The Black Moon

Chapter 1

 The Gillan Empire is the oldest and most powerful empire in the world. It destroyed every single one of its enemies for centuries. The whole country is divided into three parts - Acapolis, Road, and Kisapolis. Acapolis - This is where I live.

White buildings that reach into the sky and reflect your every move, Cafes, restaurants, clothing stores, hotels - all of these are so perfectly designed, built, surrounded by other ideal things that you may not be able to take your eyes off them.Constantly happy people who care about nothing. Acapolis is such a wealthy place that every family has its own luxurious, modernist two-story house or apartment. We are so developed that we do not even need books. Technology - this is our present and future. Who needs to use those useless sheets with ink or something like that when there is internet. Interested in anything? You can find it on the internet.Walking in this city makes you feel so powerful, so special that you think - now I will step on the mountains and dry the seas. People are so kind too! I feel happy when I see so many happy faces. I do not think the situation is the same in any other country. We have an endless supply of oil, water, manpower, and a thousand other things. The only question is - from where? I think no one before me was interested in this. However, this is not my business.And what about Kisapolis - I do not know. I think no one from Acapolis was there. Just no one knows how is life in Kisapolis because these two parts are divided by the road. Road - a simple road that, as we are told, stretches for 886 kilometers from Acapolis to the border andOn the contrary - from Kisapolis to the border. They will not let you go through anyway. The only thing everyone knows about Kisapolis is that everything there is vintage. If everything in Acapolis is modernist and modern - vice versa is Kisapolis. They seem to wear total dresses and suits; They also live in palaces or something similar. It may seem silly, but no one can cross the border because it (I quote) "will cause an imbalance between the two parts." Who cares about this imbalance? And yet, no one has the wish or the will to cross the border. Me neither. Why do I have to walk more than eight hundred kilometers to just stop and be told to go back?Well, I did not introduce myself to you. My name is Annabel Rutter. 174 cm tall, with chestnut curly hair and gray, sometimes green, sometimes blue eyes. I study at "Bear River School" and my nickname is Scar. Why? Probably because of one small scar on the feet.I have no idea why it was named after a cartoon character released a hundred years ago, for that stupid reason. However, I like it and I have already got used to it. My hobby? That's my favorite topic to talk about. Box and guns. Guns. Yes, I know. Sounds boyish and does not suit a girl. But I live in Acapolis! I will probably weaken my muscles if I do not exercise. I also like shooting weapons and fighting. As you may have guessed - my nickname is Scramble and I understand most of the battles.-Annabel! Are you not going to get up? You will be late for school!I got up, had breakfast, kissed my mother, and left. I love mom very much. We were always good friends. She always supports me. But sometimes she is overprotective and that annoys me very much. Probably because she loves me.I went to the airbus stop, got a ticket - number 611, and sat down on a chair. As always my mother called me:- Are you in an airbus?- Here I am sitting now. Are you OK? Aren't you late for work? I almost forgot to say - my mother is a lawyer. Also a professional. Most of all she surprises me with how she did not notice that I was hiding something. What? What and that I fight and shoot with guns. I don't want to tell her because she will get too worried and forbid me to play.- No, I'm not late. It is good that you are not late either. I have to hang up now. I love you!- I love you too.The road to school was quite fast. There was a funny incident on the way. An old man was holding coffee in his hand when he fell asleep. Airbus braked and BOOM! Coffee was poured all over his face and clothes. That probably made my day.I stopped at the school and took a step forward. How could I know that this step would change my whole life?