I look around at the empty chairs and empty tables. Only the teacher sat quietly at her desk looking over every now and again to see if I was okay.

The sun shines everyday, making the whole room have a sense of tranquil.

All the teachers knew who I was as, of course, I am the only student at the school. I wasn’t a stranger to anybody everyone knew who I was.

They knew I wasn’t good at reading or writing and they knew why. I never had to explain Myself to anyone.

It was always “Good morning Ellie” from everyone I passed and I was never afraid to say hello back to anyone.

It felt as if the sun was always out, making the days feel longer, but I didn’t mind. They always say that the sun shines in the righteous, so I guess that’s me.

Imagine a school with no bullying, no peer pressure, not comparison, nothing. Bliss. Just absolute bliss.

On summer days, the grass was a lush green and the trees full of leaves. On winter days, we were wrapped up in tartan scarves and big thick coats, sipping hot chocolate from flasks at break time.

If only the world were this kind.

If only

We were walking along the shoreline a stones throw away from our beachside cottage of 10 years. My husband George and I had our flip flops off so the sand was brushing through our toes but we were immune to the tickle now. August and Rosie were running through the shallow water getting splashed. But they didn’t care. in fairness, what 3 and 5 year old would.

George smiled. “Look how happy and carefree they are” he said pointing over to August who was running through the waves dragging his poor little sister behind him. I looked back.

“perfect family eh” he smirked

“It would be” I said looking down.

George put his arms around me and we stopped.

“Listen Julia. I miss her so much, and one day we will know what happened to her. We have to push on. Just look at how happy they are”

We were a perfect family a few years ago. George and I, One year old baby august, 10 year old Emma and baby Rosie on the way. The day Rosie was born my world changed forever.

I was in hospital. Rosie in my arms, George was looking after the Kids. Yes. Two kids. I finally had the perfect family. My phone was ringing and I picked it up. It was George

“JULIA?!..... JULIA?!” “George? What’s the matter slow down”

“JULIA! she’s gone, I can’t find her anywhere”

“What? Who’s gone?”

“Emma’s missing. I’ve looked up and down the beach and everywhere but she’s not there”

Emma was never seen again after that day. Every time I look into rosie’s eyes I see Emma reflecting back at me.

Suddenly there was a massive splash and a cry. I looked up and Rosie was on the floor. We ran over and I sat her up on my knee, brushing sand off her little dress.

“Mama. Rosie slipped on a shiny rock” said august pointing to the sand

I brushed off the sand and uncovered a glass bottle. A bottle with a message inside. I took out the rolled up paper and read the message to myself and it read:

20th September 2020, Dear whoever this may concern,

I am looking for two people that go by the names of Julia Fletcher and George Fletcher.

If your reading this please pass on this message. They will understand.

Love and kindest regards, Emma Fletcher, 14 years old. Leicester

The bottle dropped from my hand and smashed on the floor but I still clutched the letter to my heart.

“What’s wrong Julia?” Said George picking Rosie up who was still crying.

“She’s alive”

“Who’s alive Julia?”

“Emma”

I passed him the letter and looked onto the horizon.

Emma is alive

It was a bright cold day in April. The was clock striking thirteen.

Me and the others were rounded up into the line for our history class. I love history, but it makes me sad that I couldn’t have lived in the times we were learning about. My teacher mrs Tennyson handed out textbooks that get specially printed for the girls in this institution. “ the complete history of the early 2000s “ was enblazed on the front of each dark red textbook. Mrs Tennyson was the best teacher. She rarely taught from the textbooks and more from her brain. She was born in 2005 so recounted her own memories on the time period we were studying. She had to be careful though. We weren’t supposed to know, but we all knew she had been told to miss parts out. Parts that might put our government into a bad name.Every so often the Sargent comes into the room to check miss Tennyson is not talking about the wrong things.

We opened our textbooks to the year 2021. The title was always government related so we didn’t need to ask what part of the year we talk about. Miss Tennyson started writing on the board and said in her raspy voice.

“ right now class gov20, write the title Coronavirus 2020 down in your books, and the keywords for today’s lesson are Pandemic, Communicable, Social-distancing and..” she gulped nervously “... and The new beginning”

We looked at each other because this was the first time we had heard the new beginning said before. Maisie Dickenson from my house room leant over to me and said “do you think this has something to do with the year 2021?”

The year 2021 is not mentioned in any textbook printed by the government. All we know is that year the institution was set up. It was when all the kids were put into government care like this. What happened to the parents you might ask? Nobody knows. Or they do know and won’t tell a soul.

At that moment, Sargent salt burst open the door and we all jumped. Even miss Tennyson.

“Miss Tennyson?” He said staring into her cold frightened eyes

“Yes” she replied nervously, gripping the hem of her skirt.

“I heard you mention the words new beginning. Is this correct?”

“Yes Sargent salt. It was in the textbook I promise” she said panicked.

Sargent took that book and ripped it in half. Miss Tennyson and The whole class jumped in horror.

“Back to your rooms now” he barked at us. And we all raced to collect our books and run down the bare corridor.

Maisie was next to me. “Gosh Freya, I think I was right. I think the new beginning isn’t as innocent as it’s name suggests”

“I think you’re right. I think that this could be bad. Really bad”

And it was. From that day on nothing was the same again.

I was a long way from home but I didn’t care. I couldn’t care. All I cared about at this moment was getting out of there.

I cantered down the narrow paths of the kingdoms woods and darted around trees, clinging onto the reins of Skye my beautiful horse and most trusted friend. I could hear voices in the distance. Most of them were calling my name, which is probably the worst part. If anyone else was missing people trying to find them would call them by their first name. All i could hear was “Princess Beatrice? Come back!”

Ugh I hate being royal. So many rules and regulations. That’s why I need to get out. Now. “Not much further Skye I promise.” Patting her head as we raced through thick thick Forrest.

All of a sudden we came out into a clearing and Skye stopped at the edge of a stream that was at the foot of a giant waterfall. I looked up mesmerised. How had I never seen this before? This is mine and my sisters kingdom. How had I never found this place. As I thought about my dear sister tears brimmed in my eyes. My older sister Francesca mysteriously vanished a few months ago.

The voices were back. My fathers guards were advancing. My heart started to race as I realised they were getting closer. I realised there was nowhere to go so I ran about tears running down my face. A tear slipped down my cheek and into the sapphire blue river below me. As if by magic I turned around to see stepping stones rising from the water and leading around the back of the waterfall.

Without second thought, I jumped on Skye and made for the waterfall. As she stepped on the stones they vanished so I knew we were safe behind the waterfall.

The outlines of the soldiers were just visible through the curtain of water. I watched as they re-mounted their horses and were gone. A wave of relief traveled through my body. I jumped of the horse and took her reins. As I walked around what seemed to be the base of an old volcano I saw something in the distance. Was that a girl? I cautiously moved closer towards her. Her hair was a silky blonde and her skin pale and pasty, much like mine. She turned around to look at me, still to far away to make out who I was. Our eyes met and I knew who I was looking at. The bright blue eyes, long blonde hair I just knew. “Francesca?” I said dropping the rains and running. “What are you doing here?i thought you were gone!”

“Bea!” She said her eyes glittering. “What are you doing here! You need to leave now before..”

Her face gave me a bad gut feeling and then darkness fell upon the cave. Something was wrong. Really wrong I knew it. And it was bad. Really Really bad

I looked back behind me and the girl was staring intently. She had the same broken face and dirty blonde hair falling long past her shoulders. I ignored it and walked away without looking back all the way until I got to the top of the hill. I looked back and she was gone.

A few months later, I was walking down the lane my hands brushing up against the foliage on the road side. I looked over the surrounding fields. The sun made it hard to see very far so I concentrated on the path. Something in my peripheral distracted me. I looked over to the field again, and Altair jumped out of my skin. The girl was back. We stared each other down for a moment and I finally managed to blink, but when I opened my eyes she was gone. The only way in and out of the field was via the road and she had just disappeared like that.

A week later, I was looking out of my window onto the hills and mountains when something caught my eye the girl. This time I knew I had not imagined her up. She was wearing a green floral dress with a pearl bracelet, and as I looked down at myself I jumped up from the windowsill. I was wearing the same floral dress and pearl bracelet. I ran down the wooden steps and flew out the front door and ran to where she was stood. She was gone again. I turned to look around but no trace or her at all.

I felt a tap on my shoulder which made me jolt backwards. She was there stood in front of me, but where had she come from. “Hello Ellie” she said in my voice. I was startled to see she had the same voice as me. “Erm hello..?” “My name is Anna” “What is your business here and why do you look like the mirror image of me it’s very unnerving” “Because I’m you Ellie I am you” I nervously laughed and took a small step backwards away from her, but she took the same step towards me. “What do you want with me?” I said shaking in fear. “I don’t want anything with you Ellie but there is something you would see”. She gestured to a gate that lead onto the farm outback. “I’m not going anywhere with you until you explain yourself” I breathed cautiously retreating slowly to my front door. “Ellie you need to see” she walked up to me staring me down like a hawk. “It will explain everything about your past” “There is nothing I need explaining thank you” I said and ran back into my house and slammed the door shut

I could hear her pounding on the door. I was desperately trying to keep the door closed but with every bash she made I felt even more powerless. I shrunk to the floor as the door fell open. Then darkness