Beta Readers and Book Worms

Prepare to get launched into a world of dictators and chaos.

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Chapter I

The Waking Nightmare

I couldn’t sleep. Exhaustion was drowned out by fear and adrenaline, and that serene darkness that had nearly abandoned me for the past three years refused to come and take me away. I stared up at the ceiling I couldn’t see. It was past midnight, incredibly dark, and way too hot, but I didn’t want to open any of my windows to let in the cool breeze, not matter how tempting it was.

I twisted onto my side, hammock swinging slightly as I shifted. Beside me, my leopard, Vesper, purred softly in her sleep. She stirred, paw twitching, dreaming without a care in the world. I sighed, closing my eyes as I willed sleep to draw me away from this nightmare, but my thoughts raced, vengeance and fears running freely through my mind. I tried to focus on the darkness I could see behind my eyes, except it always shifted—Silvan at his coronation, decreeing that the Fay Force was no longer allowed to be in existence, and that anyone who resisted would face severe consequences. My uncle being dragged away by enforcers only yards from our front door. My grandmother and rest of the Fay Force lying dead on the floor of her wrecked conference room, silver fay blood soaking the carpet, weapons scattered around.

My eyes snapped open. I rose out of my hammock, picked my silver sword off the ground, and felt my way through the darkness to my bedroom door. Stepping out, I winced as faint light from a candle pierced my vision. I silently cursed my carelessness, and took the candle off its niche, using the same light I’d forgotten to put out last night to guide me to the living room. I set my candle and sword on the coffee table and lowered myself onto the divan. Its peacock blue velvet fabric caught the linen folds of my nightdress, brushing against my richly tanned skin. I crossed my legs and stared at the candle, seemingly looking for answers in its bright flame. Eventually, I laid down with a sigh, my eyes closing but not resting.

Quiet footsteps sounded from down the hall, coming towards me. I sat up quickly, my hand finding the hilt of my sword. My heartbeat sped up, even though I knew it could only be my mom or—

A tall, lean figure walked hurriedly into the room, dark hair shining in the candle flame.

“Hey Dad,” I said.

My father jumped in surprise, and made his way over to where I sat. “Hey. What are you doing up?”

“Can’t sleep. You?”

He glance at the door. “I—Azra, listen, I have to go.”

I stood up, alarmed. “What? Where? At this hour?”

Without explanation, my dad reached out and pulled me into a tight embrace. I leaned my head against his shoulder until he let go. His eyes roved over my face, and the corners of his mouth twitched with the thought of a smile.

“You look so much like your mother. My two favorite people look almost exactly the same.”

“Yes, I’ve noticed,” I said sharply, confused. “Dad, what—”

“Azra. Look at me.”

I looked up at him and saw—much to my surprise—that his eyes had turned glassy with emotion. I saw my own amber eyes reflected by the faint glow in his, their silver flecks dancing in the candlelight.

“I have to leave because I want to change things—for you, for your mother. For our family. I…” he trailed off.

“You?” I prompted.

His gaze wandered into empty space. “I don’t know if I’ll see you again… anytime soon. If I can’t, I hope that you and your mother will take your time to meeting me.”

I opened and closed my mouth, fear building in my chest. “What do you mean? Where are you going?”

“I can’t tell you that,” my dad said through a sigh. He gave me another long hug. “Tell your mother I’ll always love her, that this is for you, and for her, too. Stay safe. If all goes well, tomorrow… will be a better day.”

He turned quickly and exited the house before I could say another word. I stood there for a moment, tensed, rigid. I wondered what he was doing, and why. I wondered if he would get caught and accused of some made-up crime by Silvan’s Enforcers, and imprisoned or killed. I wondered if I should’ve stopped him.

I should have, I thought. Because what if he turns up dead tomorrow then it’ll be my fault and Mom will fall apart and then it’ll just be the two of us left but why hasn’t Silvan come and taken or killed us already—well because we swore not to attempt assassination and to stay in Eclipse and away from Phantasmagoria… away from home…

Tears slid down my long eyelashes and clung to them like dew on blades of grass before dropping lightly onto my freckled cheeks.

I sank back onto the divan, pulling my waist-length brown curls out from under me as I laid flat on my back. The room darkened as my candle went out, but a bit of silvery light seeped in through the linen curtains from the full moon shining in the sky. Its soft glow descended from the round window above me, painting a circle of light on the mahogany floor below. I rolled onto my side, staring at it, until at long last exhaustion overwhelmed me and pulled me into sleep.

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It needs editing (especially the dialogue--they need to sound like humans, not like scripts, especially her dad o_o) but otherwise, what do you guys think? Please let me know in the comments!! Oh, also, I want Azra to be somewhere between fourteen and sixteen, but she doesn't sound anywhere near there right now (yes, she's traumatized, but still), like maybe twelve or stretching it early thirteen. Let me know what you thing about the age thing too (keep in mind I want her to have a love interest).

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!!

~Sofia

Hello,

I just wanted to share the short story I wrote for Leah’s Spring writing competition. I hope you all enjoy reading it and I hope everyone else who has participated enjoyed writing their own stories. If you have any feedback or constructive criticism, please let me know.

I hope you enjoy the story!

Dewdrops weighed down on the blades of slender grass which towered above Vasilisa, glistening like crystals in the midday sunlight. Birds gossiped in the forest canopy above, their melodies synchronising with the babble of water from the lake beside her. Crouched on the mud beside the lake, she sighed, craning her neck up to try and see the birds. She couldn’t see anything but a haze of viridian and blinding light, which rippled slowly with a hushed whisper. Beside her, the roots of an elm tree snaked around the forest, forming bridges and tunnels. The smell of new leaves and budding flowers wafting into her nostrils, she gazed at the foliage beside her, which danced in the warm breeze that tingled her exposed skin. Even after all of these months, she hadn’t gotten used to walking around naked. Her head jerked to the side as far as it would go, her short neck aching, her cheeks burning. She pressed her bulbous fingers into one another.

Calm down Vasilisa. That doesn’t really matter any more, does it? It would probably be weirder if you actually were wearing something.

Creeping towards the edge of the lake, Vasilisa stared down at the clear water.

A frog stared back, golden eyes bulging from their sockets, slender limbs knotted around her tiny body, skin veiled in mucus and slime. The reflection- her reflection- wobbled in the rippling water, and Vasilisa glared at the fish gliding beneath the truthful mirage, her eyelids furrowing. Her aunt’s words still rung in her mind.

‘Are you trying to call me ugly, you rotten brat? I’ll teach you! Why, I’ll turn you into the most pathetic, ugly wretch known to the 12 Tsardoms! I’ll ruin your life!’

She’d only wanted to make her proud. She’d spent years slaving away, trying to make the flawless beauty potion her aunt had always mumbled about needing. And what did she get for it? Fake allegations of practicing dark magic. Public humiliation. Hatred. Being turned into a gross, slimy amphibian with no hope of her life returning to normal.

True love’s kiss. She scoffed.

Like that’s ever going to happen.

How was she ever going to get a man to fall in love with a frog?

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, listening to the sounds of the forest and inhaling the smell of damp earth. Gradually, a smile twinged the sides of her face, her throat bobbing up and down with her calm breathing. Opening her eyes again, Vasilisa gazed at the calm surface of the lake, sparkling with hundreds of stars. A paddle of leviathan ducks waded past her, cackling at their own jokes, their quacks shaking the entire woods. Vasilisa hopped away, clambering onto the side of the elm’s base, the racket banging from side to side in her head. Droplets of water drizzled down the grooves in the roots as she neared the trunk. Perching on the gnarled bark of the ancient elm, Vasilisa leaned back, taking a deep breath, her muscles relaxing.

Life as a frog was not so bad after all.

Maybe she could never be a human again. And maybe that was exactly what she needed. She’d always been too focused on the future. What if she messed up her potion? What if she failed her witchcraft exams? What if other people didn’t think she was kind enough, or wise enough, or beautiful enough? But now, she could just enjoy, now. Enjoy the soft mud on her feet. Enjoy the murmuring of a small waterfall cascading into the lake from a winding stream nearby. Enjoy the Spring.

Then she heard it.

A low hiss rumbled in her eardrums, making her tremble. Heavy air pressed down on her body, and she tumbled forwards with a yelp and a croak.

Twang!

Something smashed into the trunk above her. Limbs trembling, Vasilisa turned around and gazed blankly at the elm. An arrow, its metal head barely half her size, protruded from its trunk, the feathered fletching stroking her snout. Sweat trickled down her damp skin. Stepping back, Vasilisa gulped, her webbed feet spread across the dirt, her tiny body inching closer to the ground.

Something rustled in the bushes, and Vasilisa curled into a ball, forcing her eyes shut.

I’m going to die, I’m going to die.

There was silence. She opened her eyes. A hunter stepped forward, treading lightly despite his thick, leather boots. Whistling a soothing melody, he dropped a few mushrooms into one of the many pockets on his satchel, and tugged on the jacket he wore over his simple rubakha, his clothes tightly clinging to his slender, muscular body. He yanked the arrow from the tree, muttering something under his breath as he slid it back into his quiver. Clearing strands of his shoulder-length, tawny hair from his face, he turned to face the river, his eyes twinkling as he stuffed his hand into a pocket on his jacket and approached the lake. Bringing out half a loaf of stale bread, he ripped off chunks of it and, crouching down at the edge of the lake, dropped some crumbs into the water. Tentatively at first, the ducks swam towards him and, after some inspection, plunged their heads into the shimmering water.

He smiled, an adorable smile that made the world around it brighten. Vasilisa gazed beyond his long, dark lashes and into his chestnut eyes, so mellow with thought, yet still so bright and sparkling. She had never seen anyone so handsome.

“Marry me,” Vasilisa barked. “Marry me right now.”

His head jerking to the side, the man stared at her, his eyes wide. Trembling, he stood up, his bread falling from his grasp. Shrieking loudly, the ducks lunged forwards, gnawing at the loaf, and each other, in a brutal frenzy.

What am I doing? What have I just done?

“You want,” he paused, “to marry me?”

“I spoke too soon! I shouldn’t have said that!” Vasilisa forced a chuckle from her mouth. “Oh please, I am just joking with you, don’t mind me.”

The man continued to stare at her, his face pale, his jaw hanging open, his fingers quivering. Silence seared through the breeze and the birdsong, the chill running down her back scorching the midday homeliness. Blinking back tears, Vasilisa looked away, trying to force the words from her mouth. She had to say something. Anything. She needed this to work.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

His muscles relaxed, and he took a deep breath, the colour returning to his face. “Oh, I’m Ivan. Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov. But I prefer it when people call me Vanya. Not that anyone actually does, though. And you are?”

“It’s Lisa,” she reached out her hand for him to shake, but, remembering humans and frogs couldn’t shake hands comfortably, dug it into the ground instead, “It’s a pleasure to meet you Vanya.”

“Thank you, Lisa. You have a very nice name.”

“For a very unpleasant frog,” Vaslisa chuckled.

“What, no! You’re not unpleasant at all. You’re a very kind frog. I mean, I’ve never really talked to a frog before, but I’d imagine most frogs aren’t nearly as nice as you.”

“Thanks,” Vasilisa muttered. Then, she stepped forwards, and faced Vanya, gazing at his gorgeous features. “Wasn’t I just telling you to marry me a few seconds ago?”

“Well, yes, but,” Vanya’s face reddened, and he scratched the nape of his neck, “I guess it was more of a pleasant surprise than anything. Nobody’s ever asked for my hand in marriage, or to be in any sort of romantic relationship with me before. I honestly didn’t think there was a single lady in the world, human, or frog, or whatever, who would ever love me, let alone want to marry me.”

“Why wouldn’t anyone want to marry you? You seem really nice,” Vasilisa buried her head into her body, lowering her voice to a whisper,  “and you’re so charming.”

“Thank you.” Vanya looked down, twiddling his fingers. “There’s a lot of reasons there’s nobody else in interested in me. I’m just the son of the local millers who’s trying to be a hunter as well, even though he can’t even aim his bow. And I say weird things all of the time, and I act like a simpleton even though I like to read and I know quite a lot. And there are better men in my village to marry, and better men in the nearby villages, too.”

“Vanya, don’t say that. You’re a lovely guy, and I’ve really enjoyed talking to you. You’re one of the few people who hasn’t been scared off by the fact I’m a talking frog.”

“Goodness, I’ve never received so many compliments before. You’re making me blush,” he muttered.

“Even though I’m a frog?” chirped Vasilisa.

Vanya nodded, his cheeks red. “Even though you’re a frog.” He looked at the lake again, watching the ducks return to the water. “Mama did say I need to get married soon,” he mumbled, pinching his chin, “and my babushka would love to be a great-grandma. But, then again, I can’t have children with a frog though, can I?”

I’m not a frog though, am I?

Vasilisa opened her mouth to speak, but quickly stopped herself, the memory still fresh in her mind.

‘Tell anyone what you really are and your curse will be sealed.’

Vasilisa shuddered as she recalled how tightly her aunt squeezed her in her wrinkled hands, her rotten breath filling her struggling lungs as she held her up to her bared teeth.

‘So much of a peep about your true identity, and let’s just say you won’t be Vasilisa Barinova anymore.’

“Honeslty, Vanya, I don’t know why I said that. I’m a frog. Why are you seriously considering this?”

Are you really sabotaging your only hope Vasilisa? Goodness, you really are an imbecile.

Vasilisa tried to smile. “Shouldn’t we at least get to know each other first?”

Reaching his hand to a cluster of daisies, Vanya gently plucked one of the flowers and tied it into a knot. “No, no, it’s fine. I mean, I really do need to get married. And if I can’t find a human girl, then I guess marrying a frog really isn’t that bad. And beside, I know they aren’t quite reality, but the people who are kind to talking animals in fairy tales usually get rewarded in some way.”

He held out his palm, lowering it to the ground. Her muscles twitching, Vasilisa crouched down and prepared for the jump. Taking a deep breath, she leapt onto Vanya’s hand. Slowly, he placed the knotted daisy before her.

“Well then, Lisa, would you like to be my bride?”

Her cheeks burned as she slipped the floral ring onto one of the fingers on her left hand. “I couldn’t think of anyone better to marry.”

“I couldn’t either,” Vanya replied.

Chapter 2 of a New story I'm writing that i might turn into an actual book. It is fantasy but it wont seem like it is till the second or third chapter just so you know.

Chapter 2:(chapter title is currently unknown)

There was a knock on the door and then the girl, Maia, entered, carrying a tray of food. "Here you go," she said, bringing the tray over to the bed and placing it down. It was a plate with eggs, toast, and some bacon. There was also a cup of apple juice, and a glass of water. 

"Thank you," she said, as the girl set the tray down. 

"Sure thing," Maia said. "Do you need anything else?" 

"I don't think so. I'm just so...I don't know." 

"Well, I'll be right out here if you need me." 

"Thank you," she repeated, and then Maia left, shutting the door behind her. 

The girl started to eat the food, and found she was ravenous. The food was delicious and she devoured everything on the plate, including the orange juice, and as she did, she kept repeating the word over and over. 

Sister.

There was a sharp rap on the door, and a moment later a man came into the room. He was tall, with broad shoulders, dark brown hair, and a neat beard and mustache. He wore a black suit and tie. "Hello," he said. 

"Hi." 

"I'm Dr. Martin." 

"Nice to meet you. I'm—" She stopped. "I don't know." 

Dr. Martin nodded. "I understand." He took a seat beside the bed. "How are you feeling?" 

"Tired. Scared." 

"Of course. That's natural." 

"Do you know who I am?" 

"I'm afraid not. You were found in the woods and brought here. We checked you over, and didn't find anything wrong with you, other than your broken wrist and ankle so we decided to wait until you woke up. And you're here now. So, let's talk. First of all, do you have any idea where you are?" 

"No. I don't know anything." 

"That's okay. This is a psychiatric facility. It's a hospital for people who have emotional and mental disorders. That's not you. But for some reason, you were found here." 

"Okay." 

"Now, what can you tell me about yourself?" 

"Nothing. I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be difficult. It's just that I have no idea." 

"It's alright. I understand. Do you know how old you are?" 

"I think...fourteen."

Dr. Martin nodded. "I have some questions for you. If you feel uncomfortable or don't want to answer something, just tell me. Okay?" She nodded. "Do you remember what you were doing in the forest?

"No."

"Do you remember anything at all before you woke up here?" Dr. Martin asked.

"No. I'm sorry. Is someone at the front desk?” The girl paused. “There was someone here asking about me, wasn't there?" 

Dr. Martin raised his eyebrows. "As a matter of fact, yes, there was. Why do you ask that?"

"I want to see them. I need to ask them something."

"Very well, we'll send them in." He said, sighing. Dr. Martin left and was gone for several minutes. When he returned, a girl followed him. She had long blonde hair and bright blue eyes, and she was wearing a blue dress and sandals. She had a bright smile, and she approached the bed eagerly. “I’ll leave you two to your little chat.” Dr. Martin said, exiting the room.

"Hello. We need to get out of here." the girl in the blue dress said.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Evelyn. You're my sister."

"Your sister?"

"Yes. Now come on. We have to go."

"What's my name?"

"It's Ainsley."

"Ainsley," she said. The word felt right, and like she had belonged to it and it belonged to her all this time. She was Ainsley.

"Yes. Now, come on. We need to get your stuff. Where are they keeping it?"

"I don't know."

Evelyn sighed. "I didn't want to have to do this but I guess I have to." She said, snapping her fingers and a satchel and a necklace appeared in her hands. She handed them to Ainsley.

"How did you do that?"

"Magic. Come on."

"I can't leave. I'm sick."

"You're not sick, you're cursed. And it's not safe for me to do magic much. The government made it illegal."

"The government? Magic?"

"It's a long story. Let's just go. I'll have to tell you later sis. As well as find a way to return your memories to you."

"Thank you. Are you the voice from my dream that said, ‘When black rain falls from a dark night sky, the curse will be awakened. Its devastation will reign for a thousand years. Are you ready, sister?’”

"Yes. That was me."

"Do you know how I lost my memories?"

"I do, but now is not the time. We need to go. I can't use magic to get us out of this place without getting caught, so we're going to have to run, and quickly."

"All right. I'm ready."

Evelyn took her hand and the two of them ran out into the hallway, then down to the main lobby. As they neared the front desk, Ainsley heard a voice she recognized.

"If you ever need help, come find me," Maia said.

Evelyn stopped, pulling her arm.

"It's Maia," Ainsley whispered. "Do you know her?"

"She's a friend of mine. I'm surprised she didn't tell you what you needed to know." Evelyn said, looking straight at Maia.

"Sorry. I didn't know what was safe to tell your sister. Walls have ears."

"I know. Come on," Evelyn said, and the two of them ran to the front door. The door opened as they reached it and they burst out, heading for the trees in the distance. "This way," Evelyn said, tugging at Ainsley's hand. They ran across the grounds and into the woods.

"Are we safe now?" Ainsley asked, stopping and turning around.

"Not yet," Evelyn said, pulling her further along. "We have to get to one of the clearings, and I can't do any magic until we're there. I had to make us invisible when we got here, and it took a lot out of me."

Ainsley nodded and the two of them kept going, until they reached a clearing. A small building sat in the middle of the clearing, with a wooden door and a single window. Ainsley and Evelyn entered and Evelyn locked the door behind them.

"Who built this?" Ainsley asked, looking around the room. The room was empty except for a table, two chairs, and two beds in the corner.

"I made it," Evelyn said. "A long time ago." 

She looked at Ainsley. "Are you okay?" 

"No. I'm scared." 

"I know, it's all very confusing. But you're safe here for now. You can sleep and we'll talk tomorrow."

Ainsley nodded and climbed onto the bed. "Okay. Goodnight, Evelyn."

"Goodnight, Ainsley."

And then Ainsley fell asleep, her mind going over everything that had happened since she woke up in the institute.

Chapter 1 of a New story I'm writing that i might turn into an actual book. It is fantasy but it wont seem like it is till the second or third chapter just so you know.

Chapter 1:(chapter title isn't fully decided) The Calling

"When black rain falls from a dark night sky, the curse will be awakened. Its devastation will reign for a thousand years. Are you ready, sister?"

Sister.

A word that echoed from one side of her mind to the other. It was the first word that had pierced the cold, heavy darkness in her head since she'd awakened in the white room. It was a dream. Her body floated in the warmth of a womb, a dark place, and as it had been for as long as she could remember, everything was black. There was no sight, no touch, no scent. No sounds, no taste, no physical sense of being.

All she had was the memory of her name and the echoing word. Sister. Who called her? Who spoke? And what did it mean?

"Do you remember? The words that must be spoken, the task that must be done, and the sacrifice that must be made? Are you prepared?"

She had no answers. Only the darkness, the warmth, and the voice. "If we fail, then our time has ended. If we succeed, we will rise again." She felt a touch upon her face, a feathery caress, a soft breath. And then nothing.

"When the time comes, you will remember. And you will know what to do."

A sound like a gasp came from her own throat. She was awake. Her eyes snapped open and the first thing she saw was a girl's face.

"Are you okay?" the girl asked, leaning over her. The girl looked to be about sixteen, with long brown hair and green eyes, wearing a blue-and-green plaid flannel shirt and a pair of faded jeans. The girl smiled at her and helped her sit up.

"What happened? Who are you?"

"I'm Maia. What's your name?"

"I—" Her breath caught in her throat. She didn't know.

"You don't remember?"

She shook her head. She didn't know. Nothing. Her eyes darted around the room, looking for answers. There were three beds in the room, each made up with crisp white linens, all of them empty except for the one she was sitting on. White walls. White furniture.

"This is your room," Maia said. "You've been here a few weeks. My office is over there. I'm an assistant nurse."

"Oh." Her voice trembled, but she was determined not to cry.

"That's okay. Do you remember what happened?"

"No."

"You were found unconscious in the forest."

"The forest?"

"Yeah. You were lost in the forest. No one knows how you got there or where you're from."

"Who am I?"

"I'm sorry. I wish I knew. They said your clothes had no labels and no identifying marks, no purse, no money, nothing. You were barefoot. There were no missing persons reports that fit your description, and no one has come forward to claim you. The doctor didn't want to fix your injuries because you were unconscious, so I don't recommend moving too much."

Her head was pounding, her face felt hot and puffy, and her nose was plugged. "Where am I?"

"This is an institute. It's a hospital, but they have different rules and the people here are different. Most of them have some sort of trauma. The doctor thinks maybe that's what's wrong with you. Amnesia. You've also been seeming to have hallucinations in your sleep."

"What do you mean?"

"You were talking in your sleep."

"What was I saying?"

"Something about the rain, a sacrifice, a curse, and black rain. And a sister."

Sister.

"Did I say anything else?"

"No, that's about it. You were pretty upset, though. Crying in your sleep."

"What else happened while I was here?"

"Well, we did a physical exam. You had a severely sprained ankle, as well as a broken wrist on what we think is your dominant hand. That's all."

"And what about...about the things that I'm wearing?"

"Those were here when you arrived."

"So there was nothing to identify me with them?"

"Not at all."

"How long was I here before I woke up?"

"About a month."

"And did you notice any kind of change in me?"

"Change? How do you mean?"

"Anything—I don't know—anything different about me."

"Well, no. You've been sleeping the whole time since you were brought in a month ago."

"Nothing about me has changed?"

"I'm sorry. Nothing."

"Oh." She sighed and looked down. "Is there a mirror?"

"In the bathroom, just there. Go slow, though, your ankle's not quite healed yet. If you need anything, just call me. I'll be at the desk. Do you want some food?"

"Sure, I guess."

Maia walked to the door, then turned and looked back at her. "You'll be fine," Maia said, then left.

She pushed the blanket aside and swung her feet off the bed. The floor was cool beneath her bare feet, but she didn't feel like standing yet. Her body was weak and she had a hard time getting her legs to support her.

Sister.

The word came unbidden into her mind, and she suddenly had a flash of a face, a girl, older than herself, and the word had come from her mouth.

She got up slowly and walked toward the bathroom. The room was large, and the bathroom was big enough to walk into. There was a sink and a toilet, but no tub or shower. The mirror was big and round and covered most of the wall.

Her first thought was that she was beautiful, and her second was that she had no idea who the girl was that was looking back at her. She had long, straight, brown hair with a dyed silver streak that was pulled back from her face and tied with a ribbon. Her skin was fair and clear, and her features were delicate and almost elfin. She had a small, round nose, and full lips. Her eyes were bright green and tilted up slightly at the corners, giving her a mischievous look. She wore a white blouse with blue gems on the cuffs of the short sleeves, and her arms were slender and her hands were delicate. Her fingernails were painted blue with a single white fake gem on each. She was very thin, and her breasts were small.

She stared at herself, her eyes going over every detail, taking in everything. But none of it looked familiar, none of it triggered a memory, nothing felt right. It was all a blank. She turned and went back to the bed, and sat on the edge. "Sister," she said aloud. She said the word over and over, willing it to bring a memory, but there was nothing.

Hello, I am looking for a beta-reader for my latest story if anyone is free.