Have you ever felt like you didn't belong? Like you know that you're not supposed to be wherever you are, but you feel like you can't leave? That's how I feel sometimes.

Name? Nora.

Age: 16

Number: 12

What am I telling this story for? Shut up and find out.

I'm not from this planet. I'm from a planet called Lorien, which was attacked by aliens called Mogadorians, and now I'm on the run with my Cepan, Kithara, looking for the other members of the Garde, or special ones. I was supposed to fight for my planet.

I never got the chance.

I got my first scar when I was eight. I was at a friend's house, playing checkers when I felt it burning its way through my flesh. We left instantly.

I got my second scar when I was eleven. I was in P.E. As soon as I felt it, I knew that Number Two was gone like the wind.

Just a year ago I got my third scar. I now know I have to move for our own safety, making sure the Mogs wouldn't get us. I know Four is in trouble, but my Kithara will have none of me going and helping.

"Kithara, I have to go! Four could be in trouble! The Mogs are going to find us, and chain us up until they have killed us in order! Then you know what happens, Kithara? WE DIE! I'm not going down without a fight, and if I fight, I fight with the other Garde. There's nothing you can do to stop me, so don't even waste your energy!"

Kithara gave me a very hard look. "Nora," she spoke in a dangerously calm tone, "You can't go. Four is in trouble, yes, but that's why we must run. You can't save everyone, Nora. It's not possible. Garde are going to die. You know what Three did? They sent a message to every other Garde, anyone who would listen, and you know what? They are dead. You can't stand in Death's way, Nora. Four is going to die someday, but if he's going to die, he better do it quick." She crossed her arms over her chest, and her face was set in stone.

"You are not going," she said evenly.

I copied her posture. "You know what? That's just like you, Kithara. You're scared of everything, and when danger comes around the corner, you run like a coward, you don't fight like everyone else, like every other member of our Lorien family. Well, guess what? I'm tired of running! I have never seen a Mog in my life before, and it's all because you try to protect me like I'm powerless! I'm an alien, for God's sake! I'm a superhuman! I might not have my Legacies yet, but I'm still strong, and I still have my knife with me, so I can go and make the spell broken without trouble!" I screamed.

Kithara looked at me in fury. "The spell has been broken. Six met up with Four, then they split, Six found Seven, Eight, and Ten, and now they're on the move. Four found Nine. Spells been broken, Nora, for a long time. Now all we need to do is find Five and Eleven, and we win against Setrakus Ra. Then we go back home, but I guess I have to let you go to do that. I will. But if you get into trouble, ditch Four and Nine."

I slightly shook my head. She had her arms crossed, and her face was furious. I said to her, "We can't just leave them. They have to come with us, Kithara. They can't be on their own now that the spell is broken." Kithara just shook her head and said softly, "Alright. But I get to pick next stop." She smiled at me, and went outside to the car.

I smiled to myself, grabbed my bag, and headed out the door.

I ran to the car. I stuffed my bags in the back, and hopped in. I leaned my head against the car door. Packing was hard work, and I was tired.

Kithara was already in the driver's seat, and she smiled back at me, saying, "You ready?" I smiled and said, "Ready."

I drifted off, and when I woke, I was looking up at skyscrapers.

Kithara smiled at me through her mirror. "Hi, Nora, glad you're awake. I found where Four is.

"He's in Chicago, at a hotel," she said casually, as if this were some stranger instead of a member of the Garde.

"He's in a hotel?!" I shrieked. I sat up, and said, "Why haven't you stepped on it?!"

Kithara regarded me casually. "We have to go the speed limit, Nora, and besides that, we have to look normal in case the Mogs decide to follow us."

"Where are we?" I asked excitedly. Kithara smiled and said, "We're almost there. Just calm down, okay Nora?"

I was practically bouncing in my seat. I looked around us—we were probably in Chicago. It was so beautiful, with all the buildings and greenery.

"Please turn on the radio, Kithara! I need to jam!" I said.

She nodded, and turned it on 106.1 Kiss Fm.

I smiled. Titanium was on. It was just starting, and I picked up on the song.

"You shout it out, but I can't hear a word you say

I'm talkin' loud, not sayin' much

I'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochet

You shoot me down, but I get up

I'm bulletproof, nothin' to lose, fire away, fire away

Ricochet, you take your aim, fire away, fire away

You shoot me down, but I won't fall, I am Titanium.

You shoot me down, but I won't fall, I am Titanium!"

I looked out the window, and stopped singing. Kithara stopped the car, and my mouth fell open. This was the building? This was where Four and Nine were?

It was a huge building, probably the size of the Twin Towers combined.

"Whoa" was my 'oh so smart' comment. "He lives here?" I asked. I grabbed my knife from my pocket. I examined it, and then put it back, just to make sure I had my knife.

I got out of the car first. I opened the door, and got out. I closed the door, and looked at the front doors of the hotel. I put on my shades, fluffed up my hair, and walked as smoothly as I could to the front doors.

Kithara followed me, about five feet behind me. I opened the door with ease, and held it open for them. I made my way to the elevators, and as soon as they got inside as well, I asked Kithara, "Which floor?"

She said, "One hundred." I nodded and pushed the button, but in my mind, I was thinking, One hundred? Dang!

After what seemed like forever, the doors went DING, and they opened. I looked around me, and I almost drooled. Man, how come the other Garde have such cool stuff?!

I asked Kithara, "Which room?" She said, "Twenty-seven."

I nodded again, and walked down to twenty-seven. I slowly opened the door, which was unlocked. I slowly walked in, and pulled out my knife. I held it in front of me, looking up, down, and around the room. It was empty.

I lowered my knife, and stomped my foot, saying, "They aren't here, Kithara! I thought you said Four was here with Nine! Great, just great, Twelve doesn't get to meet Four, because her Cepan made the wrong choice! Again!"

I turned around, but as I was walking out of the room, I was tackled from behind. An arm came across my neck, and my waist. I leaned aside, and plunged my knife into the person's thigh. I took it out, and stabbed their arm. They released, and howled with pain. Then they looked frantically about themselves.

I could see him, a boy, about my age, with blond hair, blue eyes—and a blue pendant around his throat. He looked around and said, "Where did she go?"

I looked down at myself, and stifled a gasp. I couldn't see myself. Was this a Legacy? I remembered invisibility being a Legacy.

I came up behind him, and slit his pant leg, the one that was supposed to hold the scars. I saw them—the scars, all of them.

I closed my eyes to make myself visible, but then I heard another guy's voice. "What is it, Four?" I looked over, and saw someone else, a guy about the same height as the other one, but with dark hair, and green eyes. He looked oddly familiar.

The blond one said, "I thought I saw someone, Nine. A girl. She slit my pant leg, the leg with the symbols. What is she?"

So, the blond was Four, and the other was Nine? Not what I was expecting.

I checked to see if I was still invisible, and then sneaked up behind Nine. I ruffled his hair, and covered a snicker. Nine looked around frantically, and said, "What was that?" Four smirked and said, "That would be her. She has invisibility. She has to be a Garde member."

Nine said to no-one in particular, "Do not mess with the hair alright? Just brushed it and I don't need someone's greasy fingers in it."

I rolled my eyes, and came up behind Four. Then I got really close to his ear, and flicked it. Four flinched, and reflexively swung his arm back. I moved out of the way just in time. Four muttered something, and then said, "Come out so we can see you."

I snickered loud enough for them to hear. They whipped their heads around, trying to locate me. I laughed out loud now. Nine looked angry, like an ape that hadn't gotten his banana breakfast.

I closed my eyes, and doubled over laughing. Just then, a hand grabbed my wrist. I looked down at myself—crap, I had turned visible. I quickly tried to turn back to invisible, but they already had their grip on me, and I knew it was no use.

I rolled my eyes. Four had grabbed my wrist, not Nine. Now I wasn't so scared. I quickly snaked out of his grasp. I narrowed my eyes. They both had pendants (the blue ones that represent Lorien that all of us had) around their throats.

I was suddenly conscious of what I was wearing. I looked down at myself. Tank top, skinny jeans, boots, and sunglasses. My hair was down in waves, and if I do say so myself, I was hot. I put my hands on my hips, and said, "You going to stand there, or are you going to introduce yourself? Wait, don't tell me. I already know."

I walked towards the hallway, and called, "Kithara, it's them!"

She walked into the room with ease, and said, "Good to see you again, boys. You don't remember me, Nine, but me and Nora used to visit you for play dates when you were very small." She smiled as if she had the perfect blackmail material. She probably did.

I gagged a little. "I visited him?" I asked incredulously. "That mess?"

Four chuckled, and Nine glared at me. A little beagle came out of one door, and barked. "Hush, BK!" said Four. "BK?" I asked, reaching down to pet the beagle. "What kind a name is that? He should be named Cutie, cause' he's so cute!" I scratched behind the beagle's ears, and kissed the top of his head.

I grinned, and said, "He's a Chimaera, isn't he?" Four said, "Yeah, he is. Man, Sam—"

He stopped his sentence. I didn't know who Sam was, but I said, "Right. Well, we better get a move on. Mogs could be here any second. We kind of ran into some trouble earlier, so we better leave."

As soon as I finished my sentence, an explosion came from the elevators. Kithara turned off the lights, rushed us a closet, and closed the door. I got out my knife, and held it at my side. I watched through the door as the Mog came in the room. He was awfully tall, and lean. I thought right then that it was a Mog.

The only thing separating it from a Mog was . . . the blue necklace around its neck. It was a Garde! I didn't come out of that closet though. I turned invisible, and held my knife up. I opened the door a bit, enough that I could get through, but not enough for the Garde to see or hear.

I slowly moved towards it. As far as I could see, it was a boy. He had black hair, and black clothes. I got right in front of him. His eyes were very dark, onyx. His hair came into his eyes, and he had on a black chain around his throat as well as the blue pendent.

I took no chances. If he was a member of the Garde, he could fight me.

I drove my knife into his thigh, and stepped on his foot. Then I came up behind him, and twisted his arms to his back. I pushed him to the ground, and sat on his back. Then I became visible, and yelled in his ear, "Who are you?!" He turned his head to the side, and said, "Patch." I narrowed my eyes, and said, "Who are you really?! What number are you? Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Ten, Eleven?" I glared at him and said, "Tell me!" I held my knife to his throat, even though I knew I wasn't going to use it. He glared up at me, and said, "You aren't going to get me to talk, Mog." I held my knife away from his throat, and got up off him. I let go of his arms, stood over him, and hissed, "Never call me a Mog. Ever. I'm not a Mog." I walked away from him, and put my knife in my pocket. I walked back to the closet and said, "All clear. It's a Garde." I walked away from the closet as the others came out.

Later that night, when we were still in Nine's apartment, everyone had gotten to know each other. Everyone, that is, except me. I never really connected with the new comers. I didn't connect with Nine and Four. I will certainly not connect with this number.

Kithara came up behind me as I was watching the stars from the window, and said, "That's number Eleven that you found, Nora, the number that would have died before you." I laughed bitterly, and said, "Great. Now he can tease me about it for as long as I live."

Kithara rolled her eyes, and said, "Give him a chance, Nora. He seems like a nice kid so far. Maybe you should get to know him some." She hugged me, and said, "I'm going to bed. Don't stay up too late. Good night."

I didn't answer. I just looked up at the stars, and wished I was home.

I stayed up until I heard someone get up in the middle of the night. I pretended I was asleep on the windowsill, and slowly breathed in and out.

I heard the footsteps come near me, and stop. I heard rustling, and someone was sitting very close to me. I felt the light tip of a finger trace my face, and I opened my eyes a slit.

I saw a blurry figure, very dark. Dark hair, dark clothes, dark eyes . . . wait a second, it's that new guy! How dare he touch my face! My eyes opened fully, and I saw him looking right at me.

I pulled away and shriek-whispered, "What are you doing?! Don't ever touch me! Never ever touch me!" I backed away, and sat in a corner. (I know, it sounds ironic, me sitting in a corner like a little kid.) I faced away from him, and glared at the floor.

When he tried to come closer, I shrieked, "Don't come near me! Don't you ever touch me, at all, alright?!" By now, everyone was awake. They were all staring at us. "Don't ever come near me!" I screamed.

I got up, and stormed out of the room. No-one touches me, except Kithara, or if I need medical help, which I highly doubt will ever happen.

I speed-walked down the hall, and into the elevators. I could see them coming after me, so I pressed the button, and the doors closed before they got in.

My phone vibrated, and I looked at it. I read the number, and almost cried. It was my best friend, Evee. I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I pressed ignore. I knew I shouldn't ignore her. I knew I should've answered. I didn't want the Mogs to get her, though. I loved her like a sister, and I couldn't let anything get her.

I made my way to my car, and shut the door. I turned it on, and looked out the window. I backed it up, and pulled out onto the highway. But just before I could, something big landed on my roof, and a knife came through my windshield.

A head poked down over it, and I knew right then what it was—the Mogs had found me.

I grinned, and took out my knife, saying, "Bring it on, ugly. I'm going to have fun killing you," and hopped out of the car. This was going to get fun.

I recently did a story on Maximum ride, I'm very sorry it's taking so long! I can't decide what to write! Help me! And review this story! There will be a Chapter 2! :)