This story was my entry for the Twilight Science-Fantasy Contest which won Judges' Vote Second Place, Public Vote Third Place, and Best Supporting Characters award.

Yeah, I still can't believe it! Before you read it, though, please allow me to tell you a little bit regarding this story's origins!

Besides writing it as an entry for the contest, it was also inspired by Katy Perry's "E.T." song and music video. (minus Kanye West, of course. I covered my ears and eyes when he sang. Js.) So, yeah, that's how I came up with my story's title and plot. However, when I began plotting it, the story was nothing compared to its final draft-not that that's necessarily a bad thing, though. Overall, this was a personal accomplishment since I never imagined that I could pull off writing a Sci-Fi story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did whilst writing it!


Chapter One – Yearning


Location: Selenia

Year: 3047


Isabel attached the leash to her Siberian Husky's collar and headed into the woods encircling her commune. Demetrius and Thiago, both guards assigned to keep watch at its entrance, observed her until she got lost between the trees that filled the forest.

At a small clearing, Isbel and Rococo steered right, heading in the direction of the pathway which lead to Isbel's favorite weeping willow tree by the Astrea River. The omnipresent moon illuminated their route as Rococo took slow steps, never faltering as they advanced toward their familiar destination.

During their trek, Isbel's mind was void of all thought; she simply took in her surroundings, noting the difference of the fallen leaves that showcased a day's passing. There was nothing more important in this moment than the peace and quiet by herself—her personal reprieve.

Throughout the day, she was constantly surrounded by people, whether by her family or the people that tended to them, so walking Rococo was the perfect excuse to escape. To be clear, they weren't always hovering around her, yet Isbel felt smothered nonetheless. It was an unexplainable and ever-present sensation that she felt in her chest.

Sighing, once having reached her refuge, Isbel sat by the tree's trunk as Rococo lay on the ground next to her. Leaning against the tree, she looked up at the sky, appraising the stars that illuminated it. It was such a beautiful sight, and yet, she had grown tired of it.

I wish I could see the sun, she yearned for the millionth time. I wish I could see a different horizon.

Nobody knew of these desires for she had not spoken about them, afraid that people would call her crazy. As it were, people criticized her greatly for her withdrawn personality. It was to be expected, though, given her family's status and everyone's overall gregarious charisma. At times, this made her feel as if she were excluded—feeling isolated amongst them—and soon things would get worse.

In a week, she would be marrying her father's best friend's son, Yakob, and that pained her greatly. She wanted no part in it, but she didn't have a choice since it had been arranged by their fathers. This union was supposed to strengthen alliances between her family and Yakob's, or so everyone said, yet she couldn't see how. Vili—Yakob's father—was also a household chief, so what more could he gain from her marrying his son?

Their matrimony seemed futile to Isbel, and just the thought of spending the rest of her life with him made her cry.

Isbel closed her eyes tightly, attempting to rid her mind of the images of Yakob kissing her. As she did so, a deep sob erupted from her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks incessantly now. Alarmed, Rococo whined and pawed at her leg.

Opening her eyes, Isbel sniffled and pet her dog. "It's okay, boy," she told him. "I'm okay."

Rococo cocked his head, gazing intently at her as if to convey that he understood what was happening—what Isbel was feeling. He moved closer to her and laid his head on her lap as he always did when he wanted her to scratch him. Isbel sighed, leaning her head back to gaze at the lunar power tower that stood in the distance while she rubbed Rococo's light brown coat.

"I don't know what I would do without you, Rocco," she told her dog. "But it's a good thing that Yakob said I could take you with me, so I don't have to worry about that." Sighing once again, she looked down and pet Rococo's head. "I don't think I could leave you even if he said you had to stay at my father's house. That would kill me."

I'd say that there would be no wedding if I couldn't have you, Isbel thought. "Ha! If it were only as simple as that, I would have done anything for him to dislike you already."

Oh, and had Isbel tried everything to stop her ridiculous wedding. Unfortunately, it seemed that it was her fate to be unhappily married to a man whom she didn't love, living in a place where she felt misunderstood.


Thank you for reading! This is just the first chapter, but I'll be posting the rest of the story throughout the day. I hope that you give it a chance and continue to read it. (: