To Catch An Element

chapter 1

Silence.

For the first time in years, this house was completely silent. I heard the floor board creak under me as I walked towards the room the noise seemed to echo throughout the house. I held my breathe as I reached out towards the door my hand touching the cold metal of the door knob as I entered the room. I glanced at the clock on the wall

Four minutes left

"Come on Avery think" I mentally scolded myself there wasn't enough time to search this entire room, she has to be here, this is the only room left I need to get her before it's too late

Three minutes left

Then an idea struck me as fast as I could I pulled my phone from my pocket and I dialled a number

Two minutes left

And then I heard it I almost fainted with relief as I heard that beautiful music "Country World" from Rex Rover six

One minute left

I ran over to the book case and pulled it away from the wall where I noticed an odd shaped lump covered by a blanket I tore it off and was met by an angry glare from the most vicious creature on earth a twelve year old girl.

"You cheated" accused Nina. I couldn't help smiling down at Nina as I helped her up, and to think I thought it was a bad idea to give a twelve year old a phone

"I did nothing off the sort" I replied turning around to hide my smile "I won and according to our deal that means you go to bed without a fuss" I got an angry "hmph" in return, don't get me wrong I loved babysitting Nina she's a great kid but there's only so much Disney movies and giggling you can take and not to mention the fashion critique because according to Nina " an old woman has more style than me" but there's nothing wrong with scruffy jeans and a t shirt covered in paint stains but as I explained to Nina it shows that I have character I admit I was running late so I picked up the first thing I saw and put my blonde hair in a messy bun on the top of my head but I would never admit that to her. I had far more awesome things to think about than my appearance

I lead Nina towards the door "your parents would kill me if I let you stay up too late" I told her

"It's not fair I would have won if you hadn't cheated" she looked as if I had betrayed her I knew I would be here all night if I didn't come up with some way to please her. "I tell you what, you go to bed and I'll read you a story" I told her she raised an eyebrow at me "A story what am I Four? If I wanted to read a story I'd get one on my phone"

I take it back giving a twelve year old a phone is never a good idea "this is what's wrong with your generation you don't appreciate the little things" I sighed. "My generation? You're 3 years older than me, although you're outfit says otherwise do you always dress so... conservative?"

"Why you little br-"

deep breathes she's only a child. I'm starting to wish I stayed home "this isn't just any story, this is one of a kind but if you don't want to you're loss"

I turned to walk away "wait" Nina attempted to pull me back I could see her curiosity burning in her eyes "I suppose if you really wanted to tell me" she tried to say nonchalant "I can only tell you if you go to bed" "fine" she said angry after what felt like hours Nina was finally going to bed she lead me to her room she went to her bathroom to get changed I looked around the room the walls were painted a light purple and poster of boy bands were plastered on them the floor was littered with toys and in the centre of the room lay a big bed with at least a dozen fluffy colourful pillows I made my way over there and sat down where I waited and finally Nina came out of the room and made her way towards the bed she sat down and looked at me expectantly "well go on then" she said impatiently I sighed and began "have you ever heard the tale of the two sisters?" She shook her head no

"Once upon a time in a kingdom far away there lived two sisters, both ruled the kingdom but the kingdom was like no other you see the kingdom was permanently daytime the sun always in the sky basking the people in light the two sisters ruled side by side in harmony protecting their land and their people it was a paradise

But one day the crops stopped growing, the water in the river dried up. People started dying of diseases what once was a beautiful land was full of despair. The two sisters grew desperate they tried all they could to return the land to what it once was but nothing worked until when all looked it worst when the sisters had nearly lost all hope

They were visited by spirits, magical beings that took on human form they wished to help the sisters so they gave both sisters a gift the oldest was giving magic in which she used to regrow the crops and return water to the river the youngest was given wisdom In which she used to cure disease and make sure nothing like this happened again at last the kingdom was restored to how it once was but now the sisters shared what they learned with their people but the youngest saw how powerful her sister was becoming and although she tried to hide it fear grew in her

The oldest became jealous of her younger sister as her people looked at her younger sister for advice and leadership instead of her the sisters became cold and distant towards each other their jealously and fear spread throughout the Kingdom people were forced to take sides as it was now common for fights and violence to break out among the people

Until one day the youngest believed her sister was planning to dethrone her and take the kingdom for herself she sought the help of the spirits once again tricking them into believing a vicious monster was attacking the land the spirits believing her gave her a way to banish the monster to a different land called the Nevermore

When she arrived back in the land she was overcome with fear she used the weapon the spirits gave her against her sister and banished her to the Nevermore as soon as she done it she knew it was a mistake the spirits were angry that she tricked them and took back the gift they gave her but also to punish her further they created the night so that everyone would be reminded that light can turn to dark and dark to light but both will exist in this world the sister ashamed of what she had become and filled with grief had left the kingdom never to return"

Nina looked up to me her eyes wide

"But what happened to the oldest sister?" She whispered "No one knows" I answered "they say she was given her own land to rule one filled with wonder and magic but the spirits guard the gate way between worlds making sure no one Crosses over to the other"

"Does the Nevermore exist?" Nina asked hopefully "well that's the great thing about having an imagination every world big or small will always exist in our minds, we can only hope we're lucky enough that we'll never lose our creativity"

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