Emma always knew she was Unique. She wasn't interested in the typical girls-related topics like shopping and makeup, nope that wasn't Emma. What she was, she didn't know exactly.
Emma loved trees, well nature itself. She loved being outside, it was less constricting that being at home locked in a box, sorry locked in her room.
However this feeling was different from what she felt before, it could be described as the feeling that you get after being bullied for years and finally deciding to stand up for yourself. This was courage Emma thought, maybe it was confidence or maybe, no it was, it was self-acceptance, nope self-realization.
So while girls were interested in boys and applying for university she was more interested in her mom's bee farm. She had a rare love for bees and the way they made honey all of which was triggered after her mom died.
Something about working to achieve what you want without anyone handing it to you was very appealing and this was the definition of the bees' world.
"Emma it's time for school" her dad Jason called from the car honking his horn. He had been waiting for about 5 mins for Emma to come out of the house.
Again she was caught up in her bee farm. Something didn't sit right with her and she was admiring the Queen bee with disdain again. To believe she never worked and was just a supervisor and a breeder.
"I'm coming dad" Emma looked at her watch, she didn't know when the time had passed. She went to the kitchen to take the fruit bowls from the fridge but forgot when she heard a distinctive buzzing come from the farm.
"Emma" her dad called rather annoyed.
Emma ran from the back yard taking up her bag from the kitchen counter and taking the two fruit plates from the fridge. She always prep the night before. Emma ran through the dining hall closing the door behind her and locking it with her key.
"Emma you are gonna be late." Her dad hunk the horn while looking at his daughter on the porch. Truth be told Emma would be early if they left now. He was the one that would be late.
"I know, I know," Emma stated knowing the actual truth behind her dad's words.
Emma opened the door and got in, she was out of breath even though she wasn't running for long. Her dad looked at her, shook his head, and started the car. It was a 20mins drive to school and they were running 5mins late. It was safe to say if her dad drove fast enough she would be early.
Emma handed her dad the fruit bowl. He took it and removed a slice of melon before starting the car.
"Why do you do this every morning Emma?" The tiredness could be heard in Jason's voice.
He missed his wife just as much and hadn't dated since the incident 3 years ago. Jason was never interested in the bee farm and even thought about giving the bees away when Emma begged to keep them.
Emma kept quiet. Ever since her mom died of some mysterious cause she was drawn to the bee farm her mom once tended to, it was like some days she couldn't spend a minute away from the bees.
Honestly, she didn't know why, before her mom died she had no interest in the farm. She was an 18-year-old just surviving, she wasn't living. Now it seemed like something shifted inside her.
"So Ems...how...what have you been up to other than tending to the farm?" Her dad asked trying to break the ice. Emma had been closed off from her mom (who was her best friend) died.
"Nothing much" Emma's hand went towards the stereo, she wasn't a fan of small talk and she didn't feel like talking this morning.
It was Monday, literally the worst day of school. Emma wished she could skip every Monday but....she became reminiscent upon listening to the music.
The sweet melody filled the car and surprisingly it was a song that reminded Emma of her mom.
Anytime you need a friend by Mariah Carrie started to play.
Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it all right
A silent tear slid down Emma's face. Her mom died over 3 years ago but Emma got no closure as her dad wouldn't speak about her.
Her dad eyed her sideways as she bought up her hand to wipe the tears. He remembered all the sing-along Emma and his wife did in the car while he drove to work. It broke his heart listening to the music and glancing at Emma.
"Emma..." her dad started not knowing exactly what to say.
"It okay dad". Emma rarely got emotional, she hated showing her vulnerability to anyone, she didn't even cry at her mom's burial so her dad knew that this affected her.
Jason changes the music to something more upbeat and Pull up by Koffee starts to play.
Jason didn't understand the words but Emma started buzzing to the song and Jason hummed accordingly.
By the time they got to school, it could be said that Emma was in a much better mood.
"Thanks dad, I love you, " She said and got out before her dad could respond.
There was no point shouting it so Jason would say it in the evening when Emma got home.
Emma was early for school and she sat at the back not trying to draw attention to herself. Sure she felt better but she just wasn't in the mood this morning. She took out her phone and shot her boyfriend a quick message.
Emma: Come over later. Am feeling down
Chad: sure thing Ems, see you later. I'll pick you up after school. BTW what time will your dad be home?
Emma: I believe he is working late today. He always works late on Monday.
Emma closed the chat. A few more students walked in then the bell rang.
Ashley walked in after the bell and the only available seat was in the middle. Since Emma knocked her down from her high horse more students felt confident to sit in the front seat where Ashley usually sat.
Ashley walked towards the middle seat and sat down.
The boy behind her quickly place a pencil standing point up on the seat before she sat.
"For fart's sake!" She jumped up feeling an unusual sensation in her rear.
"We are seniors! Who the f*ck did that?!" She asked but everyone was holding their stomach laughing.
Who says for fart's sake?! And with the abuse that Ashley caused over the year, everyone thought she deserved it. They silently praised Emma for standing up to Ashley.
Ashley looked carefully before sitting down again, she would get nowhere if she told a teacher so all she could do was suck it up and sipped on the taste of her own medicine.
The teacher arrived, kept morning devotion started teaching his class.
Everyone started taking notes except for Emma she just didn't feel right today.
She looked through the windows and saw some juniors playing on the football field.
Emma remembered when she was in her junior year now she was a senior. She would graduate this year. Emma couldn't wait to leave the small town of Dronesville.
She was just about to ask for a hall pass when she could have sworn she saw a colony of bee pass by the glass. The buzzing was ridiculous and her eardrum hurt. She looked around to see if anyone else had seen or heard but everyone was focused on the lesson being taught.
Ashley who was previously steering out the windows saw a swarm of wasps on the edge of the building but had happened to look forward when Emma looked at the class.
"Zzzzzzzzzzzz" the buzzing continued.
"Ahhhhhh" Emma let out an ear-piercing shriek and fell to the floor unconscious.
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Somewhere in the darkness, a voice beckoned to Emma.
This felt familiar and she was pretty sure she knew that voice.
Emma could see a motherly figure. She missed her mom so much. Seeing her mom for the last time since she died was comforting.
But when Emma got closer the face didn't belong to her mom. What Emma saw was far beyond her expectations.
"So it took you this long to activate the Afterswarm huh?" The disappointment was evident in the speaker's tone.
Emma was still puzzled as to who the person was and what the person meant. Plus what was with the attitude?
"Activate who?"
"Wow!!! You don't know what you did? Why didn't Sandra take the time out to teach you this?" The person asked no no-one in particular.
"What did my mom do?"... Emma asked fearfully yet hopefully. Maybe this person could finally tell her what happened to her mom because Emma didn't believe she died of natural causes.
"Tell me what happened to her! Who killed her?" Emma continued.
The voice was not in the mood to share such information so it said.
"The truth cannot be unveiled with a few words, you must experience the truth for yourself and only then you will know that the question you ask is incorrect for it isn't a who but a what?"
What kind of damn proverb is that. Emma thought while trying her best to find out who the heck was talking to her.
"Stop trying so hard Emma, just look at me!" The voice said.
Emma was curious so she looked more closely at the direction the voice came from. The surrounding was like Columbus clouds and fog thicker than wool, Emma could barely see her hand.
"I can't see you," Emma shouted to the figure in the distance.
"Look! Stop trying to use your eyes and use your mind! This is the first step to owning yours." Came the voice firm response.
Emma concentrated and looked toward the voice. It was then Emma realized that the voice came from a bee, not just any bee, it came from the Queen Bee she despised.
Emma stumbled backward shocked.
"Didn't expect this did you?...".The Queen bee continued.
Shock held Emma's tongue and all she could do was listen.
"...I know you have hated me for the longest while and you view me as an insignificant part of the hive. However, my role is far more essential than you know. Anyways enough about me..." The Queen took a long breath.
"Emma you have activated the Afterswarm and as such my role, my purpose you will soon understand. You are now the Queen of the Hive, the life you despise is yours." The Queen laughed and flew straight toward Emma.
Upon impact Emma could feel her body changing, she no longer had flat-bellied with nappy hair, her hair became straight and she now had a little pouch. Her butt also became fuller and she felt healthier. Needless to say, she had transformed.
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"Emma! Emma!"
Emma eyes slowly opened her eyes and saw the school nurse tending to her.
"What happened?" Emma asked.
"You fainted, seems like you were dehydrated, I gave you some water and well here we are," the nurse said.
"Please ensure you drink as much water as you can okay, oh and here is some honey"
"Okay I will, and what's the honey for? Emma asked.
"Oh, dear in time you'll know." The nurse responded and winked.
Emma looked at the nurse and furrowed her brow. This was a weird day.
Emma returned to her class when she got there everyone left so she took up her bag. The bell rang indicating break time. Emma went to the school cafeteria to make a purchase.
A group of boys standing in front of Emma moved away when Emma came to stand behind them.
"Go ahead," the leader of the group known as Mikey said.
"I can pay for you!" another one added. Everyone had been extra nice to Emma since she stood up to Ashley. So this wasn't anything new to Emma plus she was generally a nice person before the whole Ashley incident. However, she never took handouts.
"It's okay" Emma paid for a bottle of water, honey glazed pork with vegetables and left.
She thought the boys were being extremely nice today because she fainted.
The group of boys watched her as she walked away.
The leader shook slightly when Emma brushed passed him.
"You like her," one of his friends teased. The leader looked on until Emma sat beside her best friend/boyfriend Chad and his expression changed.
"She is..." The leader started but could not believe and like ripples, the group started to figure out what was taking place.
"No...."
"It can't be....."
"What's happening?" One of the guys who went to the restroom walked over to the group and asked. When he looked towards where Emma was sitting he was aware of the answer.
"They have chosen." He added.
"She...she has awoken" the guy who was earlier teasing the leader blurted out.
Chad heard what the group of boys said and looked at his girlfriend.
"I've missed you what happened to your shades?" Emma said while sitting down.
"I've missed you too, they got broken. I'll buy a new pair tomorrow." Chad responded.
Emma started eating so Chad took the chance to alert his Beta via text message because guess what? This wasn't the place or time to open a mind link and Chad wasn't wearing his usual shades.
Text
Chad: There is hope. The Alpha's bloodline can be saved, the Queen has been awakened.
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