Stranded Star

Chapter 1

Astrid peered around the corner of the wall dividing the rooms. The only light she saw came from the full moon shining through the window. She clutched a knife close to her chest, positioned to strike if needed. A noise came from the kitchen and she quickly returned her back flat against the wall.

"She's not here," said a deep voice.

Astrid watched as two shadows shuffled around the kitchen. Her heart pounded in her chest and she hoped they wouldn't hear it in the stillness between their words.

"She has to be here," said another more sinister voice, "we tracked her to this house!" one of them slammed a glass to the ground with a yell.

If she was going to make a move, she needed to do it soon.

"We can't go back empty handed! It's our asses on the line if Ruse finds out!" one of them said, a slight hint of panic in their voice.

"You don't think I know that?!" said the other, aggravated.

Anxiety rose up through Astrid's body but she tried to slow her heart and breath. She adjusted the grip on the knife and hoped she could miraculously figure a way out of the house. As she stepped silently into the doorway she saw that both people had their backs turned. One had short blonde hair, spiked up on the top of their head. The other wore a blue knitted hat.

"Burn it down," said spiky hair, throwing hands into the air in frustration. Neither of them noticed her standing behind them. There was not a door in the room and she decided to rethink the plan.

Astrid pivoted back around the corner and once again flattened herself to the beige wall. Her head quietly turned from side to side attempting to find a way out. She saw the front door but before she could move towards it, footsteps started coming her direction. Quickly and quietly she ducked into a coat closet across the hall, leaving the door slightly ajar so it didn't make any noise. Tucking herself behind a rack of hanging coats, she could see the two men through the small crack in the door.

"Pete, all we gotta do is leave this place in ashes. We'll tell Ruse it was already burned down when we got here. There's no way we could have been sure she was here anyway."

"Don't you get it, Dameon? This was our chance! We could have gone home!" Pete hit closet the door with his fist and it slammed closed. The silent moments that followed felt excruciatingly long as Astrid once again held her breath. She heard the faint squeak of the boots and saw their tips directly under the door. The knob suddenly jiggled and for a moment she felt her heart leap into her throat. It took her a few seconds to register that the door had not opened - it was locked.

"Come on, Pete, let's just get out of here," said Dameon in a reassuring tone. The tension in her body released and she leaned silently against the back wall. Both sets of boots made their way down the hall and out the front door.

Astrid loosened the grip on her knife sat rubbing her temples for a moment, relief washing over her tensed body.

Suddenly there was a deep and pleasant smell in the air that reminded her of something warm and comforting like a fire in a hearth. At first it was subtle but it quickly became heavier in the air until she noticed smoke seeping through the crack beneath the door. "Oh Shit," she said quietly, now realizing what was going on. They were burning the house. She grabbed the door handle and when it didn't turn, she frantically shook it hoping to somehow make it unlocked. Panic rose back up through her as well as adrenaline. Putting all her weight into it she attempted to break down the door. She tried again and again but it didn't budge. The smoke danced into the small space quickly. She grabbed a coat from one of the hangers and stuffed it at the bottom of the door to give herself more time to think. Frantically turning around, looking for anything to help her get out, she gripped her knife and attempted to pry the handle from the wood. The only thing between her and quickly growing flames was the width of the door. She pounded her fists against it, hoping that maybe even Pete and Dameon would come back for her.