• On a most gloomy day, in the very interesting city of Gray-ville, a grass-green beat-up Honda pulled up leaving a storm of dust behind it. The beat-up Honda had pulled up to the most interesting house of all. This house gave the name to the city. The house was called Gray House. The right door of the car swung open, and a boy as tall as a giant stepped gracefully out. He brushed his brown hair out of his eyes. He picked up his bag, as a calming voice said to him,

    " I'll be back at six for dinner! Bye, Jake !"she said happily, then drove away.

    " Bye, Mom, "he said in his stern voice. He picked up his bag and took a long look at this ancient house. The house was the color that Jake liked best , gray of course . The house was as tall as an oak tree. It had many windows, showing that it could hold many people. In the front it had wonderful stairs that looked as old as the world. As he walked up the giant steps he saw his Uncle , waiting for him. Next to his uncle was a tall young man. The young man was about the same age as Jake, as far as he could tell.

    He had lovely silver hair, with beautiful purple eyes to match. But he could not compare to Jake's uncle. Jakes uncle's height could match any woman's ; his blue eyes looked as if he were years older than he was. His gray hair that would reach to his shoulders was in a nice hairband that day. Then his uncle said in his happy voice and with his usual smiley-self smile,

    "Welcome."

    " Hey, Uncle Leon," Jake said, eying his Uncle's friend. Jake walked slowly inside, and felt the most chilly breeze that left him shivering from head to toe . Suddenly a small object flew by him like a speeding car, and that scared Jake out of his mind . He dropped his bag and ran screaming.

    " Jake! Watch that ...Crash... table!" His uncle screamed . Upon that table had been priceless vase, now in pieces, that had been hiding a gray locket, with a fancy L on it. Jake stumbled onto the couch in the living room. His Uncle and Donny walked slowly in with pathetic looks for Jake,as his uncle turned on the lights. The color of the walls was the first thing to catch, Jake's attention. The color was bloody red. The room had to be the worst, and the scariest room of all. The paintings were of people in the family that had died before even, Uncle Leon was born! One was of Jake and his mom. It hung over the most beautiful fireplace Jake had ever seen. On wood was carved with swirls that were growing as they reached for the top.

    "Jake, please don't touch anything, and walk very slowly,"Uncle Leon said, trying not to yell.

    "Sir, I cleaned up the broken glass. Shall I'll take Mr. Jake to his room now,"Donny said in a proud tune.

    " Oh, yes. Jake, this is Donny. I'm training him to be a valet. If you need anything just ask him, and once you're settled, come to my room please. I have to tell you something." Uncle Leon said in a low, weary voice.

    Donny led Jake up the spiral stairs, and down the hall to a small, simple, blue room. Jake set his bag on the bed and then what Donny said left Jake puzzled,

    "IF, anything goes missing , please tell me. I mean tell me, but only if it's gray." After saying that Donny left . Later, Jake was half-way to his uncle's room when Donny stopped him and asked ,

    "Did, you find anything missing, yet ? He doesn't wait long to take what he wants," Donny said in a mysterious deep voice.

    "Yeah, my gray bells, they were wrapped in a gray cloth,but I just left them at home. Thanks anyway. " Jake said in a confused voice. Donny looked angry as he walked down the stairs with a bang on, each step.

    Jake finally reached his Uncles room. He reached to open the door ,but his uncle opened before he could.

    " Hey, I'm here, "Jake said as his Uncle closed the door behind him.

    " Jake, I have something important to tell you. First, Case De Jay.( This was Uncle Leon's famous saying...even though he didn't known what it meant), Jake, the secret of the locket is as old as time itself. It keeps count of all your bad deeds that can not be forgiven or, even known of.. I have a dark soul, and because of that,if the locket was ever opened it would take me away. But the only way I can be set free is to solve the puzzle the 'Woman of Light' gives.....Jake? " Uncle's deep and creepy voice that rang like a drum ; left Jake with a blank stare. .

    " Oh, yeah! Right. Your just trying to scare me. I'm out." Jake stormed out of the room. As he went down the stairs, he ran into Donny.

    "Sir, you were missing something right?Donny said talking through his teeth . Jay, give it back to him. They are his, Jay?" A black little bird came flying down and dropped a gray cloth that Jake caught before it hit the ground.

    "How did you find these?Wait did that bird just? Never mind." Jake said on with big eyes.

    " Jay takes small things that are gray. But will you tell Mr. Leon dinner is ready? Thanks"Donny said as he turned away and back down the stairs . Jake stormed back up the stairs and back to his Uncle's room only to find his uncle in the shower. He saw a fancy locket on the desk ,and picked it up.

    "So, if I open this I bet nothing will happen. Click. See?...What?Oh no? " A glow of light came out from the locket. Jake's uncle ran out the door in his bath robe, but before he could say anything he was sucked into the locket.

    "Oh, no! Donny!" Jake screamed as he ran to the door. But it wouldn't open. A light came from behind him. He turned to see a woman in white,but he couldn't see her face . From her came a little piece of paper. On it was written,"You can always be gofirvine." Then she said,

    " What I have written is simple to be unriddle. Jake, that means to solve my jumbled words. "She said as if she was talking to a child.

    "What?"Then a thought came to mind, Case De Jay.

    " The saying, Case De Jay and this book are for you, to help you unriddle the word. Since you are not so smart .Goodbye, Jake." Jake opened the book. He had no idea what to do so he looked up the words that His uncle always said.

    "You can always be forgiven....I don't get it?!" Then the lady appeared again with her hand on her face.

    " You are related to this man. You get the key, Jake. Here." She tossed it but Jake didn't catch it. And it fell through the crack, into the kitchen where Donny caught it. So Donny started up to Uncle Leon's room.

    " You were supposed to catch it. You have five minutes left go get it," she warned him .Jake slammed out of the room, with still no idea what was going on. The lady followed him carrying the locket. Jake dashed down the stairs, only to run into Donny.

    " Is this key yours, Sir?" Donny said, wondering who the woman was.

    " Yes!" Jake said happily, grabbing the key .The woman gave him the locket and she also told him what to do. He unlocked the locket and his uncle came floating out. There came a knock on the door, and Jake's mom came in.

    " I said, I'd be here at six, right?"

    " Mom!" Jake ran down the stairs, and right into her.

    "Dinner will be served, " Donny said in a confused tone. Donny looked back to see that the woman was gone.

    After Dinner, Jake asked the question that was on everybody's mind.

    " Uncle, who was the woman ? And what was up with the riddle, and locket ? You didn't tell me anything."

    " She's watched over me my whole life. Through the locket she tried to teach me something. Now, I understand. I can always be forgiven. I'm sorry, but I can't tell the whole secret of the locket. Because I don't remember it all. But the curse of the locket is over for me, " Uncle said happily. Jake's Mom had no idea what was going on. Neither did Donny.