CHAPTER 1: GOING TO BE A LETTER BEE

[SELENE'S POV]

"Aaliyah, just where do you think-?"
"I'm going to be a Letter Bee mom. Selene, please take care of Mom. Don't worry we'll see each other again."
"Sister, are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm all set in becoming a Letter Bee..."

"Selene, wake up. It's time for breakfast."

My dream's replaying that time again…I thought. Sister, when will you be back? From my view at the window, I saw the small artificial sun that illuminates most of the Capital which made me realize that today is a new day. I keep on dreaming and wishing that my big sister and dad will come home. Yeah, we hear from them once in a while, but it's been 3 years since I last saw her. And dad… well, he's just a vague memory. If it wasn't for the pictures, I wouldn't know what he looks like.

"SELENE!" Mom shouted which made me fall off my bed. I hurried to the washroom to wash my face, combed my brown auburn hair, changed my clothes, and did my grooming in just a small nick of time then I ran downstairs, almost going to trip and slide.

"Selene, you can be a little more careful right? So please no running in the house. It's all you do every day, you bump into things, slide or trip, please be extra careful" Mom said, with her hands on her waist. I smiled awkwardly since I think it's the same routine every day! I wanted it to change. I want to give my Mom a good life, but I couldn't since all I do here is wash the dishes and clean the house. If only I could become a Letter Bee…

"Mom, will you be okay by yourself?" I asked.

"Of course, why would you ask that?"

"I want to be a Letter Bee. Can I? Mom, please. I want to be one!" I pleaded. Mom's face was filled with surprise and her blue eyes were filled with sadness. I didn't want to leave her by herself but I only got two reasons; to help Mom and to bring back my sister and my Dad. Mom was about to cry when I suddenly hugged her to stop her tears.

"Don't worry Mom, I'll be back. I'll bring back sister and Dad. I promise." Mom nodded and she went to my room, packing up my things. She would let me enter the Letter Bee Interview.

"YES! This would be the first step in fulfilling my dreams… Sister, just wait! I'll be like you someday!"

Mom handed to me my things and a gun which she kept whenever I decided to become a Letter Bee. "It's my gift, for being such a good and hard-working daughter." I took it and I wondered why it didn't have any bullets in it, only a blue spirit amber in it. I gave my Mom an I-don't-know look but she told me that I would find out.

I left our house, leaving my sad mother, but it seems like I don't want to go… But I couldn't help it; I need to find dad, and Aaliyah.

"Take care of yourself Selene. Good luck!" Mom said, giving me my bag and the gun. I gave my mom one last goodbye hug and kiss, and then I left…

Sometime now, I kept on looking back on our house but I need to find my sister fast. I wanted to help mom and this is the only business I can think. A tear ran from my left eye and it ran down from my face, my cheek, my chin, until something caught my attention—the sound of "mewing" in the dark alley just a few blocks away. I ran after it and I saw a cute animal but it's trapped. I tried to help it until someone gagged me with such dirty hands. They took my bag, my money, and my pass. I tried to use the gun but I don't know how to use it until the spirit amber glowed into a light coral blue and it shot a long bullet and it hit them. I ran to them and picked up my bag and the rest of my things and then I freed the animal and went on to continue my journey to the Bee Hive.

But something hit me, the animal with the pure white fur, green peridot eyes, with a pink gem and collar was following me. I tried to lose it but it still keeps its track of me. Finally I stopped and picked it up until I saw its collar written, "Take care of Alee for me."

Alee, it reminds me of you, Aaliyah. Wait for me… I'm going to become a Letter Bee and find you, I promised Mom!"

I took the animal, and of course, I named it Alee. We both went to the Bee Hive but since there is one thing that's stopping me, I don't have a dingo, Alee looked at me with her cute, big green eyes until I knelt down and asked her, "Can you be my dingo?" I was feeling a bit stupid right now but I swear I saw her nod. So it's decided, my dingo shall be Alee!

We were almost near the Bee hive, almost near for my dreams to come true, almost near to find Aaliyah. We were surrounded by houses and children playing, I even saw Letter Bees coming back to the Bee Hive from deliveries. Everything was just beautiful… too beautiful for me to believe that this is the reality.

A few more steps and finally, the so-called Bee Hive, where the government workers called The Letter Bees, I wonder if my sister is one of them. I went inside, and I saw tens of Letter Bees working nonstop! I went through the main lobby where I saw lots of chandeliers hanging; lots of people wearing the same blue uniform which I also wanted to wear, and the cute little bee that shines in their blue hats. I was amazed by the Bee Hive when I bumped into someone, someone beautiful.

"Oh hello, are you an interviewee" She said. I stared at her tied up blonde hair, her glasses made her even more beautiful, and her Letter Bee uniform was simply stunning.

"If you are an interviewee, please follow me to the Director's Office." She said with a smile. I followed her through the Bee Hive as I looked from my left to right, up and down. I wonder what Mom is doing right now… it suddenly went through my mind. I'm going to pass the interview! I swear!

"Welcome to the Director's Office." The woman said and gave me a chair together with three Letter Bees inside. I looked at each one of them and I think I might be as their same age. The Director coughed for attention while the Letter Bees were listening and standing. I stared at the Letter Bee with the jet black hair and auburn eyes until the Director once again, coughed.

"I am Largo Lloyd, the Director of the Bee Hive, and she is my Assistant, Aria Link. And you are?" Mr. Lloyd asked. I was nervous at this time that I was stuttering while I answer. "S-Selene Cross, sir."

"Selene, please tell us about yourself; Lag, Connor, and Zazie, you may now be excused." Ms. Aria said while the three Letter Bees went outside but I know that they are listening to every word we say since well, I can sense them.

"Of course, I am 13 years old, my mother's name is Hana Cross and my father's name is Kaoru Cross. I also have an older sister who also became a Letter Bee as well as my dad; her name is—"

"Aaliyah Cross, am I correct?" Mr. Lloyd suddenly interrupted. I was shocked to hear him speak my sister's name. Does he know her? What is his relationship to her? Is Aaliyah a popular Letter Bee? I had so many questions in my mind right now.

"Sorry for the interruption, you may now continue." Mr. Lloyd said.

"Umm, well the reason I wanted to be a Letter Bee is that, I want to see my big sister and my dad because my mom misses them so much. I also wanted to become a Letter Bee because I like to deliver letters and errands, and such." I said. "But do you have a dingo with you?" Ms. Aria asked and I nodded so I lifted Alee up.

"Isn't that… a coruna?" Mr. Lloyd was shocked to see one and I was quite surprised myself. I know that corunas existed before long and was extinct. Ms. Aria then interrupted the situation and explained something to me.

"Selene, are you sure that you would want to enter the interview? If you are, then please know that there are requirements. First of all, you will need a dingo. Since you already have one, you don't need to worry about that. Second, a weapon; you will be encountering something and you need to kill it. Got it? Now, do you have a place to stay?" Ms. Aria asked and I shrugged.

"Then follow me. I'll provide you your temporary room." Ms. Aria took my hand and I followed her outside, while Alee was resting on my head. She led me to hundreds of rooms and she picked one for me. The moment I entered, I felt different. It had marbles in it, a king-sized bed, and a dressing room, even the bathroom is here. I feel like I'm in heaven, but this is just a temporary room anyway.

"Do you like it?" I nodded, "then you can stay here. Remember, the interview starts tomorrow on this place on the 8th hour. Have a good night's rest Selene." Ms. Aria said as she closed the door with a pretty smile.

"Alee, do you like it?" I asked her and she was already asleep above my head. I slowly carried her to the bed and looked at the view from the window. It was already night time, even though I don't know whether its morning or night since the artificial sun barely reaches here.

Aaliyah, Mom, Dad, I'm going to fulfill my promise. I'll find you.

It's been the 20th hour of night and I couldn't sleep. I stood up, walked outside, and wandered. Only a few Letter Bees stayed here since they have errands and letters to deliver. I was still amazed by the Bee Hive when I didn't notice that I bumped into someone.

"Oh?" I bumped into a Letter Bee but it didn't hurt that much. Well I bumped into some fat and chubby Bee. I looked at his companions; the one had silver hair and purple eyes while the other one has black hair and auburn eyes. They were the ones I saw earlier in the Director's Office!

"You must be the new interviewee?" The silver-haired boy said, and I nodded in agreement.

"Gus! Meet the new interviewee! We are going to watch over—!" Just as he was about to tell me but his two other friends covered his mouth.

"Don't tell anything idiot!" The Bee with the black hair spoke. But while they were arguing over that, their dingos came over me and licked me, the dog and the wolf animal, I don't know what it is though. The three Bees were surprised and smiled until I realized it was already in the 23rd hour and I still need to rest up for tomorrow!

"Oh, I need to go now, BYE!" I ran as fast as I could; just to get some sleep, leaving the three Letter Bees behind.

I closed the door, locked it and slide down, blocking the door. I thought of how they looked like, until I remembered the one with the jet black hair and brown auburn eyes…

"No, no, no, no, NO!" I needed to fall asleep.

I wonder what will happen tomorrow, will I pass? Or will I end up failing? Please help me Aaliyah…