I’m fourteen and I’m an aspiring writer, my favorite genres are fiction and fantasy. Even though I don’t write every day, writing is one of my passions and my dream is to become a published author in the near future.
I’m fourteen and I’m an aspiring writer, my favorite genres are fiction and fantasy. Even though I don’t write every day, writing is one of my passions and my dream is to become a published author in the near future.
My skin pales with dread. After years of running, They have finally caught up to me. All The Sniper has to do is pull the trigger and I die. There is no way I can dodge in time. I scan the crowds of people.
What was it that led me here? What has made me so careless that I walk straight into a trap and ultimately die? Maybe it was the hope that I could help others like me. Save them. Protect them.
But now it would be all over in a millisecond. All I can think of is how I’ve failed. All I can hear are the screams. All I can see is a masked figure striding towards me. All I can taste is the blood in my mouth, my cut must’ve opened again. All I can feel is the unmistakable feeling of fear. All I can smell is the stench of Death.
They have finally caught up to me. I see the figure’s scary white and blood red smile. The smile that has been haunting my dreams. He pulls the trigger and I fall. Fall to the hard gray pavement. The sun shines mercilessly down on me.
My life flashes before me in painful bursts of colour. A boy’s playful smile, my mother’s tired, kind eyes. My father yelling at me. The tears I cried a year ago when my love was murdered in front of me. I have lived a life full of fear, hatred and anger.
But no more. A smile plays across my lips as a white light begins to engulf me. In a way, I have won.
Crystals float around her and Amaris’s skin sparkled in the harsh, cruel moonlight. I could see the diamond tears covering her cheeks; she knew as well as I did that we wouldn’t survive this. The refractions hadn’t been in our favour this time.
Two Weeks Earlier
“What if we are chosen?”
Amaris speculates as she lays in the grass, staring up at the cloudy sky.
“For ten years, we have not been chosen. This is our last year that we can be chosen.”
Amaris sighs and rolls over to face me.
“I know but I feel like this time will be different.”
I clasp her hand in mine and tilt her head up to look me in the eye.
“Listen. If you keep your secret, then you’ll be fine.”
“But Carter…”
“No buts, Am! Just trust me. We will be fine.”
She nods in resignation and I help her to her feet. Her caramel hair falls to her waist in gentle waves. Her blue eyes are caring with fear showing deep inside. Her skin is honey coloured and her cheeks and lips a light pink.
“We do need to go, that way we aren’t late.”
Amaris glances slyly at me then races down the hill. I laugh and race after me. We fall silent once we make into town.
“Ladies and gentleman, thank you for being here. Every year we chose two lucky people from each village to go to Diamond City. This time we will only be choosing out of the 20 year olds here. I trust you will have the good sense to not run.”
Amaris glances at me and I clasp her hand. She was right. Something is different and we’re the ones who will be chosen because for some reason the refractions weren’t in our favor.
“Hey! Need a ride?”
The man and woman on the side of the road turn and nod.
“Hop in.”
They climb in and immediately start laughing hysterically. I frown, suspiciously.
“What is so funny?”
“You giving us a ride.”
“I don’t see what’s funny about that.”
“No one has ever given us a ride before. Normally we’ll just take one.”
“Oh. Well I’m glad I could help.”
They start to laugh again, even harder now. Then they look at each other and nod.
“Miss, we’re going to have to commandeer your car.”
Next thing I know, they shoved me out and drive away. I bite my lip in frustration.
“Really!?”
And here I thought they were a nice couple down on their luck. Well, I won’t be doing that again. And now
they’ve made an enemy that they will regret making. If they even survive the manhunt, that’ll start as soon
as I get home.
“To complete the prophecy, we need to travel to Silverstone Tower. Be prepared at 7 o’clock sharp.” I’m
marched to my room where food and new clothing await me. I eat and dress in my new clothes quickly. I
plan to go to the library and try to figure out what King Theron was talking about. How come I was chosen
to be the Ancient queen’s host? There is nothing special about me.
I slip out of my room and head for the library. What even is an ancient? I go through the oaken doors and
enter a majestic library.
“Hello, Queen Cassiopeia.”
A soft, gentle, and whispery voice says. I whirl around in fright. The librarian raises her hands.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m also not going to turn you in. I’m going to assume that you’re looking for a book on the Ancients.”
I nod, taken aback by this gentle girl in a castle full of wolves. She picks up a heavy book and hands it to
me.
“You can take this back to your room to read it, when you leave tomorrow I’ll pick it up.”
I nod and hurry back to my room without incident. I open the book and inspect it’s contents. There’s a
section on ancient deities, maybe I can find the ‘ancient queen’ in there. Luckily she’s the first entry.
“_Queen Chrysanthe is the Ancients powerful ruler. Every year she chooses a new host to reside in. She _
_can do whatever she pleases with her host. Normally, when the queen enters her host it is very painful and _
_some don’t live through it. Every year, someone will be looking for the host because of what they can do _
_with the queen’s power inside them. At the end of the year Queen Chrysanthe will lead her host to _
_Silverstone Tower where she departs from her host with the help of the sovereign. Most hosts do not _
surve this procedure.”
I stare down at those fateful words. Does that mean I’m about to die? Without ever seeing my family and
friends again? I slam the book shut and throw it across the room and start to cry. A few hours later I hear
my door open and soft footsteps towards my bed.
“Cass? You awake?”
“I am now.” I groan, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.
“Good. Listen, I need to talk with Queen Chrysanthe.”
Immediately I stiffen and the queen starts to speak.
“Eros, sovereign of the Ancients. What is your plea?”
Eros swallows nervously and says boldly.
“I want you to conduct the Doppelgänger procedure tomorrow.”
I scoff.
“Nonsense. That might kill _me _instead of the girl.”
“I know, but we need to overthrow King Theron and we can only do it if we have Cassiopeia with us.”
I hesitate, mulling this over.
“You drive a hard bargain, Eros; sovereign of the Ancients. I will conduct the doppelgänger procedure _if. _I feel up for it. Now leave us in peace that way I can rest for tomorrow.”
Eros bows and says gratefully.
“Thank you.”
Then he hurries out of the room.
The next morning I awake to violent rays of sunshine, a throbbing headache and loud banging on my door.
This day is starting off wonderfully.
“It’s time to get up! We leave in twenty minutes!”
I groan and scramble out of my bed. New clothes are waiting for me and a small amount of food and water.
Ten minutes later I’m outside waiting impatiently for the rest to show up. They arrive at the same time and
they all seem suprised that I beat them.
“Let’s go!” King Theron grins at me. “Enjoy your last day on Seiren.”
I nod and effortlessly climb onto my horse. Eight hours later we arrive at Silverstone Tower.
“Up we go. We have to get to the very top before sunset.”
It takes another hour to climb up the awful tower. It’s dank, dark, and dingy.
King Theron looks at Eros.
“Your turn.”
Eros looks at me and declares.
“I ask to speak with Queen Chrysanthe.”
Once again, I stiffen and look at him coldly. He swallows and says in a low voice.
“Commence Procedure Doppelgänger.”
I begin to rise into the air. The guards shout in fright as I begin to glow.
I’d always dreamed of flying. What was above us had always been something that intrigued me. The sky
seemed so free and inviting. One day I decided to hike up the mountain that sheltered the city of Inkridge.
I had heard of a cave that gave a splendid view of the city and my grandfather had said that you could
touch the sky at that height.
I was exhilarated that I, Toni Bridges would be the first in the world to touch the sky. The only thing that I
hadn’t thought about was the high altitude or the weather forecast. The only thing that I had thought
stood in my way was the distance. So, for a year I trained and trained. My parents couldn’t understand
why I was so determined to complete an impossible task; touching the sky.
Finally the big day arrived. I hiked for hours only stopping once to eat my lunch. I arrived at the summit at
7:00 at night. I slept in a makeshift tent and dreamed about touching the sky. The next morning, I awoke
and I started hunting for the perfect place to try to touch the sky.
I found a tiny outlook that was high above the city. There were big fluffy clouds that I could almost touch. I
set up my swing and hopped up. I marveled at the sky’s beauty. I watched the clouds float by me
aimlessly.
I stretched out my fingers desperately trying to touch the sky, the clouds, and my dream. I swung higher
and higher getting closer and closer. But the altitude was making my head dizzy and I lost my balance. I
fell all the way down to the entrance of Inkridge where they found me. In the end my ambition was my
downfall and it didn’t hurt just me. It hurt everyone close to me.
The men stare open mouthed at me. Frankly, I’m suprised at myself. Then the men do something else that is completely surprising. They jump off their horses, kneel, and bow their heads.
“Queen Cassiopeia.” Their leader says. “We are sorry.”
I stare coldly down at him, emboldened by his meekness.
“You killed my boyfriend.”
He stands and meets my gaze.
“With good reason.”
“Really? What good reason do you have to kill a fellow being?”
“To learn if you are the one we seek.”
“What?”
“Get her.”
Two men grab my arms and drag me to the captain. So, they were just playing me.
“Judging by your face, you had no idea who you were until two seconds ago. Eros knew who you were.”
This revelation is a blow to my face. I look up at him. He laughs coldly.
“Right, your precious boyfriend is not who he appears to be. Now. Let’s take you back to King Theron and it’ll be in your best interests to do whatever he says.”
I stand tall and meet the captains eyes. He smiles at my defiance.
“Right then, up you go.”
I hear one of the men say proudly.
“What day! Catching the sovereign and Queen Cassiopeia all at once! That should be worth a raise _and _a day off!”
Merry laughter resonates as I’m carted back to Odyssey Castle. I’m marched to the Throne Room and I swallow in disgust as I see the bodies of the kids who didn’t have enough sense to run. King Theron stands when he sees me.
“Is it her?”
The captain nods proudly.
“Played right into our hands.”
King Theron smiles coldly.
“Notify the royal scientists immediately.”
“King Theron, please. Have mercy.”
I turn and see Eros in the corner. I stare at him. His shirt is stained with blood and his eyes apologetic. I turn away and face the king.
“What is _he _doing here?”
“My apologies Queen Cassiopeia. I didn’t realize that you were in charge. Unfortunately I need young Eros here to complete the prophecy.”
“Prophecy?” Eros snorts. “You just want to marry her.”
“It would be wise of you to shut up.” King Theron snarls.
The captain stalks over to him and knees him right in his stab wound. He coughs and looks at me desperately.
“You can still fix this.”
I stiffen, the king looks at me with excited expectance.
“Your time is up Eros, sovereign of the Ancients. You’d better run while you still can!”
The king whistles.
“Impressive. It would seem that we are right about the Ancient Queen choosing her host. She can control her whenever she wants.”
I swallow and look at Eros, who is pale with fear.
“Cass.” His voice is low. “What have you done?”
I look at my hands. What have I done?
Part Three coming soon!
“You have ninety seconds to hide. If you are found you will surely die. Good luck.”
Whispers echo through the Great Hall of Odyssey Castle.
“It’s just a game.”
“What if they’re serious?”
“What do we do?”
Eros grabs my hand and we run.
“We’ve already wasted thirty seconds. We need to move.”
‘Eros…”
I start, fear starting to crawl into my mind. He looks at me sadly and kisses me swiftly. Tears start to run down my face.
“Don’t dwell on on it, Cassiopeia. Come on.”
We run harder and faster. Thirty seconds.
‘We need to get out of here. We need to get back to the village.
“To do what? What are we going to do? They have our names in a record. They’ll find us either way. There’s nothing for us to do but die!”
Eros whirls on me and I slam into him.
“Listen to me. You’re not going to die. I’m going to get you out of here.”
Confusion swirls in my head like a dense fog. Something about his words don’t make sense but I can’t figure them out. The only thing functioning in my mind is the time. Fifteen seconds, time is running out. We start to run again. We zig and zag around the castle. Slowly making our way up. Five seconds. Panting we open a door and enter a bedroom. Four seconds. Eros looks wildly around. Three.
“Darn. They said they would be here already!”
What? What does he mean. He look desperate and I can’t understand it. Two seconds, one. Then the screams begin. High, bloodcurdling screams of doomed kids. I look at Eros, expecting him to have a plan. But for the first time ever, I see that Eros is scared.
“Jump.”
“What?”
“Jump out of the window, Cassiopeia!” He screams.
“I’m not doing that.”
“The moat is directly below the window. They’re almost here.”
“Who’s almost here? What is going on? Why are you scared? Why won’t you talk to me?”
He looks at me and kisses me again.
“Just know that I truly loved you, Cass.”
The door to the room bangs open.
“Well, well. The two rebel lovebirds. Eros it was a mistake to drag her into this.”
Eros straightens his shoulders.
“What I do or don’t do is none of your business”
“How about I kill the girl first. That way you can watch her bleed to death but you can’t do anything. Maybe I’lleven make you live. That’s ay you can remember her pain, her screams, her crys for you.”
“Don’t you touch her.”
The man laughs cruelly.
“Not much you can do about it, champ.”
Eros turns to me and I stare at him in fear.
“I love you.”
Then he shoves me out the window. I scream as I freefall towards the moat. I stare at the window and the last thing I see before I hit the water is Eros falling after me. I emerge from the water, coughing and spitting. Eros climbs out after me.
“That was close. Let’s go.”
We run towards the forest but seconds after we hear shouts.
“There they are!”
“After them!”
“Come on! A victory for King Theron!”
We run but they catch up to us easily.
“Run. RUN!”
Eros shoves me away from him and I start to run away. After a few yards I turn and look. I see Eros’s face and then one of the men spears him in the stomach. The they all start laughing.
“NO!”
They turn towards me and treat thundering after me. I stand in the clearing, anger clouding my vision, all I can see is Eros’s lifeless face. They surround me and regard me curiously.
“Why isn’t she running?”
“She’s too scared.”
I calll out in a voice not my own.
“My name is Cassiopeia, queen of the ancients. You have displeased me.”
“Come on, Sierra!”
Seventeen year old Willow Carter calls to her best friend Sierra Willis. Sierra laughs and sweeps her chocolate brown hair behind her ear.
“I’m coming. It’s not my fault you have longer legs.”
Willow grins and turns around to face her breathless friend. Her short blonde hair is curly and unruly. Whereas Sierra is shorter with pale skin, Willow is tall and tan.
“What do you want to do at the beach?”
“Sleep.” Sierra answers.
“Ha, ha. I mean seriously! Do you want to swim? Or hunt for seashells?”
Sierra shivers in the cold Atlantic wind.
“It’s to cold to swim, so why don’t we hunt for seashells today?”
“You’re being a sissy.”
“Hunting for seashells was one of your_ _ideas!”
Willow shrugs and skips onto the white sand. She makes a face.
“The water looks disgusting today. You’re right Sierra. We should look for shells.”
“I thought the mayor put an end to oil dumping.”
“He did. Or at least he tried.”
Willow shrugs and looks around. The beach is littered with objects half hidden in the sand.
“Even the beach is disgusting today. Look at all this junk.”
Sierra grumbles as she gingerly picks up a ruined leather case.
‘What’s this doing here?”
Willow ambles over and looks at the case. With a gasp, she exclaims.
“Sierra! This says Government Property, Top Secret. There’s more but it’s too damaged and faded.”
Sierra promptly drops the case onto Willow’s foot.
“OW!”
“Sorry. But it’s top secret, which means its none of our business.”
Willow’s eyes are alive with excitement and the promise of an adventure.
“Are you kidding? This is the chance of a lifetime! Just think of what could be in there!”
“Willow! We could go to jail for simply just being here! If we look inside, they’ll kill us for sure!”
“But that’s what makes it fun! This is the first and probably last time we’ll ever get a chance for an adventure here in Ocean City!”
Willow picks up the case and starts fiddling with it. Sierra looks around anxiously, watching for government officials.
“Willow…”
“Almost there.”
Sierra groans and kicks the sand in impatience.
“Got it!”
Willow exclaims triumphantly. Sierra sighs and closes her eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m not looking that way, I won’t get in trouble.”
“You’re such a goody-two-shoes! Come on, Sierra! Live a little.”
Sierra slowly opens her eyes.
“There’s nothing there.”
Part two coming soon
Sirens wail and flashing lights loosely surround the lake casting reflections of blue and red into the valley. Crime scene tape blocks of a little section of the lakeside and officers in a boat are dragging for bodies. A couple; man and wife, went missing yesterday evening. Now it’s late at night the next day. The police had picked up on some clues and they had found dried bloodstains where the crine scene tape was, where a Crime Scene Investigator was inspecting them. The boat came roaring back and the police inside the boat unloaded a black bundle. Other policemen crowd around and watch as the black tarp is pulled gently back. “Whoa.” Was all one police officer could say.
The Capitol train moves with breathtaking speed. Since I live in District Two the train ride is even shorter than the rest of the districts. Alexandra calls us to dinner and we eat like kings and queens, not like we don’t but the food is still scrumptious. After dinner we head into the lounge car to watch the recap if the reapings. The tributes from One and Four look fit and will be good partners. The rest are the usual skinny, gaunt and scared, they will be easy. I’m not worried until District Twelve, this year Katniss’s daughter is eligible. I watch as Effie Trinket swishes her hand through the thousands of slips for the girls and zips to the poudium and calls out… (This story will be continued.)