Chapter 1: O. M. G.!

"Skye, breakfast is ready!" Maggie, my foster mom, called up to me. Ugh, only Maggie would wake me up this early during the last few days of summer! I dragged myself out of bed and got myself ready. I put on a green shirt and blue jean shorts. I hurried to brush my thick brown hair and pulled it into a ponytail. "SKYLAR!" Maggie was getting impatient. I slipped on some flip-flops and headed downstairs.

"Well, look who finally came around," she smiled when she saw me. I gave her a tired smile back as I sat down.

"What's for breakfast?" I asked.

"Fruit salad and toast."

"Ugh, again?!" I whined. Just then, we heard a crack of thunder. I saw Maggie look out the window, and then back at me. "What?"

"Oh, nothing dear," she replied. I gave her an Ok I'll drop it FOR NOW kind of look. She just smiled and went to eating her breakfast. I followed her lead, as much as I didn't want it.

As I was emptying my plate, she asked me, "So, what are you planning on doing today?"

"Nothing in particular. I think I'll go take a walk right now." I replied as I made my way up the stairs to get my tennis shoes.

"Oh, ok. Be safe."

I looked at her and asked, "Why, did you have something planned?"

"No, I just like knowing what you are up to!" she replied cheerfully. I looked at her and just went to get my shoes. I went downstairs and out the door into the fresh, open air.

I started to walk down the sidewalk. I always loved being outside. I felt comfortable and at ease. It gave me time to think. I mostly thought about what my parents were like. I never knew them, but Maggie told me that I had my mother's thick dark brown hair that always curled into ringlets and tall curvy figure while I had my father's gray eyes. Maggie swears they change with my mood but I'm not too sure about that. She also says I have my parents' determined and confident personality. They were athletic and always looking for adventure, just like me. I was pondering all of this when I felt the ground shake.

I looked down and saw a shadow fall over me, a BIG shadow. I looked up, and saw giant robot! Then, I saw little things flying around it. They looked like bugs from way down here. "Hey, get outta the way!" one of them called. Wait, bugs can't call. They were people! I just stood, looking up at them with my mouth hanging open like an idiot, until one of them took me by the hand. She pulled me into some bushes and told me, "Stay here where you'll be safe, okay." I gave her a funny look, but I don't think she saw it because she ran off to join the fight.

I wanted to see what was going on, but the bush that she put me in obscured my view.

When I heard someone yelp in pain, I ignored what my command and came out of my hiding place. I'd never been one for rules anyway. When I came out, I saw one of them on the ground clutching their leg. I ran over to them without a second thought.

"Oh my gosh! Are you okay?" I asked him.

"Ugh, yea," he said as he struggled up. He fell back down, "Ugh, no."

"Here, let me help you," I said as I took his arm and started to put it around my shoulder.

"No! You need to get yourself out of here. I'll be fine!"

"I can get myself outta here and help you at the same time," I said forcefully as I gripped his hand to where he couldn't get free. He didn't fight me this time. We hobbled away and were about to get to the bushes that I'd been hiding in, when I heard a ferocious roar. We turned around and saw that the giant was making a beeline right for us. I hurried and shoved the guy into the bushes. I think I'd hurt him, but he'd thank me later and started to run in the other direction.

I didn't get far. The thing grabbed me and soon I was lifted high into the air. I looked down and felt my stomach flip. It's not like I was scared of heights, but I'd never been this high off the ground. So, I did what any sane person would do. I started to scream.

"Shut up! You're not helping!" one of them called to me.

"Um, put yourself in my shoes. What would you be doing?" I hollered back.

"Just stay calm," another said.

"Stay calm! Are you kidding me?!" I spat. I was really starting to get mad now. First of all, I didn't even know who these people were, and they didn't exactly seem normal considering they were FLYING! Second, I was being held like a million feet off the ground. Now, to top everything off, they were expecting me to stay calm!

But, for once, I tried to comply. I stopped screaming and just watch the action going on around me.

One of them looked like they were ready to go and punch the thing. "Oh, you've GOT to be kidding me!" I giggled. I mean, he was going to punch the big, huge, giant thing! And I was like an inch shorter than him! He smirked at me, and then threw a fist at it.

Next thing I knew, we were flying back. We (me and the giant, we'll just call it that) fell to the ground with an earth-rattling thud. I was sure I broke my back or had whiplash or something. But, I was fine, just a little dizzy. "Zeke, you idiot! We're supposed to help the girl, not hurt her!" A girl called from the ground.

"Yea, Zeke!" I joined in. He just shrugged his shoulders to the girl on the ground and turned to smirk at me. "Looks like I don't know my own strength." I looked at him like 'As if!'

I think the giant was starting to get irritated. He started flinging his hands around, and just in case you don't remember, it was holding me! I was thrown this way and that and started to get a major headache. I started to beat my fists on his hands. It was beginning become clear that these kids weren't going to save me.

"Put me down!" I yelled, "Put me down! PUT ME DOWN!" I finished with one more whack at his hand around me. After I did that, I felt the ground shake. I looked down, and a big crack had appeared. Like an earthquake had just struck.

The crack widened. At that moment, I realized what was going to happen, and I didn't like it AT ALL! I felt hysteria rising in my chest. Then, I started to scream. This giant was going to fall into the earth, and I was going to go down with it. "HELP!" I cried pointing to the ground. Heads turned and everyone let out a gasp. They knew what was going to happen now, too. I started attempting to wriggle free from its grip. I wasn't exactly getting anywhere. "Um, HELLO! I'm still stuck here!" I cried to draw their attention away from the crack in the earth.

"We have to help her!" the girl who hid me cried as she flew over. Everyone crowded me and started to pull, but the giant wasn't about to let go. He gripped me with both hands and squeezed. "AHHHHH!"I cried. He had quite a grip and wouldn't let off from squeezing me.

"Get her outta there!" a guy yelled. Right after he said that, there was an ear-splitting rip. We all knew what was happening, but looked down anyway. The earth finally opened up enough to swallow us up. I looked at everyone and gave them a forced smile. "Thanks for trying," I whispered as I began to fall with the giant. As we were going down, I still made an attempt to get out. "AGH!" I cried as I gave one last effort to get out of there. When I did, I felt a searing pain, like I was getting electrocuted, and the giant let me go. I felt myself shoot up into the air and out of the whole.

"Oh, my, GOSH! Look guys!" I heard a voice from the ground yell. I looked down to see that I was in the air and coming down fast.

"SOMEBODY CATCH HER!" said the same guy who told everyone to 'get me outta there'. I look to see where they were and knew that no one would get to me in time. I got free of one problem and ran into another. I turned to where my stomach was facing the ground and saw it fast approaching. Just when I thought I was about to hit it, I covered my face with my arms, and… never hit the ground.

I was lowered softly until I felt the grass beneath me. I lifted my face from my hands and looked around to see I made it safely onto solid ground. I sat up slowly, and almost fell back down because my head was still spinning. When I stopped spinning, I saw that everyone was rushing towards me. Well, except for the guy that hurt his foot. He was limping over. I was then bombarded with questions.

"Are you okay?"

"How did you make it out?"

"Zander, why didn't you make her get away?"

"Ok, HOLD UP!" I shouted to get everyone's attention. The noise stopped and all eyes were on me. I proceeded to answering the questions. "Yes, I'm fine. I don't know how I made it out. And he didn't have any choice. I made that decision to help him." I finished. When nobody said anything I continued, "Now, I have some questions for you guys. How-" I was cut of by yet another roar. Everyone looked to the crack in the earth. We ran over and saw nothing but darkness. Thank goodness I didn't get caught in that! Just as I was thinking this, a hand shot out of the darkness. We all looked at each other, and ran.

It came down hard and rattled the ground. I fell and turned around to see the hand shooting across the ground towards us. The giant thing was going to make its way out of that whole unless we found a way to close it. I shielded my face with my hands and waited for impact. When impact didn't come, a cry that would stay in my mind forever did. I look toward the sound and saw that the ground was closing, and the sound was coming from the giant thing. Then, everything stopped. No more sounds. I felt myself being pulled up and then, everything went black.