Prologue

3 Years Ago

"What's in the bag?" She hesitantly reaches down between the two rocks for the ink black cotton bag. She was feeling creeped out by reaching in the darkness where spiders could jump out at any moment. There were spiderwebs all over the cracks but no signs of the spider. She grabs a hold of it and pulls it out. It fit snugly inside her palm with strings tying one side of it. Water splashes close by her, spraying cold water on her. She shivers slightly, glaring at the ocean water.

"Probably a necklace."

She glance up at him.

He stood in front of her in only his bright orange board short. The cool weather didn't even faze him as he frowns at the bag. "I think…I remember."

"Oh my god!"

Bella jerks in surprise and turns her head to see her mom down below the hill of rocks. "Bella, get down there right this minute!" Mom points at her sandal covered feet. Her face turning red as she glares at Bella. "You get down here right-!"

Bella rolls her eyes and turns away from her as she looks up at the boy. She found him up here, just sitting on one of the rocks and looking out into the ocean. He looked so young and lost. She couldn't just leave him without helping. Bella wondered what happened to him, he seemed to be only 8.

Her mother kept ranting behind her but she ignores it, concentrating on him. "Do you remember why you had this?"

"Yeah." He said, dejected. "It was for my mom. I left it on one of the rocks because I wanted to dive one more time into the water before we had to move away. It was only me and my mom, us against the world." He smiles slightly before the smile fades away. His forehead creases as he looks at her, "Can you promise me something?"

"What?"

"Can you give it to her?" He asks. "Just tell her that I'm okay and that I'm sorry I didn't come home for our banana sundae ice cream. I just wanted to jump one last time before we left."

"If I find her, I will."

Relief rolls off of him in waves. "Her name is Esme Mason." He looks away, towards the sun. The sadness disappears from him. Only peace grabs a hold of him. Then confusion took place, "What are you talking about? How?"

Bella glance where he was looking even though she knew she wouldn't see it. She wonders all the time what they were seeing but knew she was not meant to know it, or none of them would even tell her, only that it was a place of happiness and peace.

"Is he happy? Really?" He turns towards her and grins as he slowly fades, "don't worry, you'll see mom one day. Say hi to my brother for me and that I'm proud of him. I'm giving you my blessings."

"Wait, what are you talking about?"

It was too late, he was already gone.

I thought he said it was only him and his mom. What brother? She frowns down at the bag and opens it up. She gasps softly as she pulls out a golden chain with an intricate butterfly. "Your mother would love this." Bella murmurs to no one.

She sighs and unclasps it. "I shouldn't lose it, just in case." She locks it around her neck, the butterfly laying gently on her collarbone.

"Bella, get down here, now!" Her mother broke through her thoughts. She glance back to see her standing there with her hands on her hip. Bella grimaces at the stance, it was never a good thing.