Prologue

    You’re probably wondering what my story is about. Why I’m here. I don’t even know the answer myself. But I know that my story is one people deserve to hear. It’s one I think we can all learn from. So I’ll begin..

    Back in Utopia, everything was great. We bounced through lilac clouds on our way to work and school, drank from glowing pools of stars, and the sky was always radiating a luminous glow, one that had been created by millions of glowing beings, us Starlings. 

    I never expected to accept the honor of traveling up there. King Nebula always picks the Starlings who have done great things for our community. I haven’t really made any differences in Utopia, and the tiny ones I have made are too little to do much good. But when he stood up on the stage, looked me in the eyes, and whispered my name in the most encouraging, exciting way possible, I knew he was letting me in on a secret. Something he couldn’t say out loud. It was just for me.

    Before all this, I was your average Starling, an eccentric, happy soul who spent most of her days using magic to seal the border between Utopia and the Darklands. We take this Darkland business very seriously up in Utopia, so I learned the method as soon as I could walk. If the people of the Darklands ever entered Utopia, our entire world would be destroyed. So,if you haven’t realized already, it is mandatory that the citizens help us seal the border.

    Now that I’m officially a Starbeing, I’m held to certain expectations. For instance, I have to correct

mistakes made by the Starlings, show them how to bend light properly, and assign them to their Starpods. Stapods are groups of out a dozen other Starlings I never learned the names of. As a Starbeing, I am required to leave my Starpod and prepare for my journey. Unfortunately, Celeste and Bliss weren’t too pumped when they heard the news, and have been moping about it ever since. 

    So, now that I’ve explained almost everything, I think it’s time I told you…

                                                                    The Darkness is coming.   

                                 Chapter 1: The Darkness

    I didn’t realize it at first. If it wasn’t for Bliss, I would have never known. I would’ve been eaten up by the Darkness and sucked into the never ending realm of torture. Sometimes it pays to have an annoying little cousin.

    Bliss told me the news when I was directing a young Starling towards their new Starpod. I was getting pretty confident with my new role, and I was almost ready for my trip to the Quantum, which is where all Starbeings are launched into the sky. Then I spotted a shaking, quivering Bliss. She pulled me aside, whispered

 “ you have to go” in my ear, and then tugged on my robes again and again. I quickly stepped aside, thinking Bliss was just overreacting. But then I saw a look in her eyes, the one I saw in King Nebula’s when he nominated me as a Starbeing. I knew right away that Bliss was serious.

    “ What is it, Bliss?” I asked, putting my hand on her shoulder.

    “ T-the d-d-darkness is coming,” she quivered. 

    “ Bliss, everything is going to be okay,” I soothed. “ The last time the Darkness attacked somebody was 10 years ago. You’re fine.”

    “ I might be,” Bliss choked out. “ B-but you aren’t.” I took my hand off her shoulder and turned to the horizon. Bliss has always been one to jump to conclusions, and that wasn’t the first time she’d spoken to me about something like this. But I scanned every part of Utopia I could see. 

    Then it caught my eye. A looming shadow. One filled with grim purples and grays that all swirled together. The Darkness.

    “ Who is it coming for?” I gasped, swiveling around to face Bliss. She wiped her bright blue eyes and lifted a trembling finger. It was pointing right at me.

    I felt a dizziness in my head, and I had to sit down. Bliss tucked her caramel brown hair back into its braid and cuddled up next to me. I wrapped my arm around her, trying to calm down both of us.

    “ Nova?” Bliss whimpered. “ Are we going to be okay?” I nodded my head, trying to push away my fears. After a few minutes, I stood up.

    “ Bliss?”

    “ Yes?”

     “ You can’ t tell anyone I’m leaving, okay?” I whispered sweetly, as I stroked her arms and tried my best to appear calm.

    “ But why?” she asked, taking my hand as we stepped into a Starpool and began to wade through it.

    “ Because I just need a bit of secrecy right now,” I cooed. “ I’ll be back before you know it.” Bliss nodded, still shaking. I put both hands on her hips and lifted her higher and higher, until she was above my head. Bliss giggled and squealed as I spun her around and around. 

     When the ride was over, we were both laughing harder than ever. I gave Bliss a kiss on her forehead, and whispered, “ Thank you, little ‘cuz.” Bliss brightened up at my goofy nickname, and I walked her home, feeling a bit better about leaving Utopia. I knew it was a big decision, but my cousin’s cheeriness had almost washed away the pain of it all.

    And that brings us to where I am now, waiting for my escape route to show itself. I can see the Darkness coming closer through my bedroom window. It’s coming, and I know I have to leave soon. I turn to my bedroom mirror, where I study myself. Wavy blonde hair flows down my shoulders, and my bright green eyes flicker like candlelight. My flowing dress almost reaches my toes, and the daffodil yellow of it immediately cheers me up. I smile at myself, remembering my namesake. Nova means “ bright” or “ star”. When I was born, my mother kissed me on my forehead and said her whole body immediately felt radiant and healthy. Then my dad leaped up and peered into my eyes. “ Nova,” he announced. My mom smiled, and it was decided. I would be Nova.

    Now, as I look in my mirror, I know I’m not the same Nova I was before. I’m about to run away, haunted with fears of the future, not knowing what will happen next. I'll never be the same again. 

    There’s a knock on my door, and I immediately jump. “ Come in,” I say quietly. 

    It’s Celeste. Her dark hair is cut to shoulder length, and her cheeks are dappled with freckles. She looks like she has news. 

    “ Bliss told me you could use some cheering up,” Celeste chirps. “ Is this about your trip to the Quantum?” I sigh in relief, now that I know Bliss has kept her promise. 

“ Yeah, um, I’m just a little nervous,” I lie. Celeste nods and puts an arm around me. We sit in silence for a moment, watching the Starbeings light up the night before they return to their duties. Utopia is a realm of light in between the world of Earth and the Galaxy, invisible to the human eye. Because of our location, we don’t have a Sun. Instead, we watch the Starbeings radiate their gorgeous glow. 

    “ Soon that will be you,” Celeste says, pointing to the sparkling Starbeings. I smile at the thought, then shake it out of my head. I keep forgetting that I won’t be up here much longer. I should really start planning my escape.

    “ I need some time to think,” I utter. “ But I’ll stop by your place before I head out.” Celeste smiles and leaves, shutting the door quietly behind her. I hate the silence. I almost get up to catch Celeste before she gets home, then think better of it. I need to get to planning.

    I sit at my desk and tap my favorite golden pen against a glass of milk. I think about all the places I could go to escape. Maybe somewhere else in Utopia. Or I could sneak into the Darklands. I could try and speed up my trip to the Quantum. Then the best idea yet pops into my head. What if I go to the world of Earth?

    It’s perfect. Nobody will ever know where I am. Us Starbeings usually try to stay away from the people of Earth, so no one would dare follow me. I’ll make myself a whole new identity! I’ll head back after a month or two, and the Darkness will be gone. Just as I’m beginning to plot out my secret plan, I think about my family. What will they do without me? My mother has been sick for months now, and my father leaves home every morning to go looking for a cure. Even Star magic can’t fix sicknesses this bad. Neither of my parents will be too happy about my decision to leave. They’ll be hopeless without me. I need to help them in some way before I go.

    It’s perfect. Nobody will ever know where I am. Us Starbeings usually try to stay away from the people of Earth, so no one would dare follow me. I’ll make myself a whole new identity! I’ll head back after a month or two, and the Darkness will be gone. Just as I’m beginning to plot out my secret plan, I think about my family. What will they do without me? My mother has been sick for months now, and my father leaves home every morning to go looking for a cure. Even Star magic can’t fix sicknesses this bad. Neither of my parents will be too happy about my decision to leave. They’ll be hopeless without me. I need to help them in some way before I go.

    I get up and walk to the kitchen. I see photos of us as a family, and it does nothing to make me feel better. I ignore the pictures and ask my parents if I can speak to them. My mother pats the seat next to her and coughs into her cardigan. I rub her back, then turn to my dad. There are dark circles under his eyes from little sleep. I know he has been out searching and is probably cranky. I haven’t spoken to either of my parents in a while. Now might not be the best time to tell them they might never see me again. 

    “ What is it, Nova?” my father says grimly. “ I need some rest.” I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. There’s that dizziness again. I sink to my knees and I can feel my mom’s cold hands on my cheeks. Purples swirl around my eyes. I reach out to grab some of the mist, but it withers away almost immediately. My mother is calling my name, but I feel like my voice has run away. I close my eyes and wait. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Finally, I open them. My parents are still here, but they look worried. I tell them everything’s fine and stand up. By the looks on their faces, I can tell they didn’t see what I saw. But I don’t see the purple mist either, so I know I’m better. But deep inside, I know I’ll never really be better. Not after what just happened.

            Chapter 2: The Escape

    My parents order me to go to bed right after the incident. I don’t object, knowing they are probably right. Since I’m too old for anyone to tuck me in, my parents simply cover me with a few blankets and hurry into the kitchen again. They know something’s wrong with me. They’re scared. 

    As soon as they close the door, I run to my desk and shred the list I had made. Then I smash my face into the pillows my parents have laid out on my bed. I am so angry! At King Nebula for choosing me as a Starbeing, at my parents for needing me so badly, and even at myself. I open my window and scream, 

“ ENOUGH!”. There’s a creepy silence after that, and I can tell that almost the whole village heard me. But I don’t care. I need to get out of here. 

    I jump through the window and run. I pass all my friends and neighbors, who I silently wave goodbye to as I flee Utopia. I know there’s a chance I’ll never see them again. But if I stay here any longer, they could be in danger. Once I’ve shaken all the sappy thoughts from my mind, I see it. 

    The portal is glowing even more than all the Starbeings put together, and as soon as I reach out to touch it, I know I’m in for a crazy ride. A zap of electricity runs through my body. It feels like a virus, trying to creep inside my soul. I can almost feel my glow shining brighter. I know this is the right choice. I say a few things before I go. First, I thank my father. For all those nights he devoted his time and energy towards me and my mother. Right as my fingers glide across the magical sensation filled with new discoveries, I’m pulled deeper and deeper inside it. I want to scream, but I know that could get me killed. Nobody can know where I am. So I stay quiet as I zoom through time and space, getting

a glimpse into every realm I pass. There are beautiful trees and flowers in one, and a bland city filled with buildings in another. I see awful things and amazing things, but I know not to say or do anything. That could ruin the universe.

     I suddenly feel a vibration. I know it’s a warning. One that means I’ve almost arrived in the Earth plane. I brace myself for the impact, but nothing happens. I begin to feel hot and light, like I’m moving faster. I can see small objects in the waves of blurriness as I glide downwards, but other than that, I’m practically blinded by the increasing speed. 

    With my world changing so rapidly, it’s hard to think straight. But I can’t push away the feeling that I need to think this through. I close my eyes and imagine Utopia without me. Bliss and Celeste would be absolute strangers, my mother would have withered away with no one to tend to her while my father was gone, and we’d have one less Starling to help protect Utopia. Then I imagine myself there. I see Starlings running from the Darkness, running from me. They see me as a threat. What brought the awful darkness to their doorsteps. The reason they’re all about to die. I can’t go back. I start to cry. As I fall, I know the people of Earth are wishing on my light. But I’m just wishing to go back without hurting anyone. If I already miss Utopia, how will I last the next three months I plan to stay? If that’s how long it takes for the Darkness to vanish, that’s how long I have to live in the Earth realm.

    I hear the wind whistling in my ears and know I’ve almost arrived. It’s dark out, and there are no inhabitants as far as I can see. Only little squares of light lined up in rows on tall buildings. Pictures dance through the light squares, and I’m tempted to pause my journey and watch. Then I remember why I am here. To cure the Darkness. To make it bored. So I return my focus to landing properly.

I can’t stick my hands out, not with the wind blowing this hard against me. I can’t scream for help, either. I decide to prepare for the worst.

    With a loud thud, I’ve landed in a picturesque scene filled with flourishing trees and manicured hills with a giant pool of shimmering water. There are perfectly pristine benches, fallen leaves the color of a fall sunset, and tiny little creatures with big,buck teeth and long, curly tails. The place reminds me of the land near King Nebula’s castle. He said he had the land by his palace professionally designed to look like his old home. Did King Nebula used to live here? It’s an interesting question, and I ponder it as I stand up. But I’m almost immediately distracted by a young girl, who is staring at me from behind a big book. I quickly run to her, eager to learn everything I can about this new world. The girl covers her face with the book and ignores me. I can see her hands trembling, making the book shake. I reach for her wrist, desperate for a glimpse of her face. She hurriedly swipes it away. “ Who are you?” she demands, glaring at me like I’m her opponent in a wrestling match. 

    “ Nova,” I say brightly, wondering if I’ve made the wrong impression on this Earthling girl. “ I’m new here.” The girl cocks her head. She has a curious look on her face, and I know she wants to learn more about me. But there’s only a few seconds of peace. She throws down her book and runs away, leaving me alone once again. I stare up at the sky, wishing for a sign to appear. A sign that would tell me everything is going to be fine.   

    None come. I guess I really am on my own now, with no one to help me. I’ve never felt like this before. There’s always been help in Utopia. All you have to do is ask the nearest Starling you see. But in this world, everything is different. You actually have to try and make friends, they don’t just appear. Nobody is going to share with you out of the goodness of their heart. Things have changed. 

    I start to wonder how many things have changed, and if I can even take it. Is it too much for a Starbeing like me? Who’s used to having everything she’s ever needed, without even asking for it? The answer makes me feel sick.