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Glasia 森の魔王🌳
The Destroyer
Stadler FLIRT 1
Esther
Stardust Pillar
Name: Solian
Age: ???
Gender: Male
Species: Human
Appearance:
Personality: Usually just goes along with the situation, has a wacky sense of humor outside of battles.
During battles or other actually serious things, he tends to be very focused, not letting his guard down often and generally preferring to keep as many enemies in view as possible.
Equipment: Well, ingame he’s had The Flute equipped probably since last year, and he probably will keep it for a long time, so, that’s what he gets here.
Abilities:
Strengths: Hard to distract in battle.
Weaknesses: Very weak in long-range combat, and honestly his defense is Not Great to put it gently. To put it bluntly, it’s barely a thing in the first place.
Known Backstory (Optional): It’s a long story and I don’t want to talk about it.
Other:
Text Color: #e0c85f
Age: ???
Gender: Male
Species: Human
Appearance:
During battles or other actually serious things, he tends to be very focused, not letting his guard down often and generally preferring to keep as many enemies in view as possible.
Equipment: Well, ingame he’s had The Flute equipped probably since last year, and he probably will keep it for a long time, so, that’s what he gets here.
Razorleaf Slash: Solian swings his sword, launching a bunch of sharp leaves a short distance forward.
[I plan on adding a second ability later but I’m currently stuck so I’m leaving this note here until I decide what that ability should be.]
[I'll also be adding an ability later that will be available regardless of which element is in use, but I'll let you know when that's ready.]
[I plan on adding a second ability later but I’m currently stuck so I’m leaving this note here until I decide what that ability should be.]
[I'll also be adding an ability later that will be available regardless of which element is in use, but I'll let you know when that's ready.]
Weaknesses: Very weak in long-range combat, and honestly his defense is Not Great to put it gently. To put it bluntly, it’s barely a thing in the first place.
Known Backstory (Optional): It’s a long story and I don’t want to talk about it.
Other:
Text Color: #e0c85f
HandsomeSquirrel🐿️
CelebrationMK10
- Despite the Cyborg stating that their negative feelings are mutual, the Zoologist does not dislike the Cyborg.
HandsomeSquirrel🐿️
CelebrationMK10
Banana_=P
Retinazer
Draucon hesitates...before stepping aside.
Eve flaps back quietly, darn well aware of her inability to fight in close quarters, while Pol more or less stops, unsure.
<...Logistically speaking, stepping aside is the best choice.>
<You know damn well if you were in my place, you'd never think that.>
<You find him annoying. So you think of my voice with this kinda thing, obviously.>
<...>
<Seraph..might die here, but...if it means being able to protect everyone else...>
Sarah takes a deep breath, lowering her railgun a bit, vaguely confused at the lack of resistance.
Getting an odd feeling, she moves the crate with the gifts over to her, but doesn't surface it to open it up again yet.
<...That's how it is, Draucon?>
<What would you know. You're not even here right now.>
<...>
<...>
Chains shift...
As Draucon waits, looking for something...
But the chains will hold.
TWillyH
CelebrationMK10
shapez on Steam
shapez is a game about building factories to automate the creation and processing of increasingly complex shapes across an infinitely expanding map.
Ludolf🌳🥐🐿️🦍
CelebrationMK10
(this needs to getfixedboi)
Chapter 1 Prologue... i guess
This is not a book. This is a Word document. I don’t know how you obtained this, but you somehow did. I can’t take it away from you, but I can stop you from reading it. How, you may ask? It is simple. Putting things in the Word document to make you stop reading. Like the last part of the book, uh I mean Word document, which is below:
Um. Oh. Urm. I haven’t finished it yet. You are lucky. How about this? Changing the font color to white. See you now can’t read anything. Wait, what do mean you can read this? Um, (panic noises) ohh, um, changing the font to Wingdings, the font impossible to read, or decipher. Now you can’t read anything. Wait, no, not again. Uh, urm, oh, changing the font size to ridiculously small. See now you can’t even see anything. Wait, no. What if I randomly change the font? Hmm? No? ok. This? No? This? No? (sigh) Wh@t iF 1 typ3 LikE tHis/ No? Well, I tried. That means I lied. I can’t stop you. I give up. If somehow you didn’t notice this is not a professional book Word document. If you wanted something that was professional and actually makes sense, I’m sorry. This is not you’re b-Word document.
If you wanted that, then throw this bo-Word document out your window. (Have fun getting refunds) If you are reading this you will only get entertainment out of it. (maybe) There will be zero analogies or symbols. (I’m afraid I don’t no any) Also-Also, there will be know figurative language or sensory details, because their cringe. (why there extra space?) If your using this for an English project, choose a different Word document. Your better off reading something else, and not have a 99.999999999999999999999999999% chance of getting a 0% on your project. You have been warned. I am not a reliable narrator. Do not believe anything I say. (paradox time) If you are still reading you clearly don’t care, so I will start the story now.
(awkward space)
Chapter 2 1: The First Bit of Writing in the Word Document That’s Actually About the Story and Not Me Just Talking About Random Stuff
Every good Word document needs a protagonist, antagonist, and a plot. So, we start here with Zack Noodleman and… an antagonist. Their will also be a deuteragonist. You’ll see them later. (also no plot) Let’s start with Zack Noodleman. Zack is 12 years old, and in the 7th grade. He attends Normalville Middle School. This shows that he lives in Normalville. (that makes no sense) Nothing abnormal or special ever happens in Normalville. Zack is an average student, getting mostly B’s and a few A’s. Zack is a decent athlete but doesn’t play any sports. Zack is pretty good at science for some reason. We could be here all day talking about random and useless facts about him like how his favorite color is blue or how his favorite number is 6, but we won’t. Now I will start the story. In case you couldn’t tell this story is set in the modern day. (the one without brain-eating zombies that are incredibly unintelligent [yet] or sentient plants that shoot projectiles) Like any normal day, Zack was playing Stumble Dudes on his ZCrate Two. Suddenly, Zack’s phone rang with some report. Zack ignored it. So, I made his TV explode. Actually no, I didn’t. I just paused his game. Zack unpaused it. This is important. So I glued his eyes to his screen. (sort of) Now he has t- he just looked away. Fine. Wait, hold up… I write this story, so he paused his game and watched it. Why? No one knows. The report started.
The reporter stated, “We have an exclusive interview with a young teenager who experienced an attack in New Pork City.” (however the last part fizzled out and no one heard it so no one knows where its from. Except Zack. why? u will see later.)
The report switched to the exclusive (you have to say it like that) interview.
“So – uh,” this one teenage guy started with shakiness in his voice, “I was just walking and I saw this uh zombie thing and it started chasing me he finally caught up and pulled me away into a forest and I saw this like machine guy luckily I escaped.” (He literally used one breath to say that)
The report ended. Zack was disappointed. It was the shortest “report” he had had ever seen.
“That was so fake,” Zack thought.
Zack thought it was fake. (no really) But he also possibly thought this could be real. But you will not. This was no lie. Indeed, their was a monster invasion. This was started because the “machine guy” named Professor Alexander J. Iterolshoccfgelbyxwqusetinayusenerbergenslodorrffheerngerbedohiosaucefytion (have fun pronouncing that) was in an accident. (How sad) I will be kind, and we will call him Prof. Iterol for short. (ur welcome) Anyways, I forget what accident it was, but no one actually cares. Anyway, Prof. Iterol rebuilt himself after the accident making him a sort of cyborg. This somehow resulted in him wanting to destroy the world. I don’t know why he chose this, but he did. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I told you I was unreliable. Anyway, he decided to create monsters to destroy the world and end humanity. (that makes sense) He conveniently made a so-called “leader” for each Word document. Anyway, the next day Zack rode his bike to school like normal to school. Zack parked his bike and went inside where he met his best friend, Jacob Moore. He is our deuteragonist. Jacob is also in 7th grade. (he’s 12 like Zack) Jacob is incredibly smart, having all A’s in his classes and being in all GT classes. Jacob really likes computers and video games and has absolutely zero athletic ability. (nerd) We could also talk all day about random facts about him like how he has an older sister, or how he is very, very precise, but again we won’t. Anyway, they walked together into the school. Almost everyone was talking about the monster invasion report. Jacob and Zack completely ignored this. Zack looked back at the entrance and went to his locker with Jacob.
“So, you think this monster stuff is real?” Zack said.
“It is clearly fake,” Jacob said, “There is no way this is true.”
Zack shook his head in agreement. But Jacob was wrong. Very wrong. If he was right, we wouldn’t have a story. The two then walked to their classrooms. Zack headed to room 608 while Jacob headed to 504. Zack sat down at his desk and he quietly waited in his seat for class to begin. Zack’s first class was Science. Normalville Middle worked like every other middle school. (Give or take) Each student has Science, Math, English, History, Lunch, P.E and a “Flex” (students didn’t do anything, just to study or hang-out). Each student also gets to choose a subject called an Elective. (Computer coding, for example) (also no idea why I put that) Zack had Science, then GT Math, English, Lunch, P.E, Flex, Engineering (not his choice), and then GT History. Zack had Mrs. Kelly for science. Mrs. Kelly wasn’t a bad teacher, especially better than Jacob’s science teacher Mr. Roe, who Jacob says Zack would hate. While waiting, Zack noticed a boy he hadn’t seen in his class before walk in. Zack assumed he was in the wrong class, but he came in and hovered in the seat next to Zack.
“Hey, mind if I sit here?” The boy said.
“No,” Zack said.
“What’s your name?” The boy said, sitting in the desk.
“Zack,” Zack said.
“Hey, I have the same name,” Zack (the one that just walked in) said, “I’m new here, today’s my first day, actually.”
Now, it may be confusing having two characters with the same name. So the Zack that we all know very well will be called Main-Character Zack and the one that just walked in is New Zack. We will only use these names when they are close together, and actually have a use. This happens frequently. Hope that clears that up. Anyway, I lied. At the beginning I said there would be a protagonist, antagonist and a deuteragonist. That is not true. We have another deuteragonist. (Just throwing that out there) Anyways, you probably want an introduction to New Zack, as he’s important to the story. no. I’m too lazy to do that. Anyway, class started. Mrs. Kelly’s class was currently learning about food chains. He was pretty good at science, having a 94 in the class. Main-Character Zack was usually pretty quick to answer any question Mrs. Kelly would ask the class. This, however, would change. New Zack was better. For every question, New Zack was quicker then Main-Character Zack. This made Main-Character Zack angry at New Zack. A bit of jealousy arose, simply. (woah, woah. no need to get fancy) After 45 minutes class was over. Next class was math. Math was a good class for Main-Character Zack class, for 2 reasons. #1 He was in the same class as Jacob and #2 he had Mr. Chud, his favorite teacher. It was also better when New Zack went to 509, Ms. Mint’s class. Main-Character Zack was relieved to see this. (I was also relieved to see this because you have no idea how annoying it is to type “Main-Character Zack” and “New Zack” so many times. It is so much easier to just type “Zack”) Oh, urm, sorry for that. Anyway, Zack took his seat next to Jacob, who was already their.
“Hey,” Zack said.
“Hi,” Jacob said.
That’s how there relationship works. Very awkward conversations like that. But neither of them minded it. Class started.
“Settle down class,” Mr. Chud said, “Get out your textbooks and turn to page 42.”
Everyone got out their textbooks (except Brian who never has his textbook) and turned to page 42. It had information about Pi. In case you don’t know Pi is equal to about 3.14. I would have put the first million digits, but that crashed the word document. Anyway, Mr. Chud taught the class what Pi was equal to why it is actually used. Class ended. (I describe class so goodly) English time! (why is that exciting) Zack headed to Ms. Mint’s class in room 509. New Zack already had English meaning Main-Character Zack and New Zack wouldn’t be in the same class. (why does that sound so poorly written [also why so many parentheses]) Now, I understand you may be asking “hey, how does some random kids going to school have to do with a monster invasion?” (you asked exactly that) Well, see, invasions don’t happen in a day. (what, why did I put that) They take some time. So, filler stuff is being thrown in here too make it sort of realistic. (I totally didn’t put this here so I could stall English, no never) Also, why does my writing style seem so different though. hrm, I actually have no idea. Okay English. Zac- hrm actually you may be right. Hmm, maybe I could- uh, just skip English, hmmm, no. Zack’s English class was currently in a poetry unit. It was a basic class, just a reading and questions. (my brain is not braining right now) Class ended. (I cant do this) lunch! Cool, bye for now! (pain sounds)… urm sorry for that. (Don’t mind this black bar. When I was writing that stuff it was the last day of school and I was actually brain dead) Where were we? Lunch I guess… Actually English time! Zack walked in and sat down. Zack’s class was in the middle of a poetry unit. Individually each of them read the poem, uh, I don’t know, I wasn’t there, let’s say *googling poems for 7th graders*, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, that one. It was pretty basic, fill out some questions, summarize the poem, find a theme, basic stuff. Alright, so before we get to lunch, I have something to say, or I guess type. We have a supporting antagonist. I’m just going to say that. Not who it is or anything, except that it is someone who appears good, but is actually evil. Ok time to introduce a new character. In a second. Zack grabbed his stuff in his classroom and headed to his locker. Zack put his stuff in his locker and went to the cafeteria. Zack decided to get school pizza for lunch, which was… okay, it wasn’t the best pizza ever but it wasn’t terrible. Alongside that he got a brown apple that he or no one else in the school was ever going to eat. Zack sat down at his usual table and waited for Jacob. Jacob soon came with his lunch box and sat down next to Zack. Jacob had a sandwich, an apple (that he was actually going to eat), celery, and yogurt. Both of them waited for someone. (I’ll tell you who in a second). Eventually a girl with red hair named Ella sat down. This is our new character. Ella Flipper, technically Ellianna (she hates that name) is a friend of Zack and Jacob. She is 13 years old (she’s slightly older than Jacob or Zack). She is quite lazy, and always tries to find the easiest way to do something (such as rolling on Heelys instead of walking to most places). She is quite bright and smart but doesn’t apply herself. Ella has low A’s though she could do better. She can roller-skate very well (unlike Jacob or Zack). Ella likes drawing and is very good at it, taking an Art class at school. Oh, and most importantly, she has a slight addiction to the semi-popular drink Yoo-Hoo. Yes, that’s important. She drinks one water bottle full of it every day and brings it everywhere. We could be here all day talking about her like how her parents are divorced or how she pronounces some words incorrectly due to her braces, but don’t worry, I got you, we won’t. Okay, back to the story.
“Sorry I couldn’t meet you guys before ‘shool’, my mom has a ‘busyness’ trip, or whatever, and I had to take my brother to school,” Ella said.
“It’s fine,” Zack said.
Ella started eating her lunch consisting of microwave mac and cheese and… yeah that’s it.
“So, what do you think about this ‘monstor’ situation?” Ella said.
“Absolutely fake,” Zack said.
“I wouldn’t be so sure. I’m going to start preparing after school, and you guys should too,” Ella said.
“Hmm, I guess that could be a good idea, in case it is real,” Jacob said.
“I guess so. As long as my dad doesn’t yell at me for stocking supplies or something,” Zack said.
Lunch ended. Zack headed to the boy locker room, Jacob went to 605 Mr. Roe’s class, and Ella rolled to the art studio, 102. Zack changed into his gym clothes and went to the gym. Mr. Koptaz was the gym teacher. Zack joined a few other students. Eventually Mr. Koptaz started.
“Okay, today we are going to play badminton,” Mr. Koptaz said.
Mr. Koptaz went through the rules and how to hit the… uh, the thing, whatever the thing for badminton is.
“Alright, now I’m going to break you into twos.” Mr. Koptaz stated, as he shuffled the students into twos, “You two. Yep, scoot over. Okay. You and your partner get a racket and one shuttlecock per partner and find a net.” (Oh that’s what it’s called)
Zack got placed with a boy named Liam. Let’s say Zack easily won against Liam. After class Zack changed to his normal clothes. Zack had Flex next. During Flex you are basically restricted to the library. Zack headed to the library and saw Ella sitting at a table.
“Hey,” Ella said.
“Yo,” Zack said.
“You have P.E. after lunch, right?” Ella asked.
“Yeah, we played badminton today, I totally won, 14-2” Zack said, sort of flexing.
Ella giggled, “You’re so goofy, Zack. The girls played ‘bolleyball’ today.”
“So? I bet you did nothing,” Zack teased.
“Something, surprisingly. I scored 1 point. I was just standing there, ‘borned’ out of my mind, the ball hit my face, and my glasses fell, but it went over the net,” Ella said, sort of proud. (oh yeah, she wears glasses. Guess I forgot)
Zack chuckled. Zack and Ella chatted for the rest of class instead of studying or whatever. Flex ended. Engineering was next for Zack. Zack walked out of the library to 103 or the Engineering room. Zack didn’t particularly like Engineering, but it wasn’t terrible. Zack had a sub today. As everyone knows, whenever there’s a sub it’s always an easy day (usually). Zack sat down at the worn desks and waited. The sub started class… 10 minutes late. The substitute teacher’s name was Mr. Dartery. Mr. Dartery passed out a worksheet that was really easy. History was next. History was the only class where Zack, Jacob, and Ella had a class together. History was in room 406, which was outside. Zack went to the portables outside. Zack sat down at his desk and saw Ella sitting across the room from him in her seat. Jacob came in later looking really red.
“Hey, Zack,” Jacob said, sitting in his desk close to Zack’s.
Mrs. Jones started class.
“Okay, we’re doing a group project. Get into groups of 3 to 4 and sit down together,” she said.
Zack and Jacob moved over to Ella knowing she wouldn’t have moved. After everyone was in groups, Mrs. Jones explained the project. Each group had to choose a person from a conflict and write about them and explain why they were the best or most influential in that conflict.
“Okay, first, what conflict are we choosing?” Jacob said.
“Cold War and Kennedy,” Ella said immediately after.
“Okay, why, Ella?” Jacob said.
“Because. He’s my favorite president,” Ella said.
“So? We are choosing some based on how influential they were, not because we like them,” Jacob said.
“He was important. He was there during the missile crisis, or whatever,” Ella said.
“True, but there are more people that influenced the cold war, like…” Jacob started.
“No way! Kennedy’s the most important,” Ella said.
Both of them argued until Jacob finally gave in.
“Fine! We can do Kennedy,” Jacob said.
“Yes!” Ella squealed, very high and girly.
Most of the work time was wasted by Jacob and Ella’s argument. By the time they started working, class ended. Zack, Jacob and Ella went to their lockers and grabbed their stuff.
“So, I would like to work on the History project after school together,” Jacob said.
“Okay, let’s go to my house and work, so we don’t have to deal with your sister, Jacob, or your brother, Ella,” Zack said.
“Sorry, we have to go to my house actually. Remember? My mom has her trip, and she forced me to babysit my little brother,” Ella said.
“Okay, whatever,” Zack said, “Just don’t let him bug us.”
“Okay. Go to my house and wait for me to pick him up. Don’t lose the key or break anything. And DON’T go in my room!” Ella said.
“Okay,” Jacob said.
Ella threw the keys to her house in Zack and Jacob’s direction and Jacob, being an unathletic nerd, missed terribly, but Zack caught it. Ella roller-skated towards the elementary school. Now if ever (like right now) these 3 are apart, we will focus on one, and then the other, okay? So, Zack and Jacob got on their bikes and rode towards Ella’s house. Ella’s house was like any other house in Normalville, very dull and gray. Zack basically threw his bike on the porch, while Jacob neatly parked his bike, very straight. Zack unlocked the door and went inside. Like the outside, the inside was very plain. It looked like a basic home, nothing special. Zack and Jacob sat down on the couch, sitting in awkward silence for about 5 minutes. Usually, the three would go to Zack’s house, as he was an only child, but they did visit each other occasionally.
“So, did you meet that new kid, ‘Zack?’” Zack asked.
“Yeah, he is in my coding class,” Jacob said, “He seems all right.”
“Definitely not. He’s so annoying. He’s way better at science than me,” Zack said.
“So? People can be better at things than you,” Jacob said.
“I know, but science is really the only thing I’m really good at,” Zack said, “Besides, he gives me… odd vibes.”
“Really? What makes you say th...” Jacob started.
A knocking sound came from the door. Okay Ella’s perspective now. (amazing transition bro) The elementary school was about, hmm, 7 minutes away if you were walking. However, Ella was roller-skating, making it more like 4 minutes. Ella pulled out her pink earbuds (it was all they had and Ella was too lazy to come back later, she also thinks they’re ironic, because she hates pink, she likes green. [why are these parentheses so long, dude?]) and plugged them into her phone. She, uhh, (oh, dude. This was way better in my head okay) turned on… actually, no idea, but probably a Plants vs. Zombies theme. Okay, Ella arrived at “Normalville Elementary School”. The school was a brick building in the shape of a rectangle. Ella skated to the outside door of Mrs. Badjeep’s 2nd grade class. Ella waited outside for 2 minutes. Eventually, a school bell rang. Soon Ella saw Mrs. Badjeep lead her 2nd graders out the door. Ella grabbed her little brother, Timmy’s, arm and pulled him away.
“Hey! You didn’t let me say goodbye, Ella,” Timmy said.
“I don’t care. We need to get home quick. My friends are over there,” Ella said.
“Mom, said you couldn’t have anyone over, Ellianna. Especially if no one’s home,” Timmy said mockingly.
“Don’t call me Ellianna,” Ella said coldly, “It’s not like they’re doing anything, they’re probably sitting on the couch, awkwardly staring at each other. Besides, it’s for school.”
“Hmm, I don’t believe that. You’re probably going to do something with your boyfriends,” Timmy said.
“They are NOT my boyfriends!” Ella yelled at Timmy.
Timmy looked like he was going to cry. Ella looked very proud that she was able to make Timmy stop crying. Eventually Ella and Timmy were at their house. Ella knocked on the door. Okay, back to the present. Almost 3 seconds later…
“Hey! Let me in my own house!” Ella shouted through the door, pounding on it.
Zack dashed over to the door and opened it.
“Thank you! Why did that take so long, Zack?” Ella said rudely.
“It wasn’t even 10 seconds!” Zack said, slightly confused.
“Why do you have to be so mean to your friend?” Timmy asked, very quietly.
Ella ignored Timmy completely. “So… what’d you guys do? Let me guess… Sitting on the couch, staring at each other.”
“Yeah,” Zack and Jacob agreed.
Ella kicked off her roller-skates and put on her Heelys. Ella grabbed her water bottle and threw her backpack.
“Okay, now we need to work on the History project,” Jacob said.
Zack, Jacob and Ella went to the table and sat down. Jacob pulled out the little notes he had and put them on the table.
“Okay, so, with our, discussion, on what to do took most of class, we need to catch-up and get some of this project start…” Jacob started.
“Hey, Ella, what am I supposed to do?” Timmy asked quietly.
“I don’t know! Figure it out. Just don’t bother us,” Ella said.
Timmy ran off upstairs.
“That’s odd. Timmy’s usually really loud,” Zack wondered.
“Probably because I yelled at him for calling you my ‘boyfriends’ or whatever,” Ella said.
“That is a bit mean Ella, even for you,” Jacob said.
“No way! I’ll probably yell at him until I move out… if that does happen though,” Ella said.
The trio started working on their History project. They talked about their parts, and Ella drew a picture of Kennedy. Jacob had to explain why he was important. Zack had to write the intro. They all had to write about a specific event, and Ella picked the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ella was obsessed with that part of history for some reason. Timmy was playing with his Legos upstairs. The house was silent except for the occasional clinking of Legos. The doorbell rang. (Who could it be?) It was probably Mrs. Flipper, but she had her key. (oh, wait she forgot it) It was definitely not Mrs. Flipper. Ella hoped it wasn’t a neighbor asking for sugar, because they had none. She told Timmy to go answer it.
Timmy slowly went down the stairs and to the door. He opened it and there was a boy with dark hair and a weird robotic arm standing there. The boy looked about 13, maybe 14. Timmy looked at him weirdly, “What do you want?”
The boy looked at Timmy and then back at the stairs, “Is Ella here?”
Ella’s heart skipped a beat. She knew that voice. She hadn’t heard it in over five years. It was a name she had tried to forget, a name that brought back memories of a strange summer camp where she had encountered something she could never explain. It was the name of her old camp counselor. New Zack.
Zack and Jacob exchanged confused glances. “You know him?” Zack whispered.
Ella nodded, her voice trembling slightly, “Yeah, he’s my...my old camp counselor from when I was a kid. I didn’t know he was back in town.”
Timmy looked up at Ella, his eyes wide with curiosity, “Is he a friend?”
Ella took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. She didn’t know what to say. New Zack was a friend, yes, but so much more than that. He had been her confidant, her guide through a world she hadn’t understood. But that was before. Before everything had changed. Before she had forgotten.
“Ella?” New Zack’s voice called out from the doorway, echoing through the hallway. She stood up, her legs feeling like jelly, and walked down the stairs. She hadn’t seen him since she was nine years old, and now here he was, standing in her house, looking exactly the same.
“Hi,” she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
New Zack’s eyes lit up at the sight of her. “Ella! It’s been so long!” He took a step forward, reaching out his robotic arm for a hug. The sight of it sent a shiver down her spine, bringing back a flood of memories she had buried deep.
Zack and Jacob looked on, utterly confused. This wasn’t the same New Zack they knew from school, the one who had transferred in and didn’t know anyone. This was someone from Ella’s past, someone who clearly meant a lot to her.
New Zack stepped into the house, his robotic arm retracting slightly. “You guys are working on a project?” He glanced at the books and notes scattered across the table. “Looks intense. Can I help?”
Ella felt a mix of emotions—relief that he was offering to help, and anxiety about what secrets he might uncover. She nodded, trying to keep her voice steady. “We’re doing a History project on Kennedy. We could use an extra hand, I guess.”
New Zack’s eyes scanned the room, and he noticed the puzzled looks on Zack and Jacob’s faces. He chuckled, a warm sound that made Ella’s heart ache with nostalgia. “I’m New Zack, by the way. Ella’s old camp counselor. And apparently, I’ve got some catching up to do with her school friends.”
Zack and Jacob exchanged glances again, trying to piece together who this stranger with the robotic arm was to their friend. They tentatively introduced themselves, still not quite sure what to make of the situation. New Zack nodded and smiled, his eyes never leaving Ella’s.
The four of them settled around the table, the tension in the room palpable. New Zack picked up one of the books and started flipping through it, his eyes scanning the pages with surprising speed. Zack couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy—he had never seen anyone read so quickly.
Jacob cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence. “So, what’s with the arm?” he asked, pointing at New Zack’s metal limb.
New Zack looked down at it, then back up with a grin. “Ah, the pièce de résistance. It’s a long story, but the short version is that I had an accident a few years ago. They had to replace my old one with this fancy robotic model.” He flexed it slightly, the gears whirring softly. “It’s got its perks, though. I can do some pretty cool tricks with it.”
Timmy’s eyes lit up. “Can you show us?”
Ella shot him a look, but New Zack just chuckled and held up a finger. “Later, buddy. We’ve got work to do first.” He turned his attention back to the project.
They spent the next few hours researching and discussing the intricacies of Kennedy’s presidency. New Zack’s knowledge was vast, and he filled in gaps that the others hadn’t even known existed. His insights were sharp and insightful, and Ella found herself drawn to him again, despite her initial hesitation.
As they worked, the tension between Ella and New Zack grew thicker, unspoken words hanging in the air. Zack and Jacob couldn’t help but feel like they were on the outside looking in, unsure of what they were missing. They threw glances at each other, silently questioning the bond between Ella and this mysterious newcomer.
Timmy, oblivious to the undercurrents, bombarded New Zack with questions about his robotic arm, which he patiently and humorously answered, distracting the group from the tension. His charisma was undeniable, and even Zack found himself warming up to him, if only for the sake of the project.
Ella couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to New Zack’s sudden appearance than met the eye. She remembered the camp vividly—how he had been there for her when she had seen things that no one else believed. He had been her rock in a world that had turned upside down. But why now? Why show up after all these years?
As the evening progressed, New Zack’s presence grew more comfortable, his laughter filling the room as they debated the merits of different sources. The robotic arm became less of a curiosity and more a part of him, moving with a grace that seemed almost natural. Yet, every time Ella’s gaze fell on it, she was reminded of the unanswered questions that lay between them.
Jacob leaned in, whispering to Zack, “What’s the deal with Ella and New Zack? They have history?”
Zack shrugged, equally intrigued. “No idea, but it’s definitely more than just camp stories.”
The clock chimed, and Ella’s mother called out from the kitchen, “Dinner’s ready, everyone!”
The group reluctantly pulled themselves away from the project, their heads spinning with dates and facts. They shuffled into the dining room, where Ella’s mother had laid out a simple but delicious spread. New Zack took a seat at the table, his robotic arm folding neatly beside him.
Ella’s mother looked at him with curiosity. “So, you’re Ella’s old camp counselor?” she asked, placing a plate of food in front of him.
New Zack nodded, his eyes meeting Ella’s briefly before looking back at her mother. “Yes, ma’am. It’s been a while, but I’ve missed her a lot.”
Ella’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked down at her plate, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through her chest. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed him too.
Dinner was a mix of small talk and the occasional question about the History project. New Zack was surprisingly adept at blending in, sharing stories from his own school days and keeping the conversation light. Yet, every so often, Ella would catch him looking at her with an intensity that made her squirm in her seat.
After dinner, they all returned to the project, but the energy in the room had shifted. The questions about New Zack’s arm had subsided, replaced by a tension that grew stronger with every tick of the clock. Ella found it increasingly difficult to focus on the words in front of her, her mind racing with thoughts of their shared past.
As the night grew later, Ella’s mother yawned and announced it was time for Timmy to go to bed. Reluctantly, Timmy said his goodnights and trudged upstairs. The moment he was out of earshot, Ella’s mother turned to New Zack, her eyes filled with a motherly concern. “Is everything okay, Ella? You two seem... I don’t know, distant?”
Ella felt a pang of guilt. She hadn’t told her mother about New Zack’s past visits or the strange occurrences at camp. She didn’t know how to explain them without sounding like she had made it all up. “We’re fine, Mom. Just catching up on old times.”
Her mother studied her for a moment before nodding, “Okay, dear. But if you need to talk about anything, you know where to find me.”
With a sigh of relief, Ella watched her mother leave the room. Once the door clicked shut, she turned to Zack and Jacob. “Guys, I need to talk to New Zack alone for a bit. Can you give us some space?”
They exchanged puzzled glances but nodded in understanding, gathering their things and retreating to Zack’s room upstairs. The silence that followed was deafening, the only sound the distant murmur of the TV.
Ella took a deep breath, her heart racing. “What are you doing here, New Zack?” she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He leaned back in his chair, his robotic arm resting on the tabletop. “I heard you were in trouble. That you needed help. I had to come back.” His eyes searched hers, filled with a concern that was all too familiar.
Ella’s mind raced. “What do you mean? How did you even find me?”
New Zack gave a small, knowing smile. “I’ve always had a way of finding people who need me, Ella. And you’ve definitely left a trail of breadcrumbs.”
Ella felt a chill run down her spine. “What are you talking about?”
New Zack leaned in closer, his gaze intense. “You’ve been seeing things, haven’t you? The same things you saw at camp. I know because I’ve seen them too. I’ve been watching over you, making sure you’re safe. I had to make sure you weren’t alone in this again.”
Ella’s eyes widened. She had tried so hard to convince herself that those memories were just childhood imaginings, but now, faced with the reality of New Zack’s presence, she couldn’t ignore the truth. She nodded, her voice shaking. “I...I don’t know what’s happening to me. I see things that aren’t there. And now you’re here, with that arm...it’s just like before.”
New Zack reached out and took her hand, his robotic fingers surprisingly warm and gentle. “It’s okay, Ella. You’re not crazy. What you saw at camp was real. And I’m here to help you make sense of it all again.”
Ella felt a weight lift from her shoulders. It was a relief to finally have someone who understood, who knew her secrets. But at the same time, fear bubbled up inside her. If what she had seen was real, then that meant her whole world was about to change again. And she wasn’t sure she was ready for that.
“What do you mean, you’ve been watching over me?” she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and accusation.
“I’ve kept tabs on you through the years, Ella. After what happened at camp, I knew you were special. That you would need guidance when the time came for you to remember. And now, it seems like that time is now,” New Zack replied, his grip on her hand tightening slightly.
Ella pulled away, her mind racing. “Remember what? What are you talking about?”
New Zack sighed heavily, his eyes searching hers. “Do you really not remember, Ella? The camp wasn’t just a summer retreat. It was a place where kids like you and me were sent to learn about our abilities. To control them before they got out of hand. And it seems like your powers are starting to resurface.”
Ella’s heart raced as she tried to piece together the puzzle of her fragmented memories. “Powers?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “What kind of powers?”
New Zack leaned back, his expression softening. “You used to be able to see things others couldn’t—spirits, energy patterns, the threads that connect us all. It’s a gift, but it can be overwhelming. The camp was supposed to help us understand and control it, but it seems like they didn’t do a very good job with you. Your mind blocked it all out to protect you.”
Ella felt her stomach drop. Spirits? Energy patterns? It all sounded so unreal, yet the vividness of her camp memories suggested there was truth to his words. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “What do you mean, 'kids like you and me'?”
New Zack’s smile was sad. “We’re not like everyone else, Ella. We’re part of a lineage, a line of people who can see beyond the veil. It’s a gift, but it comes with a responsibility. And it seems like your gift is stronger than most. That’s why they sent you to camp, and why I’ve been keeping an eye on you. To make sure you’re safe and to help you when it’s time to embrace your heritage.”
Ella’s thoughts were a whirlwind. She had always felt different, but to think that there was a reason, that she had powers... it was too much to take in. She looked down at her hands, trying to find some evidence of the abilities he spoke of.
“But why now?” she asked, her voice shaking. “Why is this happening again?”
“Because the world is changing, Ella. There are forces at work that are threatening to expose us all, and I need you to be ready. The things you saw at camp, the things you’ve been seeing lately, they’re not just hallucinations or figments of your imagination. They’re real, and they’re part of a much larger picture.” New Zack’s voice was low, urgent.
Ella felt a cold shiver run down her spine. “What kind of forces?”
New Zack’s expression grew serious. “I can’t say for certain, but I’ve heard whispers of an organization that’s been experimenting with our kind. They’re looking for those with the strongest abilities to exploit them, to use them for their own gain. And I think they might be coming for you, Ella. That’s why I’m here. To protect you and help you harness your power before it’s too late.”
Ella’s mind reeled. An organization? Coming for her? It all sounded like something out of a science fiction novel, but the earnestness in New Zack’s voice made it feel alarmingly real. She looked around the room, her eyes landing on the half-finished project. It seemed so trivial now compared to what was happening.
“What kind of power do you think I have?” she asked, her voice shaking.
New Zack leaned back in his chair, his robotic arm whirring slightly as he adjusted his position. “You’re an empath, Ella. You can feel the emotions of others, and sometimes even see their thoughts. It’s a powerful gift, but it can also be incredibly overwhelming. That’s why it’s so important that you learn to control it. And quickly.”
Ella’s eyes widened. An empath? It explained so much about her life—her ability to sense when someone was lying, the way she sometimes felt bombarded by the feelings of those around her, and the strange visions she’d had at camp. But an organization after her? It was too much to process.
“But how do you know all this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
New Zack leaned forward, his eyes intense. “Because I’ve been through it too. I’ve seen what they’re capable of. And I won’t let them get to you, not without a fight.”
Ella’s mind raced with questions, but she couldn’t find the words to ask them. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt a mix of fear and excitement. This was all so much to take in, but something deep inside her knew he was telling the truth.
“What do we do now?” she finally managed to ask.
New Zack’s expression grew serious. “We need to get you trained, Ella. Fast. You can’t go on like this, not knowing what you’re capable of. It’s too dangerous. And with the monster invasion happening, it’s more crucial than ever that we figure out how to control your abilities. They could be the key to stopping whatever is happening in Normalville.”
Ella’s eyes widened. “The monsters? What do they have to do with this?”
New Zack nodded solemnly. “Everything. The monsters are a distraction, a way to keep the public’s attention away from the real threat. But we can’t ignore them. They’re a sign that something much larger is at play. And with your abilities, you might be the only one who can see through the chaos and find the truth.”
Ella’s thoughts swirled, trying to piece together the insanity of the situation. Monsters, secret organizations, and hidden powers. It was like a dream she couldn’t wake up from. “But what about school? My friends? I can’t just drop everything and become some kind of superhero!”
New Zack’s gaze softened. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but you can’t ignore this, Ella. You’re not just any kid anymore. You have a responsibility to use your gift to protect those you care about. And I’ll be here to help you every step of the way.”
Ella’s mind was a blur of thoughts and emotions. The weight of what New Zack was saying felt too heavy to bear. She looked over at Zack and Jacob, who were both watching her with a mix of concern and confusion. They had no idea what was happening, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready to tell them the truth.
“I need some time to think,” she murmured, standing up from the table.
New Zack nodded, understanding in his eyes. “Take all the time you need, Ella. But know that time is of the essence. The longer we wait, the more danger you and everyone else is in.”
Ella walked over to the window, staring out into the night. The streetlights cast a warm glow over the quiet neighborhood, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. Her reflection in the glass was a stark reminder of the girl she had been at camp, the one who had seen things that no one else could.
“I’ll talk to them tomorrow,” she said, turning to face New Zack. “I need to figure out what’s happening to me first.”
He nodded, his expression a mix of understanding and urgency. “Take tonight to think, but remember, the sooner we act, the better. And Ella, don’t tell anyone about this, not even your friends. It’s too dangerous. They won’t understand, and they could get hurt.”
Ella nodded, feeling the gravity of his words. She knew he was right, but keeping secrets from Zack and Jacob was going to be hard. She watched as New Zack gathered his things and headed towards the door, his robotic arm moving with an eerie grace that was both fascinating and unsettling.
As the door clicked shut behind him, she let out a deep sigh and turned to face her friends. "Guys, I need to tell you something," she began, her voice shaking.
Zack and Jacob looked at each other, the confusion in their eyes mirrored. "What's going on, Ella?" Zack asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
Ella took a deep breath, her heart racing as she tried to find the words to explain the unexplainable. "Remember what New Zack said about my gift?" she began, her voice trembling slightly.
Zack and Jacob exchanged glances, the puzzle pieces slowly starting to fall into place. "You mean, like your empathy?" Jacob ventured, his eyes wide with a mix of wonder and fear.
Ella nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "It's not just that. It's so much more. And it's all connected to what happened at camp, and the monsters here in Normalville."
Zack and Jacob stared at her, their expressions a mix of disbelief and concern. "What do you mean?" Zack's voice was tentative, as if he didn't want to break the fragile bubble of Ella's revelation.
Ella took a deep breath, steeling herself for the truth she was about to share. "I think I can see things that others can't. Spirits, energy, like New Zack said. And with the monsters around, it's all getting stronger." She looked from one friend to the other, searching for any hint of judgment or skepticism.
Jacob's eyes grew wide with excitement. "Whoa, that's crazy, Ella! But also... kind of cool?" He looked at Zack for confirmation, but Zack remained silent, his gaze fixed on Ella, his mind racing with questions.
"What do you mean, 'seeing spirits'? Like, ghosts?" Zack's voice was cautious, his skepticism clear.
Ella nodded, her eyes filling with a newfound seriousness. "Yes, but it's not just that. It's like... I can sense things, feelings, sometimes even thoughts. It's been happening more often since the monsters appeared."
Jacob leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "But how does that help with the monsters?"
Ella's gaze drifted to the floor, her thoughts tangled. "I don't know exactly, but New Zack said that understanding and controlling my abilities could be key to stopping them. And he's right, I can't ignore this anymore."
Zack leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. "So, what's the plan, then? Are we going to start fighting monsters with our History project?" His tone was laced with skepticism, but Ella could see the flicker of belief in his eyes.
Ella took a deep breath, her mind racing. "I don't know. But we can't ignore this. New Zack's right. We need to find out more about these powers and what's happening in Normalville."
Jacob's eyes lit up. "Maybe we can use this for our History project! We could do a whole section on the supernatural events in the town's history!"
Zack shot him a look. "This isn't about the project, Jacob. This is about Ella's safety, and apparently, the fate of Normalville."
Jacob's enthusiasm deflated, and he nodded solemnly. "You're right. We need to help her."
Ella looked at both of them, feeling a swell of gratitude. "Thank you, guys. I know this is all insane, but I can't do it alone."
Zack nodded firmly. "We're in this together, Ella. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out."
Ella felt a warmth spread through her chest. "But we can't just dive into this without a plan. We need to know more about these powers and what's happening in Normalville."
Zack leaned forward, his eyes intense. "We'll start with the camp. Maybe there's something there that can explain all of this. We can look into its history, see if anyone else has had similar experiences."
Ella nodded, feeling a spark of hope. "That's a good idea. Maybe there are records or something that can tell us more about what happened to me, and why it's all coming back now."
Jacob's eyes widened with excitement. "And we could use the school's archives to see if there's any connection between the camp and the monsters!"
(I am writing a story and thought it would be funny to see how AI would continue it. Try to guess where the AI generated part starts!)
Chapter 1 Prologue... i guess
This is not a book. This is a Word document. I don’t know how you obtained this, but you somehow did. I can’t take it away from you, but I can stop you from reading it. How, you may ask? It is simple. Putting things in the Word document to make you stop reading. Like the last part of the book, uh I mean Word document, which is below:
Um. Oh. Urm. I haven’t finished it yet. You are lucky. How about this? Changing the font color to white. See you now can’t read anything. Wait, what do mean you can read this? Um, (panic noises) ohh, um, changing the font to Wingdings, the font impossible to read, or decipher. Now you can’t read anything. Wait, no, not again. Uh, urm, oh, changing the font size to ridiculously small. See now you can’t even see anything. Wait, no. What if I randomly change the font? Hmm? No? ok. This? No? This? No? (sigh) Wh@t iF 1 typ3 LikE tHis/ No? Well, I tried. That means I lied. I can’t stop you. I give up. If somehow you didn’t notice this is not a professional book Word document. If you wanted something that was professional and actually makes sense, I’m sorry. This is not you’re b-Word document.
If you wanted that, then throw this bo-Word document out your window. (Have fun getting refunds) If you are reading this you will only get entertainment out of it. (maybe) There will be zero analogies or symbols. (I’m afraid I don’t no any) Also-Also, there will be know figurative language or sensory details, because their cringe. (why there extra space?) If your using this for an English project, choose a different Word document. Your better off reading something else, and not have a 99.999999999999999999999999999% chance of getting a 0% on your project. You have been warned. I am not a reliable narrator. Do not believe anything I say. (paradox time) If you are still reading you clearly don’t care, so I will start the story now.(awkward space)
Chapter 2 1: The First Bit of Writing in the Word Document That’s Actually About the Story and Not Me Just Talking About Random Stuff
Every good Word document needs a protagonist, antagonist, and a plot. So, we start here with Zack Noodleman and… an antagonist. Their will also be a deuteragonist. You’ll see them later. (also no plot
) Let’s start with Zack Noodleman. Zack is 12 years old, and in the 7th grade. He attends Normalville Middle School. This shows that he lives in Normalville. (that makes no sense) Nothing abnormal or special ever happens in Normalville. Zack is an average student, getting mostly B’s and a few A’s. Zack is a decent athlete but doesn’t play any sports. Zack is pretty good at science for some reason. We could be here all day talking about random and useless facts about him like how his favorite color is blue or how his favorite number is 6, but we won’t. Now I will start the story. In case you couldn’t tell this story is set in the modern day. (the one without brain-eating zombies that are incredibly unintelligent [yet] or sentient plants that shoot projectiles) Like any normal day, Zack was playing Stumble Dudes on his ZCrate Two. Suddenly, Zack’s phone rang with some report. Zack ignored it. So, I made his TV explode. Actually no, I didn’t. I just paused his game. Zack unpaused it. This is important. So I glued his eyes to his screen. (sort of) Now he has t- he just looked away. Fine. Wait, hold up… I write this story, so he paused his game and watched it. Why? No one knows. The report started.The reporter stated, “We have an exclusive interview with a young teenager who experienced an attack in New Pork City.” (however the last part fizzled out and no one heard it so no one knows where its from. Except Zack. why? u will see later.)
The report switched to the exclusive (you have to say it like that) interview.
“So – uh,” this one teenage guy started with shakiness in his voice, “I was just walking and I saw this uh zombie thing and it started chasing me he finally caught up and pulled me away into a forest and I saw this like machine guy luckily I escaped.” (He literally used one breath to say that)
The report ended. Zack was disappointed. It was the shortest “report” he had had ever seen.
“That was so fake,” Zack thought.
Zack thought it was fake. (no really) But he also possibly thought this could be real. But you will not. This was no lie. Indeed, their was a monster invasion. This was started because the “machine guy” named Professor Alexander J. Iterolshoccfgelbyxwqusetinayusenerbergenslodorrffheerngerbedohiosaucefytion (have fun pronouncing that) was in an accident. (How sad) I will be kind, and we will call him Prof. Iterol for short. (ur welcome) Anyways, I forget what accident it was, but no one actually cares. Anyway, Prof. Iterol rebuilt himself after the accident making him a sort of cyborg. This somehow resulted in him wanting to destroy the world. I don’t know why he chose this, but he did. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I told you I was unreliable. Anyway, he decided to create monsters to destroy the world and end humanity. (that makes sense) He conveniently made a so-called “leader” for each Word document. Anyway, the next day Zack rode his bike to school like normal to school. Zack parked his bike and went inside where he met his best friend, Jacob Moore. He is our deuteragonist. Jacob is also in 7th grade. (he’s 12 like Zack) Jacob is incredibly smart, having all A’s in his classes and being in all GT classes. Jacob really likes computers and video games and has absolutely zero athletic ability. (nerd) We could also talk all day about random facts about him like how he has an older sister, or how he is very, very precise, but again we won’t. Anyway, they walked together into the school. Almost everyone was talking about the monster invasion report. Jacob and Zack completely ignored this. Zack looked back at the entrance and went to his locker with Jacob.
“So, you think this monster stuff is real?” Zack said.
“It is clearly fake,” Jacob said, “There is no way this is true.”
Zack shook his head in agreement. But Jacob was wrong. Very wrong. If he was right, we wouldn’t have a story. The two then walked to their classrooms. Zack headed to room 608 while Jacob headed to 504. Zack sat down at his desk and he quietly waited in his seat for class to begin. Zack’s first class was Science. Normalville Middle worked like every other middle school. (Give or take) Each student has Science, Math, English, History, Lunch, P.E and a “Flex” (students didn’t do anything, just to study or hang-out). Each student also gets to choose a subject called an Elective. (Computer coding, for example) (also no idea why I put that) Zack had Science, then GT Math, English, Lunch, P.E, Flex, Engineering (not his choice), and then GT History. Zack had Mrs. Kelly for science. Mrs. Kelly wasn’t a bad teacher, especially better than Jacob’s science teacher Mr. Roe, who Jacob says Zack would hate. While waiting, Zack noticed a boy he hadn’t seen in his class before walk in. Zack assumed he was in the wrong class, but he came in and hovered in the seat next to Zack.
“Hey, mind if I sit here?” The boy said.
“No,” Zack said.
“What’s your name?” The boy said, sitting in the desk.
“Zack,” Zack said.
“Hey, I have the same name,” Zack (the one that just walked in) said, “I’m new here, today’s my first day, actually.”
Now, it may be confusing having two characters with the same name. So the Zack that we all know very well will be called Main-Character Zack and the one that just walked in is New Zack. We will only use these names when they are close together, and actually have a use. This happens frequently. Hope that clears that up. Anyway, I lied. At the beginning I said there would be a protagonist, antagonist and a deuteragonist. That is not true. We have another deuteragonist. (Just throwing that out there) Anyways, you probably want an introduction to New Zack, as he’s important to the story. no. I’m too lazy to do that. Anyway, class started. Mrs. Kelly’s class was currently learning about food chains. He was pretty good at science, having a 94 in the class. Main-Character Zack was usually pretty quick to answer any question Mrs. Kelly would ask the class. This, however, would change. New Zack was better. For every question, New Zack was quicker then Main-Character Zack. This made Main-Character Zack angry at New Zack. A bit of jealousy arose, simply. (woah, woah. no need to get fancy) After 45 minutes class was over. Next class was math. Math was a good class for Main-Character Zack class, for 2 reasons. #1 He was in the same class as Jacob and #2 he had Mr. Chud, his favorite teacher. It was also better when New Zack went to 509, Ms. Mint’s class. Main-Character Zack was relieved to see this. (I was also relieved to see this because you have no idea how annoying it is to type “Main-Character Zack” and “New Zack” so many times. It is so much easier to just type “Zack”) Oh, urm, sorry for that. Anyway, Zack took his seat next to Jacob, who was already their.
“Hey,” Zack said.
“Hi,” Jacob said.
That’s how there relationship works. Very awkward conversations like that. But neither of them minded it. Class started.
“Settle down class,” Mr. Chud said, “Get out your textbooks and turn to page 42.”
Everyone got out their textbooks (except Brian who never has his textbook) and turned to page 42. It had information about Pi. In case you don’t know Pi is equal to about 3.14. I would have put the first million digits, but that crashed the word document.
Anyway, Mr. Chud taught the class what Pi was equal to why it is actually used. Class ended. (I describe class so goodly) English time! (why is that exciting) Zack headed to Ms. Mint’s class in room 509. New Zack already had English meaning Main-Character Zack and New Zack wouldn’t be in the same class. (why does that sound so poorly written [also why so many parentheses]) Now, I understand you may be asking “hey, how does some random kids going to school have to do with a monster invasion?” (you asked exactly that) Well, see, invasions don’t happen in a day. (what, why did I put that) They take some time. So, filler stuff is being thrown in here too make it sort of realistic. (I totally didn’t put this here so I could stall English, no never) Also, why does my writing style seem so different though. hrm, I actually have no idea. Okay English. Zac- hrm actually you may be right. Hmm, maybe I could- uh, just skip English, hmmm, no. Zack’s English class was currently in a poetry unit. It was a basic class, just a reading and questions. (my brain is not braining right now) Class ended. (I cant do this) lunch! Cool, bye for now! (pain sounds)… urm sorry for that. (Don’t mind this black bar. When I was writing that stuff it was the last day of school and I was actually brain dead) Where were we? Lunch I guess… Actually English time! Zack walked in and sat down. Zack’s class was in the middle of a poetry unit. Individually each of them read the poem, uh, I don’t know, I wasn’t there, let’s say *googling poems for 7th graders*, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, that one. It was pretty basic, fill out some questions, summarize the poem, find a theme, basic stuff. Alright, so before we get to lunch, I have something to say, or I guess type. We have a supporting antagonist. I’m just going to say that. Not who it is or anything, except that it is someone who appears good, but is actually evil. Ok time to introduce a new character. In a second. Zack grabbed his stuff in his classroom and headed to his locker. Zack put his stuff in his locker and went to the cafeteria. Zack decided to get school pizza for lunch, which was… okay, it wasn’t the best pizza ever but it wasn’t terrible. Alongside that he got a brown apple that he or no one else in the school was ever going to eat. Zack sat down at his usual table and waited for Jacob. Jacob soon came with his lunch box and sat down next to Zack. Jacob had a sandwich, an apple (that he was actually going to eat), celery, and yogurt. Both of them waited for someone. (I’ll tell you who in a second). Eventually a girl with red hair named Ella sat down. This is our new character. Ella Flipper, technically Ellianna (she hates that name) is a friend of Zack and Jacob. She is 13 years old (she’s slightly older than Jacob or Zack). She is quite lazy, and always tries to find the easiest way to do something (such as rolling on Heelys instead of walking to most places). She is quite bright and smart but doesn’t apply herself. Ella has low A’s though she could do better. She can roller-skate very well (unlike Jacob or Zack). Ella likes drawing and is very good at it, taking an Art class at school. Oh, and most importantly, she has a slight addiction to the semi-popular drink Yoo-Hoo. Yes, that’s important. She drinks one water bottle full of it every day and brings it everywhere. We could be here all day talking about her like how her parents are divorced or how she pronounces some words incorrectly due to her braces, but don’t worry, I got you, we won’t. Okay, back to the story.“Sorry I couldn’t meet you guys before ‘shool’, my mom has a ‘busyness’ trip, or whatever, and I had to take my brother to school,” Ella said.
“It’s fine,” Zack said.
Ella started eating her lunch consisting of microwave mac and cheese and… yeah that’s it.
“So, what do you think about this ‘monstor’ situation?” Ella said.
“Absolutely fake,” Zack said.
“I wouldn’t be so sure. I’m going to start preparing after school, and you guys should too,” Ella said.
“Hmm, I guess that could be a good idea, in case it is real,” Jacob said.
“I guess so. As long as my dad doesn’t yell at me for stocking supplies or something,” Zack said.
Lunch ended. Zack headed to the boy locker room, Jacob went to 605 Mr. Roe’s class, and Ella rolled to the art studio, 102. Zack changed into his gym clothes and went to the gym. Mr. Koptaz was the gym teacher. Zack joined a few other students. Eventually Mr. Koptaz started.
“Okay, today we are going to play badminton,” Mr. Koptaz said.
Mr. Koptaz went through the rules and how to hit the… uh, the thing, whatever the thing for badminton is.
“Alright, now I’m going to break you into twos.” Mr. Koptaz stated, as he shuffled the students into twos, “You two. Yep, scoot over. Okay. You and your partner get a racket and one shuttlecock per partner and find a net.” (Oh that’s what it’s called)
Zack got placed with a boy named Liam. Let’s say Zack easily won against Liam. After class Zack changed to his normal clothes. Zack had Flex next. During Flex you are basically restricted to the library. Zack headed to the library and saw Ella sitting at a table.
“Hey,” Ella said.
“Yo,” Zack said.
“You have P.E. after lunch, right?” Ella asked.
“Yeah, we played badminton today, I totally won, 14-2” Zack said, sort of flexing.
Ella giggled, “You’re so goofy, Zack. The girls played ‘bolleyball’ today.”
“So? I bet you did nothing,” Zack teased.
“Something, surprisingly. I scored 1 point. I was just standing there, ‘borned’ out of my mind, the ball hit my face, and my glasses fell, but it went over the net,” Ella said, sort of proud. (oh yeah, she wears glasses. Guess I forgot)
Zack chuckled. Zack and Ella chatted for the rest of class instead of studying or whatever. Flex ended. Engineering was next for Zack. Zack walked out of the library to 103 or the Engineering room. Zack didn’t particularly like Engineering, but it wasn’t terrible. Zack had a sub today. As everyone knows, whenever there’s a sub it’s always an easy day (usually). Zack sat down at the worn desks and waited. The sub started class… 10 minutes late. The substitute teacher’s name was Mr. Dartery. Mr. Dartery passed out a worksheet that was really easy. History was next. History was the only class where Zack, Jacob, and Ella had a class together. History was in room 406, which was outside. Zack went to the portables outside. Zack sat down at his desk and saw Ella sitting across the room from him in her seat. Jacob came in later looking really red.
“Hey, Zack,” Jacob said, sitting in his desk close to Zack’s.
Mrs. Jones started class.
“Okay, we’re doing a group project. Get into groups of 3 to 4 and sit down together,” she said.
Zack and Jacob moved over to Ella knowing she wouldn’t have moved. After everyone was in groups, Mrs. Jones explained the project. Each group had to choose a person from a conflict and write about them and explain why they were the best or most influential in that conflict.
“Okay, first, what conflict are we choosing?” Jacob said.
“Cold War and Kennedy,” Ella said immediately after.
“Okay, why, Ella?” Jacob said.
“Because. He’s my favorite president,” Ella said.
“So? We are choosing some based on how influential they were, not because we like them,” Jacob said.
“He was important. He was there during the missile crisis, or whatever,” Ella said.
“True, but there are more people that influenced the cold war, like…” Jacob started.
“No way! Kennedy’s the most important,” Ella said.
Both of them argued until Jacob finally gave in.
“Fine! We can do Kennedy,” Jacob said.
“Yes!” Ella squealed, very high and girly.
Most of the work time was wasted by Jacob and Ella’s argument. By the time they started working, class ended. Zack, Jacob and Ella went to their lockers and grabbed their stuff.
“So, I would like to work on the History project after school together,” Jacob said.
“Okay, let’s go to my house and work, so we don’t have to deal with your sister, Jacob, or your brother, Ella,” Zack said.
“Sorry, we have to go to my house actually. Remember? My mom has her trip, and she forced me to babysit my little brother,” Ella said.
“Okay, whatever,” Zack said, “Just don’t let him bug us.”
“Okay. Go to my house and wait for me to pick him up. Don’t lose the key or break anything. And DON’T go in my room!” Ella said.
“Okay,” Jacob said.
Ella threw the keys to her house in Zack and Jacob’s direction and Jacob, being an unathletic nerd, missed terribly, but Zack caught it. Ella roller-skated towards the elementary school. Now if ever (like right now) these 3 are apart, we will focus on one, and then the other, okay? So, Zack and Jacob got on their bikes and rode towards Ella’s house. Ella’s house was like any other house in Normalville, very dull and gray. Zack basically threw his bike on the porch, while Jacob neatly parked his bike, very straight. Zack unlocked the door and went inside. Like the outside, the inside was very plain. It looked like a basic home, nothing special. Zack and Jacob sat down on the couch, sitting in awkward silence for about 5 minutes. Usually, the three would go to Zack’s house, as he was an only child, but they did visit each other occasionally.
“So, did you meet that new kid, ‘Zack?’” Zack asked.
“Yeah, he is in my coding class,” Jacob said, “He seems all right.”
“Definitely not. He’s so annoying. He’s way better at science than me,” Zack said.
“So? People can be better at things than you,” Jacob said.
“I know, but science is really the only thing I’m really good at,” Zack said, “Besides, he gives me… odd vibes.”
“Really? What makes you say th...” Jacob started.
A knocking sound came from the door. Okay Ella’s perspective now. (amazing transition bro) The elementary school was about, hmm, 7 minutes away if you were walking. However, Ella was roller-skating, making it more like 4 minutes. Ella pulled out her pink earbuds (it was all they had and Ella was too lazy to come back later, she also thinks they’re ironic, because she hates pink, she likes green. [why are these parentheses so long, dude?]) and plugged them into her phone. She, uhh, (oh, dude. This was way better in my head okay) turned on… actually, no idea, but probably a Plants vs. Zombies theme. Okay, Ella arrived at “Normalville Elementary School”. The school was a brick building in the shape of a rectangle. Ella skated to the outside door of Mrs. Badjeep’s 2nd grade class. Ella waited outside for 2 minutes. Eventually, a school bell rang. Soon Ella saw Mrs. Badjeep lead her 2nd graders out the door. Ella grabbed her little brother, Timmy’s, arm and pulled him away.
“Hey! You didn’t let me say goodbye, Ella,” Timmy said.
“I don’t care. We need to get home quick. My friends are over there,” Ella said.
“Mom, said you couldn’t have anyone over, Ellianna. Especially if no one’s home,” Timmy said mockingly.
“Don’t call me Ellianna,” Ella said coldly, “It’s not like they’re doing anything, they’re probably sitting on the couch, awkwardly staring at each other. Besides, it’s for school.”
“Hmm, I don’t believe that. You’re probably going to do something with your boyfriends,” Timmy said.
“They are NOT my boyfriends!” Ella yelled at Timmy.
Timmy looked like he was going to cry. Ella looked very proud that she was able to make Timmy stop crying. Eventually Ella and Timmy were at their house. Ella knocked on the door. Okay, back to the present. Almost 3 seconds later…
“Hey! Let me in my own house!” Ella shouted through the door, pounding on it.
Zack dashed over to the door and opened it.
“Thank you! Why did that take so long, Zack?” Ella said rudely.
“It wasn’t even 10 seconds!” Zack said, slightly confused.
“Why do you have to be so mean to your friend?” Timmy asked, very quietly.
Ella ignored Timmy completely. “So… what’d you guys do? Let me guess… Sitting on the couch, staring at each other.”
“Yeah,” Zack and Jacob agreed.
Ella kicked off her roller-skates and put on her Heelys. Ella grabbed her water bottle and threw her backpack.
“Okay, now we need to work on the History project,” Jacob said.
Zack, Jacob and Ella went to the table and sat down. Jacob pulled out the little notes he had and put them on the table.
“Okay, so, with our, discussion, on what to do took most of class, we need to catch-up and get some of this project start…” Jacob started.
“Hey, Ella, what am I supposed to do?” Timmy asked quietly.
“I don’t know! Figure it out. Just don’t bother us,” Ella said.
Timmy ran off upstairs.
“That’s odd. Timmy’s usually really loud,” Zack wondered.
“Probably because I yelled at him for calling you my ‘boyfriends’ or whatever,” Ella said.
“That is a bit mean Ella, even for you,” Jacob said.
“No way! I’ll probably yell at him until I move out… if that does happen though,” Ella said.
The trio started working on their History project. They talked about their parts, and Ella drew a picture of Kennedy. Jacob had to explain why he was important. Zack had to write the intro. They all had to write about a specific event, and Ella picked the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ella was obsessed with that part of history for some reason. Timmy was playing with his Legos upstairs. The house was silent except for the occasional clinking of Legos. The doorbell rang. (Who could it be?) It was probably Mrs. Flipper, but she had her key. (oh, wait she forgot it) It was definitely not Mrs. Flipper. Ella hoped it wasn’t a neighbor asking for sugar, because they had none. She told Timmy to go answer it.
Timmy slowly went down the stairs and to the door. He opened it and there was a boy with dark hair and a weird robotic arm standing there. The boy looked about 13, maybe 14. Timmy looked at him weirdly, “What do you want?”
The boy looked at Timmy and then back at the stairs, “Is Ella here?”
Ella’s heart skipped a beat. She knew that voice. She hadn’t heard it in over five years. It was a name she had tried to forget, a name that brought back memories of a strange summer camp where she had encountered something she could never explain. It was the name of her old camp counselor. New Zack.
Zack and Jacob exchanged confused glances. “You know him?” Zack whispered.
Ella nodded, her voice trembling slightly, “Yeah, he’s my...my old camp counselor from when I was a kid. I didn’t know he was back in town.”
Timmy looked up at Ella, his eyes wide with curiosity, “Is he a friend?”
Ella took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. She didn’t know what to say. New Zack was a friend, yes, but so much more than that. He had been her confidant, her guide through a world she hadn’t understood. But that was before. Before everything had changed. Before she had forgotten.
“Ella?” New Zack’s voice called out from the doorway, echoing through the hallway. She stood up, her legs feeling like jelly, and walked down the stairs. She hadn’t seen him since she was nine years old, and now here he was, standing in her house, looking exactly the same.
“Hi,” she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
New Zack’s eyes lit up at the sight of her. “Ella! It’s been so long!” He took a step forward, reaching out his robotic arm for a hug. The sight of it sent a shiver down her spine, bringing back a flood of memories she had buried deep.
Zack and Jacob looked on, utterly confused. This wasn’t the same New Zack they knew from school, the one who had transferred in and didn’t know anyone. This was someone from Ella’s past, someone who clearly meant a lot to her.
New Zack stepped into the house, his robotic arm retracting slightly. “You guys are working on a project?” He glanced at the books and notes scattered across the table. “Looks intense. Can I help?”
Ella felt a mix of emotions—relief that he was offering to help, and anxiety about what secrets he might uncover. She nodded, trying to keep her voice steady. “We’re doing a History project on Kennedy. We could use an extra hand, I guess.”
New Zack’s eyes scanned the room, and he noticed the puzzled looks on Zack and Jacob’s faces. He chuckled, a warm sound that made Ella’s heart ache with nostalgia. “I’m New Zack, by the way. Ella’s old camp counselor. And apparently, I’ve got some catching up to do with her school friends.”
Zack and Jacob exchanged glances again, trying to piece together who this stranger with the robotic arm was to their friend. They tentatively introduced themselves, still not quite sure what to make of the situation. New Zack nodded and smiled, his eyes never leaving Ella’s.
The four of them settled around the table, the tension in the room palpable. New Zack picked up one of the books and started flipping through it, his eyes scanning the pages with surprising speed. Zack couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy—he had never seen anyone read so quickly.
Jacob cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence. “So, what’s with the arm?” he asked, pointing at New Zack’s metal limb.
New Zack looked down at it, then back up with a grin. “Ah, the pièce de résistance. It’s a long story, but the short version is that I had an accident a few years ago. They had to replace my old one with this fancy robotic model.” He flexed it slightly, the gears whirring softly. “It’s got its perks, though. I can do some pretty cool tricks with it.”
Timmy’s eyes lit up. “Can you show us?”
Ella shot him a look, but New Zack just chuckled and held up a finger. “Later, buddy. We’ve got work to do first.” He turned his attention back to the project.
They spent the next few hours researching and discussing the intricacies of Kennedy’s presidency. New Zack’s knowledge was vast, and he filled in gaps that the others hadn’t even known existed. His insights were sharp and insightful, and Ella found herself drawn to him again, despite her initial hesitation.
As they worked, the tension between Ella and New Zack grew thicker, unspoken words hanging in the air. Zack and Jacob couldn’t help but feel like they were on the outside looking in, unsure of what they were missing. They threw glances at each other, silently questioning the bond between Ella and this mysterious newcomer.
Timmy, oblivious to the undercurrents, bombarded New Zack with questions about his robotic arm, which he patiently and humorously answered, distracting the group from the tension. His charisma was undeniable, and even Zack found himself warming up to him, if only for the sake of the project.
Ella couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to New Zack’s sudden appearance than met the eye. She remembered the camp vividly—how he had been there for her when she had seen things that no one else believed. He had been her rock in a world that had turned upside down. But why now? Why show up after all these years?
As the evening progressed, New Zack’s presence grew more comfortable, his laughter filling the room as they debated the merits of different sources. The robotic arm became less of a curiosity and more a part of him, moving with a grace that seemed almost natural. Yet, every time Ella’s gaze fell on it, she was reminded of the unanswered questions that lay between them.
Jacob leaned in, whispering to Zack, “What’s the deal with Ella and New Zack? They have history?”
Zack shrugged, equally intrigued. “No idea, but it’s definitely more than just camp stories.”
The clock chimed, and Ella’s mother called out from the kitchen, “Dinner’s ready, everyone!”
The group reluctantly pulled themselves away from the project, their heads spinning with dates and facts. They shuffled into the dining room, where Ella’s mother had laid out a simple but delicious spread. New Zack took a seat at the table, his robotic arm folding neatly beside him.
Ella’s mother looked at him with curiosity. “So, you’re Ella’s old camp counselor?” she asked, placing a plate of food in front of him.
New Zack nodded, his eyes meeting Ella’s briefly before looking back at her mother. “Yes, ma’am. It’s been a while, but I’ve missed her a lot.”
Ella’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked down at her plate, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through her chest. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed him too.
Dinner was a mix of small talk and the occasional question about the History project. New Zack was surprisingly adept at blending in, sharing stories from his own school days and keeping the conversation light. Yet, every so often, Ella would catch him looking at her with an intensity that made her squirm in her seat.
After dinner, they all returned to the project, but the energy in the room had shifted. The questions about New Zack’s arm had subsided, replaced by a tension that grew stronger with every tick of the clock. Ella found it increasingly difficult to focus on the words in front of her, her mind racing with thoughts of their shared past.
As the night grew later, Ella’s mother yawned and announced it was time for Timmy to go to bed. Reluctantly, Timmy said his goodnights and trudged upstairs. The moment he was out of earshot, Ella’s mother turned to New Zack, her eyes filled with a motherly concern. “Is everything okay, Ella? You two seem... I don’t know, distant?”
Ella felt a pang of guilt. She hadn’t told her mother about New Zack’s past visits or the strange occurrences at camp. She didn’t know how to explain them without sounding like she had made it all up. “We’re fine, Mom. Just catching up on old times.”
Her mother studied her for a moment before nodding, “Okay, dear. But if you need to talk about anything, you know where to find me.”
With a sigh of relief, Ella watched her mother leave the room. Once the door clicked shut, she turned to Zack and Jacob. “Guys, I need to talk to New Zack alone for a bit. Can you give us some space?”
They exchanged puzzled glances but nodded in understanding, gathering their things and retreating to Zack’s room upstairs. The silence that followed was deafening, the only sound the distant murmur of the TV.
Ella took a deep breath, her heart racing. “What are you doing here, New Zack?” she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He leaned back in his chair, his robotic arm resting on the tabletop. “I heard you were in trouble. That you needed help. I had to come back.” His eyes searched hers, filled with a concern that was all too familiar.
Ella’s mind raced. “What do you mean? How did you even find me?”
New Zack gave a small, knowing smile. “I’ve always had a way of finding people who need me, Ella. And you’ve definitely left a trail of breadcrumbs.”
Ella felt a chill run down her spine. “What are you talking about?”
New Zack leaned in closer, his gaze intense. “You’ve been seeing things, haven’t you? The same things you saw at camp. I know because I’ve seen them too. I’ve been watching over you, making sure you’re safe. I had to make sure you weren’t alone in this again.”
Ella’s eyes widened. She had tried so hard to convince herself that those memories were just childhood imaginings, but now, faced with the reality of New Zack’s presence, she couldn’t ignore the truth. She nodded, her voice shaking. “I...I don’t know what’s happening to me. I see things that aren’t there. And now you’re here, with that arm...it’s just like before.”
New Zack reached out and took her hand, his robotic fingers surprisingly warm and gentle. “It’s okay, Ella. You’re not crazy. What you saw at camp was real. And I’m here to help you make sense of it all again.”
Ella felt a weight lift from her shoulders. It was a relief to finally have someone who understood, who knew her secrets. But at the same time, fear bubbled up inside her. If what she had seen was real, then that meant her whole world was about to change again. And she wasn’t sure she was ready for that.
“What do you mean, you’ve been watching over me?” she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and accusation.
“I’ve kept tabs on you through the years, Ella. After what happened at camp, I knew you were special. That you would need guidance when the time came for you to remember. And now, it seems like that time is now,” New Zack replied, his grip on her hand tightening slightly.
Ella pulled away, her mind racing. “Remember what? What are you talking about?”
New Zack sighed heavily, his eyes searching hers. “Do you really not remember, Ella? The camp wasn’t just a summer retreat. It was a place where kids like you and me were sent to learn about our abilities. To control them before they got out of hand. And it seems like your powers are starting to resurface.”
Ella’s heart raced as she tried to piece together the puzzle of her fragmented memories. “Powers?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “What kind of powers?”
New Zack leaned back, his expression softening. “You used to be able to see things others couldn’t—spirits, energy patterns, the threads that connect us all. It’s a gift, but it can be overwhelming. The camp was supposed to help us understand and control it, but it seems like they didn’t do a very good job with you. Your mind blocked it all out to protect you.”
Ella felt her stomach drop. Spirits? Energy patterns? It all sounded so unreal, yet the vividness of her camp memories suggested there was truth to his words. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “What do you mean, 'kids like you and me'?”
New Zack’s smile was sad. “We’re not like everyone else, Ella. We’re part of a lineage, a line of people who can see beyond the veil. It’s a gift, but it comes with a responsibility. And it seems like your gift is stronger than most. That’s why they sent you to camp, and why I’ve been keeping an eye on you. To make sure you’re safe and to help you when it’s time to embrace your heritage.”
Ella’s thoughts were a whirlwind. She had always felt different, but to think that there was a reason, that she had powers... it was too much to take in. She looked down at her hands, trying to find some evidence of the abilities he spoke of.
“But why now?” she asked, her voice shaking. “Why is this happening again?”
“Because the world is changing, Ella. There are forces at work that are threatening to expose us all, and I need you to be ready. The things you saw at camp, the things you’ve been seeing lately, they’re not just hallucinations or figments of your imagination. They’re real, and they’re part of a much larger picture.” New Zack’s voice was low, urgent.
Ella felt a cold shiver run down her spine. “What kind of forces?”
New Zack’s expression grew serious. “I can’t say for certain, but I’ve heard whispers of an organization that’s been experimenting with our kind. They’re looking for those with the strongest abilities to exploit them, to use them for their own gain. And I think they might be coming for you, Ella. That’s why I’m here. To protect you and help you harness your power before it’s too late.”
Ella’s mind reeled. An organization? Coming for her? It all sounded like something out of a science fiction novel, but the earnestness in New Zack’s voice made it feel alarmingly real. She looked around the room, her eyes landing on the half-finished project. It seemed so trivial now compared to what was happening.
“What kind of power do you think I have?” she asked, her voice shaking.
New Zack leaned back in his chair, his robotic arm whirring slightly as he adjusted his position. “You’re an empath, Ella. You can feel the emotions of others, and sometimes even see their thoughts. It’s a powerful gift, but it can also be incredibly overwhelming. That’s why it’s so important that you learn to control it. And quickly.”
Ella’s eyes widened. An empath? It explained so much about her life—her ability to sense when someone was lying, the way she sometimes felt bombarded by the feelings of those around her, and the strange visions she’d had at camp. But an organization after her? It was too much to process.
“But how do you know all this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
New Zack leaned forward, his eyes intense. “Because I’ve been through it too. I’ve seen what they’re capable of. And I won’t let them get to you, not without a fight.”
Ella’s mind raced with questions, but she couldn’t find the words to ask them. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt a mix of fear and excitement. This was all so much to take in, but something deep inside her knew he was telling the truth.
“What do we do now?” she finally managed to ask.
New Zack’s expression grew serious. “We need to get you trained, Ella. Fast. You can’t go on like this, not knowing what you’re capable of. It’s too dangerous. And with the monster invasion happening, it’s more crucial than ever that we figure out how to control your abilities. They could be the key to stopping whatever is happening in Normalville.”
Ella’s eyes widened. “The monsters? What do they have to do with this?”
New Zack nodded solemnly. “Everything. The monsters are a distraction, a way to keep the public’s attention away from the real threat. But we can’t ignore them. They’re a sign that something much larger is at play. And with your abilities, you might be the only one who can see through the chaos and find the truth.”
Ella’s thoughts swirled, trying to piece together the insanity of the situation. Monsters, secret organizations, and hidden powers. It was like a dream she couldn’t wake up from. “But what about school? My friends? I can’t just drop everything and become some kind of superhero!”
New Zack’s gaze softened. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but you can’t ignore this, Ella. You’re not just any kid anymore. You have a responsibility to use your gift to protect those you care about. And I’ll be here to help you every step of the way.”
Ella’s mind was a blur of thoughts and emotions. The weight of what New Zack was saying felt too heavy to bear. She looked over at Zack and Jacob, who were both watching her with a mix of concern and confusion. They had no idea what was happening, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready to tell them the truth.
“I need some time to think,” she murmured, standing up from the table.
New Zack nodded, understanding in his eyes. “Take all the time you need, Ella. But know that time is of the essence. The longer we wait, the more danger you and everyone else is in.”
Ella walked over to the window, staring out into the night. The streetlights cast a warm glow over the quiet neighborhood, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. Her reflection in the glass was a stark reminder of the girl she had been at camp, the one who had seen things that no one else could.
“I’ll talk to them tomorrow,” she said, turning to face New Zack. “I need to figure out what’s happening to me first.”
He nodded, his expression a mix of understanding and urgency. “Take tonight to think, but remember, the sooner we act, the better. And Ella, don’t tell anyone about this, not even your friends. It’s too dangerous. They won’t understand, and they could get hurt.”
Ella nodded, feeling the gravity of his words. She knew he was right, but keeping secrets from Zack and Jacob was going to be hard. She watched as New Zack gathered his things and headed towards the door, his robotic arm moving with an eerie grace that was both fascinating and unsettling.
As the door clicked shut behind him, she let out a deep sigh and turned to face her friends. "Guys, I need to tell you something," she began, her voice shaking.
Zack and Jacob looked at each other, the confusion in their eyes mirrored. "What's going on, Ella?" Zack asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
Ella took a deep breath, her heart racing as she tried to find the words to explain the unexplainable. "Remember what New Zack said about my gift?" she began, her voice trembling slightly.
Zack and Jacob exchanged glances, the puzzle pieces slowly starting to fall into place. "You mean, like your empathy?" Jacob ventured, his eyes wide with a mix of wonder and fear.
Ella nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "It's not just that. It's so much more. And it's all connected to what happened at camp, and the monsters here in Normalville."
Zack and Jacob stared at her, their expressions a mix of disbelief and concern. "What do you mean?" Zack's voice was tentative, as if he didn't want to break the fragile bubble of Ella's revelation.
Ella took a deep breath, steeling herself for the truth she was about to share. "I think I can see things that others can't. Spirits, energy, like New Zack said. And with the monsters around, it's all getting stronger." She looked from one friend to the other, searching for any hint of judgment or skepticism.
Jacob's eyes grew wide with excitement. "Whoa, that's crazy, Ella! But also... kind of cool?" He looked at Zack for confirmation, but Zack remained silent, his gaze fixed on Ella, his mind racing with questions.
"What do you mean, 'seeing spirits'? Like, ghosts?" Zack's voice was cautious, his skepticism clear.
Ella nodded, her eyes filling with a newfound seriousness. "Yes, but it's not just that. It's like... I can sense things, feelings, sometimes even thoughts. It's been happening more often since the monsters appeared."
Jacob leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "But how does that help with the monsters?"
Ella's gaze drifted to the floor, her thoughts tangled. "I don't know exactly, but New Zack said that understanding and controlling my abilities could be key to stopping them. And he's right, I can't ignore this anymore."
Zack leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. "So, what's the plan, then? Are we going to start fighting monsters with our History project?" His tone was laced with skepticism, but Ella could see the flicker of belief in his eyes.
Ella took a deep breath, her mind racing. "I don't know. But we can't ignore this. New Zack's right. We need to find out more about these powers and what's happening in Normalville."
Jacob's eyes lit up. "Maybe we can use this for our History project! We could do a whole section on the supernatural events in the town's history!"
Zack shot him a look. "This isn't about the project, Jacob. This is about Ella's safety, and apparently, the fate of Normalville."
Jacob's enthusiasm deflated, and he nodded solemnly. "You're right. We need to help her."
Ella looked at both of them, feeling a swell of gratitude. "Thank you, guys. I know this is all insane, but I can't do it alone."
Zack nodded firmly. "We're in this together, Ella. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out."
Ella felt a warmth spread through her chest. "But we can't just dive into this without a plan. We need to know more about these powers and what's happening in Normalville."
Zack leaned forward, his eyes intense. "We'll start with the camp. Maybe there's something there that can explain all of this. We can look into its history, see if anyone else has had similar experiences."
Ella nodded, feeling a spark of hope. "That's a good idea. Maybe there are records or something that can tell us more about what happened to me, and why it's all coming back now."
Jacob's eyes widened with excitement. "And we could use the school's archives to see if there's any connection between the camp and the monsters!"
(I am writing a story and thought it would be funny to see how AI would continue it. Try to guess where the AI generated part starts!)
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