“_The girl crowned in gold, is the one we must behold to finish what is foretold…_”

“Death?”

They laugh in unison.

I stare blankly in fear at the two students pouring over the large ancient book recently brought into the museum for studying.

“It’s strange, isn’t Claudia’s hair gold?” Renee wonders.

Charles looks at her with a thinking brow, then bursts into excitement. “Yes, yes yes yes. Wait, to fulfill this prophecy all we need to do is ‘bring the girl crowned in gold into the chamber in which this book was found.’ That’s easy.”

Renee drops into a whisper, “But how do we get Claudia to follow us?”

My heart beats profusely; my brain screams to run, but my bones are locked to listen.

“Simple, she’s right there,” Charles says, smirking as he points at my pathetic attempt of hiding.

Before I could move a limb, Charles grasps my wrist and pulls be down the staircase leading to the chamber.

“Guys…please,” I cry. “That’s just a stupid book, why risk anything?”

“Because we’re curious,” Renee bit back. “Besides, it’s not like anyone will miss you.”

Charles’ grip tightens and I am forced into a dark corner, where dust swirls and ancient tongues whisper.

“Guys!” I shout, trying to escape, but they hold me back, trapping me.

_The girl crowned in gold, is the one we must behold to finish what is foretold…_

Ancient tongues sing and vibrate the small chamber as Renee and Charles look in wonder.

My skin feels as thought it is on fire and my hair gleams golden like the sun.

Suddenly my body ascends into the air as blinding light fills the darkness.

_Let the sun cast its power within to clear this earth of all evil sin! _

__

_Have the power of burning light fuel the cruel death of the bloody night! _

The songs grow as power simmers within my veins.

My body falls and I feel…powerful.

My eyes burn gold as I look at Charles and Renee with revenge in my heart.

“You did this upon yourselves,” I whisper as I cast a burning power of light at them, disintegrating them into mere dust.