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### **Chapter 1: "Lost in the Rain"**

**(Scene: The night sky is thick with heavy clouds, rolling in waves across the horizon, threatening to burst at any moment. A few drops of rain begin to spatter the streets of a quiet city. The streets are nearly deserted, with only a few stray cars passing by, their headlights gleaming on the slick pavement. The sound of tires splashing through puddles echoes through the empty alleyways. Overhead, a sleek, silver spaceship hums softly, barely visible through the rain. It hovers just above a narrow alleyway, lights flickering along its streamlined body. Without warning, the ship sputters, its hum faltering. The engines cut out with a sharp crack, and the ship plummets, crashing into the alley below. The rain hisses against the metallic hull as steam rises from the ship's exterior. A soft hiss sounds from the side of the ship, and a door slides open. From the mist, a figure emerges.)**

**(Alice steps out, blinking against the rain. She's slender, with bright, curious eyes and features that, at first glance, seem human—until you look closer. Her skin shimmers faintly in the low light, and her eyes are a shade too bright to be normal. She pulls her hood over her head, shielding herself from the rain, and glances down at the small, blinking device in her hand.)**

**Alice:** *(Muttering to herself as she stares at the device, frowning)* "This can't be right... The coordinates were set for Cape Town. How could I have missed by this much?"

**(The device in her hand lets out a weak beep before the screen flickers and goes dark. Alice groans, tucking it into her coat—a coat that is clearly not of this world, made of a material that seems to ripple and shift as she moves.)**

**Alice:** *(Frustrated, glancing around the unfamiliar alleyway)* "Great... stranded on Earth in the middle of a storm. Just my luck."

**(She steps out of the alley, her boots splashing through puddles as she tries to get her bearings. The rain comes down harder now, soaking through her hood and dripping down her face. She wipes her brow and looks around, wide-eyed. The city looms around her—towering buildings, neon signs flickering in the distance, and the faint glow of streetlights casting long shadows on the wet pavement.)**

**Alice:** *(Breathing in, a mix of awe and uncertainty in her voice)* "So this is Earth... It's wetter than I imagined."

**(She starts walking, her pace cautious. She knows she must blend in, but everything here feels strange to her—the smells, the sounds, the cold bite of the rain. As she makes her way down the street, her eyes darting from one thing to the next, she hears footsteps approaching from around the corner.)**

**(Edward enters the scene. He's tall, with sharp features and a brooding expression. His dark hair is damp from the rain, and he's holding a black umbrella over his head. His coat is pulled tightly around him as he walks, his steps hurried. He mutters under his breath, clearly in a foul mood. Alice freezes for a moment, watching him, unsure if she should engage. She reminds herself to act natural.)**

**Edward:** *(Grumbling to himself, not noticing Alice at first)* "Of course it's raining… Always when I'm out. I swear, the universe has it out for me. Couldn't it just… for once… not rain?"

**(He pauses at the mouth of the alley, shaking his umbrella and glancing around, his mind clearly elsewhere. His gaze drifts over Alice, and he stops, blinking as if surprised to see her standing there. Alice takes a breath, deciding to approach.)**

**Alice:** *(Tentatively, stepping into his path, her voice soft but curious)* "Excuse me… could you tell me where I am?"

**(Edward stares at her for a moment, his expression a mix of surprise and confusion. He wasn't expecting to run into anyone, let alone someone who looked so… unusual. Her clothes are unlike anything he's seen before—flowing, with strange patterns and textures that shimmer under the streetlights. And her eyes… there's something off about them, something that makes him uneasy. But he pushes the feeling aside, deciding to be polite.)**

**Edward:** *(Startled, but trying to compose himself)* "What—who…?" *(He pauses, shaking his head, realizing she asked a question.)* "You're… downtown. In the city. Are you lost?"

**Alice:** *(Nods quickly, trying to seem flustered, though her curiosity gets the better of her)* "Yes, terribly lost. I'm… new here. You could say I'm still getting my bearings."

**Edward:** *(Eyebrows raised, his gaze flickering to her clothes again, then back to her face)* "You don't say. You look like you've come from another planet." *(He chuckles at his own joke, though it sounds more like a nervous laugh.)*

**Alice:** *(Laughs as well, though a bit too loudly, realizing her mistake too late)* "Yes, well, you could say that!" *(She winces internally, then quickly tries to cover it up)* "I mean, it feels like another planet to me. Earth is so... different."

**(Edward narrows his eyes slightly, something about her words striking him as odd. But he lets it slide, deciding she's probably just an eccentric tourist or someone from a far-off country. Still, her accent doesn't quite fit with anything he's heard before.)**

**Edward:** *(Nods slowly, intrigued but still wary)* "Right… Well, where are you trying to go? Maybe I can help you get there."

**Alice:** *(Hesitating for a moment, unsure of how to explain her situation without revealing too much)* "I was… looking for a place to connect with someone. My... uh, my communicator isn't working properly." *(She pulls out the small, now-dark device from her coat, showing it to him.)* "You wouldn't happen to know where I could find a communication device, would you?"

**Edward:** *(Puzzled, glancing at the strange device in her hand)* "You mean like a phone?" *(He frowns, looking at the device again, which looks nothing like any phone he's seen.)* "There's a café a few blocks from here. They've got payphones, I think. You could try there. But you should be careful around this part of town, especially at night. It's not the safest place for someone… like you."

**Alice:** *(Frowning slightly, curious but cautious)* "Someone like me? What do you mean?"

**Edward:** *(Shrugs, smiling slightly as if to brush off the comment)* "You just seem… out of place, that's all. This city can be rough, especially for people who don't know their way around."

**Alice:** *(Nods, though her mind is racing, trying to process the implications of his words)* "I see. Well, thank you for the warning. And for your help. I'm not very familiar with Earth customs yet… I mean, this part of the world's customs."

**(Edward catches the slip, but instead of pressing her on it, he simply gives her a curious look. There's something about her that feels… off, but not in a dangerous way. More like she's just confused, like she doesn't belong here. He decides not to push it, not yet.)**

**Edward:** *(With a slight grin)* "You're not from around here, are you?"

**Alice:** *(Smiling, trying to deflect with humor)* "You could say I'm from far away. Very far away."

**(Edward chuckles softly, though his suspicion lingers. He glances up at the sky as the rain begins to fall harder, his brow furrowing. The rain… something about it always unsettles him, always makes him feel like he's on the edge of remembering something, but never quite grasping it. He shakes the feeling off and looks back at Alice.)**

**Edward:** *(Gesturing for her to follow him)* "Come on, I'll walk you to the café. It's not far, and it's better than wandering around in the rain."

**Alice:** *(Falling into step beside him, grateful but still wary of his growing suspicion)* "Thank you. I… appreciate your kindness."

**(They walk in silence for a few moments, the rain falling harder, the city streets gleaming with reflected light. Edward glances at her every so often, clearly trying to figure her out. She seems so… out of place. Not just her clothes, but the way she moves, the way she speaks. There's something almost ethereal about her, something he can't quite put his finger on.)**

**Alice:** *(Breaking the silence, her voice curious)* "Do you often help lost people in the rain?"

**Edward:** *(Shrugs, trying to play it cool, though there's a hint of something deeper in his voice)* "Not really. But you looked like you could use a hand. And besides…" *(He glances up at the dark, stormy sky, frowning)* "I'm not a fan