forum Need Help With Anything? (Open)

Started October 21, 2020 by ☁ 𝙲𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍𝚒

tune

I think it's pretty good. You could end the chapter here. But either way, you could continue with Amelia and Ben talking about Alex, and how Amelia knew about her and such

I sort of had an idea last night, but I'm not sure if it is even a good one or would fit in my story. But I had an idea to do two endings. The 'fake or good ending' and the 'true or bad ending' I know video games do this stuff, but would it be a good idea for a book?

I sort of had an idea last night, but I'm not sure if it is even a good one or would fit in my story. But I had an idea to do two endings. The 'fake or good ending' and the 'true or bad ending' I know video games do this stuff, but would it be a good idea for a book?

That's kinda like a choose your own adventure thing…

I need help on how to make a character… likeable?

I need help on how to make a character… likeable?

Sure, I can help you with that.
What's your character like? What do you think is un-likable about them?

I sort of had an idea last night, but I'm not sure if it is even a good one or would fit in my story. But I had an idea to do two endings. The 'fake or good ending' and the 'true or bad ending' I know video games do this stuff, but would it be a good idea for a book?

Of course it would be a good idea for a book! But do you mean you want to do both, or choose one? Either way sounds great!

I need help on how to make a character… likeable?

Sure, I can help you with that.
What's your character like? What do you think is un-likable about them?

Can I link them?

Yes, of course!

Vozreal

Thank you for linking him!
He looks like an interesting character. I remember reading about him in one of your stories just today! What do you think is un-likable about him? Or is it a different feeling?

Just… How do I make him unique and interesting ajd relatable?

I mean that at first you think you've finished the book, but then you flip the page and it says you've unlocked the true ending. The first ending you read is the fake ending. I won't start the book over of course, just back to where everything can change based on what the character chooses. I'm not sure if there should be a fake ending, but two alternate endings and the reader can choose which one they like better.

Yes, of course, you can Tati!

It all started one October afternoon. Before that day, I truly believed that I could be normal one day but, when Ally Cowiak and Ben Miller are your parents, anything can happen. So, when The Queen of the Fairies showed up at our door, I was the least bit surprised.

"Tina! What are you doing here?" My mother asked with a tight smile.

Like most fairies, Tina was short. Her long, blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail, and despite the chilly autumn weather, she wore a knee-length, pale pink dress and black heels.

"Over the past couple of months, I noticed something about Amelia. So, I decided to look into it, and I know, Ally, you didn't want me to look into it, but I did anyway. I discovered that Amelia is a fairy." The second Tina finished talking, two things happened. All the blood drained from my dad's face, and his and my mom's expressions turned to worried. Before I had time to wonder why. There was a puff of smoke and a woman standing in the middle of the room.

"Amelia, get behind me!" my dad shouted. I obliged.

"Come on, Ben. You know I won't hurt her," the woman smiled. There was an eerie familiarity about the woman as if I had met her once before, but I was sure that I hadn't. The woman would have stood out in a crowd. She had pale skin, blue-green eyes, and long black hair that was woven into intricate braids. She wore an elegant, layered dress the color of blood. The dress was torn in a multitude of places as if it had been struck repeatedly by a sword.

"You've hurt me and everyone else I care about. So, no, Alex, I don't," he replied.

"You just found out she's a fairy, and you're worrying yourself with the thought that I'd hurt her. You've been living here for two months, Ben. How many times have you reminded yourself that if I wished harm or death upon your daughter, you'd know it already? She is not her mother, but she still suffers the same torments. What will happen when the truth about her is revealed? I suspect every damn thing you've tried to prevent from happening will happen. You will be lucky if the world doesn't put bounties on your heads," Alex said. There was no kindness in her voice. It was clear to me at that moment that I was the only person present who did not know the truth she spoke of. I knew my father was raised by fairies, but that was not entirely what she was referring to. It was a small part of a much larger secret: one that would threaten to crumble my family if we let it.

To this day, I don't know what made me do it, but I stepped out from behind my dad; to face Alex. I was not going to let her intimidate me. She tried to murder my mother for an ability that my mother and I possess. She may not have wished me dead, but I was not going to cower in my father's shadow.

"I have lived thus far with the legacy of one hated woman I can live with another!" I said. Alex smirked.

"When'd you tell her?" she asked my dad.

"I didn't," was his response. I don't think I have ever seen my father look at me with such disbelief in my life.

"Smart girl," his mother said.

"It wasn't that hard. However, thanks to you, I am about the most unlucky girl on the planet. After all, you and Samantha are the two most hated people on the planet. Except, no one wants anything to do with you. You have wished harm upon every one of my family members. You deserve to rot in jail."

There was a twinkle in her eyes like she was planning something. A heartbeat later, Alex had thrust out her arm; a column of flame had erupted from her arm and was heading right toward me. It engulfed my arm; it was inescapable agony. It felt like I had stuck my arm in a pot of molten hot lava. Suddenly, there was a gust of wind, and the column of flame dispersed.
"Guys… That wasn't me…" I said.

"Me neither," Tina said. Everyone simultaneously looked at my dad.

Alex smirked. "I guess that spell wasn't as permanent as you thought."

I wanted to add the following paragraph into the part above but didn't know where. Can you help me? The paragraph is about how she knew who Alex was. Also do I need to add more to it?

Years ago, my mother told me how my father was adopted. How he was born a fairy. How not many fairies were orphans. How he had to witness the ruthless murders of his adoptive parents. How the murderer - Alex Howler did not kill him even given numerous chances. I thought of all this at that moment.

I'm going to post what is part of a second chapter below. What do you think? Do I need to improve anything? Anything, in particular, I should add? Is this something I should add to the first chapter? Can you also please respond to the post above it? Thanks!

"No. No. No. No. No! It can't be! She said…" My dad shook his head vigorously; disbelief and undeniable grief overtook him like he believed that his life would shatter into a million pieces. I knew the feeling. Discovering who you are, but simultaneously realizing that that person is not the person the world thinks that you are or the person you wanted to be.

"It's your problem now," Alex said, and in an instant, she was gone in a puff of smoke.

"Ben, what happened?" my mom asked.

"He's got magic now. That's what happened," Tina explained.

"That's not possible," my dad replied.

"Yes, it is. Spells like the one your mom used always come with some kind of disclaimer." Tina countered.

"Dad, I know this isn't the right time, but I think Alex has a daughter,"

"What makes you believe that?" my dad asked.

"As she was teleporting out of here, Alex was thinking about someone. Her name's Alya, and I think they live in the city," I explained.

"Are you sure this is the right house?" my dad asked.

"Ya, I'm sure," I responded. My dad knocked on the door.

“Well, well, well. Who do we have here? The Queen of the Fairies, an ex-felon, her daughter, her children… Oh…" Alya said, looking at each of us, but not before resting her gaze on my dad and adding, "Nice to meet you, brother.”

I don't know what kind of girl I had envisioned Alya to be, but she certainly looked nothing like her mother. She was short, with long blond hair and blue eyes, and wore a bubblegum pink sweatshirt and black legging. I got the tiniest suspicion that she was hiding something. Like she wanted desperately to share the secret, and as a result, she tried really hard to show off.

"You know who we are!" my dad gaped.

"Don't act so surprised, Ben. Samantha, Ally, and Tina are among the most famous women in the city, not to mention mother has tried to kill them on several occasions," Alya teased.

"And Amelia?" he asked.

"Firstly, she looks just like you. Secondly, she practically screams 'fairy.' I don't understand how it took you and Tina, for that matter, this long to realize it." Alya grinned.

"Does anyone know who you are - what you are? Who your mother is?" my dad asked.

“Ironic, coming from you. One could ask the same of you,” Alya smirked. “Some people in the neighborhood know that there’s a couple of fairies living here and mother tries not to show her face in public. As for me, I am fortunate enough not to look like my mother. I believe we both lucked out in that department.” Alya looked directly at my dad as she said, “After all, you’ve managed to live twenty-eight years on this planet without the public finding out who you are. I mean, you pursued a relationship with the most well-known woman in the city, resulting in a sticky situation named Amelia Miller. Do you honestly expect to keep that a secret much longer?”

“No, I don’t. Plus, Amelia deserves a chance at life among her own, even if they choose to hate me. To quote her. She already lives with the legacy of one hated woman; she can live with another. I always hoped that people could see that we are only responsible for our actions and not those who were committed by others,” my dad explained.

“Wow, you’re seriously going to tell them the whole truth. I thought you wouldn’t let mother have that kind of satisfaction. After all, hasn’t she tried to force you to do it since before I was born.” I knew that Alex had tried to kill my mom and Samantha several times, but I had never heard stories of Alex trying to force my dad to tell everyone the truth. I would learn later that my dad had only chosen to tell my mom and her family who he was after my mom was pregnant with me.

"Alex enjoys my misery. Why do you care if the world hates me?"

The more Alya talked, the more I noticed that there was a familiar aura about her. Something that we shared; that I have only felt in a few people, and it wasn't that we were both fairies.

"Your not just a fairy, are you? You're like me. How long?" I asked her.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" she responded in a tone that suggested she knew what I was talking about. There was a puzzled expression on my dad's face. Slowly but surely, he put the pieces together.

"Don't lie to us, Alya. How did Alex react? How have you managed to keep it a secret? Why keep it a secret in the first place?" my dad asked.

First off, I am so sorry I couldn't respond to the last three posts, and I apologize for replying so late.

Tati, for your first question, I think it would be a good idea to add it before the first paragraph. It gives it a sense of mystery. Or, you could add it after this paragraph, as it would make a bit more sense:

"You just found out she's a fairy, and you're worrying yourself with the thought that I'd hurt her. You've been living here for two months, Ben. How many times have you reminded yourself that if I wished harm or death upon your daughter, you'd know it already? She is not her mother, but she still suffers the same torments. What will happen when the truth about her is revealed? I suspect every damn thing you've tried to prevent from happening will happen. You will be lucky if the world doesn't put bounties on your heads," Alex said. There was no kindness in her voice. It was clear to me at that moment that I was the only person present who did not know the truth she spoke of. I knew my father was raised by fairies, but that was not entirely what she was referring to. It was a small part of a much larger secret: one that would threaten to crumble my family if we let it.

Your second chapter is great! But there is one adjustment I think you should make.

"Ya, I'm sure," I responded. My dad knocked on the door.

This seems like a pretty serious moment, so I don't think Amelia, who just discovered all this in a moment, would reply as casually as she did. Maybe replace the "ya" with a "yeah".

Again, I apologize for the late reply.
I hope this helped!

I agree. Putting the paragraph there makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

You're welcome

You're welcome

I added the following paragraphs. What do you think? Can you give me some ideas as to how to go from there (Chapter 2)? I'm kinda stuck.

"Why keep it a secret in the first place?" Alya scoffed. "Oh, maybe because the only examples of people like me are standing right here! They're the first and only examples of people like them. So, first the past two years, I've been shoving it down because frankly, I didn't have any other choice."

"Whose idea was it? Yours?" my dad asked.

"No, not mine."

"Of course, it was Alex's idea! Who am I kidding? She's the same woman who singlehandedly caused the genocide of thousands of fairies like yourself. Who cares if you would have been better off trained! She only cares about saving her own hide!" my dad said hysterically.

"It was our only choice, Ben! Either that or risk exposure. Do you blame her?" Alya yelled.

"No," my mom said before my dad had a chance to respond. "She… probably didn't know what happens when you shove it down. How could she? There's a reason why I've had to prove that I was a better person than Samantha, and it had nothing to do with me. Samantha's example of what can happen if someone loses control. You do things you may regret,"

"You know, Alya, we can help you," Samantha said.

"Why would any of you help me? My mother has tried to kill you. All of you." Alya asked.

"Because not every kid is like their parents," Samantha said, glancing between my mom and dad. My parents are prime examples. My mom has fought every day since she was eight years old to prove that she's a better person than her mother. And, if not for my dad, my mom would have been dead a dozen times over at Alex's hand.

"Alya, you may not have guessed it, but if not for everything Ally has proven over the years, I wouldn't be standing here, and Ben would be rotting in prison for no reason. Your mother may have killed my parents, but you are not your mother," Tina added.

Hi, it's been 3 days, can you give me some ideas about where to go from what I have written? Could you also, maybe answer my previous post, thanks. Not trying to be annoying.

I think that your paragraph is a good way to continue on.
From there, they could start figuring out a plan to help Alya, if she accepts it.

Hey, I'm starting a new story/world. I've got a couple of ideas in terms of worldbuilding & plot.

1. The planet's atmosphere & water are purple
2. They name the year after the # of years the monarchy has been in power
3. They possess magic; each person possesses one of four kinds: fire, water, earth, air. Earth magic is more like the manipulation of earth and everything below it.
4. The story starts with the coordination of the newborn princess
   What do I need to add or improve? Any suggestions?

1. That sounds really cool! Different colors of natural elements is a really creative idea!
2. So is it as if the monarchy is in power for four years, the year would be four? Do the years reset after a new monarchy is in power, or do the years keep adding on?
   I
   do have one question:
   1.) Is this world on Earth? Is it a different planet?

Your story/world is very creative and unique!
(Sorry for replying so late…I didn't get a chance to go on notebook.ai for a bit)
I hope this helped!

Regarding your second point, my idea was that they were in power for at least 6 or 7 years. This is because the coronation of the princess is when she is five years of age. For the race of being that live there, they start developing magic at about 5 years old. My idea was to call the time period before the monarchy something. Also, there is going to be a period after the coronation that's referred to as the destruction. This planet isn't Earth.

Do you have any more questions? Any society ideas? I don't really have any at the moment. BTW: I will be offline from 8a - the end of the day on 11/20 CST. Thanks!

1. Do the people living there like that they are being ruled under a monarchy? Do they want a president? Is the idea of presidents heard of over there?

Sorry that's the only question I have for now. I'll come up with some later (probably in just a few minutes) :)

They like the monarchy because the King & Queen got them out of the disorganized mess they were in. The monarchy also has advisers. They're like a council.

I have another story that's 10 pages so far. Can I post it here and can you give me some feedback?

My story so far is too much like another story that already exists. Got any tips to make it less like that other story and more like my own? Cliche is the word.

I have another story that's 10 pages so far. Can I post it here and can you give me some feedback?

Of course!

My story so far is too much like another story that already exists. Got any tips to make it less like that other story and more like my own? Cliche is the word.

What story do you think yours is too similar to? In what way? This would help a lot :)
If you don't feel comfortable saying it here, you can DM me

I have another story that's 10 pages so far. Can I post it here and can you give me some feedback?

Of course!

Here's chapter 1.
1
For most people, July 31st is an ordinary summer day. To Ally, it is not just her birthday. It is a reminder of who she is to herself, her family, and the world. Every year brings with it something new, often something terrible. That year, it brought a throbbing headache and indistinguishable voices that drowned out her thoughts.
That day was the first day in over two months that Ally dared to step foot in her old house. Her mother's house was never home to Ally, for it caused all the horrors of her past and all the trauma to her present. It housed the most unanimously hated and wanted woman in all of Southwater. As Ally reached the house, Samantha Cowiak wasn't the center of her pain because Ally needed her help. She knocked on the door. It took two minutes for her mother to answer the door; to Ally, it was an eternity.
Samantha Cowiak was the sort of woman who could be up from the crack of dawn and not show it. Therefore, when she opened the door, it was no surprise that she had been fully clothed, despite the time being Seven-thirty in the morning. Ally could have been looking at her twin, apart from the age difference. It was like a curse to Ally, to be always seen as someone other than herself; her mother was the most hated woman in the city, and Ally wore her face. Both had the same forest green eyes, Ally’s filled with hate and resentment, Samantha’s with an eerie, unsettling calm. Their hair was the same inky black. Ally’s grew long and Samantha’s short. Samantha wore a red tank top tucked into a pair of ripped blue jeans.
“Ally, what a pleasant surprise,” Samantha said, not surprised in the slightest. Even though she was glad that her daughter appeared on her doorstep, she didn't show it.
“I need your help,” Ally said, panting with the desperation of someone who had come to their last resort.
“All right. What's up?” Samantha asked as she led Ally into the house.
“I… Have been hearing voices,” Ally confessed once she was sitting on the sofa in Samantha's small living room. As soon as Ally said it, she decided the idea was absurd, that she must be crazy.
“You're not crazy,” Samantha contradicted.
“Me stepping foot in this house does not give you permission to read my mind,” Ally said, indignantly.
Samantha smiled. “How many times do I need to say 'my house, my rules?'”
“If I'm truly not crazy, then why do I have these voices in my head?” Ally asked, not expecting an answer.
“Headache?” Samantha asked, already knowing the answer. Nothing but silence followed.
“That's what I thought. Believe it or not, I understand what you're going through. I understand what it's like to believe you're crazy. To be met with disbelief. I believe you,” Samantha explained, walking closer to where Ally sat. It was also clear that she was trying to be kind or even soothing.
“Why am I hearing voices?” Ally asked, enunciating every word as if Samantha hadn't heard her the first time.
“Oh, that. I believe that my abilities are genetic,” Samantha said nonchalantly.
“How long have you known?” Ally asked, angry at the idea that her mother could have been harboring another secret from her. And for who knew how long.
“For certain. Today, when you told me about the voices in your head. I had the theory for a while, though,” Samantha said, her eyes downcast.
“You know what? This was a stupid idea. I'm leaving,” Ally said, suddenly furious. Then, she promptly stood up, but before she left, Samantha held up her hand.
“I thought you needed my help,” Samantha said calmly, not bothered by Ally's abrupt decision.
“I don't want your help,” Ally said, her voice layered with years worth of hatred and mistrust.
“You may not want my help, but you need it. I've been through what you're going through right now. I'm helping whether you trust me or not. Besides, you remember what today is. I could make what you're going through a million times worse. If I wanted to, which I don't,” Samantha said, knowing her argument was foolproof.
Ally knew that her mother could make her life once again a living nightmare. She questioned why Samantha hadn’t taken that opportunity yet. Why she cared. In the twelve years that Ally had lived in her mother’s home, she couldn’t remember a time when Samantha hadn’t taken the opportunity to make Ally’s life miserable. Why care now? What has changed?
“Why would you ever want to help me? Everything you've done for years has made my life a living nightmare.”
“I'm glad you asked. It's because these abilities drove me mad. They turned me into the woman that so many people hate, yourself included. For the past year, you’ve fought to separate your image from mine. It would be a pity to see all of that effort go to waste.” At that moment, Samantha didn't sound like the woman who had made her daughter's life miserable, but like she genuinely cared about what happened to Ally.
“Ah. Who knew you had a heart? It's about nine years too late,” Ally said coldly.
“Ally,” Samantha pleaded. “I know you don't trust me, but I also know you won't let yourself throw your life away.”
“How could I ever let you help me when I can't trust a word that comes from your mouth? After all, you specialize in getting what you want; at getting in my head, at using people,” Ally said defensively, more to herself than to her mother.
“I know how to get rid of your headache. Accepting my help doesn't mean you need to like me. You can continue to hate me if that is what you want.” Samantha said, still insufferably calm.
“Fine!” Ally spat, reluctantly. After Ally spoke, Samantha led them to her small, concrete basement. The room was cold and devoid of personality. There was a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling, its light casting an eerie yellow light across the room. The only furniture was a metal chair pushed against one wall, a metal bench against another, and a table against the third. On the table were various inventions of Samantha’s own making. Ally recognized them all. There was only one that hadn’t been born from ill intent. Its function: heal. The invention could heal almost any ailment. Even so, Ally and Samantha had a range of scars. Most of Ally’s had been caused in that very room.
“Why here?” Ally moaned.
“Where else? I'm not exactly welcome anywhere else.”
“What now?” Ally asked, impatient. Standing there, facing the room that haunted her nightmares, every instinct in her told her to run. Instead, she stood there, transfixed, terrified, and anxious. The only thing she knew without a doubt was that she refused to sit in that chair, regardless of what Samantha said. All she wanted to do is rid herself of her pounding headache and leave that dreadful house in peace.
“Sit down,” Samantha directed, motioning towards the bench. Ally did as instructed. Meanwhile, Samantha kneeled in front of her.
“Put your hands in mine,” Samantha ordered, putting her hands out in front of her, palms up. A little reluctantly, Ally listened.
“Now close your eyes and focus. Try to ignore the voices and instead listen to your own. Concentrate on it. Your thoughts, your name, everything that makes you you,” she finished. Ally promptly closed her eyes and tried to relax. Unfortunately, sitting on a cold, metal bench in her mother's basement wasn't Ally's ideal place to relax, but she tried nonetheless.
Once she accomplished this, she did as Samantha advised and repeated her name in her head like a mantra. After what seemed like hours, the pounding headache and voices receded, and Ally opened her eyes.
“I… I did it?!” Ally said, more a question than a confirmation.
“So, was it a stupid idea, after all?” Samantha asked. She waited a moment for a response, but none came. The last thing Ally wanted was to agree as not to tempt Samantha to misuse the little trust that Ally now had in her. Once her problem was 'solved,' another question came to her; How was she going to tell her family? So, she expressed this concern.
“How am I going to tell them? I mean, I need to, right?” She asked, almost hysterically.
“Yes, yes, you do. But as to how don't ask me.” Samantha said as though she couldn't believe that Ally had asked her such a question.
“I can't do this alone. I'm not doing this alone,” Ally insisted, stubbornly.
“Twenty minutes ago, you wanted nothing to do with me. Now, you're demanding my help,” Samantha said, stunned. Ally considered this a moment.
“I guess so,” she said: shrugging.
“Well, there's one problem,” Samantha said as they both stood. “I got banned from their house over twenty years ago,” She said as if the statement was common knowledge. But it wasn't because, at the declaration, Ally gave Samantha a curious expression.
“It's not like they haven't bent the rules regarding you for my sake before,” Ally said sarcastically.
Five minutes later, they stood in front of the Denuna residence, waiting for somebody to answer the door. Tammi Denuna looked like she had just woken up. She had long, milk chocolate hair, in a ponytail, and wore a pink sweater that was half-buttoned, and there were bags under her emerald green eyes. If you didn't know her, you would wonder how a twenty-three-year-old could seem so tired. But Ally knew her. So none of it was a surprise. Not even the hateful expression that Tammi gave Samantha or her confusion at seeing the mother and daughter at her doorstep. Together.
“Ally, tell me why I shouldn't arrest her right now,” Tammi snarled.
“I asked her to come,” Ally answered, before letting herself and Samantha in. Upon their entrance, Elena Denuna stood up from her seat on the kitchen island. Next to her, her son Tommy turned around to face the newcomers.
Unlike Ally and Samantha, Tommy and Elena Denuna didn’t look much alike. Apart from their short, wavy, milk chocolate hair, the pair looked nothing alike. Tommy was the only one of Ally’s relatives that didn’t possess the family’s telltale forest green eyes. Instead, his eyes were hazel, like his father’s. Tomas Denuna Sr. had died in a fire in his office building two months before his son was born. That was over thirteen years ago. Neither Tommy nor Ally had the pleasure of meeting him.
“I didn't expect you to come home so soon. Want some breakfast?” Elena asked Ally cheerfully, disregarding her sister, who was also standing in her doorway. At the offer, Ally’s stomach growled, and she remembered that in her haste to get to Samantha’s house, she had skipped breakfast.
“Food can wait, Mom,” Tammi told Elena after pushing herself past Ally and Samantha into the room.
“What are you two doing here?” Tammi asked the pair sharply.
“I’m sorry, If I knew you would react like this, I wouldn’t have come,” Ally shot back.
“I guess I need to be more specific. What is Samantha doing here?” Tammi asked her, pointing at Samantha.
“It’s okay, and yes, I know that she is not allowed to be here,” Ally said, trying to reason with her.
“What do you mean? It’s okay! You know that I could get into loads of trouble with the PPA for letting this happen. She needs to leave. Now!” Tammi responded, outraged.
The PPA, also known as the Po’struli People Agency, is the government agency that oversees most of the nonhuman programs and specific rules concerning them. Tammi also works for the PPA to uphold its regulations.
“Girls! Calm down!” Elena shouted over the argument. “Ally, would you please explain what is going on,” Elena asked Ally once the room was quiet once more.
“There’s something that I need to tell you,” Ally told them with an awkward smile. There were a few seconds of uncomfortable silence when finally, Samantha nudged her. At first, Ally said something that comprised a lot of um’s and er’s, but finally said something resembling a coherent thought.
“This morning, I woke up with a massive headache and well… Voices. There were voices too. They're still there a little. Oh, and. Um. I am not crazy!” Ally confessed. After she finished, Elena and Samantha exchanged secretive glances, and Tammi and Tommy appeared to repress looks of absolute disbelief. Afterward, Elena started pacing and mumbling to herself.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Tammi asked Elena, concerned.
“Samantha.…” Elena said, her voice trailing off. At the mention of her name, Samantha looked at her sister, intrigued.
“What is going on here?!” Tammi asked, fed up and to no one in particular.
“I should have known!” Elena said, balling her fists in frustration.
“Should have known what?” Tammi and Tommy asked their mother in unison. Their mother wasn’t the person who responded, however.
“That my powers; my abilities are genetic. That is the meaning of all this,” Samantha whispered, both answering the question and finishing her sister’s sentence. After she finished, Elena turned to face her sister, and everyone in the room went speechless. Tommy and Tammi gawked, eyes wide, at Ally, Samantha, and Elena. No one spoke for a minute as everyone processed what Samantha had said.
“You told me you had a headache, and you rarely have any. I should have known,” Elena told Ally, berating herself.
“No one is at fault here, understood? There is no way you could have known. Even if you had, by no means, could you have changed it, even if you wanted to!” Ally told her, in complete honesty.
“Ally, I think you sometimes forget that I have seen this before. So, yes, I would consider myself to blame if I had not paid attention,” Elena said.
“If this were normal circumstances, I would let you blame yourself. However, no one could have foreseen this,” Samantha said. Then cheerfully added, “Also, If you would be so kind as not to blame me, that would be excellent.”
“I highly doubt that,” Tammi muttered to herself.
“Now that that is out of the way, I’ll leave you be.” Samantha said, turning towards the door, but not before adding, “Oh, and Ally, you know where to find me when you’re ready.”
At first, Ally was irritated by Samantha’s not-so-subtle invitation but soon realized the truth behind her words.
“I need to go,” Ally told them once Samantha left.
“No, you don’t!” Tammi insisted.
“Even though today is different, I was going to go, anyway. Plus, I’m not doing this for you, not this time. This time I need to go for me,” Ally explained.
“What makes you think this is a good idea?” Tammi asked.
"Ordinarily, the last thing I would do is trust her, but you must admit, I have little choice in the matter. Today's my only chance, and I’ve got to take it," Ally said firmly.
“Before you go, do you want to eat something?” Elena asked. Ally nodded, and in an instant, Elena had taken a breakfast bar and hurled towards Ally, who caught it. She wasn’t quite sure what that day would entail, but she hoped that her twelfth birthday would be better than her others.