Not Earth

Chapter 1

A calm breeze whispered its way through the luscious trees on the island. The white, warm sand coated the teenage girls stick while she continued to mark up the ground. A masterpiece of fluttering trees with ripened fruit ready to fall to those below. Soon, the waves would wash it away, and no evidence of the girls picture ever being there would remain.

It was paradise. But S-8, the girl, had never known anything else.

The sun felt good on her tanned skin, and she brushed the golden-colored hair from her face. She felt calm, enjoying her time away from the others who lived on the island, though it was brief. The light shone down from the dome of the sky above, and S-8 observed a shimmer go across the pink-orange sky, making it go transparent for a brief second. It was a beautiful and tranquil moment.

Until it wasnt.

The water from what they called the Great Expanse spewed suddenly upwards in a frightening splash. S-8 jumped up from her secluded spot on the beach. Water doesnt do that, does it? her panicked mind thought briefly. But then she saw what mustve been the cause of her scare. A person! How did he/she come up out of the water like that?

It began spluttering the water out of its mouth, coughing violently. Finally, it seemed to recover, as it began to splash around, looking for something. No! No, no, wh-whered the door go?! Please, let me out! It was a boy. He splashed his hands down into the water on his last sentence. He seemed to be acting hurt.

S-8 did not understand his words. Wh-Who are you? she called timidly.

He stopped moving. His face turned to look at her. She found it curious, unlike her own. His face was very light, but with many freckles dusted upon his features. His hair dripped into his eyes, which were startlingly blue. But his face the expression S-8 couldnt tell what it was. Was it a type of hurt? She didnt really have any experience with hurt, herself. And this only made her all the more intrigued.

The boy stood up, sloshing out of the water to stand in front of her. She could see his eyes better, and S-8 thought she was beginning to understand what he might be feeling. Fear.

Where am I? he asked, his voice somewhat hoarse.

S-8 tilted her head. Why had she never seen him before? The question nagged at her irritatingly. She had heard stories of brand new people coming to the island to live there with the others, but Nothing like that had happened for centuries? Millennia? She didnt know.

You are here. On the beach. With me, she told him, slowly piecing the words together.

He shook his head, and ran a hand through his wet hair, making some of it point straight up to the sky. No, I- What is this place? he sighed, not quite knowing what to say.

S-8 paused. She got the feeling that he was expecting a better answer than what she had given him. But what else to tell him? There was just here. The island. And then the Great Expanse as far as the eye could see.

She stared at him quizzically. He seemed to realize something as he covered his mouth with his hand. He shook his head. Good grief, he muttered quietly. You dont know, do you? He looked overwhelmed.

This strange boy, who had appeared out of nowhere, dressed in a strange red jacket and blue jeans, didnt know where he was! S-8 frowned. It felt so strange, him not knowing. She wondered, what did she not know? And why did this boy look so strange, with bright-colored clothes that were molded so tightly to his body? Her white blouse and skirt were so loose, you could hardly tell the shape of her body.

She realized that she had been lost in thought, as she looked up to see the boy looking at her curiously. Is this the human zoo? he asked, his voice a little more calm and gentle, as if he knew how confused S-8 was.

She shook her head, only feeling more confused at his question. What is a zoo? S-8 had never heard of it.

The boy chewed the inside of his cheek, conflicted about what to tell her, and how much. Finally though, he sighed, and put a smile on his face, though it was very forced. What is your name? he inquired.

S-8, came the quiet reply.

He appeared bewildered yet again. S-8? Thats hardly a name he muttered indistinctly.

Well then, whats your name? retorted S-8, her voice a little louder than it was previously.

His lips twitched towards a smile at her little outburst, but he answered promptly. Its Malachi. Malachi Cummings.

S-8 was taken aback. Who had ever heard of someone having two names?

You can just call me Malachi, he added quickly, looking worried. He was trying to be careful not to upset the poor girl, feeling like he had done enough of that already.

S-8 tried the name out. Mal-a-chi, she said uncertainly. It was so foreign. Nothing like any of the people here.

Everyone come together for lunch time! rang the voice in S-8s head.

Malachi jumped nearly a foot, putting a hand to his temple. What the heck was that? he demanded. He had heard it too.

S-8 almost laughed, but decided not to. The Routine, she said, as if it was obvious.

Excuse me? he said, frowning, still rubbing the side of his head.

Oh, its just, um, the voice, that tells everyone what to do, she said, pausing here and there. Shed never had to explain this to anybody before, and it was strange. She began to get a feeling that this whole day was going to be strange.

He raised his eyebrows, as if she was joking. When he saw that she wasnt, he ran a hand through his hair again. Okay Well, thats weird, he said, shaking his head.

This time, she did laugh. Why would it be weird? she questioned. And before Malachi had a chance to respond, S-8 grabbed his hand, leading him into the dense trees of the forest. Come on, youll have to see all the others, she told him over her shoulder.

S-8 was fast, and as Malachi was dragged along, he nearly tripped many times on the many plants and roots sticking out of the ground. Soon, they reached a particular grouping of trees, where a large group of people were gathered. They were gathering the fruit from the trees, enjoying it, and talking to others in the group. Malachi quickly picked up on the communitys very cheerful nature. Like, he was a cheerful guy, but it was still strange to him to see so many people acting this way all at once.

S-8 led him over to a tree near the edge of the crowd. She plucked a piece of fruit off the tree. Malachi noticed that it was not like any fruit hed seen before. It was shaped rather like a pear, but it was bright orange. He wrinkled his nose in distaste. I dont know if I want to eat that, he said, mostly to himself.

But at his words, a few heads turned towards his voice. S-8! called one brawny, dark-skinned man. Who is that with you?

S-8 stepped behind Malachi, practically hiding behind him. This-This is Malachi, everyone, she said quietly, trying very hard not to butcher Malachis name.

A new person! exclaimed another woman. Waves of chatter swept across the crowd as they gathered around Malachi, bombarding him with questions.

Where did you come from?

What are you wearing?

Why did you come here?

Overwhelmed, Malachi took a step back, and tried to answer the questions as best he could. But he soon became annoyed, as the questions still continued, and the people kept reaching out to touch him, which made him uncomfortable.

I liked S-8 better, she wasnt like this, he found himself thinking. This made him look around, wondering where she was. And then, he saw her. She was walking away from the crowd, while the others continued to oggle over him. He tilted his head, not paying attention to what the people were saying or doing. S-8 was walking away. Alone.