Has anyone ever kept a secret from you? My parents have kept the meaning of my name a secret from me forever. Whenever I ask them why I was named this, they always reply with, “When the time is right, you will know.” The only thing I know about my name is that it was my great grandmother’s name. She fought in a big war a long time ago, and she saved millions of people by stopping one event from happening.
My name is Emma Krause, and this is my story.
~
It all started when our state fell under attack. At the time, I was ten years old. I had asked my Mum what was happening and of course, Mum said nothing. She had looked at my father and simply shook her head. When I was ten, I transferred to a new school. All of my friends started to go to different schools too.
After the year I turned fourteen, we all started to wear grey and green uniforms. “It looks like someone threw up on us.” My friend Maddalyn Hoffmann had said when we first got the ugly things.
“Ew, do you have to say that?” I said with a laugh. A new girl named Viktoriya Heckerson moved to Germany recently and I heard she was going to attend my school. I was very excited to meet her.
~
When I look out our kitchen window, I see soldiers running down the street. American soldiers.
“There are American soldiers outside the house Mum! What is going on?”
“Darling, would you stop screaming please, you’re being too loud.” She says. Within the next few days things start to get really weird. Mum and Dad have been acting really weird recently.
At school, our teacher starts acting like nothing has been happening over the past couple days. I raise my hand and ask, “Why are we sitting here and not talking about what is happening to our state Miss Hintmann? Don’t you think we deserve to know?”
“Well, Emma, no one knows for sure what’s really happening.”
“Well we should stop talking about it and actually do something.” Maddalyn proposes.
Viktoriya says something under her breath, but I can’t make out what she’s saying. “What did you say Viktoriya?” I ask her.
“Nothing… why do you ask?” A couple of kids start to whisper. When I look at them and they go quiet. A few minutes went by and the class ended. Maddy hurries to catch up to me.
“Emma did she say she knows what’s happening?” Maddy asks me after class. Viktoriya is only a little bit ahead of us, so we run to catch up to her.
“Viktoriya, I know I heard you say something in class. What was it?” I asked cautiously.
“Oh, it's nothing you guys need to worry about… yet.” I stop while she keeps walking away. Maddy looks at me in utter confusion.
“What is her problem? Normal people don’t act like that.” She said.
“I honestly don’t know.” I said walking away.
~
At home while I work on my homework, my cell phone suddenly rings. I look at the screen. Private number. I answer even though I know I shouldn’t.
“Hello?” I say.
“Emma?” a voice says.
“Yeah that’s me. May I ask who is calling?” I ask in a calm voice.
“As of right now, that information is classified. But Emma, I need you to listen to me carefully, okay?”
“Alright.” I gulp. This is so weird...
“You and your friend’s lives are at stake. We need you to come in and help us figure out what is happening with the states. If you don’t, you and everyone around you, may die.”
I hung up the phone. That was so creepy. After I hung up the phone. I instantly called Maddy. She didn’t answer. I wonder why she normally answer me when I call. After I tried her again she still hasn’t answered. Called her three times, she picked up on the fifth ring.
“Yes Emma?” She said in a hurtful voice.
“Maddy thank god you answered.” I said in a nervous voice.
“ What do you need that's so important?’’ Maddy said in a nasty tone.
“Nothing I'll talk to you about it later. Right now I need help with my homework.” I said said back. But I knew I didn't need her at all.