10. The nursery alien

I thought that I would have a normal day at nursery. However, when I got there, the usual staff has gone.

"This is odd," Sarah Jane said as we sat down. "I have a feeling that something is going on. Something we don't want to get involved in."

We had no idea what was going on, and even more mysteriously, Jade had not turned up.

"Can I help you?" A young man asked. He was sitting beside the reception desk.

"If you don't mind me asking, but where are the usual staff?" Sarah Jane asked.

"They have taken ill," he replied. "They should be better soon."

As I was led away, I noticed that something was wrong. The walls were no longer bright, cheerful colours that I was used to, but they were jet black. All the posters taken down, everything. Everything I loved about that nursery, gone.

I didn't recognise the classroom any more. The curtains blocked most of the light from coming into the room and the light was poor. I could only just make out someone from the light.

A woman stepped out of the shadows. She was wearing a brown dress, a white cap and apron. It seemed like she stepped out of time. One of my siblings, Alice, had shown me a picture book about the Victorians, so that was where she came from. But how was she here, in the modern day?

"Emma Smith?" She asked. I nodded in reply. "I am Matron Whitehill. I'll be looking after you when you come to the foundling hospital in about four years."

"Matron," another woman said harshly, making me jump. "Leave Emma be, please. You need to get back to your own time before they miss you." Matron Whitehill nodded, pressed a device on her wrist and vanished.

The other woman came out of the shadows. She could have only have been 18 or 19 at the most. She had long, brown hair and brown eyes. She also wore a red t-shirt and a black jacket, trousers and boots.

"Who are you?" I asked.
"My name is Ruby. I'd thought you'd remember me."
"No, I don't."
"Then I guess someone had used memory dust on you."
"What is memory dust?"
"Memory dust looks a lot like dust, but it contains special powers. It makes someone forget about the person who threw it at them, unless they were very young at the time. When I had left you with your adopted family, you were only seven months old."
"You serious?" I asked, surprised. "So, are you my mother?" Ruby nodded in reply. I hugged her close. She hugged me back.

"So, I guess you want to know what you are and how you can remember so much." Ruby said. I nodded. "The reason why you can remember so much is because you are a Qetesh."
"What's a Qetesh?" I asked.
"Qetesh are known as soul stealers. When they are as young as yourself, you do not have your powers. They, however, can remember a lot unless someone uses memory dust on them. You must have encountered it when I brought you to Earth. I have a feeling I know who did it."
"Who?" I asked.

"Abigale Soul. She must have done it because she couldn't have children of her own. Your father wanted to keep you, but he was violent. He had hurt me so much and I couldn't risk it happening to you. I decided to hide you in the place he wouldn't ever think of looking. He doesn't know about Earth, so I brought you here."

So, that solved mystery number 1. Then, there was Abigale Soul. "How does Abigale come into this?"
"When Qetesh are around fourteen, they would have developed all of their powers. From this, they are decided if they are alright to remain on the planet or if they would have to be exiled because of their hunger."
"How is that decided?"
"It is decided by some judges. They give you a trail to see how strong your hunger it is. If it is low or average, then you are allowed to stay. However, if your hunger is too strong, then you have to leave. I had to leave a year ago."

Suddenly, the receptionist came in.
"Yes?" Ruby asked.
"A Sarah Jane Smith has come to see you and Emma."
"Show her in," Ruby replied.

A few minutes later, Sarah Jane came in, asking how I was.
"Sarah J!" I cried.
"Hello Emma. How are you?"

From there, we began to explain about what happened during those first few hours. Sarah Jane looked over at Ruby. "So, are you Emma's real mum?"
"Yes, I am. I came to Earth to find a home for her. A family came took her in saying that they already had five children and they were expecting another one and said that they'll be able to look after Emma. They told me later that the reason why they put Emma into care is because they had twins instead of the one child that they were expecting."
"That would explain a lot. So, why did you bring Emma to Earth in the first place?"

Ruby began to explain about my father, saying that he was a good person, but he was just too violent to be a parent.
"You hadn't told me about the memory dust yet!" I cried. "What happened next?"

"When I left Zelos, Abigale must have sensed that you were with me. She followed us to Earth and stole some of my memory dust and used it on you. I was furious with her as she made you forget everything."

Sarah Jane managed to sort out the receptionist, who had wanted to devour the planet. My real mum, Ruby, had said that she had only joined up with him to protect the planet. He was sent back to his prison ship, where his people judged where he should be. Mum said that he was wrong to go against their judgement.
"Then you shouldn't have done it either," he spat before he teleported away.

Later, we were all back at number 13. Brendan had made us some tea and we talked about what had happened at the nursery. "So you stopped the aliens again?" Brendan asked.
"Yes, for now," Mum confirmed