Chapter 1: The Hermitage

Aelita's POV

I sat in my dorm, looking at my Facebook page. Nothing special has happened since the super computer got turned off. It was a brisk Mid-Summer evening; the sun was brightly shining through my dorm.

I kept scrolling through my home page, where Yumi was talking about her trip to Japan; it appeared as if she was having a great time. Underneath her post, Odd was talking about his trip back to Italy with his parents, and how his sisters were being a pain. Ugh, at least he actually has family, mine are gone.

I suddenly got bored of Facebook, so I logged off and went to lay on my bed, thinking of something I could do. Then suddenly, I turned to Mister Puck, and I got an idea: I'll go rummage through the dilapidated ruins of my old home, the Hermitage. Maybe I'll find something more of my father that I can keep in my room. I really miss him.

I quickly got dressed and headed out to the woods. I had to admit, they're still creepy, but all in all, I had gotten pretty used to it. I then passed the manhole where we used to go to get to the factory. As bad as this sounds, I kind of miss having XANA around. He gave me something to do in my free time, and he bought me and my friends close.

I then came to the spooky ruins of the Hermitage. I was a little crept out, but not as crept out as I used to get. I climbed up the stairs and went inside. The way it used to look flashed in my sight then went back.

I crept into the living room, which was still trashed beyond belief. I sat on the upside down sofa as I remembered everything. My father teaching me how to play the piano, my mother sitting in the chair behind us watching us. What I'd give to see them again.

I then got up and walked into his office, where there was an assortment of all his books and notes. I then came across a box full of books and photos. I decided to sift through them.

I looked at the books, which were mostly Nancy Drew mysteries. Ha, my dad used to read these? Wow. I then came across this science book that talks about physics. I leafed through it, but then I found a real mystery: A torn photograph.

In faded shades of green and yellow, my father and mother were grinning at the camera. Next to them, was me when I was maybe 10 or 11? The house was in the background, when it actually looked decent. But on the other side of my father and mother… I could make out a few strands of long hair, a shoulder, and an arm, just enough for me to know it was a girl, but my big question was, who was she? I don't remember there being another child.

I turned the photo over, hoping to find the girls' name on the back. There was, I'm guessing, my Father's neat and clean schoolteacher handwriting: "The Hermitage, 1992. Me, Anthea, Aelita, and A-"

Like her face, her name had been ripped off as well. Alone in the office, I starred at the Arm and shoulder. Ava, Amanda, Alexis…. So many A names to choose from. Which was hers?

I decided to take the photograph with me, But all of a sudden, the atmosphere in the house got really stuffy. I felt uneasy, like someone was watching me… I heard rustling not too far from me, and it scared me so much to the point where I just bolted out of there.

I ran into the woods where the Hermitage wasn't in sight anymore. I continued to stare at the arm and shoulder.

"Who are you?" I asked myself. I then rushed back to the school. So many things were running through my head… Was there another girl in this mix? That I didn't know about? Or that…. I forgot about? I swear if my father was still around, I would've asked him who "A" was.

I then went into my dorm, and sat the photograph down on my bed. Dusk had already fallen, it was past 9:00. I was exhausted from all the running, so I changed into my night gown and laid down. I continued to stare at the photograph, still wondering who the girl was. My eyes started getting heavy, then I laid the photo down next to me.

Just as soon as I was about to doze off, It suddenly got really cold. I pulled my covers tightly over me, then this weird blue light started shining in the window. I got up to look. The light was so far away, I couldn't tell what it was, but then it looked as if it had made itself into a human form… I must be mistaking, of course I am half asleep.

I crawled back in bed, and thought nothing of it. The thought of the photograph still stuck out clear In my head, but I was so tired that I didn't really keep up with the thought.

All I remembered was silence.. then I slowly drifted off.