking about these things until I reached the highest point of our small island.

It wasn’t to hard to figure out how to get there, but getting there. The dirt road’s steep trail gets a little hard to walk on, especially carrying my bag of stuff up there too. Oh, no! I forgot to bring a water bottle in my rush to get here! Hm, now i’m thinking about how thirsty I am. At least it was a cloudy day, so the sun wasn’t burning my skin. I heard it was going to rain later. Mom liked rainy weather.

The mansion could be seen from most places on the island, but being so close now, I could finally see the designs on the black iron gates. There were designs of animals all over the gate edges.

Most of them I’ve seen only in books and the few that lived on this small island, but a few, I have never seen before. The name plate on the mail slot, to the right of the gates, read; Zeugma Loos.

After wiping some sweat from my forehead, I pressed the intercom button. The deep and tired voice of the mayor answered. Yes? Who is it? I was a bit nervous and still breathing a bit too loudly from my hike earlier.

Uh, hel-hello. It’s me, um, Daniel. I breathed.

Daniel? I thought you were going to come later this afternoon. Is Soul with you? He asked, but didn’t wait for a response before he had the gate opened. Now I’m really nervous. Was this a good idea after all? Come in, come in. I would like to talk to you in person. With a little hesitation, I walked into his garden.

A small stone path lay on the freshly cut grass, from the gates to the front doors. They also forked into two other paths, which could lead me to the opposite parts of the garden. Most of it was just grass, but there were a few garden beds with nothing but white Alcatraz flowers. Huh, my mother liked those types of flowers.

The mayor opened the two front doors to his house. They were made of a light brown wood with the same kind of animal designs on their frames. Toward the inside of the doors’ inner frame held nothing but six giant squares on each door.

So maybe he likes animals? The mayor looked down at me with very light brown eyes. They almost looked light orange. Of course he was going to be tired, just look at how dark the lines under his eyes are.

Just like everyone else on the island skin was tan, but unlike everyone else, in a light hue. He probably doesn’t get out much. His hair was blond and he was wearing dark blue suit pants with a white suit shirt. He was a lot taller than me, maybe even taller than mom.

Here, Daniel. Let me carry your bag. He held out his light tan, right hand. There was a silver bracelet on his wrist, but it could be a watch. His sleeve covered most of it. I just sort of stared at his hand. After all, he is a stranger. Don’t worry. I will just put it on the couch there.

I peeked behind him and saw his couch. Okay. I handed him my bag. We both stepped inside, but he left the door open. It is nice outside. He said.

I sat next to my bag and looked around. The walls were eggshell white. There were paintings of gardens on his wall. There were gardens of cottages and brick houses. Each garden had many different types of flowers of all kinds of colors on them.

Over one of the paintings was a wooden clock, with roman numbers on them. Between the two very light brown couches, which sat on the opposite walls, was a small glass table. I think they are called coffee tables.

The mayor sat across from me, on the other couch. I noticed that his suit jacket was on the farthest arm of his couch. Maybe he was going to go out later, or he just got back from something?

Behind the couch he sat in, there was another room. I could see a light brown tile floor, marble counters on the walls with cupboards underneath. It could be his kitchen. I looked at his face again. He looked maybe my mom’s age…if she was here.

I’m sure the last time I saw you, you were just turning nine. The mayor smiled, You grew since then right? I stared at him blankly.

You…you saw me before? I asked, trying to remember when that happened. When did you see me? I leaned in. He touched his lip as if trying to hide his words, but he was smiling.

Well, the last time your mother came to paint for me, she brought a photo of you two. Now his smile disappeared and he looked at his carpet for a second. I never thought she would…I mean, of course, but… When he looked back up at me, he seemed worried. How are you two holding up?

Now I leaned back, feeling very uncomfortable. Except for the day that it happened and the occasional bullying, Soul and I never talked about it.

Well, um. After maybe two weeks after that, Soul took care of us both. She was able to use some leftover money mom left. Then she got a job at Mike’s shop. She went there every day after school. I would go to the library and just wait until she came to pick me up.

Is that where she is now? The mayor looked out the open door as if to see if she was going to come to the gates soon.

Yes. I nodded and decided it was okay to explain why I was here by myself. It’s just that, she takes care of me all the time, so I just wanted to see if this was a nice place. I explained, but felt my face getting hot.

The mayor stared at me and then started to chuckle. I see. You are trying to take care of her now. It was my turn to look at his light brown carpet.

Um…yes. was all that came to mind.

Well, that is very nice, young man, but wouldn’t she get worried if you are not at the library for her to pick up soon? He asked. I shook my head. She doesn’t get out for another hour. A phone rang in his kitchen. The mayor’s face fell, making him look grumpy. Please excuse me a moment, Danniel. He got up and left.

Hm, I wonder if he’s going to be like that a lot? I heard him pick up the phone. Yes? No, not yet. He sighed, You absolutely need one tonight? I just got back from that assignment, can’t you wait…? Alright, I’ll see what I can do. What do you need?

After that, all I could hear was the mayor saying yes every so often. A few minutes of listening to that made me bored. Might as well look around. This is going to be my home soon anyway.

I made my way around the house. It was pretty big, but I only got as far as his library. Heh, I did end up at a place with lots of books after all. I made double sure to know the time, wouldn’t want the hour to fly by me.

Sure enough, there was a large white clock on the wall opposite to the door. It was still 40 minutes before I had to go back. I looked at the types of books he had on his shelves. I began smiling, thinking of all the time I could spend here. Unlike Soul, I loved books. I could spend hours here.

There were many books about animals, medical procedures, people who survive extremes, how to make friends, psychology, and one about flowers. Hm, that one is out of place. I took the flower book out.

It had a dark red leather hard cover. I was also pretty thick, but it felt very light. When I opened it, I saw why. A large hole went through all the pages.

Something silver and shiny sat at the bottom. It was a bracelet. One like the mayor had. Hm, it had letters on it too. I began pulling it out with my fingers. There was a light knock at the library door. Daniel, are you here?

The item fell onto my palm, and from that moment on, I knew I shouldn’t have opened the book. I fumbled to put the book back where I found out. The mayor came in and saw my hand on the book, but it was back in the shelf.

Oh! Daniel, you don’t want to look at that book. It’s…torn. He walked in quickly and took my hand away from the book’s spine. He stared at it for a moment.

I’m sorry, it just looked, out of place. I admitted.

It did? He asked me looking curious, but there still was a bit of worry on his face.

Well, it was the only book I saw so far that was about flowers. I explained. He looked back at the book. Oh, I see. Well, if you want, I could go buy more flower books later, but this one is no good. In an attempt to look away from him, I looked up at the clock. Geez! Was that the time?

I’m sorry! I have to go! Soul would get worried. I said and ran into the living room. The mayor easily followed. If you want, I’ll walk you there. He offered.

No, thanks! I’ll see you later tonight! I ran out the door. I had to take a couple breaks every once in a while. After all, I don’t run as fast as Soul.

The need to get to Soul greatly outweighed the need to wait for her in the safety of the local library, so I skipped it. I had just gotten to the alley next to Soul’s job when many hands came out of the dark, dead end alley and pulled me into it. Hey! That only made them shove me at the wall. Ow!

I looked up and saw three girls. Two of them I’ve seen more than I would like to. One was new, but what was that at the corner of my eye? Pink hair, behind one of the trash cans! Uh, oh. It’s going to get messy fast!

Chapter 3

Soul

Lisa, a dark-skinned, blue-eyed, dirty blond-haired, spoiled brat, who could win a gold medal if shedding tears were a sport, stood behind my