The Chosen

Part One

   It was 3:00 pm when the bell rang to dismiss the kids from their last class of the day. Every teenager starts filtering into the hallways of the highschool to leave except a 14 year old girl by the name of Willow Edwards. Ms. Milicia Stevans, Willows Science teacher, was cleaning up the whiteboard as she does every class; when she turned to look at Willow's tiny frame slumped over her desk.

“Willow, class has been dismissed. You should start heading home.” Ms. Stevans said as her brow furrowed for she was getting worried. She walked over to Willows desk and taped her shoulder. The girl looked up with tired eyes.

“Yes Ms. Stevans?”

Ms. Stevans gave a gentle smile,

“Class has been dismissed and school is over, you need to head home. I’m driving past your house if you’d like me to drop you off.” Willow gathered her stuff into her bag.

“No thank you, I can walk home.”

“But it’s two miles down the road, are you sure you want to walk?” Ms. Stevans started getting worried.

“I’m sure Ma’am, thank you for the kind offer just as much.” Willow got up out of her chair, waved goodbye and left the classroom. 

   Willow took her time walking out of the building since they weren’t full of kids pushing to get out the doors. When she stepped outside, she took a deep breath and smiled. Leaves were turning to all different shades of red, orange, and yellow, and with the sunlight streaming through them, that made it look twice as beautiful. As Willow made her way across the street to head for the woods, she wondered if she would ever see the world. Of course because she was raised in a town where she knew every street and corner like the back of her hand, nothing ever happens. But she didn’t care, Autumn was her favorite time of year; and since she would be turning 15 in October that made it even better. You see, everytime a child nears their 15th birthday there is a legend where they would be taken to a city with ivory towers and beautiful homes and businesses. Willow's dad told her that he saw the city, but fell in love with her mother and decided to leave to start a new life. He said that she would see it if the city wanted her to find it, everything depends on if she’s ready, and while her birthday is in a week. She continued to dwell on thoughts of the city while she entered the forest. Knowing her dad was most likely home she picked up her pace so she’d be home for dinner. 

   Willow’s eyes continued to wander at all the sights, the sunlight and how it seemed to dance across the clear blue water, or how the squirrels darted from tree to tree storing nuts and other food for the winter. She continued to notice these things until she looked at her watch; it was 6:25 pm. She was late. She looked around to find her way home assuming the house had to be close by, but there was nothing but trees and wildlife.

“I must have taken a wrong turn at the bend, great.”

She turned around and noticed a path she didn’t recognize, but thinking it could lead her home, she took it. As she walked down the path the trees continued to get bigger yet further apart, until she got to a cliff-like hill. She looked around, a bit confused, as she stepped toward the edge. Massive ivory towers and other buildings stared back at Willow while flying cars zoomed by her with some passengers who waved at her. The place looked like something out of a fairytale, but she knew since she saw this, that her life was bound to change whether for the better or for the worse. It all depends on her.

   Willow’s eyes were wide and full of wonder as she took in the city in all its glory. People walking in the street looked like ants from where she was standing, and kids playing in a field nearby. Everything fit the description her Dad gave her about the city he was raised in, so a question rose to the top of her mind; what if this is the city he told her about. She started to walk down the side of the hill towards the city watching everything that's going on. As she started near the city, the kids playing near her stopped and stared while others backed up; fear written all over their faces. One kid on the other hand walked right up to her with a smile.