My heart starts to pound uncontrollably. Nervously, I glance up the stairs while questions race around in my head. Why did I remember that I'm the Forgotten Girl now? Why were my people angry with me? When was the letter written? Who wrote the letter? But most importantly; who are the people upstairs and why are they with me if I'm supposed to be alone? Are they even my real family? Taking a deep breath I grasp for the old, damp railing and make my way up the stairs. Back to the light or to my doom, I'm not sure which one yet. Once I reach the top I'm greeted by the smiling face of my mother.
"Hi honey. How did it go? Do you need help or do you just want to rest?"
"Uh...mom," I start but before I can finish my dad and Kile come inside.
"Hey! You're okay!" my dad declares. "That's good, 'cause me and your brother managed to catch a klarix and we found another rooseberry bush!" he exclaims.
"Yah, that's great...but..." I begin but again I'm interrupted.
"Bet your jealous I've found TWO rooseberry bushes and you haven't even found one," Kile taunts.
"Okay," my mom interferes, "before you two start fighting, let's get dinner ready. I think it's Klea's turn to skin tonight, right honey?" my mom looks at me and smiles.
"Actually, I have something important to show you guy's," I mumble.
"What is it? What's wrong?" my dad asks, concern filling his eyes.
Slowly, I take the slightly crumpled letter out of my pocket and hand it to my mom. She reads it and without a word hands the letter to my dad, who in turn hands the letter to Kile. Finally my mother speaks. Her wet eyes reflect her sad tone, "Goodbye honey, I'll miss you."
"Wait, what?" I respond, very confused.
"Once you realize we're not real, we'll disappear. Even your imagination can't help us then," my mom sighs.
"Thanks for bringing us here darling, we love you," my dad says. Kile just nods. Suddenly, I realize that their starting to fade.
"Wait! Don't leave me! Please! I don't want to be alone," I cry. Tears blur my vision as they disappear forever and then my vision goes black.
My blurry vision becomes clear as I wipe away the cold tears and look around. I'm in a type of court room. The little girl, also known as me, stares at the three leaders seated on elaborately decorated thrones. In the middle sits an old women and by her side is a man and another women. Thier weathered faces are turned toward the little girl but from the way their eyes stare down at her you would think she was a monster. Cold eyes turn away for a moment as the lady I saw standing with younger me walks in.
"Is everyone here?" the middle women asks.
"Yes, I am the last one," my rescuer responds with a small bow of her head.
"Then we will get started," she say's commandingly. "Come up here girl," she says full of scorn while everyone shifts thier eyes towards younger me. "The council has summoned you because we believe you are responsible for the destruction of our planet. We believe this because you confessed and several witnesses heard you do so. Do you come to admit and accept punishment or challenge what you are accused of?" she demands.
Meekly, I reply; "I have come to admit and accept punishment, your Majesty." A gasp runs through the large crowd and I hear several people ask how a small girl can be responsible for such a big catastrophe. I can't blame them because I'm just as confused. The lady in the middle stands up and her voice rises over the cries of surprise and outrage. "The council will judge according to evidence and witnesses. Conclusions will be anounced at the Grand Pavillion in three days to all who can come. Court is dissmissed." With this, all the council members glide out the tall, gleaming doorway and their parade of advisors, servents and runners follow, trailing behind. When the last bit of their party is out of sight, two guards come to take my smaller self to a holding cell and that's when I wake up.
I don't know how long I was waiting there, but my tears are long dry and my muscles ache as I stand up. Wandering around the house, my ears are filled with complete silence while my mind races. I have so many questions and now I'm alone with no one to answer them. What was I supposed to do? Finally, after the Light-star has sunk to the ground and the darkness of moonshine has fallen, I come to my own conclusions. The way I see it, the only way to survive is to find my way towards a city. Hopefully, I would be able to find help and answers there. The only problem was that I had never travelled alone. Not only was travelling alone through woods dangerous, I might black-out again which would make me very easy prey. Seeing as I had little choice in the matter, I had to take the risk. I search through my house for jackets, extra clothes, water gear, food and light-sources. There was only one more thing I needed. Walking towards my room, I grab the necklace my "family" or whoever they were, had given to me on my twelfth birthday. One more round through the entire cabin, and I head out the door into the unknown.
After trudging along the path my dad's big map outlines for about three hours, I come across a perfect place to stop. I don't gather firewood because I'm scared the light of a fire will attract unwanted attention. Instead, I snuggle in some blankets and gaze up at the sky. A million small blinking lights seem to wink in and out of existance as I watch. My mom used to tell me those lights were my protectors. Watching over me while I slept and while I was awake, they were just like another family, she said. Now they're my only one. This thought stays in my head as I drift off to sleep.
Hot breath tickles my neck as I wake up. "Kile get out," I say getting annoyed. Then my eyes pop open as I realize there is no Kile anymore. My gaze falls on the creepy yellow eyes of a Trudgen.
And then I'm running.
