Astrid Vs. Nepozeme

Aluino Vs. Insataw

I laid in my bed. Clock still says twelve. Life is still horrible. I'm still suspended.

Yay.

The house was so quiet. I could hear a pin drop. But I've never really heard that so I really shouldn't know what that really means. But when my stomach growled, it sounded like there was an earthquake. I almost jumped.

My eyes were almost completely shut. I've been laying down so long I'm starting to grow sleepy. Then, my door cracked open. I thought it was my little sister.

"Celia, go."

No reply.

"I said go."

No reply.

I looked towards my doorway. I saw no one. Then the door shut and I saw Celia from behind. I grabbed my pillow and stood.

"I said get out!" I shouted. Then, I threw the pillow and then Celia just disappeared. Poof, I mean. So I missed. I looked around, confused.

"Ouch!" I heard from a calm voice. I raised one eyebrow and dropped the other. "That would've hurt!" came from the same voice.

I took a few steps and found a small creature, brushing off its robe-looking thing. It rested it's hands on its back and looked up towards me. It had big eyes that were emerald green. It's ears stretched out as long as my hand and lifted upwards. I giggled.

"Wierd. I usually obtain screams from new strangers. You're the first to laugh." It said, it's voice sounding like a child with a scratchy throat.

"You look like you're from harry potter!" I said with a laugh.

"Well," It replied with a gasp. "I'm not. My name is Aluino. I am an elf."

"Oh. You're from the north pole!" I joked.

"Shut up, Insataw." It quietly shouted. "This is no game."

"Insataw?"

"Nevermind that." Aluino said. "I need your help."

"What? Why?" I asked. Then, I rose my posture."Besides, I'm busy." I crossed my arms and calmed my expression.

"No, you're not. You're suspended and you've been in your bedroom all day. I know that, yes." He paused. "And it all happened for a reason. Now, you must come with me."

The room became silent. My expression grew from calm to irate. He wants me to go with him?

"No," I said. I dropped my arms down in annoyance. I looked into his irritating eyes. "I'm not going to let you in here, tell me you're some freakishly small elf, call me some-" I paused, thinking. "Threatening or insulting name, say you need help, let me know that you stalk me, and then tell me I'm going somewhere!" I plopped down on my bed and crossed my arms once more.

Aluino chilled. "Insataw is not a threatening name," his voice was calm. "It means human or mortal back in my homeland. I do not stalk you. I'm the one who got you suspended from your learning facility,"

"You mean-"

"School, yes. I can change my look. For instance, I was just your younger sister. I grafted myself into you and got you suspended in the process. And just so you know, I'm not forcing you to come. You do not need to be stubborn." He folded his hands together. "I need an insa-uh, Mortal to help me out with a situation back at home and you are the first to catch my eyes so congratulations. If you do not want to come, I'll just find some other stubborn mortal to help me out. So, if this is it, then goodbye." He turned and began to open the door.

"Wait. Aluino," I said, standing. "What do you need help with."

He turned back around with a smile. "Let me show you." He clicked his fingers and I was out.

I was in a dream. Or nightmare. I was some type of ghost or spirit. I looked around and found people. The terrain was different, but everything was dull, like a memory you'd see in a movie. I floated towards the people. "Hello?" I echoed. They didn't even seem to notice me. I looked at their necks. There were three scratches on each side of each one. They looked like they were bleeding. The people started to run away in panic. I looked in the opposite direction that they were running from and found a large and dark cloud. It passed through me and hit one of the people. I floated towards him and saw the smog begin to enter the scratches in his neck. He started to yell some names, looking towards the people running. None of them turned. I grabbed his hand but mine went right through his. His eyes turned red as he was yelling in pain. I wanted to help him. His body turned pasty and grey. The smoke was beginning to stop his breathing. I started to tear up. I could do nothing but watch. His scratches were pitch black. The haze continued it's trail.

I woke in my bed, breathing hysterically. I just saw death and I couldn't help.

"What was that?" I breathed out.

"First of all, those were Tujens. They are common to my homeland. They have gills on their necks that can breathe both air and water. They talk, too. Some live in your world now. They do look a lot like you Insataws but they aren't. They are being infected through their gills with pollution from an unknown source. We elves aren't infected if we keep our mouths shut but they have no defense. They are dying out and some are entering your homeland to seek safety." "How am I supposed to help then?"

"I don't know," Aluino said cheerfully, shrugging his shoulders and loosening his posture.

My expression grew dull. My eyelids dropped as I stared blankly into the wall behind Aluino. He isn't very helpful. "Ok," I paused. "Well, how do we get to your homeland?" I finished, emphasizing the last word.

"Well. I can get us there briskly. But you are okay with us going? Your mother will wonder where you are and you might not be back for a while. You can get in trouble and possibly get put into an insane asylum for quite some time. And don't forget that you-"

"Quit it with the reminders. The more you speak, the more I want to stay home. So, just get to the brisk traveling already."

"Okay," Aluino said. "Don't blame me for your actions then." He folded his hands and closed his eyes. Then, he clapped. And we were gone.