When Two Different Worlds Collide

Prologue

March 4, 2933

Bristol, United Kingdom

Luana adroitly weaved through the mob of bustling Londoners, pulling her shabby hood over her head in hopes to go unnoticed for the millionth time it seemed, in that minute. It would be an understatement to say she was on a risky mission. This task at hand wasn't that simple, no. Yet, it was child's play compared to the first steps she had taken to thrust herself down this dark, destructive road. That self-assurance didn't prevent her nerves from coiling into a tangled mess.

"It's already been four days since the king and queen welcomed their new bundle of joy to the world on the last day of February," the news anchor on the holoscreen reported excitedly.

Luana ignored the broadcast, choosing to avert her eyes from the queen and her newborn child. It made her realize just how dour this mission would prove to be. Her reluctance surprised her; before, this would have just been another taint on her already black soul. Ever since the twins had arrived, however, she had become soft.

Luana adjusted her leather gloves, which were peeling from overuse on her clammy palms, shaking the profound thoughts out of her head. Her time had come, and it was do or die, there was no other appropriate option.

Revenge coursed rampantly through Luana's veins, and she was reminded once again of her task. She had been waiting in her apartment in Bristol, which had served as her temporary home while she was on Earth, when she heard that Queen Adelaide had just given birth to her firstborn child, the future heir to the throne of London, a healthy baby girl. A tremor had shot through her body as she had hesitantly slipped her arms through the straps of her knapsack, which had all the provisions Luana would need to complete this quest.

Someone bumped Luana at the side, shaking her out of her relapse. She didn't bother to see who had committed the offense because according to her watch, there wasn't much time left. She entered the cue for the next train to Westminster, groaning internally when she caught sight of the line that seemed to stretch for miles.

The train station was busy as usual, since it was Wednesday afternoon—a workday. It might as well have been evening; it was already 0500 PM. unfortunately, that meant Luana would have to wait in the lines for the trains, which seemed to stretch over miles long.

It was a diverse portrait of livelihood, with people from various backgrounds, planets, and places. Tall people and short people; weak and strong; innocent and dangerous. Dangerous people like Luana.

Thankfully, the amount of people in the line dwindled as they were let onto the train. Luana gave the security guard at the desk her ticket, trying not to avoid his gaze and be deemed as suspicious. Her tactic must have worked, because the man scanned her ticket emotionlessly and handed it back to her, opening the gate to let her through. Luana muttered a quick "thank you," and hunted for a seat in the packed train.

The only seat left was one next to a man who had studied her the moment she walked in, probably drawn by the mysterious air her ensemble emanated. Luana sat beside him, sitting as far as she possibly could in this tight space to avoid any wandering questions. Pretending not to notice his interested gaze from her peripheral vision, Luana relaxed in her seat. The train started to move, chugging along unbearably slowly.

Luana twirled a loose string of her clothing, trying to heed no mind to the syncopation between her racing heart and the artificial sound of the rickety train tracks.

..................................................................

When the train finally reached its destination, the sun was already setting, casting pink and orange streaks across the cloudy sky. Luana dashed off the train, hoping to get a hovercab as soon as possible. Once there was one available, she hopped in.