I am now under the curse of writer's block on my last story, so I'm just going to fool around with this one until something comes to me :)

Chapter One

Maria's P.O.V.

The brightly lit corridor bathed my pale skin in its blinding light as I made my way down to the kitchen. Another boring day on the ARK. Not just any boring day, it was also my birthday. I turned fifteen today, and I was alone. Again. Grandfather was in one of the labs working on a project, and his first experiment, Jane, (a.k.a. my best friend) was fixing the ARK's terminal operating system. The staff was home for the holidays on the beautiful planet called earth. My footsteps echoed through the empty hallway, a constant reminder of being alone. Again.

The rooms that over decorated the corridors were all closed and locked. Their inhabitants sealed away from the world. My curiosity always peaked when i saw them, yearning to know what was hidden inside the doors; but I was also scared of what kind of dangers could be hidden in them. As i reached for the door, a siren screamed overhead and I panicked as I was suddenly surrounded in an eerie red light. Before I could do anything, a group of men burst through the door. I sailed back and hit the wall. Frozen by fear and pain, I couldn't move from my spot.

"grab her! she is a suspect!"

barked the obvious leader.

"suspect for what?! I haven't done anything wrong!"

I cried in confusion as they grabbed me.

i struggled to get free, but their grip was too strong! i heard screaming in the next corridor, and it was Jane! i slapped and kicked at the men, trying to get to my best friend, but the men only tightened their grip.

"you are under arrest for harboring a weapon of mass destruction!"

yelled the youngest looking man.

i looked into the leader's eyes that kept flashing red due to the alarm in confusion. His cold glassy eyes revealed nothing as they pushed me down the hallways.

"Wait! This is a mistake! There is no weapon here! You have the wrong people! What weapon!?"

I cried, still struggling.

I heard a soft rhythmic drumming; barely audible over the siren that filled the entire ARK. I looked around me, trying to find the source of it. Just like a strike of lightning, the men had flown back and i hit the cold metal floor. Pain spread through my knees, but i ignored it and ran away from the men in panic. I had to get away! I had to find Grandfather and he will protect me! A scream escaped my throat as i heard the loud blast of gunshots erupt behind me. I ran as fast as my legs would carry me; my body becoming numb with the adrenaline that raced through my icy veins.

My lungs gasped for breath as I raced to the escape pods at the end of the corridor. I just knew my grandfather was waiting for me. He was safe and waiting on me. I came up to the doors that lead into the escape pod rooms, but it was locked! I didn't know the code, but I started punching buttons randomly in a panic. I don't know what had sent those men flying like they did, and I certainly didn't want to find out. I screamed in frustration and started pounding on the digital keyboard with all my might.

I heard the same drumming, and now the sound was coming after ME. I looked all around me to find a room to hide in, but there was none. I saw something black racing its way to me, and it was glowing. I screamed as gunshots shot out from a gun it was holding and ducked. A bullet shot through the keyboard, and the doors opened. The thing stopped and looked me in the eyes menacingly, it wasn't a thing. It was a dangerous looking black and red hedgehog.

He frowned at me and grabbed my arm and squeezed it tightly, I gasped in pain as he threw me across the room as if I was a feather. I landed next to an escape pod, and he slammed the door shut behind him as he walked in. His glowing red eyes seemed to have a blazing fire in them, and he pried open an escape pod and threw me in there. I hit the glass with a loud thud, and he shut the door before I knew what was going on. I tried to get out, I had to save Grandfather and Jane! But the hedgehog held it together so I wouldn't get free.

"Maria! Don't fight me! They are dead! All of them! I couldn't save them! You have to stay safe!"

his raspy voice yelled to me with begging eyes.

I looked at the hedgehog in shock in confusion, how did he know my name? I've never seen him in my life. I heard footsteps coming towards the room, and I panicked. I didn't want to go to the huge earth by myself!

"Come with me! I don't want to go by myself!"

I cried desperately.

As I pounded on the glass, the same group of men burst through the doors and started to shoot. The hedgehog flinched as a bullet went through his chest, but it didn't seem to faze him. His eyes widen with shock when he saw me; and he screamed dangerously and charged at the men, his gun in the air and shooting. I covered my eyes, and I started to feel a burning sensation in my stomach. I clutched it as the pain got worse, and I felt a warm liquid run through my fingers and the fire erupted into an inferno. I gasped and looked at the source of all my pain, and saw blood steadily leaking out of a hole on my body. I gasped, I've been shot! The hedgehog came running to me, and I looked at him in desperation for the pain to go away. He looked at me with deep, sorrowful eyes, and pushed the button; and sent me plummeting to Earth. Alone yet again.