The Pendants and the Mystery of the Wozniak Five Part I

by Stephanie Steele

  THE PENDANTS AND THE MYSTERY OF THE WOZNIAK FIVE

  PART I

  BY

  STEPHANIE STEELE

  Text copyright © 2014 Stephanie Steele

  All Rights Reserved

  Table Of Contents

  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

  Prologue

  A young boy, named Joey Stoker, who had a certain love for trouble, skipped around a gigantic dirt hole, looking down into it longingly. He circled around it, contemplating on just how he was going to get into it. He was determined- mostly because his mother had forbidden him to try it.

  It was a typical summer day and Joey had spent the better part of his morning tormenting his younger sister, Lula- pulling her hair, ripping the pages out of her book, and doing whatever he could to amuse himself at her expense. He soon became bored with that and that's when he began to eye the massive pit. The hole sat in the backyard of a large white farmhouse. It was meant for a swimming pool to be put in later that week and Joey was not to play in it, his mother warned him many times to stay away, but this did not deter Joey- he wanted in and when his inquiring brown eyes spotted a shining, rounded object at the bottom, he was even more unwavering.

  It was 1:00PM that summer day when Joey dragged a ladder from the family's shed to the hole and it was 1:02PM when he climbed down, hitting the bottom with a thud. It was 1:03PM when he started screaming and desperately clawing his way back up the ladder.

  "Mommy! Mommy! Mommm...mmaaayyy! It burned meeee!" He wailed, with tears spilling down his chubby cheeks. He made a hysterical dash towards the house, passing his sister Lula, who had been innocently reading under a tree close by. She watched her brother curiously, as he ran to their house with a cloud of dirt trailing behind him.

  Lula set her book down and walked over to the hole to see what had caused her brother to cry so. She was small for her age; she was eight but looked no older than six. Her t-shirt and jeans hung on her loosely. She stood at the edge and peered down into it. At once, she saw something glisten in the dirt, something that appeared golden. Lula carefully climbed down the ladder and walked towards the shimmering light, she had never been one to disobey her mother, but Lula was a curious child. She leaned in closely to look at it; the sun was pounding down, making it difficult to see. Brightness seemed to be erupting from the mysterious object, which impaired her vision even more. She reached for it, but immediately snapped her hand back as an incredible heat was pulsating from it. Lula brushed her blonde hair from her face and removed the sweater that was tied around her waist. She folded it and picked up the object, the heat began to burn through the sweater quickly, she tossed it up and of out the hole and then climbed out herself. Picking up the smoldering object, still wrapped in the sweater, she ran as fast as she could towards the house. Lula could feel the heat in her hand, as a hole was burning right through her sweater.

  She burst through the door of the kitchen, passed her wailing brother, who was sitting on the counter being coddled by their mother, and through the object into the sink, relieving her hand of the stinging pain.

  "Ouch!" She cried, looking at her hand, which was now a throbbing bright red.

  "Lula! What on earth are you doing?!" Her mother demanded. Lula ignored her and turned her attention back towards the sink. Her mother, who was a large woman with a horrendous short brown perm, marched over.

  Lula leaned as close as she could, standing on her tip-toes. It was a small, egg-shaped orb made of glass, with a blue gel inside. It hung from a delicate gold chain. Lula stared at it, completely mesmerized. She wondered why it was so hot.

  Her mother hovered over her, "What it that? Where did it come from?"

  Before Lula could answer, smoke began to rise from the puzzling object; it was burning through a plastic cup left in the sink. Her mother gasped and flipped on the faucet.

  "No, mom!" Lula yelled, reaching her hand out, but she was too late. As soon as the water touched it, it cracked. The cold water hit the hot glass and sent the blue gel down the drain. Only pieces of glass and the gold chain remained.

  "Lula Kathryn! What in heavens was that?"

  Lula turned to her mother, her eyes wide with amazement, "I think...it may have been something important."

  Chapter 1

  It was the first day of school at East Dells High and 17-year-old Valie Revels had spent her day just like every other student. That day was reserved for catching up with friends, talking about the new students (whose presence was always evident in the small school) and complaining about their class schedules. An exciting time for students and for Valie. She was beginning her senior year with a promising future, great friends and a loving family.

  Valie was a student who didn't particularly stick out, but she wasn't swallowed by the hallways of her high school, either. She was a lovely young woman with dark brown hair and deep blue eyes that appeared violet in the sun. She was on the verge of turning 18 and up until that point, Valie had a normal life. She grew up in a small city in Wisconsin and had gone to the same school with most of the same people since kindergarten. By appearances, what had made Valie different than most of her classmates was that she was raised by her uncle, the science teacher at her high school. After her mother was tragically killed in a car accident, she was sent to live with her Uncle Leon, when she was just a baby, before she was able to know that anything was different. Her Uncle Leon treated her as his own daughter and Valie grew up being close to her uncle's son, Valie's cousin, Trent. Trent and Valie were not only cousins, but best friends. Sure, they had their moments where Valie threatened him with bodily harm (all in good fun, of course) but no one had a better relationship than the two cousins.

  Lucky for Valie and Trent, Leon Snevets was a great Science teacher and his students adored him; his likability factor prevented the cousins from being ridiculed by their peers.

  The trio was admired by most. They were caring and genuine people, and for the most part, Leon Snevets kept his family nestled in the comfortable mediocre lifestyle that a teacher's salary afforded.

  It was the end of the first day and Valie was standing at the front of her uncle's empty classroom. Valie's friend Casey sat in a desk, next to Trent, listening as Valie read an essay out loud.

  "And in closing, I would like to add that I would be a great addition to your University. I am an ambitious young woman who accomplishes everything she sets out to do."

  Valie looked up from her paper proudly. Casey and Trent were both staring at her with the same dumbfounded look.

  "What?" she asked.

  Casey inhaled slowly, "Valie, that was..."

  "Awful!" Trent blurted.

  "Perhaps 'awful' isn't the word," Casey said, thoughtfully putting her finger to her chin.

  "No, yeah- it's awful," Trent assured them. "College admissions essays are meant to highlight your greatness. I mean, tell a story that hel
ped you decide your major, or talk about the day you realized how much you love science and that's why you want to study it more. Talk about a moment in time where a certain realization flooded your mind that made you decide to apply to this particular college. Don't put your admissions officers to sleep. Valie, you're on the school paper, you love writing, and you’re supposed to be good at it."

  Valie looked at him and her lip quivered as she tried to think of a retort. Finally, she said, "I hate science.”

  "Wait, wait--" Casey started, putting her hands up, "I thought you haven't picked a major yet. How can you write an essay about being passionate about something if you don't know what you've decided to be passionate about?"

  Valie pursed her lips, "I hate you both right now."

  Casey and Valie had been best friends since the 6th grade. Casey had pretty blue eyes and blonde hair that was almost always worn in pigtails. She was a cheerleader and was constantly upbeat and peppy, at times it could be tiring, but most had to admire her happy nature.

  "Also, it just doesn't sound like you, I mean, you called yourself Helena." Trent said with an obvious look on his face. It almost seemed that he was getting some kind of joy from pointing out the flaws in his cousin's essay, but only because she was generally a very gifted writer.

  Valie narrowed her eyes, "My name is Helena."

  "Yeah, but, like, nobody calls you that...EVER!"

  "I think what Trent is getting at," Casey interrupted, "Is that you're Valie, you've gone by that name your whole life. As Helena, it makes you seem like a different person. The whole essay was like that, you made yourself sound much more boring that you actually are."

  Valie scoffed.

  Casey tilted her head and seemed to think on what she just said. "You know what I mean. Your grades are amazing, you're in softball, and you have, like, the prettiest hair in our whole graduating class. You're special. You don't need to try so hard. Any college would be lucky to have you. Right, Trent?"

  "She does have nice hair." Trent agreed.

  Casey swatted at him.

  "What! She does; it reminds me of chocolate, like a chocolate shiny cake...like a cupcake, a delicious, chocolate...are you guys hungry?"

  Valie ignored both of them and started fanning herself with her paper. She could feel herself getting emotional and somehow fanning herself would help, she figured. "You know what? It's not like it even matters. I can't apply to the college I want because my uncle won't let me go out of state for school. I almost hope they reject my application.” Valie moved to sit on top of one of the desks, then looked up at the ceiling as her eyes started to well with tears.

  Casey quickly went to her side and put her hand on Valie's shoulder. "It's okay, don't worry so much. It'll all work out, I have a good feeling."

  "Yep..." Valie said looking away trying to hide the tears.

  "Um...well, I'm off to practice," she gave Valie a hug, tousled Trent's hair, and bounced her way out of the room, totally unfazed by Valie's tears.

  Valie looked at Trent worriedly. He looked back and smiled, "Don't even worry about it; I'll help you write another one...Helena."

  Valie had always thought of Trent as her brother. They were only one day apart and some assumed they were twins, even though they looked nothing alike. Trent was tall and lanky, he had light brown hair that had grown just past his ears and it was a constant fight for him to keep it out of his eyes. His eyes seemed to match his hair color perfectly. Trent didn't have the best social skills. He was a bit awkward and clumsy, much more academic than athletic, but what he lacked in social grace, he made up for with his brains and lighthearted sense of humor.

  "C'mon, let's get going," Trent rose from his desk, lifting his arms up to stretch himself out, "I hate being here after school is over...it makes me nervous, like something happens here after hours that we don't know about- even when I have science club..."

  Valie held her hand up, "Stop right there!"

  Trent laughed; he knew she hated listening to him talk about his “stupid science club,” as Valie referred to it. He formed his little club when he was a freshman, "always taking new members," he would say, much like the neon fliers he posted all over school encouraged, but to his disappointment, it never peaked past five people.

  Valie picked up her book bag and slung it over her shoulder, then shut the lights off and closed the door. Trent put his arm around her and the two strolled down the empty hallway.

  "Life is good; senior year is going to be good," Trent said with a smile. Valie looked up at him--way up. Trent was almost a whole foot taller than her. He was 6'3" and Valie was just 5'4".

  "You think?"

  "Yes," he said firmly. "I have this vision of our senior year. We're going to get into the colleges we want, and when graduation rolls around, we're going to throw our graduation caps in the air and get ready to attack our futures."

  Valie thought on it, she tried picturing it but she was struggling. From the time she was young, she had big ambitions; she wanted to travel and see others places other than the four corners of their hometown. Valie wanted to see all the beauty and possibility that the rest of the world held. Her junior year, the school offered the students a chance to go to London for a week. Twelve students would be picked to go, based on their academic achievements and Valie qualified, but her uncle wouldn't let her go. Valie had the money saved and was prepared to do everything on her own, but Leon was unwavering, he said it was too dangerous and that was that. Valie was crushed and resented her uncle for a long time after that. Leon had always kept Valie and Trent on a short leash, he had his own justifications for doing so and it made sense, but Valie wanted out.

  As they walked down the hall, Trent had a beaming smile on his face and he continued to talk to Valie about going college next year. For Trent, the most exciting part of college would be the opportunity to learn more, possibly even start a bigger and better science club.

  Valie didn't want to talk about it anymore. The thought of college was becoming a bigger and bigger headache, so she changed the subject.

  "I know it's only the first day, but...has anyone been giving you problems?"

  Trent took his arm back and ran his fingers through his hair uncomfortably.

  "I just want to make sure that you're okay." Valie said quickly, feeling instantly bad.

  "You don't need to worry about me, Valie." He mumbled with no trace of happiness left in his voice, "Everything is fine; everything is going to stay fine."

  “I'm sorry...I didn't mean to make you feel bad, I—”

  “I'm fine.” He said curtly and she dropped it. They continued the walk down the hall in silence.

  Trent had problems ever since grade school. Kids teased him; he was a handsome kid, but he was born with a cleft lip. He'd had surgery for it, but the scar above his lip remained. He'd been pushed into lockers, thrown into the dumpster in the back of the school more than once and been tripped in the cafeteria in front of most of the student body. Trent was embarrassed, but he had never been good at sticking up for himself, the idea of confrontation scared him more than getting picked on. He could live with it. To him, it would all end once high school was over with.

  It was almost always the same group of students that picked on Trent-- four male students who were all too typically popular and were on the football team. Mostly known throughout their hometown for their exceptional athleticism, but they were bullies. Two of them were twin brothers, Matt and Mark, and the other two, essentially their minions, Marvin and Max, doing and saying almost anything that the twins wanted them to. The students at East Dells High referred to them as simply, "The M's." Trent wasn't their only target, but nevertheless, they never stopped trying to bring him down.

  Valie had no noticeable handicaps or deformities, so she was never targeted, but they were familiar with who she was. Their junior year of high school, right after winter break, The M's were harassing Trent after school. They knocked his books out of his hands and they started to
push him, demanding him to fight back, they dared him to throw a punch. Ever the peace keeper, Trent tried laughing it off and walking away, but they continued to push him. No one was there to help. Trent was scared, but he kept trying to walk away. Valie was at her locker when a girl from her civics class casually told her that Trent was “getting into some trouble behind the school.” Valie knew right away what that meant. She ran from her locker, dropping her books and pushing past other students, her mind was racing and heart pounding. She burst through the doors and into the parking lot in the back of the school; Trent was on the ground with his nose bleeding. Valie ran to his side and got him to his feet. She turned to the twins specifically and started yelling at them, yelling and shoving them both in the chest. It was a moment where, as Valie looked back, it happened so quickly that as she tried recalling details afterward, she couldn't. Matt, one of the twins, ended up with a concussion after Valie shoved him so hard that he stumbled backwards and hit his head on the cement. She would later tell her uncle that “she saw red” and he grounded her for two weeks. She was also suspended from school for a week- the first black mark on an otherwise perfect academic record. Valie didn't care though, she had been sticking up for her cousin, and even though she felt bad that someone got hurt, she still felt as if she did what she had to do. Valie was fiercely protective over those she cared about; part of it stemmed from the loss of her mother. Even without many memories of her mother, she still felt that loss, that missing piece of her life, and Valie cherished the relationships she had.

  After that fight, the worst part to Valie wasn't that she had to write a letter of apology to the concussed Matt; it was that Trent didn't speak to her for three weeks. He was embarrassed that she tried defending him. Trent was much more forgiving to his bullies than Valie could ever be. That was Trent though, and despite any hardship, he had a positive attitude, at least he appeared that way. Valie knew it was mostly a facade, she could recall several times where he had looked to be crying after he got home from school, but he never wanted to talk about it. He started to let the pain manifest inside, hoping it would eventually just go away, but it didn't. It was for this reason that Trent wanted to be done with high school and move on to college--he wanted to leave his days of being a victim and a misfit behind him, or so he said.