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The Journey Beyond The BorderLoading...
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by Isabella Zic
I’ve always had a problem with my over curiosity. I mean, being curious isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I’ve always gotten in trouble for it. “Keziah, get out of the library! You’re supposed to be practicing,” my father would yell. “Keziah, stop eavesdropping! This is a private conversation!” “Get over here, Keziah! You can study the moths later!” It's not like I wanted to get in trouble. I couldn’t help being curious. And even if I could, I have to admit, I probably wouldn’t. I like who I am. People always say “Never change for anyone, always be yourself,” so why shouldn't I? My parents don’t say that though. They tell me and my four siblings to always be “proper” and “polite”, which would be easier to follow if they gave me an example other than my smug siblings. I’m “properly” myself.
I wouldn’t survive if it wasn’t for my friends. My parents don’t know about them, because I’d get in trouble for “befriending lower class citizens.” I love them though, and I don’t care what my parents think.
But, they do know about my “over curiosity problem.” In fact, that's how it all started.
I woke up out of my bed one morning pretty early, which was rare considering we usually all woke up at the same time, and if we didn’t, we would go back to sleep. But I couldn’t. I had this feeling…
I wouldn’t survive if it wasn’t for my friends. My parents don’t know about them, because I’d get in trouble for “befriending lower class citizens.” I love them though, and I don’t care what my parents think.
But, they do know about my “over curiosity problem.” In fact, that's how it all started.
I woke up out of my bed one morning pretty early, which was rare considering we usually all woke up at the same time, and if we didn’t, we would go back to sleep. But I couldn’t. I had this feeling…
I was about to shake it off and fall back asleep, when I heard talking in the throne room. The throne room was upstairs, but I had really good hearing, and I knew that there was talking coming from it. I tiptoed up the stairs with a long, pointy stick in my hand for protection. I peeked through the large, wooden throne room door, and who did I see?
The king. I only saw him on rare occasions. He was dressed in a long red robe, and he was wearing the bracelet he always wore. He was talking to his advisor, so he’d call it, but I thought that it was his girlfriend. But what they were talking about all changed my mind. “There are invaders coming into the kingdom,” the king shouted. “What can we do?!”
That was enough to set me on my track. I ran out of the castle (which my father would kill me for doing, but it was worth it.) I ran outside of the castle gates, into the village. I ran down the village streets, dodging hay bales, and at the end of the long rows was the great village border. It was a tall, sturdy wall that went across the whole village. It was made of large stone bricks, cemented onto each other. There was no way to get past it..
Except there was a hole near the top, where a brick or two were missing. It was way too far to reach,
The king. I only saw him on rare occasions. He was dressed in a long red robe, and he was wearing the bracelet he always wore. He was talking to his advisor, so he’d call it, but I thought that it was his girlfriend. But what they were talking about all changed my mind. “There are invaders coming into the kingdom,” the king shouted. “What can we do?!”
That was enough to set me on my track. I ran out of the castle (which my father would kill me for doing, but it was worth it.) I ran outside of the castle gates, into the village. I ran down the village streets, dodging hay bales, and at the end of the long rows was the great village border. It was a tall, sturdy wall that went across the whole village. It was made of large stone bricks, cemented onto each other. There was no way to get past it..
Except there was a hole near the top, where a brick or two were missing. It was way too far to reach,
I was about to shake it off and fall back asleep, when I heard talking in the throne room. The throne room was upstairs, but I had really good hearing, and I knew that there was talking coming from it. I tiptoed up the stairs with a long, pointy stick in my hand for protection. I peeked through the large, wooden throne room door, and who did I see?
The king. I only saw him on rare occasions. He was dressed in a long red robe, and he was wearing the bracelet he always wore. He was talking to his advisor, so he’d call it, but I thought that it was his girlfriend. But what they were talking about all changed my mind. “There are invaders coming into the kingdom,” the king shouted. “What can we do?!”
That was enough to set me on my track. I ran out of the castle (which my father would kill me for doing, but it was worth it.) I ran outside of the castle gates, into the village. I ran down the village streets, dodging hay bales, and at the end of the long rows was the great village border. It was a tall, sturdy wall that went across the whole village. It was made of large stone bricks, cemented onto each other. There was no way to get past it..
Except there was a hole near the top, where a brick or two were missing. It was way too far to reach,
The king. I only saw him on rare occasions. He was dressed in a long red robe, and he was wearing the bracelet he always wore. He was talking to his advisor, so he’d call it, but I thought that it was his girlfriend. But what they were talking about all changed my mind. “There are invaders coming into the kingdom,” the king shouted. “What can we do?!”
That was enough to set me on my track. I ran out of the castle (which my father would kill me for doing, but it was worth it.) I ran outside of the castle gates, into the village. I ran down the village streets, dodging hay bales, and at the end of the long rows was the great village border. It was a tall, sturdy wall that went across the whole village. It was made of large stone bricks, cemented onto each other. There was no way to get past it..
Except there was a hole near the top, where a brick or two were missing. It was way too far to reach,
though. What was I going to do now? My father surely would know that I was out soon.
“Hey,” a familiar voice shouted. “Need some help?” The voice was familiar. Who was it? Then she realized.
“Natasha!” I shouted. Natasha was my friend that my parents didn't know about. Behind her, standing shyly as usual, was Elliana.“Thank God you are here!” I called as she ran to me. “ I need to get past the border, but there is no way to get past except a hole on the top.”
Natasha looked down at a small catapult in her hands, then back at me with a large grin on her face.
I stared at her. “What will that do?”
“Just you wait and see,” Natasha responded. She threw the catapult to the ground and it got bigger, and bigger. Magic! From the outer world!
“How did you-“ I started, but I was already on the catapult.
Before I got shot off into the sky, through the hole, Elliana gave me a seed and whispered “Use this when you’re in need.” Then I was off. I was plunged into the hole. Ready to face the outer world.
I was out. I got shot through the hole. I fell
“Hey,” a familiar voice shouted. “Need some help?” The voice was familiar. Who was it? Then she realized.
“Natasha!” I shouted. Natasha was my friend that my parents didn't know about. Behind her, standing shyly as usual, was Elliana.“Thank God you are here!” I called as she ran to me. “ I need to get past the border, but there is no way to get past except a hole on the top.”
Natasha looked down at a small catapult in her hands, then back at me with a large grin on her face.
I stared at her. “What will that do?”
“Just you wait and see,” Natasha responded. She threw the catapult to the ground and it got bigger, and bigger. Magic! From the outer world!
“How did you-“ I started, but I was already on the catapult.
Before I got shot off into the sky, through the hole, Elliana gave me a seed and whispered “Use this when you’re in need.” Then I was off. I was plunged into the hole. Ready to face the outer world.
I was out. I got shot through the hole. I fell
onto a pile of white roses without thorns. I walked in the outer world now. The trees danced, but quite literally. They talked as if they were having a BBQ. Of course I didn’t understand the trees, though, because, well, they were trees. Magical glowing vines grew taller and taller up and around trees. Flowers bloomed with glowing rings inside. This was amazing.
As I walked around in awe, I heard a ruckus from the bushes. The bushes immediately stopped glowing. Then the next. Then the next. I knew how to find the invader.
“Show yourself!” I shouted. “It’s not enough to hide in a place I can find you. They stop glowing when you near them.”
There was a snarl. Then, “Fine!” A familiar voice shouted. Then a lunge toward my neck. The sword pierced through my hair, keeping all of me in one piece. Panting, a figure stepped forward.
“Well, well, well. Look who figured out the border.” It was my sister, Elizabeth! She seemed to usually keep quiet, only mumbling insults when she was mad (I was the only one noticed.) What was a shy, quiet girl doing in the middle of the outer worlds?
“Eliza!” I shouted. What is she doing here, I thought to myself.
“Save the pity!” She called back. “Get out of here,
As I walked around in awe, I heard a ruckus from the bushes. The bushes immediately stopped glowing. Then the next. Then the next. I knew how to find the invader.
“Show yourself!” I shouted. “It’s not enough to hide in a place I can find you. They stop glowing when you near them.”
There was a snarl. Then, “Fine!” A familiar voice shouted. Then a lunge toward my neck. The sword pierced through my hair, keeping all of me in one piece. Panting, a figure stepped forward.
“Well, well, well. Look who figured out the border.” It was my sister, Elizabeth! She seemed to usually keep quiet, only mumbling insults when she was mad (I was the only one noticed.) What was a shy, quiet girl doing in the middle of the outer worlds?
“Eliza!” I shouted. What is she doing here, I thought to myself.
“Save the pity!” She called back. “Get out of here,
onto a pile of white roses without thorns. I walked in the outer world now. The trees danced, but quite literally. They talked as if they were having a BBQ. Of course I didn’t understand the trees, though, because, well, they were trees. Magical glowing vines grew taller and taller up and around trees. Flowers bloomed with glowing rings inside. This was amazing.
As I walked around in awe, I heard a ruckus from the bushes. The bushes immediately stopped glowing. Then the next. Then the next. I knew how to find the invader.
“Show yourself!” I shouted. “It’s not enough to hide in a place I can find you. They stop glowing when you near them.”
There was a snarl. Then, “Fine!” A familiar voice shouted. Then a lunge toward my neck. The sword pierced through my hair, keeping all of me in one piece. Panting, a figure stepped forward.
“Well, well, well. Look who figured out the border.” It was my sister, Elizabeth! She seemed to usually keep quiet, only mumbling insults when she was mad (I was the only one noticed.) What was a shy, quiet girl doing in the middle of the outer worlds?
“Eliza!” I shouted. What is she doing here, I thought to myself.
“Save the pity!” She called back. “Get out of here,
As I walked around in awe, I heard a ruckus from the bushes. The bushes immediately stopped glowing. Then the next. Then the next. I knew how to find the invader.
“Show yourself!” I shouted. “It’s not enough to hide in a place I can find you. They stop glowing when you near them.”
There was a snarl. Then, “Fine!” A familiar voice shouted. Then a lunge toward my neck. The sword pierced through my hair, keeping all of me in one piece. Panting, a figure stepped forward.
“Well, well, well. Look who figured out the border.” It was my sister, Elizabeth! She seemed to usually keep quiet, only mumbling insults when she was mad (I was the only one noticed.) What was a shy, quiet girl doing in the middle of the outer worlds?
“Eliza!” I shouted. What is she doing here, I thought to myself.
“Save the pity!” She called back. “Get out of here,
for your own good.”
“Why-” I asked.
“Explanation? Fine. I’ll at least give you this one thing before you die. I came out here one day to collect Fire berries as an expedition for the king, a year before you were born. I was 14. I saw the beauty of the outer worlds, and it was mine. No one else could have it. The plants agreed with me.” She pointed to a bush of green, thorny vines.
Plants can talk! I thought with excitement.
Eliza broke her thoughts. “ As soon as everyone went back, I stayed. Made a door past the wall that only I could unlock. After I made the door, I came here night and morning. Every day. When it started to seem wrong, to keep everything to myself, I put on this bracelet made of the green vines that assured me that it was right, as a vow. I started stealing things from the village when the forest needed supplies, or the kingdom got greedy. I fought off everyone who came here. I gave the king a bracelet like mine, and enchanted him to not let anyone out. What a shame you found your way. Now I have to kill you.” I looked at the bracelet, getting an idea. The bracelet was dark green, made of thorny vines that curled around her wrist.
But there was no time to think. My sister
“Why-” I asked.
“Explanation? Fine. I’ll at least give you this one thing before you die. I came out here one day to collect Fire berries as an expedition for the king, a year before you were born. I was 14. I saw the beauty of the outer worlds, and it was mine. No one else could have it. The plants agreed with me.” She pointed to a bush of green, thorny vines.
Plants can talk! I thought with excitement.
Eliza broke her thoughts. “ As soon as everyone went back, I stayed. Made a door past the wall that only I could unlock. After I made the door, I came here night and morning. Every day. When it started to seem wrong, to keep everything to myself, I put on this bracelet made of the green vines that assured me that it was right, as a vow. I started stealing things from the village when the forest needed supplies, or the kingdom got greedy. I fought off everyone who came here. I gave the king a bracelet like mine, and enchanted him to not let anyone out. What a shame you found your way. Now I have to kill you.” I looked at the bracelet, getting an idea. The bracelet was dark green, made of thorny vines that curled around her wrist.
But there was no time to think. My sister
lunged at me. I dodged it quickly. “Who ever knew you were so good at fighting?” My sister said with an evil grin appearing on her face.. “Too bad I’m better.” She swiped at my leg. She cut the side.
“Ow!” I gasped. She lunged at my neck, and, suddenly, everything slowed down.
People say that their life flashed before their eyes in the face of death. I have always wondered what that meant. But I never found out. My life didn’t flash before my eyes. My life was right in front of me, and it was about to end. But… I had time to think now. Everything was in slow motion in front of me. The sword was getting closer and closer to my neck every second. Tik, toc, tik, toc. I couldn’t move my neck. That fate was sealed. If I couldn’t think of anything else, I’d be dead. Tik toc tik.
I remembered what Ellie said to me before I left. “Use this when you're in need.”
I grabbed the seed out of my pocket, smashed it to the ground, and suddenly a large sword appeared. I blocked my face as I grabbed the sword.
“Wha-” my sister started, startled. I swiped at her waist, barely missing her. But I knew that even if I tried, I couldn’t hurt my sister. She was still family, even if she did do this horrible thing. Then I saw the
“Ow!” I gasped. She lunged at my neck, and, suddenly, everything slowed down.
People say that their life flashed before their eyes in the face of death. I have always wondered what that meant. But I never found out. My life didn’t flash before my eyes. My life was right in front of me, and it was about to end. But… I had time to think now. Everything was in slow motion in front of me. The sword was getting closer and closer to my neck every second. Tik, toc, tik, toc. I couldn’t move my neck. That fate was sealed. If I couldn’t think of anything else, I’d be dead. Tik toc tik.
I remembered what Ellie said to me before I left. “Use this when you're in need.”
I grabbed the seed out of my pocket, smashed it to the ground, and suddenly a large sword appeared. I blocked my face as I grabbed the sword.
“Wha-” my sister started, startled. I swiped at her waist, barely missing her. But I knew that even if I tried, I couldn’t hurt my sister. She was still family, even if she did do this horrible thing. Then I saw the