Chapter One- Because One is where it all starts
"Why?" That is the first time I realised the whole unfairness of the situation. "Why do I have to be number one? Why not any of the others?" The questions had left a bitter spike in my heart as I sat slumped against the wall of our small cottage, just south of California. We had been on earth for just two years, though me being young it seemed like a lot longer. I had already had to relocate countless times to many different places because of the danger I was in and by now I had come to accept that my life was never going to be normal. Well I say I had accepted, but in truth I had not. I have always been stubborn and volatile (Or so my cepan Hilde tells me) and I had never gotten the hang of settling in. I liked things to go my way even back then and I defiantly did not take kindly to being told what to do. In fact the only person I ever listen to was Hilde and I only did it grudgingly.
Hilde had looked up from the large, complicated map she had been studying and her dark grey eyes had pierced mine making me uncomfortable. She was never particularly intimidating but she had an air of authority around her that I seldom questioned. She was stern but not unkind and very wise. She was almost always completely expressionless whereas I was an open book. My face always gave away how I was feeling and back then I was feeling particularly bitter and kind of sour. I had probably been glaring like I often do when I am angry or annoyed and Hilde was always quick to pick up on my mood.
After studying my scornful expression for a few moments she had replied "Maybe the elders saw what a strong warrior you would become and knew that you would make the best first line of defence." This had seemed like total rubbish to me and I had made sure she knew it. If the elders had thought that I would be such a valuable warrior wouldn't they have tried to protect me like the others? They would have made me number nine, five or even Three to ensure that the charm would work in my favour and not simply make me a defenceless target for any Mogadorien that want to take a shot because let's face it, at age 11 and with no legacies I was utterly helpless. Even Hilde who was an advanced at martial arts could not do much to stop them if a group found me.
I was nine when I had to flee Lorien to escape them. It was both a blessing and a curse because at nine years old I knew exactly what was happening. Unlike the others who were just babies I remember my life there, my family and friends and even my language. As a result I had been plagued with terrible nightmares that would wake me from peaceful sleep screaming and crying out for everything I had lost. It was my own personal Hell where I got to re live every painful moment alone.
Hilde turned back to the map and I was left glowering in the corner thinking over the injustice of it all. I even felt some resent for these nameless garde that they should get a better chance than me in this new life. I couldn't help but wish that there was some way I could swap with one of them but I knew that couldn't happen. I was stuck as number one. Unlucky number one!
That was a long three years ago and I am older now. 14 years and one month to be exact because my birthday was 30 days ago and we (well I, Hilde barley acknowledged it)had celebrated in the car as we had driven away from our home in los Angelis because of a little slip up I had made. To be honest, maybe insulting other kids in fluent loric was not such a great idea because even though the shocked girls could not understand anything I was yelling at them the Mogadoriens would recognise the language and unfortunately Hilde did. That had made for a rather long and uncomfortable convocation about my responsibilities as she had listed the countless times we had moved before due to similar situations. Even though I had pleaded and said that there was no way the mogs would find out about this little slip Hilde has simply shaken her head and packed up the car, forcing me once again to change identity and move.
Right now, I am standing on our balcony of the small apartment in California looking out at the late afternoon sun. It is a quiet and beautiful part on the top of a slope by the beach but because of the number of people enjoying the hot sun and walking up and down the street outside I never train during the day. Normal I sleep until late morning and don't go to sleep until two or three am so I try and enjoy the daylight while I can. From here I have a perfect view of the sea and I can make out the waves swelling and foaming in a steady rhythm over the lush golden sand. The beach is busy but not packed and a few people are swimming in the water. It is the perfect day for surfing and looking up at the sky; I know I have maybe two hours of daylight left. I can almost feel the lull of the waves beneath my feet and feel the warm water on my back. I never feel as peaceful as I do when I am surfing; it is an escape from the harsh reality of my life. On the sea there is no war, no constant threat of death and no cepan pushing you and monitoring your every move. It is my only taste of freedom, and I love it!
Unfortunately Hilde doesn't feel this way at all and she is had it quite clear that if it was up to her I would spend all free time training and learning about the many ways to survive. She believes that I should keep to myself and have little to do with any of the other residents. But as I slide open the glass door I can see that she is asleep right now under a thin blanket on the sofa. She has finally collapsed with exhaustion and it is unlikely she will be up for another few hours. I grin and punch my fist in to the air as I silently tiptoe inside and pull my bikini off the rack. I reach under my bed and pull out my beach bag, shoving in my sun glasses and dry top. I pull on my shorts and loose surfing tee-shirt as I head over to the front door. I grab my trainers and pause of a moment to get and Icy soda from the fridge. I let myself out, being careful not to slam the door behind me as I head off down the path. My board is leaning on the wall next to the old car and I carefully tuck it under my arms. I have to carefully slide past the car because I know from experience that one tap will set the alarm off. The car is about ten years old and comes from a time when air conditioning was a luxury so as a result if you want fresh air you need to stick your head out the window.
I quietly close the gate and set off down the slope towards the beach. I pause to lace up my worn out trainers before I continue past our neighbours house. I smile and wave as I walk past and the young woman in the front garden stares, I don't think that they have ever really seen their neighbours apart from the day we moved in but even then we did it in the dead of night. "Ahhh" I say as the slight breese ruffles my freshly dyed blonde hair. "Sweet freedom!"