The Fallen Star (Fallen Star Series, Book 1)

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  In a large plowed-out area in the center of Star Grove, telescopes were scattered about. As soon as we stepped off the bus, Alex darted off to the closest one. But Aislin protested, insisting that if we went up front then we would have a “better view.” I’m not sure if I understood her logic, but I didn’t argue because the closer to the front we were meant the farther we were from the trees.

  Aislin placed her glove covered hand on top of a telescope. “What about this one? Does it work for everyone?”

  Alex shook his head and let out a frustrated sigh. “You’re the one who is being picky, Aislin, so just choose one already. Gemma and I were fine with the first one.”

  Aislin tapped her finger on her chin as she looked down at the telescope, then up at the sky, then at Alex. “Well…if this one’s okay with you guys, then I’d like to use it. It’s got a great view.”

  “Yes, it’s fine.” He stomped up to the telescope and twisted the knob, adjusting the lens.

  Aislin sighed and retrieved the instructions from her pocket. “Who wants to go first?” she asked, unfolding them.

  Alex looked at me with a familiar smile creeping across his face. “I bet Gemma would love to go first.”

  I rolled my eyes, but stepped up to the telescope anyway. As I rested my hand on top of it, excitement bubbled up inside me. I couldn’t believe it was going to be my first time looking through a telescope.

  “Which constellation am I supposed to find first?” I asked Aislin.

  “Ursa Major,” she told me.

  I put my eye to the cold lens and twisted the knob to focus it. Even though Mr. Sterling had given a brief demonstration on how to use a telescope, I could only get the sky to look like a dark, splotchy blur with streaks of silver.

  “Haven’t you ever used a telescope before?” Alex asked, standing close to me, invading my personal space.

  “Nope,” I said flatly.

  He moved even closer, reached an arm around each side of me, and placed his hands on the telescope. Sparks twinkled against my skin like stars.

  I thought about jabbing him in the side with my elbow so he would move back.

  My elbow wasn’t having any part of it, though.

  “Let me know when they come into view,” he whispered, his breath feathering across my neck.

  A warm shiver tickled down my spine. The good kind of shiver—the kind that steals your breath away.

  Moments later, the sky shifted into focus. “I can see them,” I whispered, awestruck by how beautiful the stars were.

  He dropped his arms but didn’t step away. I didn’t care though. The view was too amazingly perfect and surreal to care. The way the stars sparkled, and the patterns they created. There was something serene in how all of them seemed to fit together, like pieces of a puzzle. A puzzle which, strangely, I felt I was part of.

  As I stood there, gazing up at the stars, getting swept away, my head started to hum. At first it was only a low hum, nothing too horrible or concerning. But as the low hum swelled into a shrilling ring, I thought my head was going to explode. I dropped my hand and jumped back, suddenly feeling as if I was falling.

  Then everything went black.

  The next thing I knew, I was standing in the middle of a snowless field. I had no idea how I got there. Maybe I passed out and was dreaming? It didn’t feel like a dream, though.

  I felt very awake.

  A gust of wind blew up from behind me, and I suddenly felt like I wasn’t alone. I turned around, tall grass hissing at my legs. In the distance, I saw two figures surfacing; one tall and the other very small.

  I couldn’t make out their faces, but it wasn’t because of the dark. A blurry haze blocked them out like bad reception on a TV screen.

  “We’re almost there.” It was a lovely voice that spoke. Not too high or too low, and there was no denying it, the voice belonged to a woman. It sounded almost familiar, yet unfamiliar at the same time.

  The smaller figure, I was almost certain, was a little girl. She walked with a bounce, excitement springing in her voice when she said, “I’m so excited.”

  “I know,” replied the woman. “And you should be. There is a lot to be excited about.”

  They were only a few steps away from me now, and I waited for them to notice me standing there, but they continued by me as if I was nonexistent, and I wondered if they could see me at all.

  “Hello,” I called out.

  Nothing.

  I followed after them.

  They came to a stop beside a tall oak tree. The silver glow of the moon glimmered across their blurry faces. The only details I could make out about them were that they both had long, dark hair and fair complexions. I was getting a mother and daughter vibe from them. But I wasn’t an expert on the subject, so I couldn’t say for sure.

  “Here we are.” The woman raised her hand to the sky. “See that one right there?”

  The little girl’s head tilted up toward the sky. “Yeah, I see it Mama.”

  “That one’s yours,” the mother told her. “That’s the spot from where you fell.”

  Where she fell? Who? The little girl? What was going on? What was this place?”

  I called out again, “Hello.”

  “Almost five years ago,” the mother continued, my hello going unheard.

  “And that was a very special day, right?” the girl asked, eagerness beaming in her voice.

  “Right,” the mother answered. “My very special Gemma day.”

  My mouth fell agape. Did she just say Gemma? “Hey,” I shouted, getting closer to them. “Who are you? And where am I?”

  Nothing. It was like I was invisible.

  I started to freak out. I needed to know what was going on. But before I had a chance to do anything else, I was yanked backward. I gasped as the outline of the mother and daughter faded farther and farther away, until they were nothing more than a speck of light.

  “Holy—” I jumped back and flung my hands over my mouth. The telescope was in front of me. My skin was humming. Snowy mountains and trees were everywhere. I was back at Star Grove. I wasn’t lying on the ground passed out. I was on my feet.

  I glanced around. Hadn’t anyone noticed my disappearance? It didn’t look like they had. Everyone seemed content in their little groups, working away on the assignment. Alex was still standing right behind me just like he had before I…I have no idea how to finish that sentence.

  Alex stared at me strangely as he cocked an eyebrow. “You okay?”

  Aislin was looking at me weirdly too. But neither of them appeared to be alarmed, which seemed odd since I’d just disappeared for who knows how long. Or had I? Maybe I hallucinated or something. Perhaps I dozed off. God, it didn’t feel like it wasn‘t real though. It had felt very real—too real. Like I had seen it before. Lived it before. Maybe I had. The mother had called the little girl Gemma. But then why had I called the woman, who I was certain wasn’t Sophia, Mama? My mother had died when I was one, and the little girl had to be at least four.

  Confusion swarmed my brain. I started to sweat and blood roared in my ears. Tears stung at my eyes, and I had to remind myself to breathe.

  “I have to go,” I whispered, making to move around Alex.

  He stepped in front of me and held up his hand. “Go where?”

  “I…to the bus.” I made another attempt to sidestep around him.

  He mimicked my move at lightning speed, stopping me dead in my tracks. “You can’t just go wandering off. We’re out in the middle of a forest.” His bright green eyes were filled with concern. It was weird.

  Despite my efforts not to, I started to cry, tears rolling down my ice-cold cheeks.

  Alex’s eyes widened. “Are you…are you crying?”

  “Um...oh, just shut up.” And then I dashed past him, my shoulder slamming into his.

  “Gemma, wait,” Alex yelled after me.

  But I kept running, not thinking about the consequences o
f what I was about to do as I headed straight for the bus.

  Chapter 12