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Nera's eyes opened, and immediately she knew something was amiss. Her heart felt empty, her mind completely lost in a daze. She rose from her bed, swinging open her bedroom door. Nobody, not a single soul within the orphanage.75Please respect copyright.PENANAnqd27b95kl
"Ms. Melody? Nurse Chiaka?" Neither of the adults answered her. She ran into the nurse's office, and the old man was gone as well. She heard a sound, footsteps, small footsteps, likely another orphan.75Please respect copyright.PENANAbzii0QudRf
"What are you shouting about, Nera?" Eri yawned, rubbing her eyes out. "Where is everyone?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAIo8NAFOYql
Eri now realized the situation. "Are we alone here?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAwagUnWSQWr
"I think so. We should probably check outside."75Please respect copyright.PENANA15tFkAndDU
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."
Exiting the orphanage, the two girls noticed all the other orphans staring across the hill. "Oh, you two are still here as well? I guess all the orphans were left behind as usual."75Please respect copyright.PENANA227KMJkXfz
"What are you talking about, Winter?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAguCgs8a0Z6
She pointed towards the city, and every vehicle in the road was either crashed or fully stopped. "W-What in the-"75Please respect copyright.PENANAHjHqaI1hLJ
"Did your dreams tell you anything?"
Nera hesitantly answered. "No. I don't think I could've ever predicted something like this. Do you think some sort of apocalypse happened?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAs7BzLASddT
"You mean like zombies?" Dud butted in, trying to hide his fear. "If it was that, we would of heard it, right? Zombies would've ate us already."75Please respect copyright.PENANAFjS7zXXXiJ
"I was thinking, maybe some sort of mass abduction?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAwvmHWeXnWU
Winter sighed. "Why would we be left behind? It doesn't make any sense, unless they only wanted the adults for some reason."
"Should we go down there and check?" Delta suggested.75Please respect copyright.PENANAeYt64YRMPP
The children were all hesitant. After all, every person they ever known or wished to know, disappeared from the face of the world. They were a group who barely understood the necessary measures to take to stay alive.75Please respect copyright.PENANAG84XUb7yKn
"We should explore in two groups. Winter, I trust that you can lead the first one."75Please respect copyright.PENANAhI2tQ1QtJb
"Nera, you know I'm not a good leader."75Please respect copyright.PENANAvx45r9KDki
"Winter, this will be the time to change that. I'll go with you, and we can take Eri as well."75Please respect copyright.PENANAZJ6RfSNDL2
"I'll lead the other group." Nester decided. "Delta should come with me, along with Dud."75Please respect copyright.PENANAs6yTfwKYN9
"What about the twins?"
Sage and Nova looked at each other, and split between the two groups. "Well, this is the best option." Delta commented. "These two are kind of like radios. If something bad happens, we might be able to alert each other."75Please respect copyright.PENANA6Jj6UbeQUJ
"Well, I guess this is goodbye for now." Nester said softly. "Just... be careful, all of you."75Please respect copyright.PENANAR27zcs3wTz
It was a surprise to see him being the team leader, but in this situation, it was the only thing keeping them alive. In the silent ghost town they now lived in, any further silence would drive them to insanity.
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"Where to first, Winter?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing."
"Well, I was thinking about searching the hill."
"Up here? For what reason?"
"The others are searching the city, but I feel like answers might be here. Let's explore the playground, then the forest. I have a strange feeling about that forest."75Please respect copyright.PENANAYaOUX1cUhN
"Now that you mention it, Nera, the old man said something was chasing him."75Please respect copyright.PENANAxDKxHcuu1m
"Alright then, it's decided."75Please respect copyright.PENANAxbgqrG34AM
In the playground, the swing moved without life. The only thing guiding it back and forth was the wind blowing behind it. Like a metronome, the sound of squeaking was constant from the chains. A playground without children was nothing but haunting.
"What do you expect to find here?" Eri asked Nera politely. "If the nurse or our caretaker left out the back door, we might be able to find a trace of them."
They searched for an hour, digging through the sand, traveling beyond the fence surrounding the area, but there was nothing. Eri got worn out easily. Whether it was from the stress or the lack of communication from her sisters, she just continued to swing gently with Nova.75Please respect copyright.PENANAtKNQfwQYb4
"I'm scared, Eri."75Please respect copyright.PENANAhIMbJJC8Qe
"I'm sure we'll figure things out, just like that puzzle we did together."75Please respect copyright.PENANA9nuABa1DBu
"This isn't the same thing. The whole world might be dead and we might all die alone."75Please respect copyright.PENANAm8t9UmoS3q
"Now, I'm scared."
They laughed together, but it was short lived. With their head towards the ground, Eri continued the conversation. "Well, if you think about it, we have a lifetime supply of food in the city..."75Please respect copyright.PENANAsvIDmk6Dxu
"...and we don't need to worry about being homeless! We can also travel anywhere. Like the carnival, the aquarium, the-"75Please respect copyright.PENANAqAEk7lJsQ4
"Yeah, it can't be all that bad... but I miss Nurse Chiaka and Ms. Melody."75Please respect copyright.PENANA7LptfsVEzh
"I'm sad about that too, but we would've lost them someday anyway."75Please respect copyright.PENANAsscxUQcXZL
"What place do you want to go, Nova?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAHfDd5GbFdx
"A museum."
"That's boring."
"I like learning, and so does Sage... it's the only thing we really have in common. I thought if we could see sculptures of dinosaurs or something, we might be able to share a hobby together."75Please respect copyright.PENANAMxCTSJNK7S
"That hobby being?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAssX5NDYzLn
"Paleontology."75Please respect copyright.PENANANilzEPo04I
"That word is too big for me, let's stop talking about it." They shared another laugh together, and like a metronome, they stared at the ground once again. This time they remained silent, waiting for their sisters to return.75Please respect copyright.PENANAkWsOMMdb3V
"Eri, Sage, why are you just sitting here?"75Please respect copyright.PENANA44Oqlae1z3
"We got tired of searching." Eri answered. "We're sorry."75Please respect copyright.PENANAQVeloUzWRR
"It's fine, we're not mad. I just want to make sure you're keeping an eye out for anything. I don't want you two getting hurt."75Please respect copyright.PENANAKWcR2zagi3
"Are we checking the forest now?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAMeVIQ7rS4U
"Yeah, we better hurry before the others get back. I just hope they packed enough food."75Please respect copyright.PENANAmcBs28mECA
"Whose going to cook it though?"
A good question, and nobody in their group had an answer. At this point, their only hope was for someone to learn. "If nobody else volunteers, I'll do it." Winter decided. "I have watched Ms. Melody prepare meals, so at the very least, I should be able to handle the basics."75Please respect copyright.PENANAXD27hZGxWy
"Alright, and we'll all try our best to help."75Please respect copyright.PENANACFRQb6bsym
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The crunching of the leaves under their feet caused every creature to flee. "Hey Nera, do you think we'll ever need to hunt for our food?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAVq1pgsRAW2
"Hunting? I'm not sure. It depends on whether the food we find can be preserved. If not, then I'd rather try building a farm instead."75Please respect copyright.PENANAmCC3LrlWBN
"I guess I forgot about that option."
Eri stopped in place, her face lighting up with joy. "Hey, I think I found something." The other girls rush over, finding nothing but a stream. "We could probably purify this if we need to, right?"75Please respect copyright.PENANA3YOoJaVwWe
"It would be quite challenging, but possible. I think I read that boiling water will kill bacteria."75Please respect copyright.PENANAPlX37AaYlD
"But do you know how to boil water?"
"Like I said, I'm willing to learn how to cook." Winter answered. A white rabbit in the distance stared directly at her. Its beady red eyes, seemed almost surprised to see human life.75Please respect copyright.PENANAHCjdsq1WS2
The rabbit fled, as the sound nearby was a common predator. "Did I just hear something growling?"75Please respect copyright.PENANA7zNuipoF22
Dashing through the trees was a red fox, scaring Eri enough to make her fall over. "Are you alright?" Sage asked. "It don't think they are harmful, unless they have rabies."75Please respect copyright.PENANAk9EST4rMn0
"Well, does it?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAUBKMH5Ow0U
Nera stared at the fox, not really knowing what to look for. "No, I don't think so, or it would've attacked us on sight."75Please respect copyright.PENANAdjm4PLLXU4
"I don't like this place." Eri whined. "It's cold, there are rabies, and now my leg hurts."75Please respect copyright.PENANAD31lVlXZuw
"You'll be okay, Eri, just stay close to us."75Please respect copyright.PENANAwqkDhIbIxO
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"Eri." A voice called out to the youngest child. "Follow me, Eri. Don't let them know where we're going."75Please respect copyright.PENANAZBaGTG2VqK
"Eri, is everything okay?" Winter asked. "Yeah, let's just keep moving."75Please respect copyright.PENANAKrCdeKwqHR
As the group followed the stream in one direction, Eri explored the opposite direction on her own. "This will take some getting used to, but I should be fine." Navigating rough foliage and unmarked paths, Eri found a cave that seemed to lead deep underground.75Please respect copyright.PENANAXvRO5bqEeU
"Good job, Eri. Now, let me guide you through." A sparkle of light ignited, and the creature was revealed to be a fairy. "You're so pretty!" Eri cheered. "Why thank you! You are quite pretty yourself."75Please respect copyright.PENANAC5yApVJz7B
While seeing such a mythical creature would naturally be a warning sign, Eri was too hypnotized by its friendly charm to ignore it. With no further hesitation, she entered the cave.75Please respect copyright.PENANAGExNwBet2O
Water dripped from the top of the cave, along with stone icicles that hoped to pierce an unaware passerby. "What is down here exactly?" Eri asked. "A kingdom full of fairies of course! I know this cave looks quite grim, but if we stayed in the open, something would kill us without question."75Please respect copyright.PENANAYfmf1E4tEl
"Will I even be able to fit? Fairies are quite small, so wouldn't there homes be as well."75Please respect copyright.PENANAVZpR9I5wi3
"We have made them human size, just in case we got any visitors."75Please respect copyright.PENANAD9ZdM5CvBR
"That's quite bizarre."75Please respect copyright.PENANAJLZeDTAr96
In the deepest part of the cave was a bridge, brightly lit from the hanging lanterns nearby. "What is lighting those?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAesxdOq7xaw
"Stardust."75Please respect copyright.PENANAl49MMmcBMO
"How do you obtain something that's all the way in space?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAt7cjd4GRsG
"There is another place you can get stardust, child."75Please respect copyright.PENANAFmE7ylsIYL
"Where?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAu6Eb2qO9oM
"You will see soon enough."75Please respect copyright.PENANA8svc084hvF
The gates of the fairy kingdom opened before them. There were crystalized buildings of plenty, various shapes and sizes, all connected together with wooden bridges. "So pretty!" Eri cheered once again. "Yes, it took us so long to build this place. That stardust you saw on the way in, was used in the kingdom's development."75Please respect copyright.PENANAtSRvczUNXc
"It does more than light lanterns?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAxwXffbWBIA
"Much more. It gives us energy; the energy to build, cast spells, and it's a necessary food source."75Please respect copyright.PENANApAEyThOl9e
"You eat stardust?"75Please respect copyright.PENANA8MGKeJHqPO
"All living things need something to eat, child."75Please respect copyright.PENANAbQ429Wd5Lm
"What sort of spells can you cast?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAcmtxpwBtZM
"Why don't you take a guess."75Please respect copyright.PENANA6kAZD8h9Th
"Well, fairies are sometimes associated with dreaming, so they should have a sleeping spell."75Please respect copyright.PENANAQgzTpUm5Qx
"Yep, we have a spell like that. We also have a charming spell, a transmutation spell, a stardust extraction spell.75Please respect copyright.PENANAQIAtBD7JSe
"You still never told me where you are getting it from."75Please respect copyright.PENANAMOQsVxm7TV
"Patience, child."75Please respect copyright.PENANAv6ZC7Gv1EK
"Sorry, miss fairy. Oh right, do you have a name?"75Please respect copyright.PENANAv1sVhyFLut
"I'm Rosaline, the queen of the kingdom."75Please respect copyright.PENANASXQTdDDrry
"I already got to meet the queen!"75Please respect copyright.PENANAx61yDH2uij
"Yep, and our next stop is the castle. I have a large banquet prepared just for our human guests."75Please respect copyright.PENANAgTBf17cuOx
"Really? Then let me go get my brothers and sisters."75Please respect copyright.PENANAa5BMR4r8yM
"Actually, that's not possible. I have a feeling they wouldn't be as accepting as you, my dear child. Fairies have a good intuition for things like that."75Please respect copyright.PENANAisjEQC5xTp
"Dud and the twins might be fine with it."75Please respect copyright.PENANAPCx07TB8H0
"I'm sure they would, but getting them here would require causing quite a commotion. For now, just stuff your belly, and we will discuss this later."75Please respect copyright.PENANAOYw9lunzZK
Eri did just that. Once she arrived at the queen's castle, a group of fairies with chef hats laid down plate after plate. After she had her fill, the queen guided her to a room where she could rest.75Please respect copyright.PENANAOonWAYOtBQ
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Nera and the others, finally stopped and realized something amiss. "Where is Eri? Eri! Come back to us, Eri!" Nera shouted. There was no response. "S-She was just behind us a moment ago! S-She couldn't have gone far, we should be able to find her if we backtrack!"75Please respect copyright.PENANAKY6BgL0hSc
"Winter, calm down. You're starting to panic. We'll find her, I'm sure of it."75Please respect copyright.PENANArX2kVS9vHT
Nova remained silent, remembering the voice that she heard only a while ago. She thought it was her imagination, but maybe deciding so soon, was a grave mistake on her part. In the cave, a place they never could imagine existed, an unintelligible scream went silent.75Please respect copyright.PENANAbeqFZlReeF