The Mysterious Gold Locket | Freewrite

"We interrupt this program to bring you this breaking news from the National Meteorological Department that there are signs of heat waves about to hit Zalesbury in the next hour. Citizens are advised to protect themselves against the high temperatures as it could be detrimental to human health…"

Roselyn could not believe her eyes, seeing the high rise of the waves displayed on the television screen. Her daughters, Penelope and Cecilia, sat close to each other watching the TV as well. Both girls appeared a little pale.

"Dear," Roselyn called out. "News says heat waves are gonna hit soon. Is that not a bit unusual? It's winter for crying out loud." Her husband grumbled from under the kitchen sink where he laid, fixing a leak.

"This is all your fault," Cecilia whispered into Penelope's ear. "You should not have taken the treasure from the beach."

Penelope scowled at her. "Don't believe what was written in the box. It's just a locket. Not a treasure…"

"It is!" Cecilia whispered back.

"What are you girls on about?" Roselyn asked them. The girls smiled sweetly at her and chorused, "nothing, mommy." She shook her head at them and walked back to the kitchen to check on her husband.

"That's what the note in the box says. 'Touch not lest ye be cursed with an evil'," Cecilia reminded her sister.

Penelope paled. "Fine! Let's throw it back into the beach. I hate the hot weather anyway. Makes my freckles stand out in an annoying way."

The two girls slipped out of the house, ran all the way down to the beach and threw into the water the gold locket they found in a rusted box under a rock on the shore.

They held hands and strolled back home.
"Good Lord! Where have you girls been?" Roselyn asked in a shrill voice. "Don't ever leave the house again without telling me, okay?"

"Sorry, mommy."

"Oh, alright. The strangest thing just happened. News anchor says the heat wave was a false alarm! We are going to be just fine."

Both girls paled and glanced at each other.

I hope you enjoyed reading my piece. This short story is a five-minute freewrite inspired by the prompt "high temperature". Join the @freewriters community to receive daily prompts, hosted by @mariannewest.

^{Image source: Pixabay}