by Brian Carmen
THE SHINING LIGHT OF THE VOLSTIR
BY: BRIAN CARMEN
CHAPTER LIST
Chapter One: The Girl that Returned Home
Chapter Two: The Volstir of Acresville
Chapter Three: Last Chance to Turn Back
Chapter Four: The Light of the Volstir
Chapter Five: Victor’s Rebirth
Chapter Six: Thirst of the Volstir
Chapter Seven: Regret for the Damned
Chapter Eight: Pain of the Innocent
Chapter Nine: The Promise for Revenge
Chapter Ten: Culture of Loc Moines
Chapter Eleven: Registering and Sanguine
Chapter Twelve: Saint Sabriel the First
Chapter Thirteen: The Missing Friends
Chapter Fourteen: Darkness and Destruction
Chapter Fifteen: Cold Vengeance
Chapter Sixteen: The Blood Stained Sand
Chapter Seventeen: The Glassmaker’s Hindsight
Chapter Eighteen: Future Dreams
Chapter One: The Girl that Returned Home
Acresville, Indiana was a small town in which everybody knew everybody else. The center of the town was filled with mom and pop stores and was one of the only places where you wouldn’t find a Wal-Mart or a Starbucks. It was a proud town filled with rich history that matched its ruff exterior. All of the buildings were old but had strong foundations. The citizens could be seen as a reflection of their beloved town.
The people who lived in Acresville could tell you all the secrets about one another. Everyone in Acresville grew up together; they would date, get married, and have children so that the endless cycle would continue with each new generation. This was the well-known fact that all the townspeople knew from the time they were born to the day they died.
Crystal Avanue was returning to her home town after being away for six years. She knew the simple trap and appeal very well. It had been her determination to make something more out of herself that had helped her avoid being trapped like everyone else.
Her hard work had paid off and she was now an educated pharmacist living in Seattle, Washington making very good money. She returned to her hometown feeling confident about herself and the life she now had. Crystal saw herself as living proof that you could leave Acresville and do something more.
Her long black hair flowed in the wind as she drove her yellow convertible past the familiar buildings and stores.
She drove to a coffee shop located across the small building with a sign in the front that read ‘Town Hall‘.
Crystal wasn’t surprised to see the same rusty old cars sitting in its parking lot. The mayor and his aides would likely keep their cars until the very last mile. She remembered growing up and seeing the mayor’s 1986 Taurus when it was still new; and had been shining with flawless blue paint. Back then she dreamt about owning a car like his and now she had a better one.
She pulled over and hopped out of her convertible; smiling and waving at the people that recognized her. Within a few hours everyone would know that she was back in town. Crystal was sure that many of the residents would want to be nosy and find out if the stories they heard about her were true.
She hadn’t heard any of the rumors yet but she knew that there would be plenty about her. It was just another fact about Acresville that everyone accepted. Anyone that left was going to have stories made up about them. Crystal didn’t blame them because she had been just like them when she was a child. They didn’t gossip to be mean; but merely to pass the time while living their boring lives.
Crystal walked inside the coffee shop that was still the same as the last time she’d been inside. There was a counter with a register that looked old enough to be in a museum. The tables were all different types and the chairs didn’t really match however they were all kept clean. She looked at the light yellow tiles that were on the floor and remembered when she walked on them as an employee. The owner was old and hardly walked inside; however the shop ran itself.
Looking around, Crystal saw her friends Laura and Tony. Both girls smiled brightly as they got up from the old white table they were sitting at and began to rush her. It had been some time since the three of them had been together.
Laura was always the prettiest of the three, with her long blond hair and bright green eyes. Her father was a banker that made good money. Growing up, Laura always had the nicest clothes. Crystal could see that Laura hadn’t changed her appearance much in the last six years. Unlike many of the other residents she had managed to stay the same weight she had been in high school.
Tony on the other hand looked completely opposite in her grease stained shirt and jeans. She was just like her father; a regular grease monkey who worked on cars for a living. Tony never did enjoy the girly things and had always disliked Crystal and Laura‘s interest in clothes and makeup.
The three girls had been best friends growing up and had stayed in touch despite Crystal being so far away. Tony was getting married and both Laura and Crystal had been asked to be her maids of honor. Crystal knew the groom and had always suspected that the two would eventually settle down. Jake and Tony had been dating since they were all in high school when he’d first started working in her father’s shop.
“Where did you get those clothes?” Laura asked as she began moving her hand over the silky fabric of Crystal silvery dress.
Growing up Laura had always been the one with the nicest clothes but the table had obviously changed. Crystal had the money to buy nicer clothes however she wasn‘t trying to make Laura too jealous. It was nice to be admired for wearing something that was expensive and pretty and not because they were going to prom or a wedding.
“I went on vacation last year to Milan remember?” Crystal said with a smile while she looked over at Tony who was obviously enjoying the envy in Laura’s eyes.
“Don’t worry I brought several outfits for you and a new toolset for Miss Bride-to-be” Crystal said with a smile.
Both friends began praising her while quickly hugging her with joy. They all sat down at the table and ordered some coffee. Within minutes they were talking over old times as if they happened the day before. Crystal would never admit it out loud but a large part of her missed the simplicity of Acresville. She had spent her entire life trying to get away but even she had to admit that it was cleaner and more homely than Seattle.
She tried to clear her mind and began looking at Tony’s engagement ring. It was hanging around her neck instead of on her finger; she had absolutely refused to wear it on her hand. When Crystal asked about it, Tony merely mentioned something about it interfering with her work. She quickly changed the subject and began catching Crystal up on the rumors that were about her.
Crystal could only smirk about the stories that she had eloped with some wealthy French man. She was more surprised that her mother had begun spreading a rumor that she was going to be having twins. The babies were apparently going to be due around October and the father was deployed overseas.
“None of that is true” Crystal said while laughing with the girls. She began to look out the window of the shop while trying to calm down. The other two were still laughing with hysteria.
Acresville was a town in which everybody knew each other and not many new people were welcomed. It was another fact about living in a small town; yet she was looking at someone she’d never seen before. He was tall and well built with light strawberry blond hair that looked good with its short length. She could tell by the way he looked that he was definitely popular with the females. Crystal found herself staring at his well defined muscles t
hrough his white shirt.
She pretended to be watching with curiosity as he helped Miss. Jones with her groceries. He was gentle with them while ensuring that they were carefully placed in her car. The old woman smiled graciously as the two spoke though Crystal had no idea about what.
“Who’s the cute guy?” Crystal asked as her friends looked out the window and began laughing again.
“Victor? He’s lived here for about four years now” Tony said with a smirk as Laura began announcing out loud that Crystal’s been away far too long.
“He and his wife live off Murrow Drive; apparently he inherited money from his great grandmother or something like that and is well taken care of. He mostly just walks around and helps people around town” Laura explained simply.
Their drinks arrived as all three girls began talking about the cute guy named Victor. It seemed that he was quite popular with the people in town. The girl’s were especially enamored with him since he appeared to be the full package.
“Didn’t you say he invested four million in your dad’s bank when he moved here?” Tony asked Laura. The two began talking over numbers while discussing the rumors about the origins of Victor’s money.
“Why are all the cute guys either married or gay?” Crystal sighed while her two friends laughed at her again.
“It’s not funny, the guys in Seattle are assholes that just want to hook up and find another girl” Crystal said bitterly. She couldn’t stop herself from thinking about how her last boyfriend had turned out to be married.
“Well he won’t be married for long” Laura said with a raised eyebrow as Crystal looked at her with curiosity.
Tony scowled at Laura who was quickly putting on an innocent look on her face. “What? Apparently his wife has been laying in her deathbed for years. That’s why people rarely see her unless she’s having one of her better days”.
“He just stays with her?” Crystal asked feeling even more envious that the handsome man was seemingly perfect and out of her reach.
“Yeah they met in high school somewhere out east. After graduation they got married and she got sick. Shame since their both only twenty something” Tony said while Laura quietly nodded.
“I heard she’s really pretty and has even won several beauty contests” Laura added with a bit more envy in her voice than before.
Crystal rolled her eyes in defeat; she knew that it would be impossible for her to win a devoted husband like Victor. She wasn’t the type of girl to even try because she knew that would be wrong. His wife was already suffering enough without some slut coming in and trying to steal her husband away. Crystal could only hope that she would be able to find a man like that. She didn’t want to be an old lady forced to live alone like Miss. Jones.
All three girls became very surprised when they saw both Victor and Miss Jones walking towards the café. Both seemed to not have a care in the world as they walked across the street; laughing. Crystal hoped that they hadn’t seen her staring at him. Her first day back in town and she was already thinking that she might die from embarrassment. Her confidence was quickly draining however she couldn’t stop herself from looking at him.
The closer he got the more attractive he seemed as all three girls shamelessly looked at him. Crystal figured that he was at least 6 ft 2. He could’ve easily given tall, dark, and handsome a good run for it’s money even though he only had a light tan. She smiled while noticing the slight curl his hair did as it reached the top of his neck. Crystal enjoyed the way he looked while she noticed how well he wore a simple pair of blue jeans.
“Well I insist you let me buy” Victor said as the two walked in, his voice was light and almost carefree.
Crystal watched the elderly woman argue that she was going to buy them drinks. Miss Jones was not afraid to remind Victor that it had been her idea to come to the coffee shop. Victor politely conceded defeat while both of them walked up to the counter and placed their order.
Laura and Tony were watching the two of them with much interest. They tried to look as though they were having small talk while listening to their conversation. The three girls were surprised to hear that Victor and his wife were moving very soon. Laura and Tony looked as though they were about to lose a celebrity. Crystal ignored the two of them while she continued to listen.
The couple had been contacted by a doctor that believed he might be able to help Victor’s wife. Crystal was able overhear that her name was ‘Nia’ as Miss Jones began wishing the best for them. Listening to Victor; Crystal was able to tell that he was honest and trustworthy. She could feel herself become more smitten by the young man; even though her head was yelling at her to stop thinking such thoughts.
He must’ve noticed that they were being watched because he turned and looked at the three girls. They quickly began trying to fake a conversation though it was obvious that it wasn’t going to fool anyone. Within a few moments both Victor and Miss Jones had their coffee. They left while leaving Crystal aching for him in spite of herself. Her friends quickly began trying to cheer her up by talking about Tony’s wedding.
For the rest of the day the trio walked around town and began gossiping about people; just like they used too. They talked about the old high school slut; Kelly who was still cheating on her husband with his best friend. He was a nice young man that worked overseas on an oil rig. They also talked about old Mr. Bakers who finally passed away two years ago. He was always mean to all the children when they were growing up.
They even talked about old high school crushes; Crystal found out her old crush Timothy Hummel was now a drunk. Laura began telling her that he had a beer belly and was working minimum wage at a factory two towns away. It seemed that she hadn’t been the only person that changed after high school. Crystal felt relieved that she never had the courage to ask Tim out. They all laughed about how much time she had wasted trying to get him to notice her even though he never did remembered her name.
The day was almost over and they were starting to get hungry. They decided to go to dinner and afterwards Crystal gave them their gifts. Both girls thanked her once again before she told them that she was going to go visit her mother. She wanted to see her before it got too late. They could all see that the sun was already beginning to set. Laura started trying to pout so that Crystal would spend the night at her house. Crystal respectively declined but promised that she would before leaving town.
Shortly before she graduated high school; her father had passed away from a heart attack. Crystal had almost not gone to college since it would’ve taken her far away from her mother. Her father’s death had left her devastated at the time. It was her older brother Mark that had said he would tear her a new hide if she didn’t go. He promised to stay behind and take care of their mother while she went to school.
Crystal regretted not coming back sooner; she did keep in touch as much as possible. She had also sent money home at least once a week once she had started working. Her mother could now live without having to worry about losing the house. Crystal was happy that Mark was finally able to get married and live his own life. She still felt bad that she hadn’t come home sooner; Crystal hoped that her mother wouldn’t be too upset with her.
Crystal turned onto the old dirt road that called Murrow Drive. She planned to cut off and get to her own street by using an old short cut. Crystal remembered drag racing along the old road with her friends after they got their driver’s license. The police were never around since only the residents really knew about it. The road had only appeared on the newer maps a few years earlier. It was located at an odd place near the town line.
A few farmers had cut down the trees and made several plots of land into farming groves. They were never reported to the government so the farmers could make extra money without being taxed. It was this extra land that had helped the town survive during the great depression back in the 30s. Despite being illegal; all of the children had been taught about the farming groves and its contributions in helping the town. Th
e land was eventually discovered by the government and the farmers were forced to start paying taxes.
Several of the plots now laid bare as Crystal drove down the road in the dark of night. The barbed wired fences had been torn apart and scattered all over the road. She saw the empty plots and remembered the land failing the farmers back when she was little. She wasn’t surprised that it had all been abandoned; Victor had probably been able to buy the land for cheap. She began driving a bit slower while she tried to avoid the pieces of fence in the road while wondering why they had allowed the road to get so bad.
Crystal’s eyes widened as she tried to turn quickly. She was unable to avoid a twisted ball of barbed wire that had been left on the path. Crystal ran over the ball and heard the loud ‘pop’ of several tires. She struggled to maintain control of the vehicle and was able to pull over to the side. Her heart was racing as she took several deep breaths in order to calm herself.
Getting out of the car; Crystal began looking at the damage the wire had caused. Two of her tires were destroyed and she only had one spare in her trunk. To make matters worse she realized she didn’t have the tools to replace the tire. Crystal couldn‘t believe her luck as she walked down the road and saw the culprit. The ball of barbed wire now had pieces of her tires in it as it sat waiting for its next victim.
“Just my luck” Crystal said while pulling out her cell phone, She figured she would try to call her brother to come help her.
She began walking up and down the road trying to get through. She began cursing at the phone since it would ring once and then lose service. Crystal needed to get in contact with someone or else she would have to walk to her mother’s house. Looking down at her nice shoes; she began cursing herself for trying to make Laura envious of her. This seemed like a bad cosmic joke and it was about to get worse for her.
“Damn” she muttered as she began anxiously moving up and down. She found herself wishing that she’d used the restroom before leaving the restaurant.
