"In a world where darkness reigns, we must become our own constellations, guiding each other through the night."
- Asteria Montgomery
In a world where survival hangs in the balance, Asteria Montgomery and her friends face their fate as the Counci...
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Exactly 3 years before the Earth
In the dimly lit room of the orphanage, where boys and girls shared quarters due to space constraints, thirteen-year-old Asteria Montgomery found herself drawn to the new arrival, John Murphy. He arrived with an air of silent sorrow, his grief palpable as he mourned the loss of his parents – his mother to sickness and his father, tragically, to a floating.
Asteria, who had known the orphanage as her only home since birth, couldn't help but be captivated by John's silent suffering. She watched him retreat into himself, spending his days in silent contemplation and nights consumed by tears.
One evening, unable to bear the weight of his sorrow any longer, Asteria approached John with tentative steps. She settled beside him on his bed, a small smile on her lips, offering a comforting presence in the sea of his sadness.
"Hey," she began softly, her voice a gentle breeze in the stillness of the room. "Are you okay?"
John's response was a silence so profound, it seemed to echo in the small space between them. But Asteria was undeterred. She introduced herself, her words carrying a warmth that invited him to open up.
"I'm Asteria," she said, her smile widening ever so slightly. "I've been here since I was born. What's your name?"
For a moment, John remained lost in his thoughts, his gaze fixed on some unseen horizon. Then, slowly, he turned to look at her, his eyes brimming with unspoken pain.
"John," he whispered, his voice barely more than a breath.
Asteria nodded, her heart aching for the boy who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. "Nice to meet you, John," she replied softly. "You can talk to me if you want. I'm a good listener."
Their conversation flowed gently, like a river winding its way through the quiet moments that followed. As they shared stories and secrets under the cover of darkness, Asteria couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to John's pain than he was letting on. It was during one such conversation when John found out Asteria's biggest secret.
"I'm telling you, Murphy, there's something out there," Asteria insisted, her voice barely louder than a whisper as she leaned in closer, her eyes alight with excitement.
John rolled his eyes, his skepticism evident in the quirk of his eyebrow. "Yeah, and I'm the Chancellor's long-lost son," he retorted, his tone tinged with amusement.
Asteria shook her head, undeterred by John's cynicism. "No, I'm serious. I saw something moving in the vents yesterday. It was like nothing I've ever seen before."
John sighed, his patience wearing thin. "It was probably just a rat, Ast," he said, his voice tinged with exasperation.
But before Asteria could respond, her hand slipped on the edge of the makeshift table, knocking over a stack of old books and sending shards of glass flying through the air. With a sharp gasp, she recoiled, clutching her hand to her chest as blood welled up from a deep gash in her palm.
"Shit," she cursed, her heart racing as pain shot through her hand.
John's eyes widened in alarm as he rushed to her side, his concern evident in the furrow of his brow. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.
Asteria winced as she examined the wound, her heart pounding in her chest. "I... I'm fine," she lied, her voice trembling with pain.
But John wasn't convinced. He reached out and gently took her injured hand in his, his touch surprisingly gentle despite the rough calluses that marred his fingers. "Let me see," he insisted, his tone softening.
Reluctantly, Asteria allowed him to examine the cut, her heart racing as she braced herself for his reaction. She had kept her secret hidden for years, fearing the consequences of revealing the truth. But now, faced with the reality of her blood staining the floor between them, she knew she had no choice but to tell him.
John's brow furrowed in confusion as he studied the crimson stain on Asteria's hand. "What's going on, Ast?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Asteria hesitated, unsure of how to explain. "I... I've had this since I was a kid," she began, her words coming out in a rush. "Abby says it's... it's some kind of disease or something. She thinks it's from the radiation, or maybe it's just bad luck."
John's eyes narrowed in thought as he considered her words. "But why didn't you ever tell anyone?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
Asteria shrugged helplessly, her gaze fixed on the floor. "I didn't want anyone to treat me differently," she admitted, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I'm already an orphan. I didn't want to be a freak too and Abby said if they find out , they might use me for experiments and lock me up"
John's expression softened. "You're not a freak, Ast," he said firmly, his voice unwavering. "You might be pain in the ass sometimes but you are cooler than anyone else in this orphanage"
For a long moment, Asteria said nothing, her heart heavy with uncertainty. But as she looked into John's eyes, she felt a glimmer of hope flicker to life within her. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as alone as she had thought.
''I knew you loved me john,'' said Asteria as both of them started laughing.
And in that moment, as John pulled her into a tight embrace, Asteria knew that she had found not just a friend, but a companion who would stand by her side through whatever trials lay ahead. Little did she know, their bond would soon be tested in ways neither of them could have imagined.
