Chapter 32: Ch. 31 – The Trial of Viktor Mole

Momo took the key from her pocket and stuffed it into the skull’s eye-lock. With a wriggle of her wrist, she turned it, and the jaw of the skeleton fell open with a pop. A locket necklace slid out of it, dropping to the floor.

Momo’s face dropped. A locket, really? The supposed ‘treasure’ kept getting smaller. It was like she was playing with those Russian nesting dolls, except instead of harmless fun, one of them gave her a bone-deep sunburn.

She grumbled to herself, picking up the locket. She’d be so pissed if she just endured all that for some photo of the vampire’s undead grandma.

When she took the heart-shaped pendant between her fingers, a dark energy radiated from its center. Black magic flared around the heart, radiating a bone chilling cold into the tips of her fingers. Simultaneously, a demanding voice began to echo through her skull.

Yes, a wearer! Finally, a glorious wearer! Put me on. Put me on. Put me on.

Oh, great. Momo sighed. She thought she could go a single day without a new intrusive thought.

“I don’t listen to voices in my head, sorry,” Momo responded with a suspicious squint, “schizophrenia runs in my family, so it’s a personal policy.”

I am not a voice in your head, I am a necklace! A necklace who offers you unlimited power. Immortality. Charisma. Charm. Other cool things. All yours. Put me on.

Momo frowned. Those were cool things, but she remained suspicious. A few intellect points ago, her impulsive nature would have immediately forced her to equip it - but with the [Brain Fog] gone, her last two brain cells advised otherwise.

“I think I’m going to put you back in the skull and get back to you on that, alright?”

No! Do not cage me again, please! The necklace changed tone, its low, demanding voice turning high-pitched and whiny as it began to beg, I am but a simple necklace. All I ask is to perform my singular function - to be worn around a beautiful neck. Can you not do me that one favor?

Momo frowned sympathetically. That did sound like a terrible plight.

“Do you promise you’re not evil?”

Evil? Me? I could not be evil - I am nothing but a little necklace!

Momo considered the plea. It was awfully convincing, but it still wasn’t enough. She didn’t feel like becoming the bodily host for a demon today. Maybe some other Tuesday, when she was more well rested.

“I’m sorry necklace, but that’s something an evil necklace would say,” she sighed, and stuffed the necklace back into the skull for safe-keeping, ignoring its screams as she twisted the key, the jaw snapping back in place.

Stuffing the skull into her knapsack, a piece of parchment greeted her.

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