(Salemonath 27, 56 / 3:01PM)

A day before the attack on Ticia.

(???) Hey Rachael, have you heard about the new album from New Kids In The Neighborhood? Their voices are so angelic and majestic.

(Rachael) I know right? Zachary is my one true love.

(???) Pfft sure girl. I claimed Zachary first.

(Rachael) Didn’t you say you liked Anthony second Christi? Take him, not Zachary.

Two pale-skinned girls walked through a busy hallway, their footsteps squeaking on the white checkered floor.

Being high schoolers, both carried school books in both of their hands as they wore a typical t-shirt and pants, followed by their sneakers being normal. With the many stickers of boys on their backpacks, and love hearts surrounding the paper, one can conclude that these girls…

(Christi) I love New Kids In The Neighborhood so much! I mean, how many other boy bands that we claim as ours?

(Rachael) I guess it’s just that and Frontstreet Boys. I mean, there’s Jimmy Deep and that new coming hot boy Leonard Capro.

Are complete boy band fanatics…

Both girls looked around each locker to find many personas and such in every school.

The jocks, nerds, band kids, theater kids, cheerleaders, geeks, loners, goths, mechanic kids, and agriculture kids, all are a part of a typical school in the nation of Ticia.

But not only were there just normal humans that piled the hallways, but many other races that coexisted in the school system.

Both girls went past many bunny-humans with baggy pants and golden crossed necklaces, with most of them having backwards caps that made them seem like gangsters. For the few elves, all of them had books stacked onto their chests as they had them wrapped around them as if their life depended on it.

Lastly, only a couple of horse-humans folded their arms as they leaned against the lockers, their long and frowned faces making them anti-social.

As some boys ran through the hallways to reach the exit, both girls looked towards their watches. Turning their bodies back towards the hall, Rachael let out a sigh as she started to fold her arms.

(Rachael) Where’s our bestie anyway? Do you think she stayed after class?

(Christi) She’s in honors. It sucks that she takes academics too seriously.

Letting out sighs, both girls looked back towards where their lockers were originally, as their bodies were right in front of the main gate.

(Christi) Why did they put her locker at the other end of the school?

(Rachael) I feel bad for the poor girl.

Making their way past the hurrying teens of both girls and boys alike, the two girls managed to push their way into many different crowds of people. With each shove that they endured, the more they gritted their teeth, as their bodies felt each shove from their small and skinny shoulder blades.

A few minutes went by, and they managed to reach where their lockers were, as the sounds of all the teens and kids leaving the school were present in the far end of the hallway.

(Christi) Thank god we got past all that.

(Rachael) My shoulders feel sore…

Noticing a familiar figure, both of their eyes lit up as they fast walked towards the girl from behind.

The girl that they saw was tan and above average in height, with her medium black hair covering her nape and side neck. Her hands were in her locker, getting stuff out to put inside of her big backpack, both girls put their hands on her shoulder.

(Christi) Where were you? Were you at Mr. Adair's class again?

(Rachael) Can’t you just take normal classes, girl? Ever since you took AP classes you’ve been busy being a nerd.

The tanned girl turned her head towards the two girls that were behind her, putting the last object inside of her huge backpack.

(Luna) Sorry, I just wanted to get an A in his class, that’s all.

Luna Guerra plastered on a smile, her lips not quite reaching her eyes.. Hoisting her backpack onto her back, she closed the locker gently as she maintained eye contact with her friends.

______________________________________________________________________________

(Salemonath 27, 56 / 6:06PM)

(Luna) I’m home!

Entering inside a middle-class family home, Luna put her backpack near the family coat rack near the door. Closing the door from behind her, Luna whiffed in the smell of tomato sauce as the hallway lights shone on the dark wooden floor.

Continuing to have a smile on her face, making a slight hop, she heard the sounds of four boys that she was long too familiar with.

In front of Luna were two boys, the tallest one had medium-length hair, while the short one had short hair. Seeing them, Luna let out a warm and cheerful smile as she had her hands on their shoulders.

(Luna) Hey Lewis, hey Jacob. How was middle school?

(Lewis) Jacob got into another fight.

(Jacob) That dude started it.

(Luna) Come on Jacob, you got to deal with your anger better. Otherwise, it’ll kill you…And…

She smirked at Jacob as she wagged her index finger at him.

(Luna) You’ll get no donuts.

(Jacob) What?! Oh, come on!

(Daniel) Did I hear donuts?

Gesturing the two oldest boys to sit at the dinner table, Luna glanced towards her twin brothers gripping their forks.

Pushing her eyes up towards the one jabbing the other, Luna tilted her head slightly as she made a little frown.

(Lewis) Come on Daniel, leave Armin alone.

(Daniel) But he’s a nerd.

(Armin) I’m just reading a book.

(Luna) Daniel, please leave Armin alone.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Luna patted the youngest boy’s head with her smooth hand, rubbing her fingers along the boy's scalp as she smiled at him. Armin, feeling his head being patted on by his older sister, put the book down as he placed his head flat on the table.

Jacob raised his voice as he flinched his body upward as he leaned forward on the table.

(Jacob) Why does he get special treatment?

(Lewis) Because he’s the youngest. He’s a few minutes younger than Daniel.

(Daniel) As if I need special treatment.

(Lewis) You’re just saying that.

(???) Dinner’s ready.

Hearing a low-pitched voice coming from the kitchen, all four boys and Luna got their plates ready in hand as they went towards the man wearing a black apron.

The chef was huge, with a height above 6ft and his arms being bulky, the man having a mustache and little goatee.

Grabbing their food from the man cooking dinner, they all made their way towards the six-seater table, all of them having spaghetti with garlic bread.

(???) I barely made it today, so enjoy yourselves.

The four boys started to devour the spaghetti that lay on their plates, creating a mess as spots.

(Jacob) Dad, Luna said I can’t have your donuts!

Luna was unbothered by Jacob’s statement as she started doing her homework.

(Lewis) It’s unhealthy for you anyways.

(Daniel) Donuts aren’t that unhealthy…right?

(Lewis) Oh, they are. 100%. They have a ton of sugar.

(Luna’s Dad) Come on now. Let’s not fight-

(Jacob) But Dad’s donuts are different!

(Lewis) Homemade or not, you need sugar to make donuts taste good!

Luna slammed her fist against the table.

(Luna) Be quiet!

The three boys froze.

(Luna) Oh…sorry. I shouldn’t have shouted.

The boys gave a vicious nod before engulfing their spaghetti. The burly man looked towards Luna.

Furrowing his brow at Luna’s outburst, he took a large piece of spaghetti with his fork, bringing it to his mouth.

(Luna’s Dad) I know you want to maintain your straight A’s Luna, but you can continue after you eat.

(Luna) I know, but I want to get Saturday’s homework done.

(Luna’s Dad) Why? You know you could just do that before we leave—

(Luna) I’m going to hang out with Christi and Rachael tomorrow.

Luna’s dad stopped eating as he stared at his daughter, his piece of spaghetti still stuck inside his mouth. Despite not fully chewing the spaghetti, her dad just swallowed it whole.

Using his hand to pound his chest, he put his utensil into the spaghetti as he cupped his big and muscular hands together.

(Luna’s Dad) You should have told me this before.

(Luna) But Dad-

(Luna’s Dad) You know that all of us are going to Damaris Lake over the weekend. Can you postpone your friend's hangout till next week?

(Luna) Well …

Luna then put her right hand towards the back of her head, rubbing it gently as she smiled wryly at him. Having her eyes sort of closed, she tilted her head slightly as her face cheekbones started to sore her a bit.

(Luna) My friends have been dying to go out, and if I reject them, then they’ll be mad at me. So I don’t want it to ruin our friendship.

(Luna’s Dad) I understand. But mija.

Her dad’s eyebrows softened as he nodded. Having the remote near his plate, he put his right hand onto it as he turned on the button to play on the TV for the boys.

Seeing the news, her dad let out an exhale of fresh air out of his big nose.

(Luna’s Dad) You must know you can’t do everything. Always do the things that you know you can do, and set some time to do things that you know you can’t.

(Luna) … yes Dad.

Armin noticed that the fork that Luna was wielding started to creak under the metal. Looking up to see her staring into the abyss, with a continued smile on her face, Armin continued to eat his spaghetti, his eyes unwavering from her tanned face in contrast to his light-toned face.

Tapping her right shoulder with his pointer finger and middle finger, he let out a soft smile as the crevices of his lips reached halfway to the level of his nose.

(Luna) Y-yeah Armin?

(Armin) After dinner, can I tell you about the book I’ve been reading?

(Luna) Of course.

The three boys, followed by their father, saw the news unfold from their boxed-style TV set, the screen showcasing an elf reporter. As their dad used the remote to turn the volume up, the sound of the news renovated the entire living room and kitchen, the sound loud enough for Armin and Luna to turn their direction.

(Elf Reporter) We have another case of a missing child in the Azazel Region. They say it’s from the many cartels that operate around the region.

(Luna Dad’s thoughts) That’s the same region where the lake is at …

______________________________________________________________________________

(Salmonath 28, 56 / 3:25PM)

(Luna’s Dad in Luna’s thoughts) Since you’ve been doing well in school, I guess you could hang out with your friends. But remember to be back by 3:30 so that we all could leave for the lake.

(Luna’s thoughts) I need to get back now!

In the back two of her friends, all three of them walked through the busy crowd of shopgoers, their eyes peering at the many shops and stores in the large abundant shopping mall.

The clean white marble floor they squeaked as the soles of their sneakers kissed the material with every step. Along with a couple of bags on their hands, followed by their noses smelling the food around them, it only caused the two girls in front of Luna to walk forward.

While Luna fiddled with her fingers, her thumbs and pinkies mingled with each other.

All three girls noticed a Cold Topic store filled with merch of any kind, ranging from basic movie and TV shows to even bands and musicians. Especially one particular boy band.

(Christi) Oh my gosh! New Kids In The Neighborhood merch!

(Rachael) Zachary! My Beloved!

Both girls went inside a Cold Topic store in the dead center of the mall, completely disregarding Luna’s presence as both went inside the back of the store.

Waiting outside the store, Luna had her back hunched as she continued to fiddle with her fingers, looking around as she repeatedly tapped her heel on the floor. Barely glancing at the store from behind her, Luna’s breathing started to fasten.

(Luna’s thoughts) I know I want to buy some boy band merchandise, but can they please hurry? They know that I have to be back…

After several minutes went by, the two girls that Luna waited for almost an eternity finally managed to come out, with many more bags in tow. Noticing that Luna had been acting anxious, both girls tilted their heads as their faces started to frown.

(Christi) What’s wrong Luna?

(Luna) I’m sorry, but I need to go back.

(Christi) Why so soon? It’s been forever since we had this much fun.

(Luna) I know, but I promise we could hang out more next week.

Both of her friends let out a sigh, both looked at each other as they gave her a simple nod.

Luna’s fiddling stopped as her heels ceased their tapping on the floor. Wiping away her forehead with the palm of her hand, Luna rubbed the back of her head as her fingers caressed the innards of her scalp.

(Luna) Thanks guys.

All three girls walked back to where they came from originally, their sneakers continuing to click on the marble floor. Seeing that Luna had her hands on her side, anxiously looking around the shops and stores with her eyes, both girls extended their hands towards her, their bags on the tipping point of falling off.

(Rachael) Can you carry this Luna?

(Christi) Please? My arms are getting sore.

Putting on a reassuring smile, Luna reached out her hands and arms so that the two girls could put their bags on her. Having bags upon bags on her hands and arms, Luna didn’t falter one bit, as they continued walking.

Because Luna managed to carry all of the girls’s bags, it led to many stares from both men and women alike.

(Christi) How are you this strong?

(Rachael) Do you work out? I heard boys don’t date girls that workout.

(Luna) But I’ve never worked out before…

Having her head down, Luna turned her attention around her as her stomach had butterflies, her body feeling light as the states continued to burden her.

All three of them noticed that many of the stares were from the many people from the arcade they passed. Both Christi and Rachael noticed that most of the people were more or less males that were their age or lower, and most of them wore glasses and game-printed shirts.

(Christi) Hahaha … I guess Luna is popular with nerds.

(Rachael) If I was popular with nerds, I would cry.

Luna let out a nervous laugh.

Both girls turned their faces away from the group of male geeks.

As for Luna, she continued to look at the gawking group of them, noticing that one of the boys had hair that blocked his eyes. By just barely looking at him, the boy with long bangs looked away as his face was redder than a raspberry.

Turning her head away, with her face reddened as her cheeks started to warm up from the boy looking away, she put both her hands onto her cheeks.

(Luna’s thoughts) Those two are so harsh! If I ever had a boyfriend, I would want him to be probably young, maybe with a side bang covering his face—

The sounds of an alarm can be heard…

(Speaker) Attention! There is a tornado on the ground! Residents are advised to stay indoors and take cover!

Everyone in the mall stopped as they all had their hands motionless on the ground.

Perking their ears, everyone had their heads looking at one another as the regular tornado siren swept through the mall alert system.

(Citizen #1) Tornado? Right now?

(Citizen #2) It's sunnier than it was yesterday. How can there be a tornado?

(Citizen #3) The weather said it’s supposed to be clear skies until next week.

With everyone in a blitz of emotions, Luna and her friends looked around to see everyone confused and shocked, as many people slowly started to scatter away from the mall. Looking up at the mall window up top, they saw nothing but the sun raining down its bright rays at them.

(Christi) Luna’s right, we should leave.

(Rachael) Yeah, things are getting freaky here.

The three girls started to walk faster, their sneakers kissing the marble floor more as the squeaking intensified, their eyes peering all around the shops and many confused people as they tried to find the familiar set of doors.

Luna, looking at her surroundings, memorized the layout of the mall as she pointed to the right of her, shyly gesturing to a small set of doors.

With the two girls noticing the doors, Luna cleared her throat as she casually rubbed her head despite having many bags wrapped around her arms—

An explosion rocked the massive mall, the center of the explosion being near where the three girls were.