**Chapter One**

“Ugh, that’s it, Billy, stop it!” said Sophia, grabbing her book back as hard as she could.

“WHAT HAPPENED?” Mum shouted, rushing in angrily.

“Billy keeps snatching my book, and he says books are for nerds,” Sophia said, holding it tight.

“Well, that’s not very nice, is it, Billy? No cookies for you today. Anyway, we have to get ready for school. Come on now,” Mum said.

“That’s not fair, Mum! I was just stating facts!” Billy argued.

“That’s what you get,” Sophia said teasingly.

Billy rolled his eyes and walked off. Sophia turned away, still holding her book, when something caught her eye.

In the corner of the room was a small portrait. She frowned and walked closer. It was a picture of her father holding a big glowing jewel sword. It had sapphire crystals, tiny red rubies, and gold charms that sparkled in the light.

At first, she thought it was cool.

But then she paused.

Why haven’t I seen this before?

“Probably because we just shifted houses,” she muttered to herself.

Still, something felt strange.

She had so many questions. She opened her mouth to ask—but suddenly, the school bus honked outside.

She sighed.

“Later…” she whispered, and rushed out the door.

**Chapter Two: The Trip to School**

The bus was big with white curtains and soft, beagle-looking seats. It was almost empty, which made it feel kind of weird. The black seatbelts were cold and tight, almost like they were squeezing your chest.

“Go on!” Mum shouted, snapping Sophia out of her thoughts.

She quickly climbed onto the bus and waved at Mum through the window. Then she walked down the aisle and sat at the back in a single seat. It wasn’t the best, but it was better than nothing.

She buckled her seatbelt and looked out the window.

I hope today is different, she thought.

But it never was.

At school, people would laugh at her. She didn’t even know why. She would walk in with her white overalls and knitted scarf, and people would just start whispering and giggling 

So she ignored them.

She would just sit quietly or pretend to sleep.

Even worse, her brother joined in. Billy was the horrible . Once, Sophia wrote a book about Candyland and the tooth fairy, but Billy ripped it apart and threw it into the fire.

She cried until there were no tears left.

After that, she started writing in her diary instead, but he still ruined it.

She never really asked why. She just thought it was normal.

Her friends didn’t think so, though. That’s why they left her.

“It’s okay,” she told herself. “I don’t need friends anyway.”

So she stayed alone, reading or knitting.

Soon, she fell asleep on the bus, dreaming about fairies and Santa.

Then suddenly—

“Last stop! Get off!” the driver shouted, honking loudly.

Sophia woke up with a jump, grabbed her bag, and ran out.

But when she looked around… something was wrong.

She wasn’t at school.

Instead, she was standing near small houses that looked like tiny huts from a village. There was no one around.

The bus had already left.

“Wait—where am I?” she said, turning around.

No answer.

Then she saw something behind a bush.

A tiny figure.

With pointy ears.

Watching her.

**Chapter Three: The Hut**

Sophia ran as fast as she could until she found a small hut. She rushed inside and locked the door behind her, her hands shaking.

“What was that?” she whispered. “Whatever that thing was… it got me here.”

Inside the hut was one tiny bed, shelves with books, and a small table with reading glasses. It looked like someone lived there.

Sophia peeked outside. The sun was shining into the hut, and the white curtains glowed.

She sat on the couch, looking around.

“Something To read? Sure…” she said quietly.

She found some books at the bottom of the shelf. “Bingo,” she whispered. She touched the curved backs and picked the thickest one.

It had a dark leather cover with no title.

She sat down and started reading.

Then—

*Knock… knock…*

Sophia froze.

“Brambleberry… it’s me… Fizzlepop… Candybob is in trouble…” a tiny voice said.

Sophia’s heart raced.

The door handle started shaking.

“Open the door, Fizzlepop!” the voice said.

Sophia quickly hid under the bed, holding the book tightly.

The handle rattled.

Then the voice said, annoyed, “Oh forget it! You better open the door next time I come!”

Then it went quiet.

Sophia slowly came out and looked outside.

Nothing.

“What am I going to do?” she whispered.

The sun was setting.

She was alone.

And she had no plan.