Charlotte's Pov:
I'd slept for what felt like forever to me because after opening my eyes, I felt different and far.
I looked and discovered I was actually lying on the floor - on the sand.
I squinted my eyes and stood up, feeling so tired.
Where was I? Could I still be in Marazona?
No, Marazona isn't like this. And besides, I'm sure I'd have woken up in a cell.
I stood up weakly and found a very big body of water in front of me.
Wow! It was almost like the stream we had in Marazona which was our source of water.
Hold on.
I was naked. I wasn't putting on anything.
Where were my leaves? How did they fall off?
Where was I?
I touched my neck and took in a deep breath when I found the treasure still lying there. It was safe with me.
"Hey!" I suddenly heard someone call and turned in the direction of the voice.
It was a young woman — a young pretty woman. But she looked really really different.
I mean… she was putting on something that didn't look like leaves, but they covered her body.
Her legs were on something....they weren't touching the floor.
Huh?
She looked really different. Who's she?
"Hey! Are...Are you okay? What's wrong?" She asked with some sort of concern in her eyes. I should be the one asking if she's okay.
She's looking really different.
"Young lady, what happened to you? Why're you standing out naked? Were you raped? Huh?" She bubbled.
What's rape? I thought in confusion.
"Where are your clothes?" She asked again.
"I… I shouldn't be naked, right?" I asked and she gave me a surprised stare.
"Well, of.... of course. You shouldn't be seen like this. What happened to you?"
"I knew it," I mumbled with a nod.
"I knew there was something wrong. I knew I shouldn't be naked. I don't know, but I can't find my leaves."
"Your leaves?" She asked with a crumpled look.
"What leaves are you talking about?" She asked again.
"The… The leaves I put on. Where did you get your leaves from? They look different." I replied and she moved away from me like I was insane or something.
"Um… where am I? Is this Marazona? Or a different planet?" I asked and the confusion on her face increased.
"What's Marazona?" She asked but I didn't reply.
Now… I think I'm on a different planet. Yes - it has to be.
"You're in America - and the planet is earth. Hold on, I think I need to get you to a hospital. Come on." she held my hand and started pulling me away.
"Wait… what's a hospital? Are you trying to take me to the Queen?" I asked, confused and she also stopped to look at me.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"Char… Charlotte," I said shyly.
"Sophia? Where do you come from?"
I hesitated a little on that. I can't tell her the truth, can I?
"I um…" I paused for a while.
"Actually, I'm from a place called Mar… .Marazona. But I was sent away. And… had to come over here. Please, I'm really hungry. How do I get out of here? Is… Is there something I can do?" I asked desperately and she gave me a cranky stare.
"Come with me. It's not safe staying out here this way. When we're in a safe place, we can talk. Come on." She said as she held my hand and continued walking with me.
I touched my neck to be sure the necklace was still resting there.
Thank goodness!
So, I'm on earth? That means I'm free from Marazona.
Totally free!
The strange woman took me to something huge and looked like a house - but it was very different from the normal buildings in Marazona.
What sort of house Is this?
It was black, had four round things below it and the front part looked really strange and funny.
"Come on, get in. I'll drive you home." She said as she opened something from the house.
Huh?? Why was it at the entrance?
As soon as she opened it, it gave me access to see the inside.
I could see something that looked like seats in it.
"Is this your house? Do you live here?" I asked as I stared suspiciously at it and she scoffed.
"This is a car, not a house." She said and I pulled a confused look.
"A car?" I repeated.
"What's a car? Oh, you mean you guys live in cars over here? And not houses?"
"What the… geez!" She itched her head and mumbled.
"Come on, come on. Just get in. As soon as we're home, we'll talk better" she said and pushed me in.
Huh?
I got in and sat on the soft-looking material.
Over there in Marazona, we sit on mats or hardwood-like stools. But here, I don't even know or try to understand.
She closed the whatever and I felt caged inside the house.
Then, she got in from the other side and started touching something in front of us.
What kind of house is this? And what're all these things?
Suddenly, the house made a cranky noise which almost made me vibrate.
What's that?
I looked at her with dilated eyes and turning something in front of her, the house started moving.
Huh??
"The house moves?" I asked in a shocked tone but she only looked at me and shook her head.
What kind of house moves??