She sat by the computer. This wasn't the first time she hadn't been able
to sleep this week. With the long summer ahead of her and a love-torn
heart not quite behind her; she wondered where she would find the energy to
face another day.
Her name was Moon - rightfully so. With a face round and beautiful and skin as pale as ivory she was just as awe-deserving as one of the seven moons. Large green eyes peered out under heavy lashes and lips moved effortlessly in perfect proportion. Words came easily to Moon. So easily, in fact, that she rarely stopped her tongue short of a verbal fight. Though, this fact troubled her no more than that of falling leaves in autumn. Her long dark hair stuck to her forehead that night. However, this would be the last night for such serenity for awhile.
Staring at her monitor, Moon groped for an escape from her boredom. Clicking and pointing, her daydreams lead her back to her troubles. Not only would she be turning 16 soon, but she knew that she had to pick a husband. Thinking of her current boyfriend made her shudder. Lank and aloof, the poor brown-haired boy could never fill the emptiness she felt. Beautiful as he was with sharp blue eyes and slender figure, Mauvk had his own life and thoughts that didn't complement Moon's deep persona.
Never-the-less, a husband needed to be found, and quick. Though musing about the fact only made the pale girl bitter about the whole tradition. Why couldn't she be swept off her feet and fall madly in love with someone who she would never call husband, only lover? The reason lay with necessity. The Neztica people needed to ensure that their dwindling numbers survived against all odds. A woman's heart, strong as Moon's was, could never stand against such a need. So, to be married by the tenth month of her 16th year she would be.
Tearing her from thought, a window smashed to nothingness in another room. Eye's wide, Moon froze to her chair. Panic swept through her like a cold echo, reverberating off her fingertips and back through her body. She heard a grating noise from the back of the room and whirled to face the door. The noise grew louder and more purposeful as time crawled through Moon's mind. She stood up in a stupor and turned to find her window open.
A bright flash of light illuminated the room and the scared girl stumbled toward the wall - her ceiling light had exploded, sending sharp shards in every direction. In pain, Moon covered her shoulder cowering. A piece of the giant light bulb had lodged in her arm. Bleeding and cowering, she stumbled in the darkness. Not a moment later, her feet were no longer on the ground and a pair of strong hands grasped her waist securely.
"Don't be afraid," a soft masculine voice whispered. Though Moon was very afraid and couldn't make out who her captor was in the darkness. She could feel the grain of the wood through her pants as the man pulled her out the window - the last thing she felt before unconsciousness took her.
To be continued.
Her name was Moon - rightfully so. With a face round and beautiful and skin as pale as ivory she was just as awe-deserving as one of the seven moons. Large green eyes peered out under heavy lashes and lips moved effortlessly in perfect proportion. Words came easily to Moon. So easily, in fact, that she rarely stopped her tongue short of a verbal fight. Though, this fact troubled her no more than that of falling leaves in autumn. Her long dark hair stuck to her forehead that night. However, this would be the last night for such serenity for awhile.
Staring at her monitor, Moon groped for an escape from her boredom. Clicking and pointing, her daydreams lead her back to her troubles. Not only would she be turning 16 soon, but she knew that she had to pick a husband. Thinking of her current boyfriend made her shudder. Lank and aloof, the poor brown-haired boy could never fill the emptiness she felt. Beautiful as he was with sharp blue eyes and slender figure, Mauvk had his own life and thoughts that didn't complement Moon's deep persona.
Never-the-less, a husband needed to be found, and quick. Though musing about the fact only made the pale girl bitter about the whole tradition. Why couldn't she be swept off her feet and fall madly in love with someone who she would never call husband, only lover? The reason lay with necessity. The Neztica people needed to ensure that their dwindling numbers survived against all odds. A woman's heart, strong as Moon's was, could never stand against such a need. So, to be married by the tenth month of her 16th year she would be.
Tearing her from thought, a window smashed to nothingness in another room. Eye's wide, Moon froze to her chair. Panic swept through her like a cold echo, reverberating off her fingertips and back through her body. She heard a grating noise from the back of the room and whirled to face the door. The noise grew louder and more purposeful as time crawled through Moon's mind. She stood up in a stupor and turned to find her window open.
A bright flash of light illuminated the room and the scared girl stumbled toward the wall - her ceiling light had exploded, sending sharp shards in every direction. In pain, Moon covered her shoulder cowering. A piece of the giant light bulb had lodged in her arm. Bleeding and cowering, she stumbled in the darkness. Not a moment later, her feet were no longer on the ground and a pair of strong hands grasped her waist securely.
"Don't be afraid," a soft masculine voice whispered. Though Moon was very afraid and couldn't make out who her captor was in the darkness. She could feel the grain of the wood through her pants as the man pulled her out the window - the last thing she felt before unconsciousness took her.
To be continued.