ELIRA BROWN was different. Elira was different from any other person she knew. But, she needed her space.

"I WILL NOT!" Elira shouted at her mother. "Just because he needs space - why does he need space anyway, Mum?"

Her mother, Emma, muttered the word gamble. Elira let out a nasty snort and folded her arms, a horrid look on her face.

"Honey, it's only for a few months," Emma pleaded. "Only for a few months. Please, Elira? I mean, you will still get a room -"

"And by room, you mean the attic?!" Elira spat, her face red in color. "You - can't, Mum! You can't let me stay in that dump!"

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE ATTIC, MYRA?!" a loud voice yelled across the house. "HUH? WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT?"

Elira made a see! look at her mother. "He doesn't even know my name," she hissed. "He calls me his stepdaughter!"

"SHOW SOME RESPECT, BYRON!" the voice of Elira's younger sister, Ella, yelled.

"Ella," Emma called. "Please, lower your voice."

Ella snorted from far away. "Tell that to him, Mum! I don't see you telling that to Byron, do you? He shouted first!"

"Ella, please!" Emma called. "Byron, please don't yell at my children."

Elira could hear Byron snort and mutter, "You got that right. They ain't my children." She also heard him eat some more chips.

"I can't believe it," Elira muttered. "He doesn't even get a proper job, Mum! Why did you marry him of all the men in the world?"

"We needed the money, Elira," Emma said. "After your father died -"

"Guess what, Mum?" Elira asked, trying to hold her tears back. "I'm not going to live here, okay? I'll be at Nick's."

Nick was her older brother. All her older siblings had moved out of their house because of their job. And, Elira secretly thought, because of her stepfather, Byron.

"Darling, please," Emma pleaded. "Just for a few months." She was looking at her daughter in a pleading way.

"Okay," Elira said, a bit scathingly. "Okay."

"Really? Lira, you're amazing," Emma said, relieved. She held out her hand for a hug. Elira just stared. "Please?"

Finally, Elira went to hug her mother.

"You've been amazing, Elira," Emma whispered. "I swear, you and Byron will get along soon or later."

"Yeah, sure," Elira mumbled.

"And then, you'll thank me later," Emma said as Elira drew away. "Now, let's get your things up to the attic, Elira."

~~~

"Woah. This place is a dump."

Elira knew that voice. "Ella, I'm trying to make it look better, can't you see?" she asked as she turned around to her sister.

Ella was peeking into the attic. "Yikes, sorry," she said. "But, again, it's still a dump. But that's just an opinion!" she added quickly as Elira looked bewildered at her sister.

Elira sighed and just dropped into her bed. "Why did I have to move into the attic?" she asked Ella as she looked up.

Ella knew where her sister was going. "No, I'm not going to lend you my room! Then I have to be in this dump!"

"Okay, okay," Elira sighed.

"Let's go to Nick's," Ella said. "Let's complain to him about Byron and what he made you do, like move into an attic." Then she added, "Let's add some drama too."

"Alright," Elira said as she stood up. "Let's go."

As Elira and Ella were going down the stairs, they heard Byron shout. "HOW COULD YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU GREAT BIG -"

Ella gasped as she put both of her hands over her ears. "No, he did not," she whispered. "Elira, please, I want to go to Nick's now." Ella's voice was scared and she was about to cry.

Elira's anger was starting to explode. "He can't -" She stomped down the stairs. "HEY BYRON!" She yelled.

Byron looked over. "What is it, Myra?" he demanded as he ate more chips.

"Who were you yelling at?" Elira demanded. "Who? Who was it, Byron?"

"Your Mum didn't do something right, the -" Byron swore. Elira stumbled back a little and she was sure that Emma had just dropped something in the kitchen. Elira also heard soft crying up the stairs.

"Maybe," Elira said loudly. "Maybe if you do something like Mum, then you'd realize how much work it is."

Byron was about to open his mouth to say something when Elira continued. "Oh right. You can't even do anything! All you have to do is sit around and eat chips and yell! I doubt you even know what one plus one is!"

Everything was still for a moment. All Elira could hear was Ella's rapid breathing up the stairs and a little cry.

Elira took in another breath before starting again. "Why do you think Nick and the others moved out? Do you know why? Not because of their jobs, because of you, Byron! You are nothing like my father, who cared about me!"

"Elira, that's enough!" Emma called from the kitchen.

"Yeah, Mum, it is," Elira said as she saw Byron's dumbfounded face. "Ella!" Elira called. "Ella, come on!"

Ella peeked out, her eyes red.

"Come on," Elira said as she took Ella's hand. Elira grabbed both of their coats and opened the door. Before heading out though, she said to Byron, "And by the way, my name isn't Myra, it's Elira."

~~~

Elira and Ella were now walking down the streets of London. Ella was sniffing once in a while, and Elira was constantly muttering a swear words.

"Are you okay?" Elira asked Ella.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Ella said, wiping her eyes. "Just - I can't believe you stood up to him like that, Elira. That was very brave of you."

Elira shrugged. "You had to do it sometime," she mumbled.

"Yeah," Ella said looking ahead. "So . . . you think Nick and the others will be happy? That you stuck up to Byron?"

"I dunno," Elira said. "But I think so."

Ella and Elira were nearing their older siblings' apartment now. Elira could see the crooked sign which said "This is the resident of the Brown Family" hanging on the door.

"They still have the sign," Ella said, disgustedly as Elira knocked on the door. "Why do they still have it?"

"I think they like it," Elira said.

"How could they like it?" Ella asked as the door opened and a drowsy young man appeared, carrying a coffee mug.

"Hello, how may I help - oh! Elira, Ella, come on in!" he said, realizing it was his sisters.

As Ella and Elira sat on the couch, Nick, their older brother, asked them both, "Pleasant to see you two! How are you both?"

Ella and Elira looked at each other. "Um, I - I shouted at Byron, Nick," Elira whispered, looking up at Nick.

Nick choked on his coffee. "You what? Really? Oh my god - Elira, that's amazing!" he said as he grinned at his sister.

"Yeah," Elira said. "I guess so."

~~~

It was dusk. Elira's siblings - Daniel, Jack, and Ethan - were all coming in from their jobs. They looked exhausted.

"Elira," Daniel said as he hugged his sister. "Wonderful to see you guys again. Ugh - work is so tiring."

Elira nodded and chuckled a little. "Work can be tiring," she said as she smiled up at her older brother.

"How would you know?" Ethan said as he stretched out on the couch. "You don't work yet!" The whole house seemed to have erupted in giggles.

Finally, they all stopped and looked at each other.

"Go, freshen up all of you," Nick said, looking at the rest of his siblings. "I'll make us all a smoothie."

Elira and Ella hurried into an empty room. "At least now you don't have to be in an attic," Ella said as Elira pushed open the door.

Elira let out a chuckle. "Yeah," she said as she looked around the room, "well, come on, Ella, freshen up."

As Elira was washing her face, she could hear a loud thump on the door. "ELIRA! ELLA! Please, open the door!" someone shouted.

Elira grabbed a towel and dabbed her face and looked up at Ella, who was on the bed. Ella shot Elira a confused look.

The person banged the door again. "OPEN THE DOOR!!"

Elira ran up to the door and opened the door. Her older brother, Jack, was outside of the door, looking a little tense.

"Jack? Are you -" Elira started.

"No time to explain," Jack said plainly. "Ella, come on."

Ella, Jack, and Elira crammed into the living room, which was now messed up by Nick, Daniel, and Ethan, who were scurrying around everyone, tensed.

"What's happening?!" Ella yelled.

"I'll explain in the car!" Nick called as Ethan threw him the keys from across the room and Nick caught it.

Elira was now putting her seatbelt on hurriedly as Nick started the car. "Can you tell us now?" Elira asked as Nick turned around a corner.

"Keep to the speed limit," warned Daniel.

"Don't tell me what to do!" Nick snapped.

"Nick got a call from Mum," Ethan said to Elira and Ella.

"So? Mum always calls Nick," Ella said shrugging.

"Mum said it was urgent. She was crying. There was something wrong and someone was in the background, I heard the pounding of shoes." Ethan sighed.

There was another sharp turn. "WHY CAN'T YOU KEEP TO THE SPEED LIMIT, NICK?" Daniel yelled.

Nick ignored his younger brother as Elira saw a familiar block of houses. They were near their house. Elira was panting and she was scared now. What if they lost her mother as they did with their father?

Nick opened the door and hurried out, everyone else following him. They hurried to the house nearest to them.

"Keys!" ordered Nick.

Jack fished out the keys from his pockets and gave them to Nick.

Nick put the key in and turned the doorknob. The house was dim as outside. Elira couldn't see anyone in particular.

"Close the door," a hoarse voice hissed.

Elira jumped and swirled around. She heard someone creak the door close.

"Who are you?" Nick squeaked. "What do you want with my paren - with my mum?"

The lights switched on. It took a little time for Elira's eyes to adjust to the sudden light. When they did, Elira saw Byron, on the stairs, looking terrified, and Emma, on the couch, looking like she was crying.

Next to Byron and Emma were people in black suits. Elira saw them with small guns near their waists.

Everyone just stared.

"Excuse me," Ethan said, finding his bravery. "What are you doing? Why are you even here?" Elira could see that Ethan was trying to be polite as he also saw the gun.

"Sit down," one of the people said. She seemed to be the leader. She was as old as Emma with silver hair and a round face.

"This is our house -" Daniel started angrily.

"I said, sit down," the leader snapped. "Do what I say, mortal."

Elira, Ella, Nick, Daniel, Ethan, and Jack sat down on the nearest couch. Elira could see her mother, trying to stay calm before crying.

"I'm Etta Darryl," the leader said. Her eyes wandered to Elira. "Are you Elira Brown?" she questioned.

Elira gulped and looked at her mother, who just nodded a little. "I am," she whispered.

"We're here to take you to Camp Wolfhead," Etta Darryl said to Elira.

Nick broke in. "What? What is Camp Wolfhead? Where are you taking my sister?! Miss, I can call the police right now and we can have you arrested!"

"We're scientists," Etta said coldly.

"I don't think scientists will break into people's houses!" Nick said as he looked at each of the scientists.

"You don't understand, mortal. I'll help you all understand. Do you all realize that Earth is in danger?" Etta asked everyone.

"From climate change?" Ella said.

"No. From things from space. Aliens, perhaps," Etta said.

"You're joking?" Elira asked.

"Do I look like I'm joking? No, Miss Brown, I am not joking," Etta said confidently. She sighed. "Continuing, people at Camp Wolfhead are trying to stop the aliens from conquering Earth. Understood? Now, people in my department are working to find more recruits to help. Miss Brown, you fit perfectly for us."

Elira turned to Ella. "Pinch me. I need to make sure this isn't a dream," she said.

Ella grunted out, "I'm sure it's bogus but alright." Ella pinched Elira on the arm.

Elira winced but turned back to Etta and the others. "B-but, why do you need me of all people?" she asked.

"You fit our profile, Miss Brown," Etta said.

"Do I have to leave?" Elira whispered.

"Yes," said a new voice. Elira looked up. It wasn't Etta who said that, it was her mother. Emma looked at Elira with pained eyes. "You have to go, Elira."

"Mum -" Jack started.

"No, Jack. She has to go. She has to protect Earth," Emma said. Elira could see a pool of water in her mother's eyes.

"Emma said it all," Etta said.

"Better off without you anyway," Elira heard Byron mutter.

In a flash, one of the scientists had taken out her gun and was pointing it to Byron. "What?" she spat at him. "What were you saying?"

"Nothing," Byron muttered.

"Put the gun down, Zladavitch!" Etta ordered. "Do you want the SFPD to come after us again and have the London police file a homicide?"

The girl called Zladavitch put down the gun, but Elira could see the look she was giving to Byron, deepest disgust.

"Alright. When are we leaving?" Elira asked.

"Tomorrow morning, five a.m., an Audi Q7 will be outside your house. A woman named Julie Trent will be in the Q7. Do not be late," Etta said.

"Can we come too?" Emma asked. "To drop Elira off?"

Etta seemed to want to say no, but instead, she sighed and said, "Alright, sure. The reply phrase is 'but does the crow know the time?' Alright? Okay."

~~~

The next morning at four a.m, Elira was looking through everything to check if she had forgotten something. The door of her attic creaked open.

"Can I come in?" It was Ella.

"Of course," Elira said as she turned to see Ella collapse into a small chair.

There was a pause. Elira just looked through the suitcase and then packed a few stuffed animals.

"Elira? Will you ever come back?" Ella whispered.

Elira looked behind her. "Of course, Ella. I will come back, I promise."

Ella looked up. "Are you going to . . ." Ella didn't need to finish her sentence. Elira already knew what her sister was thinking.

"No," Elira said firmly. "And I know that Professor Darryl wouldn't have gotten me if she wanted me to be in danger."

Ella smiled a little. "Yeah."

"ELIRA! ELLA! COME DOWNSTAIRS!" Emma's voice drifted up the stairs. "COME ON, WE'VE GOT TO GO SOON!"

Elira and Ella rushed down the stairs to see Emma in the kitchen and Byron on the couch, not even doing anything.

"Should Elira eat? I mean, there ought to be some food court in Camp Wolfhead," Nick said as Jack, Ethan, and Daniel stuffed themselves with pancakes.

"Thanks a lot," Elira muttered as her stomach rumbled a little.

"Nick, she needs to eat," Emma said sternly. "Just a little. Two pancakes, Elira, that's it." She pointed her pancake flipper at Elira.

"Alright," Elira said.

~~~

After Elira ate, her siblings were getting down her luggage. Nick and Jack were holding the suitcase, grunting once in a while.

"What have you packed in here? An elephant?" Jack asked Elira.

"You don't know what you'll need, Jack," Elira said.

"Okay, okay, three minutes to five, lets go," Daniel said. "Julie Trent lady will probably be as strict as Etta Darryl."

"You can't be sure of that," Emma said as she took her purse. "Byron, are you coming?"

Elvira's heart thumped. "He's coming?"

Emma shot her a look. "Yes, he should," she said.

"I ain't going," Byron said.

"Yes you are," Emma said.

"Guys, we need to leave. Leave him," Ethan said, stubbornly. "We don't need him anyway. He's a waste of space." He muttered the last bit.

Everyone took something and went out of the house.

"There!" Ella whispered as she pointed to a car. "I think it's a Q7."

Everyone hurried to the car and Emma opened the door. As soon as the door opened, the woman in the front seat said, "The crow flies at midnight."

It was the phrase.

Elira cleared her throat. "But does the crow know the time?"

There was a short pause. Emma bit her lip; Jack and Ethan were looking at the woman's hat, Nick was just staring up at space, Ella was inhaling and exhaling and Elira just stared.

"That is correct. Elira Brown, am I right?" the woman asked. She turned her head. She was a tall woman with a round face and brunette hair.

"Yes," Elira said. "Are you Julie Trent?"

"Yup," the woman said. "Jump in. Throw the luggage in the trunk."

The car took off after Nick and Daniel had popped all the luggage into the trunk.

"Are you ready for training, Elira?" Julie asked.

"Um . . . I guess," Elira said. "I mean, Etta Darryl said something about aliens coming to Earth or something, is that true?"

"First off, you probably want to get used to saying Professor Darryl and Professor Trent - that's me - 'cause people in Camp Wolfhead will probably think that you have a better opportunity of surviving. Second off, never doubt Etta Darryl, I am proud to say that I'm her best friend and I was there when the aliens - or whatever they are - attacked," Julie said.

"S-so, Professor Trent, all that people are saying is that aliens are trying to come to Earth. Why?" Elira asked.

"Your question is out of my intelligence, Elira," Professor Trent said, chuckling slightly. "You should ask Professor Longthorn that. She is one of the greatest scientists I know. She's taught at Camp Wolfhead longer than me."

"Professor Trent, is Elira going to be coming back?" Emma asked.

Professor Trent stopped for a minute. "I'm sorry, I can't promise anything, but I and Etta Darryl and all the other scientists at Camp will try to protect everyone."

Emma nodded. "Alright," she whispered.

"You lot can sleep. It'll be six by the time we reach there," Professor Trent said to everyone. "And then if you ate anything, you'll be hungry again for breakfast at the camp."