2

Once everyone finished their homework and chores, their parents went to bed and her brothers left to hang out with friends.

Elyn has girls she talks to at school, but she doesn't consider them friends. They only spare a glance in her direction because she's smart.

Elyn went up to her room and asked Assist to project her favorite movie on the wall. An hour before the movie was over, her brothers came home and clambered up the stairs.

She couldn't fall asleep after the movie went off. She slid from the bed and stepped into her bunny slippers. Elyn poked her head out into the hall and made sure Kevin was busy before she snuck down the stairs and went to the attic.

A glow was coming from the other side of the door. "What-?"

She pushed it open and stepped inside. The door slammed behind her and she jumped. Elyn saw the device from earlier on the ground and a portal was hovering above it.

Elyn cautiously made her way toward it. She stuck out a hand and half of her fingers disappeared. It didn't hurt at all. If anything, it tickled.

She pulled it back and giggled. Elyn paused to listen but heard nothing, then without thinking twice, she stepped through.

A moment she found herself standing in the middle of a clearing.

It disappointed her when everything was not like she'd read online. In the distance she heard voices, it sounded like they were arguing with each other.

"..That portal needs to be working so that we can start our invasion on Earth."

The second man said, "We are just experiencing some minor difficulties, sir. But it will be up and running later today."

Elyn hid behind a tree and watched as the men walked by still talking in loud voices. When the coast was clear she stepped out and was about to run for the camp when someone grabbed her wrist and yanked her back.

"Are you crazy?" a voice hissed. "Do you have a death wish or something?"

Elyn scowled. "Clearly you do. Get your hands off me."

A boy stepped into view. He was wearing a white shirt and pants. His black hair was long and curled around his ear. His eyes were silver and calculating.

"Hm. You don't look like you're from around here." he glanced in the direction of the camp. "What's your name?"

"Elyn."

When Elyn got to her feet, she noticed that she came up to the boy's shoulder. Traveling here must have given her a growth spurt or something.

"How old are you? Fifteen? What are you doing alone out here?" the boy grabbed her wrist again. "Come, I have a camp a few miles away."

Elyn blinked. Fifteen? It must have made her look older too.

"You?"

The boy rolls his eyes. "Yes. Me. I'm the leader."

"You asked for my name, but didn't tell me yours," Elyn said, narrowing her eyes.

The boy looked away from her. "It's Jamie. Now, are you going to make this difficult?"

Elyn thought about arguing, but she had nowhere to stay or a way to get home. She may as well make friends.

"Lead the way."

Jamie led her away from where the two men were seen talking. His camp was a good distance from the other camp, and teens were going around doing things. Some were chopping wood, bringing back food, sharpening weapons, and fighting.

"We have a system here. Everyone has a job, whether it's logging, picking, or teaching." he gestures at the boys wrestling in the dirt. "Everyone has to pitch in. I'll show you around tomorrow. I'll go ask a friend of mine to show you to your place."

Elyn muttered a thank you.

She spotted a pond a little way off and she went over to it and gawped at her reflection. She looked fifteen and her hair fell down her back in waves. Elyn started panicking. If she were to go home, would her parents recognize her?

"Why don't you ‌marry it?" came a voice.

Elyn turned and sighed. Another boy. He was tall with silver hair, black eyes, tan skin, and muscled arms.

"I was trying to get something out of my hair if that's alright with you." Elyn snapped, getting to her feet. "Who are you?"

"Friends call me Sam. You must be Elyn." Sam extended a hand.

Elyn shook it.

"Jamie wanted me to show you around. Coming?"

Elyn walked alongside him. "Are there any girls here?"

Sam chuckled. "Nope. Most girls think they're too pretty for this kind of work."

"And what kind of work is that?"

"We're rebels. And we're trying to stop our people from using that transportation device to go to Earth. They plan on invading, killing everyone, then claiming the planet as theirs." Sam shrugged. "We don't want that to happen."

"Neither do I." Elyn cocked her head. "That's actually where I came from. I need to go home. I'm not supposed to be here."

Sam stopped. "You came from Earth?"

Elyn nods.

"Well, that certainly changes things."