Chapter 1:

Aila

"So where you do want the tattoo?" asked the tattoo artist. "Right here," I say pointing to the spot where I was shot.

When she was done, I had a beautiful tattoo of two roses in the shape of a heart. "Thank you," I say. "Anytime," said the tattoo artist.

When I got home, I thanked my Mom and Dad for letting me get a tattoo for my 18th birthday because I wanted their permission beforehand.

"Thank you!" I say. "Of course, anything for our baby," said Mom. I smiled.

"I don't understand," said Dad. "About what?" I ask. "Why you wanted a tattoo in the first place. Like what's the point?" "I just wanted to cover up the scar," I say, "and it's pretty cool to have one."

Mom smiled and Dad chuckled.

• • •

"Hey," I say. "Hey," replied John. "How's my beautiful girlfriend?" "She's doing good, she just got a tattoo." John looked very surprised when I said that. "You got a tattoo?" he said not believing me.

"Yes, I got one. I'm eighteen now, I'm old enough to get one. Look." I showed him the tattoo. "Where you got shot," he says. "Yes, 'where I got shot', I didn't like the scar." John chuckles. "Well, it looks beautiful, but not as beautiful as you."

"That's so cringy," I say. "Yeah, I know," answered John. Then we both start laughing.

Chapter 2:

John

(2 days later...)

I knock on Aila's door. "Oh, hey, John. What's up?" she said. "I need to talk to you. It's important." Aila stopped smiling and let me in. "What the matter? Is something wrong?" I look around.

"Is anyone here?" I asked. "No, just me," she said. "Good." "Can you please tell me what's going on?" I took a deep breath. "So someone called me today and asked if you were with me. I told them no and they said, 'Call us back when she's here.' then they just hung up."

Aila looked very confused. "I came here and thought maybe we could call them back," I say. Aila looks up at me.

 "Are you serious? We don't know who these people are and why they're calling you, so I think it's best to not call them back."

Immediately, my phone rang and it was them. I look up at Aila. "That's them isn't it," she said. I nod. Aila took a deep breath. "Okay, we call, but if things get weird, we hang up." "Deal," I say.

I answered the phone and the first thing the person said was, "Is she here?" "Yes," I say, "she's here." "Hello, Aila." "Why are you calling us? Who are you?" she asked. "Look, I have to keep this call nice a short, so I'll just get to the point. I'm a friend of Dr. Perly's. You do know him, right?"

Aila took a heavy breath. "Ah, so you do know him," said the person. "Do you still want to know why he wanted you in the first place?" Aila looked up at me then she looked right back at the phone. Aila was speechless.

"Well, if you do, you have to get something for me first. The Nayel Stone. It's a very precious stone and I want it. If you get it for me, I'll tell you everything about Dr. Perly and why he wanted you. Take as much time as you need. Just bring me the stone." The person then hung up.

Aila sat there speechless. "Aila, are you okay?" I ask. "We need to find that stone," she said. "What? You actually want to play this person's game?" "It's the only way I'll find out why he wanted me in the first place. I have to know." "Are you sure?" "Yes. Positive. Besides, we didn't call that person for no reason."

"When should we start looking?" I ask. "Now."

Chapter 3:

Aila

"Okay, so we'll have to research this stone in the library. Find out where it was last seen and start from there." I say. "Okay. let's go to the library," said John grabbing his keys.

When we arrived, we started reading books about the Nayel Stone and where it was last seen. We found out that it was in a museum. "What do we do now?" I ask. "We can't just walk in and ask if we can have it, and I don't want to steal it either." "I know someone who works there!" said John. "Maybe I can ask if we could see it and possibly have it."

"There's no way their going to let us have it. We'd have to buy it, and do you know how much money that stone could cost! Millions I bet." "That is true," said John.

"Wait! I think I have an idea!" said Aila. "We ask if we can borrow the stone, we give it to whoever that person is, I find out what Dr. Perly wanted to do with me, then we steal back the stone and give it back to the museum!"

"That could possibly work," said John. "It's our only option." "Okay, let's go," said John.

Chapter 4:

John

When we arrived, I asked if I could see an old friend of mine. Harry. "Hey! Wassup, John," he said. "Hey, Harry," I say. "How you been, man, it's been forever since we've seen each other, bro. How's life treatin' ya?" "Life is good. I finally have a girlfriend." "Bro, what?" said Harry. He then started looking at Aila.

"So, Harry," I say distracting him from looking at Aila, "I need a favor. It's a pretty big one." "Yeah, sure, man. Whatever you need. I do owe you big time for that favor you did for me." "I need to borrow the Nayel Stone." "Bro, what? Why?" "I'll tell you after, but now I really need it." "Sorry, bruh, I can't do that. That's museum property."

"Yeah, I know is museum property, but I promise I'll bring it back," I say.

"That's risky, bro. I could lose my job if they found out I let someone borrow a precious stone like that." "I know, but I really need this favor," I say desperately. Through Harry's expression, I could tell he was thinking long and hard about this risky decision.

"Fine," he said, "but it has to be back here in two days or I'm done for." "I got it. Thanks, man," I say, "I owe you one." "It's in that room over there. No one's in there." I nod and jog over there and get the stone.

"Thank you so much, Harry, right?" said Aila going to shake his hand. "Yeah," he said giggling and looking wistfully at Aila. "Okay, Aila. time to go. Thanks, Harry," I say putting the stone in my backpack and grabbing Aila's hand, and walking away.

"Anytime. If you need anything just come to me and I got you." I smile and then start to walk quickly to the exit door. "Well, that was easy," I say. "I don't even know how that worked," said Aila.

"Me either, Aila. Me either."

Chapter 5:

Aila

"Okay, so now what do we do?" asked John. "We call the person back and tell him we have the Nayal Stone," I answer. John called him back so now we were waiting. "Hello?" said the person. "We have the stone," said John, "now what do we do?" "You bring it to me, of course," answered the person. "Well, we don't know where you are," I say. "I'm on 192 Way Street. Bring the stone."

The person then hung up. "Okay, let's go, then," I say. John looked hesitant. "What's wrong?" I ask. "What if he's just using us to get the Nayal Stone and won't give us our end of the deal." "We have to try. Please, John... I need to know."

"Okay, just promise me that you'll stay be my side at all times."

"Why?" I ask. "I don't want to lose you again." "John, that will never happen."

Chapter 6:

John

"Okay... we're here," I say. My heart was beating so fast. What if I lose Aila again, but I won't be with her to help her escape this time? I cannot lose her. "You ready?" I ask. "Yeah," Aila responded, "I'm ready."

We walked inside and the room was completely empty. "Are we in the right place?" asked Aila. "Yeah, this is 192 Way Street," I answer. Suddenly, I see a red button glowing in the distance. There was a note near it and it read, "Bring the Nayal Stone."

"Do we push it?" asked Aila. "I think so." When I pushed it, a secret door opened. "Woah," said Aila, "I guess we are in the right place." When we walked through the door it shut closed and we were now in a lab. "You finally made it!" said a voice.

"Now where's the Nayal Stone?" John pulled it out of his backpack. "Right here he said, lifting it in the air. "Good... good...," said the person," here; take a seat." Suddenly two chairs came into view with a screen in front of them. "Now before we watch a little movie, give me the Nayal Stone." "I would if I could see you," said John sarcastically. All of a sudden, someone came into view, but their face was covered with a mask. Their greedy little hands gestured for the stone. John gave it to him. "You may now take a seat."

The screen turned on, and once it did, there was footage of Aila as a kid. "You see, Aila," said the person, "you were born with a power unlike any other on this earth; a power that can control anything; a power so great, no one can defeat it. Scientists have searched for this power for years with no success. Except for Dr. Perly. He knew you had this power because of your eyes. It is said that when one's eyes glow like the sun,

they have this amazing power." In the movie, some of the footage showed Aila's eyes glowing like the sun. "Dr. Perly wanted to drain that power from you and use it for who knows what, but it was obviously not good." Aila's face looked puzzled for a second. "H-how did you get all this footage of me as a kid?"

"You can thank your boyfriend for that." "What?" asked Aila, "John, what is he talking about?" "I-I don't know. How is it thanks to me?" I ask. "Because you're the one who got all the footage and got us connected with her." "John," said Aila. I ignored her. "What do you mean us?" "I mean Dr. Perly and I." "What! You work with Dr. Perly!" I exclaim. "Technically you did too." "John, you worked with Dr. Perly?" said Aila. "No, I didn't! I don't know what he's talking about." "Actually," said the person, "I'm a she." She then took of her mask which made her voice sound like a man.

"Mom?" I say. "Hello, baby, how are you?" "Mom! Wha-wait... you worked with Dr. Perly!" "No, I worked with your father." "What?" I say, "you're not making any sense." Mom groaned. "Can't you take a hint, John? Dr. Perly is your father."

Chapter 7:

Aila

"What!" screamed John in shock, "h-how?" "You see," said John's Mom, "I first married Dr. Perly. I was madly in love with him and his passion for science like myself. So we got married, but our love for each other started to fade. Two years later we got divorced. A few months later, that's when I met your other father and married him. I begged him not to tell you he was not your birth father, and thankfully, he didn't."

John was still in shock. I was too. "How come when Dr. Perly... Dad... kidnapped Aila he didn't know who I was?" "That's because I never told him about you. After we divorced, that's when I found out I was pregnant with you."

John couldn't comprehend all this news. I couldn't either.

"Well, that's that. You can leave now," said John's mom. "Do you expect me to take this lightly?" asked John. "My dad kidnapped my girlfriend, I just found out my mom is a mad scientist, and this whole time you used me as a kid to find out more about Aila's powers?"

"First of all, I'm not a mad scientist, and second of all, yes... we used you. Now, like I said, you may leave. I have some scientific research I have to do."

As John and I were leaving (well, of course, not leaving without the Nayal Stone), his mom said, "Aila, I'm gonna need you to stay because you're the whole reason I need the Nayal Stone so..." All of a sudden, all the doors closed, and John, who was already out of the exit, couldn't get back to me.

"Aila!" I heard him scream. "Now, missy, I'm gonna need you to just sit right there," said his mom pointing to a hospital table.