*~* Okay before I start, I would appreciate it if I get good critiques because I need all the help I can get on improving my story so far. Im kind of in a rut at my story, I need to finish typing up the rest of it, but here's what I got so far.*~*

Claps of thunder filled the air as the wind blew wildly. When lightening struck, it came only inches from hitting the O'Connor's residence. A few seconds later, another claps of thunder surrounded the area, causing Amelia to wake up with a gasp.


Amelia climbed out of bed tiredly. She then proceeded to go downstairs to her living room to see what was going on. Just as she reached the bottom of the staircase, she heard someone knocking at her door. So, Amelia lazily walked over to the door and answered it.



"Hello?" she asked as she looked up at a man dressed in a white uniform. "I have a package for a Professor Amelia O'Connor." He said. "Yeah, that's me." Amelia replied tiredly. "Just bring it in the living room." "Can you sign this receipt please?" he asked her. "Yeah, I will." She replied as she signed the receipt, and then stepped aside to let the deliveryman take the package inside.



A few seconds later, three very muscular men dressed in the same white uniform came through her door way, carrying a very large box. Amelia looked at the tattered box in amazement, for it was much larger than she was and wondered what was in it. After setting the abnormally large box in her living room, they left and entered the back of the truck again. This time, only two of the men came back, each of them carrying a small box, which was about the size of an average shoe box. After they set the two small boxes down, Amelia thanked the men, and they left.



She then walked over to the door and closed it. Afterwards she walked over to the larger box and searched for a way to open it. Seeing that the tattered box was fairly ordinary, Amelia took out her pocketknife and carefully sliced it open. When she sliced the last side of the tattered box, the sides fell to the floor of her living room, revealing a chest that stood upright. The chest was beautifully decorated with real gold and silver Chinese emblems on it. It also had chains wrapped around it and it was locked. Amelia sighed as she didn't see a key with it and reached over to grab one of the smaller boxes. She lifted the tarnished box and plopped it down upon her lap. She carefully opened it with her pocketknife then looked inside of it.

Inside that box was an envelope made of Chinese parchment, and underneath it was a square shaped object that was wrapped in newspaper. Amelia set the envelope down, and then unwrapped the newspaper. As she finished unwrapping it, she found that that it was a smaller box that looked identical to the trunk that stood next to her. It too was locked with a chain. Amelia checked the empty cardboard box to see if there was a key in it, but didn't find any. So, she opened the envelope and began to read the letter that it contained.



"Professor Amelia O'Connor,



Now that this letter has reached your hands, you must read it carefully and follow my instructions precisely. If you do not, disaster will surely fall upon you and your country."



Amelia looked at it oddly for a moment then shrugged. She continued to read the letter.



"On the smallest box, the words 'Omega' are marked on it. Open it and you will find a key, and a book inside of it."



She looked over to the box that she hadn't opened yet, and sure enough, it was marked 'Omega' So, Amelia carefully opened it. As she flipped the lid open, she found a beautifully decorated clear, glass case inside. Inside the glass case was a red velvet pillow that had a key lying on top of it. Amelia picked up the letter again and continued to read it.



"Take the key from inside the case and attach it to the necklace which is underneath the pillow. Make sure that this key stays on you at all times. If this key were to ever fall into the wrong hands, the world will be forever doomed. Enclosed with this letter is an airplane ticket to Hong Kong, China. You are to leave on the next full moon and wear what is inside the trunk, which is provided with this letter. Use the key to open the box, but do not open the box until you reach your final destination. Upon your arrival, you will receive further directions. Until then, be prepared for the unexpected.



Sincerely,



Xaio-Yin"



Amelia wasn't sure what to expect after she finished reading the letter. She slowly put the letter down on the coffee table that was in front of her. After doing so, she sat down on her cream colored couch and opened the lid to the glass case. Amelia picked up the key and lifted the pillow. Beneath the pillow was a diamond necklace. She took the key and snapped it onto the centerpiece of the necklace. When she did, the room was suddenly filled with a brilliant red light. After the light faded, a small ruby appeared over the place where the key and the necklace snapped together.



The young woman put the necklace on. The second she did she felt a sudden wave of energy sweep throughout her entire body. She suddenly felt like a completely different person. It was as though Amelia felt like a completely different person. She could feel new powers growing inside her body. Amelia took a deep breath and looked around the living room. The living room still looked the same as it always did, but there was a new aura in the air. She smiled then stood up and carefully gathered the bits of trash that was lying on her living room floor. After taking the trash out to the trash bins, she lay down on the couch and stretched her legs out. Shortly after, Amelia fell fast asleep.



With the sound of the phone ringing, Amelia quickly woke up and reached over the couch and answered it.



"Hello?" She asked the person on the other line.



"Yes, is Professor Amelia O'Connor there?" asked the voice of a middle-aged man.



"Yes, this her speaking. How may I help you?" She asked the unfamiliar voice.



"The boss man's asking about you! Where are you? Have you forgotten who I am already? It's me, your best friend in the entire world, Chris!" he said impatiently.



"Oh, it's you..." she began. She then looked to the clock, and almost fell out of the couch when she realized what time it was.

"You're right! I am late!" She cried out, and then Chris made a noise to snap her out of her fit.



"But look, you had better get here fast, there is something very weird going on here at the office... I can't tell you... the line is insecure... Just hurry up and get here, ok Amelia?" He asked her.



Amelia agreed to go see what was going on in the office, and hung up the telephone. After doing so, she got dressed in the appropriate attire, then dashed off to her car and drove to the office complex. Once she got there, She had seen that the parking lot was crowded with at least eight limousines, and about twenty police cars. She raised an eyebrow at the sight, and parked her car, far from the police cars. She then got out of her car, and locked it. As she did that, she turned and walked until she got inside the building.







As she got there, Amelia found several police men lingering around the main floor. She shrugged, and made her way to her office. When she got there, her boss, Mr. Haring, stopped her.



"Miss O'Connor! What is the meaning of all this?" He demanded. Amelia looked at Mr. Haring quizzically.



"I have no clue, Sir." She responded. She really did have no clue on what was going on.



"Well then I suggest that you go see what this Emperor 'Shoe-Change' wants. He's waiting for you in your office, right now." He said sternly. And at that, Amelia swiftly walked to her office.



When she arrived there, she seen that there were at least six body guards, or so she assumed because they were dressed in metal armor with gorgeous silk garments beneath the armor, and standing in a military sort of fashion. Inside her office, there was three police men, four rather tall men, each with long black hair that was braided and touched the floor. Each of the men were wearing elegant Chinese garments, with beautiful designs, each design different from the other. In a chair, which was across from her desk, was an elder man with floor length gray hair, which was braided tightly. At the end of the braid, was a gold colored tassel, which held his hair in place. He was dressed in beautiful garments of silk that showed that he was royalty of some sort. In the corner of his office, were three very beautiful Chinese women, also dressed in rainbow colored gowns. They appeared to be in ancient Chinese garments, and they all looked very proper and elegant, as though they were someone of importance. To the right of the elder man, was a younger Chinese man, who resembled the elder man. He was sitting in an upright position, with his hands placed on his lap.



Amelia took a deep breath, and entered her office.


To be continued......

OHHHH!! I likey it! Please please please write more!