Book One - Starless Sky

Prologue - The Sitting

First Sitting

I stared blankly at the four white walls surrounding me, there blankness draining my mind. My arms were hurting now, just like Mrs Whitehaven had said before we started. Actually, just about every inch of me was in pain, but off course I had expected that from my first sitting. I could feel the blood rushing unbearably fast towards my heart. The thud thud thud sound rang in my ear, and made it hard to concentrate on anything else but it. Rather than show my inner strength, the sitting had literally started to drain my body.

My eyes drifted to the only colour on the bare walls surrounding me. It was a information poster, I had to squint a little in order to read it's bold lettering properly.

This sitting room is authorised my government officials for the purpose of carrying out vital tests.

Sittings started around 10 years ago in 2100. Scientists had only recently discovered an inhabited planet in our solar system. They called it Narabeth. It was named after the Australian scientist Louis Nara who first discovered the planet. At first they were cautious but then ingenuity and 'miraculous' scientific innovation lead them to make contact. It wasn't like they imagined, not like the alien tales we were told as children, but different. Narabeth, was an intelligent world fueled by star energy. Their technology; weaponry, wealth and resources surpassed all on Earth which scared our leaders. Yet, the most extrodinary thing they discovered about Narabeth was its life form. They were created from fallen stars.

"Miss Maylen, are you listening?",
a voice whispered close to me.
I had began to daydream while my sitter was observing me. I can only imagine the odd expression on my face that was gazing so intently at the poster.
"Are you ok Miss Spirit?" she asked sitting down next to me.
Snapping back to reality I try and pull together a coherent reply. "Yes Miss I am and have been listening to you, I'm just tired, " I manage to answer in an admittedly lacklustre tone. It was a lie, in truth I can't recall what she has said since she welcomed me into the room.

"Well I'm glad you've taken it all in, it's no doubt that you are tired," she says with an understanding look on her face. She is standing now, "Up you get then young lady, I've collected all data I need and will send the results to your school. Do you have any questions or concerns?" she has my coat and rucksack in hand already.

"Umm well no I think I'm all good" I reply and head to the now open door in front of me.

"If there is nothing else then Miss spirit, you are free to go. I hope your results are in your favour. Goodbye." Her tone of voice had changed, it had a hint of sadness to it but remained as though it was scripted. I had been her 15th and final sitting of the day so she must be drained too.

"Cool well thanks then I guess, um bye!", I awkwardly half-shout and half mumble to her.

I begin to swiftly walk out of the UN7 building, a sweat already breaking on my head.
I had an urge to look back and see if she was still standing there, watching me walk away. Fighting the urge, I remember what everyone at school always said - never look back.