( ARIA'S POV )

"THE BORDER EXTENDS beyond the pond, through the trees. If I'm doing my math correctly, it should be as long horizontally as vertically."

The eight of us were huddled up, seated by the bushes. I leaned against it, still trying to achieve good cell reception.

"The pebble I threw reached about 6 feet above that tree over there," the boy named Giovani told us. "But I aimed it for the side of the sphere, so this place could be much taller."

Miren grew wide-eyed. "When were you planning to tell me you actually have smarts in your head instead of drugs?" She held a pen on one hand, scribbling down notes, with her torn-out pieces of paper laid against Giovani's back.

"I roll weed, not smoke them."

Unsettling nonetheless. I'd given up on my cellphone, deciding it's best to keep the battery at a high level. I tucked the device into my front pocket.

I looked over to my right, catching Issac playing an escape room game on his phone. My cousins devoured those, finishing one before the next hour. Nayari had her markers laid out, trying different combinations and approaches in doodling leaves. Everyone else munched on snacks, treating the situation lighter than it should be. Are they insane? Am I?

     "If we're going to be here for a while, might as well get to know each other." I suggested. Not because I was looking to form new friendships, but for contribution. I needed to know what each person could bring to the table. Strengths, weaknesses— everything. This is vital information in a situation like this, and I hope they're having the same insights as I do.

To my dismay, the group blankly stared at me, as if I were the last person to suggest such a thing. I put my head down due to the unwanted tension, fiddling with my pressed flower necklace. A daisy rested between the resin, looking as fresh as the day it sprouted.

     "Or," someone said, who I now know is named Mateo, "we can start walking through the woods, and see what each of us are made of."

The girl beside her, Haven, nodded in agreement. So did Gio and Nayari.

I had my own beliefs. "Rather push your luck, then?" I countered, but judging by his mischievous expression, he'd already came up with a comeback.

"No, just a firm believer of actions speak louder than words. I don't expect a poet to understand."

Mateo snuck a look at my Rupi Kaur poetry collection books, tucked away in my worn out, half-open shoulder bag.

That got a laugh out of me, which was strange. If anything, I should be offended. I never backed down to a challenge— and I certainly don't show signs of weakness.

     Across me was Issac's friend, Peter, who shamelessly rolled his water bottle towards me. I was evidently confused.

     "Apply cold water to burned area."

     My eyebrows shot upwards, kicking the refreshment bottle back to him. Sounds of laughing and odd giggling came from left and right, like that irritating 8D music my uncle plays through my bluetooth earphones. My tío liked to connect them to his phone before I successfully connect them to mine. Competitive, he was.

I promptly stood up, walking closer to Mateo. My fire ant bites started to itch, badly, but I had other things in mind. He stood up before me, staring me down, due to our height difference. The wrinkles on his short-sleeved polo and the scattering of his hair tried making a statement, something along the lines of 'I'm a fuckboy who doesn't know any better,' but I could already see that Mateo was much better than that.

"Race you to the woods, yeah?"

The corners of his lips tucked upward, both of us running in full speed.

Thanks to my palazzo pants, I glided through the spring breeze, giving me an advantage. The experience was similar to running up a hill— thrill and excitement rushing through your blood, wind-swept hair, running into thick layers of air.

I was caught in the moment, unaware of the group catching up behind us. The pond extended further than I thought, stretching as a river.

I continued to sprint. Mateo was slowing down, but the adrenaline in me wasn't. That is, until I felt a pair of arms around mine, restricting me from going any further.

He whispered closely. "Good to know you're enjoying the thrill of reality, but no one likes a wet fish."

     Issac. Also, what?

     I freed myself from his grasp. Upon came sudden clarity in my eyes— I was an inch away from the rocky waters.

     GIOVANI TOOK THE pleasure of measuring how deep the river was, considering he wore shorts. The rest of us sat back on the grass nearby, sliding our pant sleeves up. I took two elastic bands from my pocket, folded the cuff of my pants, before inserting the band.

     My mother once showed me a clothing hack, where you place hair ties on loose pants to fold them up. It'd never really been helpful until this moment.

     I slid my boots off, then my socks. There were no wooden materials nearby, so we had to cross the river barefoot.

     "It's knee deep," Giovani shouted. He stood on the opposite side, drying himself out.

     Mateo, Issac, and Haven crossed the river with no hesitation. Peter and Nayari trailed closely behind them.

    Miren offered to hold our bags while I grasped our shoes. My fire ant bites were washed with relief, but it withered away quickly. We crossed the river together, the heavy objects we held helping us withstand the current. Giovani took them off our hands, giving us room to bring ourselves up.

     Once everyone was settled and dried up, we ventured into the shadows of the trees.

    "A DEAD END," I announced, finally reaching the far side of the thick forest. None of us could feel the border, but a thick cobblestone wall stopped us in out tracks.

     Our feet were worn out, and we were scarcely low on food supply. The nightfall caved us in, crickets and frogs within earshot.

     "We should settle here," Nayari said, finding a big enough clearing nearby. She placed her phone in the middle, the flashlight acting as a fire-like light source. I placed my bag to lean on one of the trees.

I made myself comfortable, taking the jacket I stored away and using it as a pillow. My hair looked like it'd been swept away by a hurricane, but I could care less about my physical appearance. I may radiate the energy of a hopeless dreamer, but if we're all going to perish one day, I'd rather stay true to myself than put up a facade.

     Half of our group— Haven, Peter, Issac, and Nayari— took off to collect water from the river, which they plan to filter through cloth. Gio and Miren gathered our remaining food, then set off to find edible and nonpoisonous berries around the area.

Mateo sat under a branching tree, 2 o'clock from my view, scouring his bag for something. I rubbed my eyes in exhaustion. If we'd gotten to this location an hour earlier, we would've still had enough daylight to gather materials with ease.

     I munched on some apple slices Miren laid on clumps of leaves. I took both my notebook and my journal out. When I feel unwanted emotions, I prefer writing them down instead of expressing them. That way, no one gets traumatized.

     I decided to paste one of the leaves onto my journal, writing about our field trip not going as planned. Surprisingly, my fear decreased. And admittedly, it may be due to the fact that I wasn't alone on this. I had people, who offered their own specialties. And maybe, that'd be enough for us to make it out safely. If, the force field goes down. Which, right now, is unlikely.

     The light diminished, and I looked up to see Mateo standing in front of me, blocking Nayari's flashlight.

     I pat my right hand to the side, letting him flump next to me. He was holding a full tumbler of water, heated, with a tea bag and honey. Mateo placed them down, and offered the honey to me.

     "Haven has really protective parents, I overheard them this morning talking about natural remedies. Apparently, honey heals ant bites."

     He looked over to my leg, then flashed me a kind grin. Mateo handed me the bottle, along with a thick popsicle stick, deciding it was best I do it myself.

     "Thanks," I smiled. I put my notebooks and pens aside, rolled up the sleeve on my left leg, applying generous amounts of honey. The redness, swelling, and itching diminished in an instant. I sighed in relief.

     I shifted my gaze from my leg to Mateo, to return the honey, only to see him preoccupied with a different matter. A tea bag was balanced on the rim of his tumbler, which he gently swayed back and forth.

     I left the honey in front of him, and decided to wrap my leg, to avoid attracting unwanted insects. I took my handkerchief, tying it around the treated bites.

     "Tea? My tea is very calming," he proudly said. I was surprised to see him holding a stack of paper cups, which must've been previously tucked away in his backpack.

Does he carry a tea making kit with him everywhere? Now I'm truly convinced that we aren't a normal group of people.

     He poured half a cup for me, which I blissfully sipped. Heaven in the midst of hell. I loved coming up with my own metaphors, but I loved Mateo's tea more.

     "Green tea with Jasmine?" I asked, but didn't wait for an answer.

     Mateo grew wide-eyed. "Slow down, Aria."

     I chugged the cup, my head tilted upwards. Once I put my head down, he quickly stole the cup, bringing his tumbler further away from me.

     My arms found itself stretching, reaching out for more. I always ended my nights with a good cup of tea, and writing at least one poem.

     "This is for the group. Not just you. I'll give you the tea bag for your journal, though."

     Mateo was quite observant. He stayed true to his word, drying and giving mea the tea bag. This way, I'll never forget about his tea. Which may be a disadvantage to his part, but he's done this to himself.

     I caught Giovani and Miren making their way back from the corner of my eye, having another one of their usual banter. I couldn't understand the dynamic between these two.

     ".....how was I supposed to know my sarcasm would come true?"

     "Maybe you should be more careful with what you say, prophet of doom!"

     "Okay, then I wish the goddamn force field shuts off and lets us out!"

     Miren irritatedly rolled her eyes, setting down a pile of berries she placed on her shirt, curved to form a temporary bowl. Shades of blue and red scattered on the leaves.

     "So... how was the walk?" Mateo jokingly asked.

     Miren roughly seated herself, keeping a distance from Giovani. "Fine."

     "SO... WHAT'S UP?"

     Every bit of food and water we could scour was placed at the middle of the clearing. We clustered in our own little groups of two or three, Issac sat beside me. We weren't necessarily close, but he's the only one I previously already talked to before the mayhem.

     I rocked my head back and forth, hitting my head onto the tree bark. Miren tossed me a brownie bar from her lunch bag. She gracefully travelled from one group to another, passing out various snacks.

     I rid my leg of the honey a moment ago, rinsing it with fresh water from the river. Which happened to be a wise idea, for our very own water collectors couldn't find the way back.

     "I asked a question, yet no one answers as if I'm invisible," Haven complained.

     "Here's an idea," Peter started. "Why don't we invade each other's bags?"

Without a second to waste, Giovani and Issac walked the clearing like blood-thirsty monsters, snatching our bags one by one. Various cuss words filled the air.

     Nayari stood from her place. "Pretty sure he meant that as a jo—"

"So, who shall we start with first?" Giovani asked, imitating the accent of a British man. To my delight, it wasn't half-bad, but I desperately needed my bag back. No way in hell am I showing a group of strangers my one and only journal. Not to mention my collection of crappy poems, written by yours truly.

Without thinking before acting, I charged at both of them— which was a mistake. I slid through the gap between them, pitifully trying to gain my balance back.

"Well that answers my question."

Miren aggressively threw her right boot towards Giovani's shin, her teeth gritted. "Cut it out."

It's no surprise he let her words enter one ear, and exit through the other. Giovani zipped my shoulder bag open, kneeling down for both him and Issac to rummage through my stuff. They sent objects flying, but stopped when they opened the back pocket.

Giovani picked up the Rupi Kaur poetry books, and to my surprise, set them down neatly onto Miren's makeshift leaf carpet. Next were the notebooks. My body and soul prayed that they wouldn't read it aloud, but knowing Issac— and now, Giovani— that seemed unlikely.

     They speedily flipped through my journal, stopping at a random page.

"18 wishes."

     I had the worst luck.

My spine tingled, causing me to shudder in both fear and anxiety. Out of all my entries, that had to be the lucky contender. The raffle winner. The final number to achieve bingo.

"My mother told me it was tradition to be granted 18 wishes, one for each day, before you turn 18," he started. "Carrying my mother's maiden name, I wish to fulfil that. when the clock strikes 12 on the 12th of october, I was to start."

Everyone's eyes focused on Giovani, carefully and promisingly reading that journal entry. One that was never meant to be read. I wrote it a few weeks after my 17th birthday, but barely any of my wishes have changed since. The boy in the middle read each and every one, not missing a beat.

"And finally, day eighteen: I wish for my father to come home."

Giovani's voice faltered. He slowly lowered the notebook, which Issac quickly swiped from his grasp— he looked furious. Disappointed. Not to me, but to the way they acted. Personally, I thought being serious was out of his league.

"I..." The two boys said in unison.

Before I had the chance to tell them it wasn't their fault, Miren and Haven turned the conversation to another end. Which, truthfully, I was glad about, because I don't think I mean whatever speech I was supposedly going to say.

"Why don't we do shadow play!" Haven suggested, mostly sarcastically. She looked at the boys previously standing in the middle, mouthing the word assholes for them to suck it up. Miren elbowed their ribs, the boys groaning in pain. She then took our bags and promptly gave them back to each owner.

This, this is the reason why I'm lesbian.

Nayari and Mateo snuck glances at me— both showing different expressions. Nayari's was curiosity and sympathy, while Mateo's was distress. Soon enough, the group carried on with the shadow play idea, clumping around the wall.

While they were busy deciding which animal to do, I took my notebooks with force and stuffed them into my bag. I draped my maroon knitted cardigan over my shoulders, the untamed chilly air puffing through the atmosphere.

A voice cut through the sea of babbling teenagers.

"What's this?" Peter asked.

Further along the wall was a gold plaque, shinmering when struck by one of the flashlights. I walked towards them, seething my way through. Now there's something I could use as a distraction.

Letters written in a formal font were etched onto it, with dashes in-between some. When read aloud, the words made no sense whatsoever.

"Denolg-nexogy-ladeb-feltubtry-meho. What the gibberish?" Issac asked, reading it aloud.

If it weren't for my father— yes, the same father who put me into my misery almost a decade ago— I'd be as confused as my fellow teenagers. But, thanks to his weekly riddles and scavenger hunts, I knew exactly what to do.

Words are meant to be figured out. Only then, will they become useful.

People are no different.

AMELIE SPEAKS !
2.8k words? that's got to be my longest.
i've got some schemes planned <3

what are we thinking?? thoughts??

also, to the cast: what do we think about supernatural but unusual powers? ;)