Chapter 1- Helping Hand

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"Grandma.... Are you okay?" Celeste asked in a concerned voice taking the woman's hand into hers. "Come, sit down."

"I'm fine my dear." The old lady replied. "Go back to bed now."

Celeste woke up to a series of coughs and sneezes by her grandmother and came running as fast as she could from down the hall.

"Are you sure? I can stay with you for a while." She replied taking a seat on the bed. She couldn't sleep anyway so it was no trouble for her at all.

"I'm fine, sweetheart." Madeleine promised her. "Get some sleep."

Celeste wasn't so sure about leaving her grandmother but she took her word for it and slowly walked back to her room down the hall.

She cracked the window a little to allow the cool night air to enter. She will be up for a while since for the past three hours all she had been doing was tossing and turning. Sleep was definitely not on her agenda tonight.

Sitting by the window, Celeste decided to count the stars that hung high above the forest that faced her room.

She counted until she was tired and still no sleep came. What was happening to her these days? Was the Moon Goddess angry with her for all those other nights she had stayed up late?

The breeze blew and Celeste took in a long breath before exhaling. At least the night soothed her mind. Washing away all her memories of the day....  bringing her in another world.

She gazed at the sky once more in admiration for the tiny glowing dots scattered across the darkness and wondered if her mother liked them too. A wave of sadness washed over her knowing that she won't be able to know not even such a small piece of information. Life was unfair wasn't it? Taking away happiness and giving back sorrow and misery in return. We never get over the death of a loved one.

Celeste rested her head on the window sill, ready to drift off into wonderland when her eye caught something bright and shiny from the forest.

Instantly, she was up and squinting her eyes to try and get a better look at the glistening form. Unfortunately, she couldn't make out a thing. What is that?

Celeste tried harder to see the figure but gave up when the glistening disappeared. She sat back down in bewilderment and decided it was time to get some rest before the sun rises.

The windows flicked and a scream came to Celeste's ears. At first, she thought she wasn't hearing clearly but then the piercing noise came louder to her hearing than before.

"That sounds like someone needs help." she realized.

Grabbing her robe from the foot of the bed, Celeste climbed through the window to check out what was going on in the forest. It was a good thing her house was just a two storey one and a small ladder was kept under the window below.

As her feet hit the ground, Celeste began walking towards the forest. Another scream was heard and she quicken her pace towards the sound, eager to help someone in need.

Celeste was instantly swallowed up by the dark forest but she was able to see thanks to the dim light coming from the moon. The place was quiet and she wondered if her ears had somehow played a trick on her. Seconds later, she heard talking and muffled noises. She parted the twigs to see a woman dressed in strange dark clothing with long hair that seemed to glow in the dark, holding up a glowing ball in her hands. Celeste wondered who the lady was and what she was doing. She must be some sort of alien, Celeste thought since her appearance was different from a normal person, which included her choice of clothing, her eyes and the palest of skin.

"You will do as I say!" The woman held up the glowing ball in one hand and Celeste followed her direction to see a male on the side, clutching his stomach as if he was in severe pain.

The woman charged the glowing matter into the boy's form causing him to scream out in pain. Celeste's hand involuntarily came to her mouth to stifle her gasp. Why was the lady hurting him? Was he a bad person? Even so, she had no right to hurt him.

Celeste fought the urge to run out from her hiding and help the poor boy. She couldn't believe her eyes and that alone kept her rooted to her spot.

"I will not become your slave." The boy slowly stood up. The woman shrieked in anger and charged at him again causing him to fall to the ground, screaming his lungs out.

This time, Celeste couldn't take it anymore and before she knew what she was doing, she ran out and stood in front of the boy.

"Stop it!!" Celeste cried to the woman. "Stop hurting him."

The woman looked surprised at first but quickly covered it up as it came.

"Well, look who it is?" The woman smiled. "Not one but two of you. This is going to be fun."

Celeste's eyes widen as the woman brought back the glowing form in her hands.

"Get out of here," The boy spoke. "Run, now!"

Celeste was not going anywhere anytime soon so she braced herself for the impact that was about to come but it never did.

"Leave. Now!" The boy blocked her from the woman. "Go!"

Celeste stood in helplessness for she wanted to save the poor boy but didn't know how.

Deciding she wasn't going to leave him. She prayed to the Moon Goddess to help her and give her strength.

With her mind made up, Celeste ran into the woman bringing her to the ground as the glowing ball disappeared into thin air. The two fell to the ground but soon Celeste was the one who was lying down and the woman stood lingering above her.

"I'll be back." The woman smiled wickedly. Sparks flew brightening the forest and in the blink of an eye, she was gone.

Celeste blew out a breath and checked herself for any injuries. Luckily, she managed to get just a scratch above her elbow. Grams will have to take care of this she thought.

Wait! She must be awake looking for me right now. I need to get back.

Brushing off a few leaves that stuck to her robe, Celeste stood to get back to where she came from but heard a groan and looked to her left to see the boy sitting against a tree, holding his shoulder that seemed to be in pain.

Immediately, she rushed over to him checking to see if he was badly hurt.

"I'm fine." The boy responded holding up a hand.

"Come on. My house isn't that far away." Celeste placed her arm around his waist and helped him up.

She didn't know why she was helping a stranger but it felt like the right thing to do. She was raised to never turn a blind eye on humanity. To always render assistance in any way you can. But that wasn't the issue right now, what will her grandmother say when she gets back?

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Chapter one..... What do you think?

Vote and comment.

Dee ;)

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