When I opened my eyes in the morning, I could see rays of sunlight shining through the circle-shaped window near my ceiling, reflecting on my many hanging crystals. It added a whimsical effect to the room. I looked around some more and I realized I must have fallen asleep on my work desk, with blueprints and notes scattered on top of it. I noticed a large ink puddle in the corner of one of my pages, and I suddenly realized ink must have spilled when I had fallen.

"Lovely," I thought to myself.

I looked down and noticed some of it had gotten onto my clothing, I sighed,

there is no way i'm getting that out

That was my favorite dress, I can replace it. I figured with a huff.

After staring at the black ink stain on my dress, I decided to stumble out of my desk chair and go downstairs to make myself some breakfast. I live in an old lighthouse, so the kitchen and living area is located on the bottom floor, along with a few empty rooms. The second floor is where my room is. I have no idea how this old lighthouse came to be. because originally, it was here when my parents arrived, they just built more on top of it.

I look at my reflection in the mirror. Messy waist-length rust-colored hair, and brown eyes. The light coming from the window makes it easy to see my freckles. I stumbled over to my closet and took out a top that looks like a yellow dress with the skirt cut off, puffy short sleeves that just cover the top of my shoulders, and then some brown jeans that fall over an old pair of boots. I then brushed my hair putting it in a half ponytail with a white bow.

Once I made it to the kitchen, I was greeted by Ava. A short robot, with a screen showing pixelated facial expressions. She has an oval body, that at one point I spray-painted light pink and white.

I smiled, "Good morning, Ava!"

"Good morning, Lillith, I have made 'you cakes in a pan," she replied

Ava turned around to reveal a plate of pancakes, being held by her lever-like robotic arm.

She then displayed a question mark on her screen, "Your parents programmed me to make meals for you, it is one of my main functions, could you elaborate? "

Ava is one of my parents' early models, she is an older version, so she is not as advanced at conversation, but she has spirit. She is still a close part of my family and is the closest thing to a parental figure I have.

I chuckled, "You're right, my bad"

Ava makes a confused face on her screen "you have not committed any "bad" unless you have, in that case, I must "ground" you. Lilith, you are grounded."

A smile formed on my face, "thank you for breakfast ava"

Ava formed a smiley face on her screen, "you are very welcome, Lilith, you should dig into your food now. I used that phrase right, correct?"

Well, technically I guess...

----------------------------------------------------------

Later that day, I found myself looking through a box of old books my parents left behind. I find comfort in them, it almost feels like my parents left pieces of themselves in each book. My family loves to read, myself included. Due to how secluded my island is, they are my best source of education. as I looked through the box, I realized how I might already have read them all. That is until I discovered a strange-looking journal hidden within the pile. It had a leather case, with a print on it that said A.L, my sister's initials. Avery lock was the one who named ava when she was little after she built ava 3 years before I was born. My sister was 4 at the time. I sat there for a while and simply stared at the leather case lost in thought.

I found my sister's journal; this could have answers. I considered, brushing my figure over the letter imprints.

All of her thoughts, secrets, and ideas. Part of me wanted to open it, to read every single page and search for a hint as to what she was looking for, but the other part of me felt like I was disrespecting her. That part of me was the curious little girl who always got yelled at by her big sister not to touch her stuff. That part is somehow still extraordinarily strong, so I placed the book in a cabinet to keep it safe. Maybe when she comes back, she can tell me herself.

Chapter 1

___

Sometimes I wonder if the world is as magical as it is in the books, I read...

----

I spend a lot of time staring at that diary, in a way it is like a part of my sister. It makes me feel like she is still here. I wonder if I were to read it, would it feel like she was talking to me? I brush the thought aside and look out my window. My eyes are meant with a bunch of trees, blue mushrooms, flowers, and a beach with water flowing off the side of the island. Along the coastline and forest are small broken plains and machine parts scattered about. Everything ends up on this island, it is like the dumping ground for the universe's junk. Well, not junk for me of course. To me, every piece of junk is useful machine parts that I use to create something new. I wonder if that is why my family chose to live here, they are engineers. There is nothing beyond my island, at least nothing I know of. I know there is more out there, I just have not left to look. I like it where I am, peaceful, and safe. I do wonder sometimes what the outside world would be like if it is as magical as it is in the books I read.

I should go outside,

I thought to myself, I really should check up on the barn. Next to my house is a giant barn, from the outside, it may look like it would be full of junk. Some may describe the appearance of the barn as odd, or out of place. Who in their right mind would build brightly colored towers poking out of the barn at odd angles? Or, a strangely stacked tower poking out through the middle, causes the roof of the barn to sink in. I do agree that it is quite weird looking. It does not look well put together, instead like a toddler stacked their blocks together to form a building just to knock it down again. All those things give it some sort of charm. A small child would stare at it with wonder and excitement. After walking down the dirt path that leads to the entrance, I open the door and walk in. It is dark, the air is thick with dust and dirt. I use the wall to guide me, searching for a familiar lever. Then my hand locates it, and I pull. All at once, the dark room was lit up by lanterns hanging from the ceiling and lights strung across the wooden beams. Inside the barn is just as surreal as the outside, with books, tools, and machines all scattered about the bottom floor with a ladder leading to the tower. I walk across the room, to a rope, when I pull it, a cloth covering a great circular window in the center of my room fell opening a window and revealing a great beam of light. I looked around admiring the paintings and designs on the walls, and how everything in the room combined.

I use this barn to store my books, make clothes, and store the machine parts I find off the coast. It is also the resting ground for the projects I started but never finished. An example of one of these machines is the corpses of multiple aircraft I attempted at. Sadly, I lacked the resources to finish them. I started building them after my sister left, hoping once I figured out where she went, I could use them to get off the island to find her. After a while I gave up, I know she will return., my sister would never lie to me, she is all I have. Besides, I like it here, this is my home.

"Hey, guys!! How was your night? I yelled

2 red lights started blinking from the corner of the room, then I saw 2 small robots come out from the same corner. The first robot looks like a bird. Its movements are natural, and bird-like except for a stiffness that could be due to rust.

"I think you need an upgrade GG," I tell her

Gg is one of my most advanced projects. My parents started making models for her when I was 2, they would observe real birds so that they could build her in a way that she moves the most birdlike and naturally as possible. I was the one who finished her after they left. I painted patterns and designs on her body and finished the code. The second one was a cat, well a robot cat. I made this one, she is like my best friend. Her head is a cartoonish cat shape, but she has a rectangular screen instead of eyes to show her emotions. She also has cat ears that move up and down. Her body is more cartoon than GG's. I made her when I was young, so she may look a bit more childish than the others. Ella is what I named her. I grew up with her, and she is my best friend.

Elly looks at me and then walks away with her nose in the air.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

"Come on Elly!! It was only for a day" I look at her,

The previous time there was a large storm, and I could not go into the barn. Because the barn has a much stronger power supply than the house, I usually charge them in the barn and bring them back inside when they are done, but because it was storming, I could not go to get them. Elly looked at me and swatted at my feet.

"So dramatic" I chuckle

I climbed up a ladder, into the "balcony" type area over the ground. I then moved to sit in a pile of pillows angled against a bookshelf with a blanket hung from it. I grab a book from a stack next to me and open it. The pages are all blank, and the case is leather. I open the first page and start writing

"Dear mom, dad, and Avery, I hope it is you guys that find this journal, and it is me who hands it to you. If it is not, I hope whatever is in here ends up being something interesting enough to read. I love this old island, and never want to leave it but-" I sit for a moment staring at the pages, but what? What could I do? I should wait for them. I take out my pencil and cross out the word "but" and replace it with "and I know that if I stay, you guys will come to find me someday, and when you do, let's achieve

something that is worth writing in this book. See you soon, love Lillith"

I take a breath and close the pages. I do this a lot, I will write letters, postcards, even little cards to my

family. Sometimes I will always send them balloons, other times, I will keep them in a box. This time, I decided to start a journal for them. I am not sure what, but I will have something interesting to put in it someday. Then, when they come back, I will have something to show them.

---------------------------------------------------

6 months later.

It's me again!! Hi!!... I'm honestly not sure if I want to continue this journal. It's been 6 months, and not a single interesting thing has happened. Honestly, every day is the same routine. I guess I started this journal because I was scared. Scarred of the fact that no one would remember me when I died, but ...

I guess for someone to remember you, you must do something worth remembering. I honestly don’t see that happening anytime soon, I keep hoping it will just fall out of the sky but I'm not sure anymore.

Ava misses you guys too, and so do Elly and GG. Please come home soon, I'll always be waiting. Btw, it's also my 16 B-day today!! I baked a cake and cut you all slices!! It's even double fudge!! And I made it just like how you taught me, mom. Love you all!!-Lillith.

I sigh and close the journal, and jump out of my bed. I go across the room to my mirror and look at my reflection. My rust-colored hair is in a Brade, just past my shoulders. I'm in an overall dress, with a white button-up under. "Happy birthday," I said to myself. I do this a lot, I get lonely on the island, and I feel guilty saying that because I have ava and everyone, but it's never been the same as seeing actual people. I smile with my teeth and take a breath. I look across the room at a carefully wrapped present and pick it up, and head to the kitchen.

"Hello Ava!!" I say to the robot, who just got done hanging up the ribbons and looks at me

"Happy birthday Lillith, I set up all the spots just like how your parents used to, can I ask what you are carrying?" she asked, still holding the ribbon.

"A gift, from my parents. I found it looking through a box a couple of years back, with a note on it.

I read the note out loud, "Open when you turn 16 - love, mom and dad."

I walked over to the kitchen table and set it on the yellow tablecloth. It's funny how someone could be with you one day and be gone the next. One year, you're blowing out your candles after your family sang you Happy Birthday, the next, you're serving cake to empty seats. Just then, Elly hopped on top of the table and sat on one of the plates.

"Very funny Elly. You do know you're not actually a cat, right? So, you don’t have to always walk to the dinner table?"

Later that day, I found myself having a picnic in our garden. On my lap sat the plate of food, in my hands I held the small box that may be the last thing I have of my family. Slowly I unwrapped the paper. It was a letter with a pendant attached to it. I decided to read the letter first. It read "Dear Lillith, If you reading, this it means we never made it back to you guys" I pause, close my eyes and take a breath

"we're sorry to you both, but please understand we didn’t have any choice. It was to protect both you and your sister. We are proud of whoever you became. We're sorry we didn’t get to see you grow up-"

I was about to finish reading when I see something falling from the sky, and fast. I narrowed my eyes, it looked like it was heading to the beach. I quickly get up to go see what it was. Thinks that large have never fallen here, and if they do their in pieces by the time it reaches the ground. After running through an overgrown dirt path with flowers and roots growing in it, I finally made it to the beach. My legs were scraped from the branches that had fallen onto the path. I crouched over panting.

When I looked up, right in from of me lay the ruins of a crashed airplane, some of the parts are still intact. I walk through the sand to the crash site. Their smoke coming from the engine, but it looks salvageable.

This- This could be my chance!

My heart leaped with excitement as I made my way to the plain remains, careful not to step on any Degree. From the looks of it, it could be set on fire at any minute. I had to work fast to get the engine out of it before it caught the parts on fire.

Just then, I heard a voice. "Careful! Why would you try to touch that thing!"

My heart lept out, and my breath suddenly stopped. I gasped and turned around wide-eyed.

Standing in front of me was a boy, standing at my height. We stood there making eye contact for a moment. His eyes are green, and his hair is light brown. His outfit is obviously too big on him, with his brown pants being tucked into his boots so they don't drag on the floor. His jacket is a thick brown material and his sleeves are folded at his wrists.

He sighed, standing up straight and trying but failing to make himself look a bit taller than me, a 5'4 tall girl.

"that thing looks like its about to blow up any minute, I wouldn’t touch it if were you it could make it blow up even faster"

I looked at him, then looked at the plain.

"That’s why we need to get the engine out. now. So We can salvage rest," I replied, like it was the obvious.c

That was weird, I don’t think I have talked to another human being in 7 years. I thought

He rolled his eyes,

"We? No, I'm going to salvage those parts, and I'm going to get off this island" he huffed

Looked around for a moment

"Where are we even? Better yet, who are you?" He asked realizing that he is in fact stranded

Smile, waving my hand trying really hard to look friendly. I think I came off a bit more as creepy.

"Well, Nice to meet you, I'm Lillith" I chuckle nervously reaching my hand out for him to shake it.

He doesn’t take my hand, instead narrows his eyes at me, as if I'm deceiving him.

"and this-" I turn around making a gesture with my hands "Is my island- well home but also island" I finish

"yeah- uh huh" he states sarcastically "drop the act" he chuckles

I look at him and huff angrily, turn around and stomp off to the wreckage.

I have been waiting most of my life for someone to come and help me get off this island and out of everyone I get stuck with this jerk.

I take out a wrench and start trying to wedge the piece of metal covering the engine open.

The boy walks forward "Hey! Did you now hear what I just said?!"

I stopped and looked at him

"No I did, But your yelling is making it hard to focus,"

I continued to wedge open the metal, and once I got it open I slowly unscrewed the nails that help the engine in place. I quickly tossed it to the far side of the beach. The engine burst into flames before it even touched the sand. I looked back at the boy and smiled. His face was a bright purple and his facial expression was Suprise that he is trying a bit too hard to turn into a snarl.

“Are you crazy?!” he exclaimed

“No, but you are ungrateful, do you realize I just saved our only way off this island?” I replied,

I continued to smile gesturing to him

“i- will I- Thank…Thanks” He stuttered as he failed to find a comeback. He paused for a moment then spoke again. “wait… our? I barely know you”

I walked and gestured at myself, trying to look confident “Well, for a ‘Pilot’ clearly you have no idea how to fix plains, let alone build them” I paused for a moment to look at his response. Confirming what I said, I shrink a bit in on himself.

“I, on the other might just be able to not only fix a plane but build one.” I continue

“might?” he interrupted

“Um. Well I have plans to make one, just haven't been able to find the right parts” I stutter, then point to him

“Until you showed up. I may be able to make a plane but I can't pilot one, and you can pilot a plane but can't seem to fix one” I smile and step forward, then hold my hand out towards the boy, he takes a step back.

“let's start, over. My name is Lilith” I gesture for him to shake it. He narrows his eyes at me.

“They just called me pilot 304,” he said

I smile, “alright “call me whatever you want let's work together” I chuckled

“let’s make a deal you get me off this island and I fix your plain,” I said

304 shakes my hand “fine, but only because I don’t want to be stuck here with you longer than I have to” I chuckle, then look at the label on one of the wreckage pieces.

304, 304, 304 I keep saying the number in my head until it clicks

“Theon,” I said “do you mind if call you Theon? It sounds like 304”

he looks up at me, wide-eyed “could be worse... but why?” he asked, seemingly more friendly

“304 isn't a name, it's just numbered,” I say “unless you have something else in mind, I'm not calling numbers”

His eyes widen in surprise,

“Alright fine… deal” he huffed

I hadn't even realized the adventure I was about to go on.

End of chapter

Notes: hellooooooooo this is my first story on here, so a few disclaimers. 1, I am dyslexic so did my best to correct any and all spelling errors. I also would like to say I am in the early stages of this story, and just wanted to share it with all of you guys! please leave a review if you liked the read! I also love constructive criticism, it's the best way for me to improve my work and connect with you guys!! key word "constructive" if it's useful then ill take it. Also quick disclaimer- im dyslexic and i do my best to correct all my errors but every so often i will miss things!!