Episode 1 - The Abandoned Shack

"Meet me after school near the shack," Zelly's best friend Olivia told her.

"When we save enough, I was thinking we can buy that building across the block from the church so we can get more customers."

Zelly and Olivia always went fishing afterschool at an abandoned shack that had a fishing dock at the lake. They discovered it a year ago when strolling in the woods, trying to find herbs for one of their classmate's sick mother.

Ever since then, they set up a market stall and sold fish in the middle of the city. Zelly enjoyed this because she could get away from her abusive father and make a living for herself and her brother while having fun. Olivia liked it because she was able to hang out with Zelly. Olivia was an orphan, and wasn't liked by many students because they saw her as poor, and couldn't gain anything from her. When she heard that Zelly didn't have that much of a father, she sprang at the chance to find a friend.

"Yep." replied Zelly, cracking her knuckles. “I wonder what that sorry excuse of a father would say when I earn more than he does before I'm even an adult. All he knows how to do is spend his money on drinks. I'll show him when you and I live in a nice house in a nice city with my brother and your sister. We'll show him that life isn't what he thinks it is." and so they started their morning at school.

"How have you been lately?" asked The Teacher at the end of school

"Good." Zelly said and ran off at the second bell.

'Horrible' she thought.

Zelly got on her old bike and pedalled to the shack with both her backpack and anticipation weighing her down. She could just see the shocked face of her dad when she moved out of the house and into another building, taking her brother and leaving him lonely for the deeds he has done. The price for the scars that he left her would cost his loneliness. He would feel as lonely as she did when she really needed him. Maybe then, He would start acting differently. Maybe then he would see that what he has now is worth more than his whiskey and beer bottles combined. Zelly pondered these thoughts for a while, and stopped at a familiar tree to set her bike to the side.

When she got to the shack, the two did their usual. they walked across the dock, and they baited the lines that they had tied to the sticks with worms and waited. They would usually study for tests or read new books during this period of time.

They were always at the top of the class, and not a soul new why. People walked up and asked for their secrets, yet never got an answer.

After another successful catch, they knew that when they sold their goods tomorrow, they would have enough to meet their goals. Olivia went home while Zelly packed up their things in the shack and put her backpack on.

Just when she was about to hop on her bike and ride home, she saw a faint shadow across the lake. she shrugged it off, but then she saw it move, and decided to get a bit closer.

When she decided she was close enough, she put down the brake and started to tiptoe to the figure. She found a man at a statue, praying. 'Odd,' she thought. she never saw that man, nor the statue before, though she knew the woods like the back of her hand. She decided to ask the man if he needed directions, as he wore thin robes and looked dirty, like he needed a place to stay.

"Excuse me." she said, politely. The man was startled and pulled out a necklace, holding it out to me as If it were a weapon. "Shmebulock." he Shouted. 'Was he speaking a different language?' Zelly wondered, intrigued by his presence. To Zelly's surprise, she looked around to find the air glowing, as if fireflies had gathered around this area. Zelly's sight was fading, for she was blinded by the brightness. It was as if she was in a white room. When she regained sight, she found herself in a small room in a bed. A woman looked at her with joy and surprise. "Zelda!" she shouted. "You're finally awake!"

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***