Star Crossed

IV

🌙Astra🌙

A few days later, I was working at my newest job. I had become a Star Catcher. Basically, we took care of the babies of Moon who haven't been given to a couple yet.

I was cradling a baby girl in my arms when a loud buzzer went off. The babies started crying and screeching. The one I carried was crying too.

"PUT DOWN THE STAR!" a guard yelled in the corridor. I gently put the baby back and the buzzer turned off. He stormed over to me. "Don't you know you aren't supposed to touch them?"

"I, uh. . ." I looked for an excuse. The guard grabbed my wrist. We marched out of the Star corridor to reach a hallway where the other Star Catchers gathered.

"What is your name?"

"Astra."

"How old are you?"

"I just turned Sixteen. This is my first day. Honest, I had no idea."

"Who is your mentor?" He was getting sterner by the minute.

"I was never given one."

He let go of my wrist. "Who here is a mentor?" Several of them raised their hands. "You." He pointed to a thin male who seemed to be an Eighteen.

He looked around. "Me?"

"Yes! You!"

He slowly walked out of the crowd. If I had the ability to blush, I would. Luckily, I restrained myself from it.

"What's your name, boy?"

"Tayen."

"Well, Tayen. Teach Astra to be a proper Star Catcher." I couldn't hear the rest.

The guard walked away, and people continued to their work stations.

Tayen smiled awkwardly at me. "Hi, Astra. Follow me back in the Star corridor. I'll tell you all about being a Star Catcher."

"Thank you, Tayen." I couldn't help but stare at his necklace. It was a circle with a tiny crescent moon missing from the center.

I followed him into the Star corridor. "Alright, as you already know, you aren't supposed to touch them. They are one of the most prized of Moon. The Moon has specified to the Moon leaders that they mustn't be touched."

"Why?" I knit my eyebrows together.

"Their skin is sensitive and still being formed. That's why they are in special case for them to stay. All we are to do is look after them. Make sure they are eating, and are safe," Tayen explained.

I nodded. "How many are there?"

"Two-hundred and fifty."

I widened my eyes. "That's a lot."

"Yeah, well most of them won't be ready until Eighteen's are able to adopt."

"Where are those ones?"

"It's hard to say. But I'll look." He walked around the cases and looked down at the slips of paper on them. "Here's one."

I walked over to him and looked down at the Star. It was a female.

I looked down at her sleeping face and smiled. "That's so cool." The Star didn't even have skin developed!

We walked around more to find six more males and females.

"So, this is all you do, all day long? Just watch them?" I asked.

"Pretty much."

"How many hours?"

"Nine."

"Wow."

"Yeah." There was an awkward silence. "So have you met your soulmate yet?" he asked.

"Oh, uh, no. Not yet."

"That's too bad. I found mine when I was a Sixteen."

"That's cool. What's her name?"

"Elara."

"That's pretty." I half smiled. "Hey, do you have any tips about the whole thing? My friend kinda needs some advice."

"Of course! I'd love to help."