Luck Exchangers by Michelle Ruiz (read more books .TXT) 📕

  "Uh...just Zen will do. Anyway, what happened?? Usually I get arrested on the spot!"

"Lucky break huh? It seems that luck is finally going in your favor."  

  "Seriously, what's going on here?""That's my little secret...""Huh? Just what are you saying? You said you'd tell me!"   

"I never promised you though." She only smiled. Zen was getting frustrated how the things were going. "Gah! Why won't you tell me?! It's not like I'd tell anyone! They wont listen to me anyway..."

"Oh? That's highly unlikely that will happen. Despite the warm welcome, things will get better for you and worse for me."   

"What? That's crazy. Things will get normal soon."

But was he wrong. During a few days, he hasn't been accused of anything, he was greeted by some people, things were looking up for him.They even invited him over to their homes. Rika wasn't doing so well though. She was isolated from the prisoners, even got stabbed a few times. Zen visited her many times, and she would bust out each day before getting caught again. but all she shouted was "5 PM!!" to remind him about the fate that would happen. That unfortunate day would soon come.

He was walking along to a acquaintance's home and he was given directions. Zen realized that the path he had to take was through the dirt road where the railroad tracks would be. IN A WEEK FROM NOW AT 5 PM, YOU WILL GET HIT BY THE TRAIN ON THE DIRT ROAD . He tried to walk across it, but his pants got stuck along the way. The train's wail was heard in the distance and he looked with a pale look upon his face. Zen looked at his watch. It was 4:59p.m. That phrase kept running through his mind as he was trying to make his escape. But the pants were stuck tight.

"YOU DUMMY!!!" 

Rika came and shoved him out of the way. The train raged through and Rika became the victim. His face was filled with horror.

"STOP THE TRAIN!!!"

The engineer heard his cry and stopped. Zen ran and carried Rika from the front. He looked at her in disbelief. "Why?! Why did you save me?! I'm a lowly criminal who doesn't deserve to have luck!!!"

"You're...wrong. You just didn't have good luck..."  

  "Why did you jump in front of the train like that??"

"I'll tell you...in private..." Suddenly, those two started to glow and sparkle, and the scene disappeared. Instead, a scenery of a forest suddenly replaced it. "Hey! Your wounds healed! Are you alright?"

"Yes. quite."

"Did you spike my drink?"

"No. Listen, I think it's okay for me to tell you. I am a Luck Exchanger."   

"A...what now? A Luck Exchanger?"

"Yes. A luck exchanger is a spirit who gives good luck. They  have to temporarily obtain most of their client's bad luck first. When I shouted in your ear about the train, I applied that terrible luck upon myself. I have to shout in my clients' ears so that danger will go to me instead.   

"So, it's not a mental disability?"

"No, I made that up. But you're okay and that's all that matters to me.You have a good heart."   

"Huh? How can you tell? I kinda have a long record..."

"Do you ever hurt anyone on purpose?"  

  "No, I was isolated to begin with to protect everyone."

"Fate tells me to go to you and cure your bad case. But promise me this: Stay pure and grateful...otherwise you'll end up back in your old lifestyle, cold and friendless. Got it?"  

  "Yeah. Thanks for helping me, if it wasn't for you, I'd be a goner." Everything started to shine brightly and Rika started to disappear."Whoa! It looks like I spent enough time here..."

"Don't leave yet! I still have a lot to learn about you!"    "Don't worry, if my luck is still with you, that means I'm with you too, okay? Don't ever forget that!" After the scenery disappeared, Zen returned to that scene when Rika got hit by a train.

"Sir?! Are you alright?? What happened to that girl?"

"Have you heard of the Luck Exchangers?"   

"Only in stories...do they really exist?"

"Let me come over to your place and I'll tell you about it."

Greta was a stingy person who cared about only herself. That's what everyone says, but that isn't particularly true. She loved animals in secret and holds a lot of animals at home.The problem is, she can't seem to take care of them and there is a ruckus almost every night.She would steal anything for them, which is what she did.But for some reason, they don't seem to like her very much.She was running along until she saw something that caught her eye. An adorable orange kitten was walking slowly as it saw her. "Ooh! How adorable! I am so taking you home!" She picked up the animal not knowing there was a collar on it. The kitten struggled to beak loose, but there was no use for it. She held it tightly, like a stuffed animal. She heard a cry and started to hide by the corner.   

    "Chia? Just where is that troublemaker?" A tall boy in a black and white uniform running out of the pastry shop nearby. He spotted Greta with the kitten and he started to smile.   

"Oh, Please excuse me miss, But that kitten your holding belongs to me."

"Oh...I'm s-sorry...I didn't know." She regrettably and slowly gave back the cat. It jumped to the boy gratefully. He looked at her and saw a little tear coming out of her eye as she was leaving.  

   "Hm..Would you like to take care of Chia for me?" Greta's eyes started to brighten as the kitten's paws stuck to his shirt."Really? You don't find me stingy, even though she might not come back? Who are you anyway? You look new."  

      "I am called Emil, and I don't believe in rumors people say. I sense you have experience on pet care?" Greta thought back to those times when she found animals.

....not a very good experience I'd say, she thought to herself. Chia started to freak out as Greta was thinking. The boy started to console the cat.   

"There, there, Chia, you'll be just fine.I think I can trust her." Chia just looked at her suspiciously. However, it seems that Emil trusts her strongly and decided to give her a chance. She leaped onto the girl's shoulder.    

"Oh, by the way, one of the animals will escape and you'll get hit by a drunk driver trying to save it.Well, nice to meet you, Greta Baynes."

He went back into the shop leaving behind a confused Greta.That's weird, I never let my animals out...and how does he know me??  Greta was on her way home, wondering what that comment was about. As she got home, the cat was horrified to see what the house had to offer. The house was dusty, some dogs were lying around, fish tanks were filthy, skinny rabbits were on the side, hiding. horses stayed independent and walked around with little food.

"I'm sorry about this kitty, I try, but people keep stealing the animal food for their own...Now if you'll excuse me, I must be shopping for kitty food now." She put down Chia to explore the place as she heard a doorbell ring.

"Hm? Who could that be?" She opened the door to find a police officer at her doorstep.

"Uh...can I help you?"

Chia stopped to see what was happening."Someone called about a disturbance in the area." He looked inside to see the sickly animals. "And it looks like you're not caring properly for the animals."   

She stood there emotionless, and only responded "You're crazy. Please leave the room or I'll call the police." She slammed the door and he started to walk away but then realized he was one of them. "Hey wait a minute-! Ma'am!" 

Greta walked through the back door and hoped no one would see her. But she was wrong as backup came to take her away. Chia, horrified at the scene started to understand why no animal wanted to be with her. She looked at the miserable animals. She then escaped to find Emil. She found him locking up. He then notices her running and started to scold her."Chia! Why are you here? How will she get her luck if you're not with her?"   

I can't do it Emil! She has a lot of animals on the brink of death here, and I don't think she can afford pet care! I'm scared!"

We've done this for 200 years now, Chia. I thought we went over this. Please don't give in, no matter how grave the situation may be."   

But you haven't seen the horrific sights! She resorted to stealing things for her animals because no one seems to help her out. She can't afford anything  for that matter! She just got arrested by trying to escape an officer. They're dying Emil! Are you sure this is our client?

"I see...but don't worry about it. By tomorrow morning, people will be willing to help her out. Remember that. And I am positive she is our client."

By tomorrow morning, he was right. Someone paid for Greta's bail and she was sent out. But that really surprised her, since no one in the city supposedly cared about her. Apparently, a veterinarian paid her bail. But Greta was not about to let someone take her pets away.  But the vet wouldn't take a no for an answer, so she followed her home.As she was heading to her house, a group of people were waiting to greet her with warm smiles and a little cheer. Hm?? What are they doing here?? More vets, and Animal control...but why are they waiting for me? " Like I told you before! I can't afford anything to help my pets! I'm sorry!" She didn't want to hear anything that can make her run.   

"That's alright, Greta. We'll help them out, no charge!" One of the veterinarians said. Greta could't believe her ears. Am I hearing things right??? I can't believe someone would help out a thief like me...She really couldn't turn them down after waiting all night in the slammer so she decided to give them a chance. She opened the door and let them inside. They ran in, with their medical kits and got to work. Soon enough, after a few days, the animals seemed more happy and energetic. But there was one animal she was missing.

"Chia?! Oh crap! Where'd you go?? Has anyone seen an orange kitten??" They all shook their heads. Chia was waiting for that dark moment to come. She leaped out and ran outside. Greta saw her and ran out after her.She saw Chia shivering in the middle of the street.

"Don't worry Chia! I got you! I promised him I'd take care of you and that's exactly what I'll do!! Even if it has only been for a few days...I'm sorry that I'm a horrible pet sitter."

Chia looked at her with tears dripping down her cheeks as she gave her a warm hug. Thank you