CHAPTER 1.

My name is Aria Brightman.

I used to be just like any other 7th grade girl. I hung out with my friends, went to movies, had sleepovers. I took part in all the normal after-school activities; soccer, drama, music lessons- I used to be great at playing the guitar! But I don't do any of that now.

My friends have gotten so used to me just not showing up for stuff, they've stopped asking where I've been altogether. I suppose I'm lucky; they don't ask too many questions. But I can't help wondering if they still care about me.

I guess it doesn't matter, though. I have new friends. Their lives have been drastically altered as well, so we can all relate to each other's feelings.

I'm sure by now you're wondering what I'm talking about. What happened to me.

It all happened a few months ago…

"Aria!" My mom called from the kitchen, where she was making supper.

"What?" I stood up from the table, where I had just finished my math homework. I headed to the kitchen. "Spaghetti again?" I asked.

My mom sighed. Times had been tough since my dad had died in a car crash a month ago. We had stopped eating out, stopped going to the mall, and my sister, Karen, and I had stopped doing several extra-curricular activities. My mom had gotten a full-time job at the local grocery store, and most nights I was left to look after my eight-year-old sister. Usually, we had leftovers, or reheated lasagna for supper. On the few nights my mother was home, she cooked something easy, like spaghetti, or TV dinners.

"I need to talk to you about something," my mom said.

I nodded. "Yeah?"

"I got a call today, from a man named Sean Thomas. Do you know who that is?"

I shook my head "Who is it?"

My mom shrugged. "He said he worked for Disney World. He wants to know if you wanted to be part of a new program they're starting. He said they couldn't pay you, because of child labor laws, but they could give me the money, and I could give it to you."

"That's cool. What's the program?"

"I'm not sure. Sean said if you wanted to go down to the Magic Kingdom tomorrow, since it's a Saturday, he could tell you more about it then."

I shrugged. "Okay, then. Where am I gonna meet him?"

"He said to go to the City Hall, and someone would direct you from there."

"Are you sure this is safe, Mom?" I asked. "Any random guy could call and say he works for Disney."

My mom shrugged. "He said to tell the employee at the front gate he sent you. I'm sure if they know him, he must work at Disney."

I sighed. "I still don't know if this is a good idea…"

"Well," my mom said, "Karen is going to be at Sarah's house tomorrow, anyway. I can drop you off on my way to work, and you can take the bus home when you're finished."

I shook my head. "I guess I can go check it out. But don't get your hopes up, 'cause I don't even know what this new thing they're starting is."

My mom smiled, and continued cooking the spaghetti.

I went to my room and sat down on my bed. I didn't want to bother my mom, but there was still one thing bothering me. How did this Sean guy know me? It was kind of creepy. I decided not to worry about it right now, though.

I picked up the book my English class was reading. It wasn't very good, but then I had never really like reading all that much, anyway. I like active stuff a lot more; sports, dancing, acting.

I read the next chapter of my book, and went to eat supper. It wasn't very good, either. My mom never really cooked much until my dad died.

"How was school?" My mom asked Karen.

She shrugged. "Fine. But I failed my science test."

Mom looked shocked. "But you've been studying all week for that!"

Karen shrugged again. "It doesn't really matter. I mean, it's not like I even want to be a scientist, or anything. The questions were dumb, anyway."

I sighed. Me and my sister hadn't been doing very well in school lately. We used to be pretty smart, but once it had sunk in that Dad wasn't coming back, we just stopped trying.

After supper, I went to my room. I reached under my pillow and took out the picture of me and Dad that I kept underneath. I put it back, and read some more of my book, because I had nothing else to do. It was so boring, I fell asleep after a while.

When I woke up the next morning, I got dressed in a flower-print tank top and jean shorts, and brushed out my frizzy brown hair. I stared at my own brown eyes in the mirror. They looked back at me.

Then, Mom drove me down to Disney's Magic Kingdom. I used to love to go there when I was a kid. It was so magical… but not any more.

I'll get to that, though.

At the front gate, where you put your ticket in, I told the employee Sean Thomas had sent me. She smiled and let me through the stroller gate.

I walked down Main Street, and looked around at all the happy people.

I headed down to the City Hall. When I got there, I went up to the information desk. "Where can I find Sean Thomas?" I asked.

The woman looked down her nose at me. She had short, brown hair, and gray eyes. "Who are you?" she asked.

"Aria," I replied. "Aria Brightman."

The woman nodded. "Follow me."

She walked around the wood counter to where I was, and motioned me to go with her. The woman, whose nametag read Olivia, led me through a door on the back wall.

The room we entered was nice; there was a couch, and two matching chairs, that formed a sort of circle. There was a coffee table in the center.

A boy sat on one of the chairs. He had short, dark brown hair, and blue eyes. His skin was rather pale, and he had a serious expression. He looked about my age, but he must have gone to a different school, because I had never seen him before.

"Hi," I said. "I'm Aria Brightman."

"Giovanni Destler," he replied.

"Have a seat," said a man's voice. I looked to the corner of the room to see a tall man with brown hair and a Disney uniform staring at me. His expression was hard.

I took a seat on the couch, and a few minutes later, the door swung open. It was Olivia and a girl with red, wavy hair and big green eyes. She sat down on the couch next to me.

"Hi," she said.

"You are…?" the man in the corner asked.

"Erica Jammes," she replied. She looked as nervous as I felt.

Then, Olivia came back, this time with two boys and a girl. I knew one of the boys from school- Liam Richard. He had bleach-blond hair, blue eyes, and a tan completion. He was tall and well built; he seemed to tower over the second boy, who was small and skinny- I am tempted to say gangly. I recognized him from my church. Joshua Edwards had a thin face with brown eyes and caramel colored hair. Joshua didn't seem to fit in with anybody. He liked sports, but he didn't fit in with the jocks; he was smart, but didn't fit in with the smart kids. I didn't see him that often, but it seemed like Joshua didn't really have any friends.

I didn't know the girl, but then why would I? She was the exact opposite of the people I hang out with- tall, thin, blond. She looked like she had stepped out of a fashion magazine. She was wearing a lot of makeup, and designer clothes to go with her sparkling blue eyes.

The man in the corner cleared his throat, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Well," he said, "It looks like we're all here, then."

We nodded.

"I don't know who's who, so if you all would introduce yourselves…"

"I'm Liam," he said.

"Joshua."

"Erica Jammes."

"Sorelli Holmes," replied the blond girl.

"Giovanni."

"I'm Aria," I said.

The man in the corner nodded. "And I'm Sean Thomas. Good, then let's get started, shall we? I'm sure you're all wondering what this is about, and what the new program we're starting is. It's called The Disney Protection Agency."

We all looked at Sean. "What?" Liam asked. He looked confused.

Sean Thomas continued. "The Disney Protection Agency is being started, as you can tell to protect the parks."

"From what?" I asked.

"We're not sure, yet," Sean said. "Strange things have been happening; things disappearing, being stolen, people getting hurt. That's why the Disney Protection Agency is being started- so you kids can get to the bottom of this."

"Why pick children?" Erica asked.

Sean sighed. "Kids are perfect for undercover work; they're a natural part of Disney."

Joshua nodded. "That's true."

"Well," Sorelli said, "What do you expect us to do?"

Sean looked at us. "Investigate."

Liam stood up. "Look, I don't know who you are, or what this is all about, but I'm leaving."

"No," Sean said, grabbing Liam's arm as he headed to the door. "You have been chosen. You six are the perfect team for the job."

"What makes you say that?" Liam asked, although I could tell he had already made up his mind, one way or another.

Sean smiled. "Take the job, and you'll see."

Liam sighed. "Okay, I guess it couldn't hurt to try."

"When do we get started?" I asked.

"Right now," Sean replied, with a mischievous grin.

Sorelli nodded. "So… what do we do?"

"I knew you would ask," Sean said. "Tonight, at nine o'clock, be at the park gates."

Erica shook her head. "My mom won't let me."

"Then you'll have to sneak out," Sean replied.

"Sneak out?" I exclaimed. "Do you know how much trouble I would get in for that?"

Sean looked annoyed. "Well then, I guess you won't let your parents find out… will you?" Sean said it to all of us. His face wore an expression of irritation. I could see that he meant business.

"I'll be there," Giovanni said. We all nodded, one by one.

I sighed. This was going to be a long night.