As the Story Unfolds
By Katelyn W.
Color washed into the dark morning sky, pushing away the clouds and fading the mysterious deep black into a vibrant watercolor painting. Sections of fiery red layered atop yellow that graduated into a peaceful blue, all diminished into a white horizon. The fresh morning scent blew into the windows, smelling of dew and the orchids on the windowsills.
Like countless times before, a new day arrived in the small town of North Bulburn with dashing colors. Amanda, a plain teenage girl, woke up in her attic bedroom with a tiny circular window. For a second, she felt like something was different about today, then quickly shook away her thoughts. Today was an important day for the entire town. It was the annual holiday, a festive celebration is to be held in the center city, and no one was to be absent. She walked out of her family’s little cottage, and marveled again at the place she lived in. In comparison, she seemed out of place, given her appearance.
It was a fairytale-like town, with picture-perfect streets lined with golden-leaved trees. A glistening river flowed through the middle of the city, reflecting the buildings in a glassy blue filter. In the center of the city, was the “Palace”. The most marvelous structure of the town, it had hundreds of stairs leading up to the door. A dozen marble columns supported a roof with intricate carvings depicting scenes of the town’s history.
According to legend, displayed under a tunnel of light in the very center of the palace, was the treasure of the town. The treasure remained mysterious for centuries. No one remembers the last time anyone entered the palace, nor can they prove that a treasure existed. Though no one doubted its existence. Supposedly, it held all the knowledge and history of the town, and the power was too strong for the townspeople to possess. Their mayor was the only bridge between the people and the hall.
“I was looking for you! Oh Amanda, have you heard? Something strange appeared in front of the capitol building. Everyone is there. Come on!” said a teenage girl, dragging Amanda away.
When they arrived in town, a dense crowd of people had already formed. The girls squeezed their way to the center, where the “strange thing” was. No one even knew how to describe it. It was an impressive glowing inscription on the stone ground just before the capitol. If anything, it seemed like something that would be carved into one of the columns of the sacred palace. Gossip traveled in the air from mouth to ear. Soon, the whole town gathered at the center of town. Nobody knew how to interpret these foreign symbols. Never had something so peculiar happened in the in the villagers' lives of constant peace.
“Mayor Brunswick, what is this?” “How did it get here?” “It must be bad luck!” The townspeople cried with worry.
The mayor announced, in his loud, hearty voice to the people, “Folks, we shall not worry. It appears that there has been some confusion. It was simply the sunlight reflecting off our palace. Nothing strange, right? Now, let’s continue with our holiday?”
Most were convinced by his speech, and left the commotion, continuing to enjoy their day.