Hey! This is my entry for The Writers of Scratch writing competition, hosted by the lovely @Codelikeme27 ! Anyway, my story is in the notes and credits. I hope you enjoy!
Nora lie in bed, restless. She still couldn’t get over the fact she was here. She was really here. For anyone else, it would have been excitement, pure joy; but all Nora could feel was despair. Her parents had left her. They had really left her. Nora started to reach for her journal on her bedside table, when she heard a loud noise. Nora’s hand stopped abruptly. As quietly as possible, she slowly pulled her hand back under her covers and shut her eyes. And then she felt a hand. Nora internally screamed. She whipped around, fast but quiet, trying her best not to wake the other girls. There was a face. Covered by a black hood, the figure reached for Nora and whispered the only words Nora wanted to hear; “We’re gonna get you out of here.” “Wake up, Sparrow. It’s time to work,” a soft voice whispered. “Spa- Sparrow? Who- wh- who’s that?” Nora asked, realizing her whole body was trembling. It must have been at least negative five degrees, and without any sort of warmth, well that wasn’t too fun to say the least. “You, Sparrow. You are the Sparrow,” the woman- at least that’s what Nora had determined the figure was, under a hood she couldn’t tell- said. “My name is Phoenix. Come with me. We can’t let anyone know we have you.” “Have me?” “Yes, you’re quite clueless aren’t you, Sparrow?” “Well, I have no idea where I am.” “Sparrow, you’re in Apolis.” “Apolios?” Nora asked. “Yes,” the woman responded. “Apolios. The planet you were meant to be on, where all creatures, extraterrestrials, or as you call them, aliens, akrecods, and limphids live. Together we are Apolians.” “So... what are akrecods and limphids?” “They didn’t tell me the Sparrow would be so clueless. Limphids are extraterrestrials that take the form of animals. And akrecods are just like you and me. Extraterrestrials that take the form of humans.” “Wait... you’re saying I’m an alien?!” Nora exclaimed. “I’m saying you’ll be late for your first day of work. Let’s go.” The figure, who Nora assumed was a woman, grabbed her hand and took her outside. Wherever this Apolias place was, it was cold. Freezing cold. Nora was wearing a long sleeved black shirt, tight black leggings, brown boots, and a cloak. Still, she was very cold. The woman pulled Nora along as she looked at her surroundings. There were little domes everywhere, mostly translucent, a bit opaque, and most of them were colored. There were streets, sort of. The street wasn’t asphalt, like on earth. It was a grayish dirt. And then there were people. Walking along everywhere. Some looked like Nora and the woman. Others were animals. And others just looked completely strange. And finally, the woman pulled Nora onto a train. “To the center hemisphere we go!” The woman screeched. The train ride didn’t feel like anything Nora had previously experienced. In fact, it didn’t even feel like she was on a train. It was this strange feeling, like she was just sitting, not moving at all. It was called the Eberswalde Express. A quite interesting name, Nora thought. Her thoughts were interrupted by a tall, blond figure. “Sorry, did I interrupt something?” She asked. “No. Not at all.” Nora said. “Good. My name is Nadia. I’m the conductor's daughter. Is there anything you need?” “No ma’am. And why is your name Nadia? Apparently mine is Sparrow. I assumed everyone’s name here is something strange like that.” Nadia's face went white, and she sucked in a breath. “Is anything wrong?” Nora asked. “You- you’re a human spy.”