The Discovery

Flash Fiction

“I don’t want to touch that thing,” said the girl.

“I don’t either!” The boy argued, looking nervous.

“You have to,” said the girl. “You saw it before I did!”

“I already told you. There is no chance I’m touching it. Not doing it!”

“But you saw it first,” she whined, red hair blowing in the breeze. “It’s not fair!”

“Life’s not fair,” said the boy, a year younger than the girl. “Deal with it. Now you touch it. If you do it, then I will too.”

The red-haired girl gathered her will in a big breath. She held out her hand, 11-year-old heart beating fast.

The blonde boy leaned forward, nervous. “Just do it,” he prodded.

The red-haired girl pushed her hand forward until it met a smooth, cold surface like stone. As her fingers joined with it, she felt a strange energy flow, her hearing silenced. Her eyes locked onto the strange, white sphere. It looked like it glowed from within.

“Penny? Are you ok,” the boy asked. “Penny?” He looked over his shoulder, heart beating faster. Penny was sitting really still, just staring at the ball. Clouds started to boil overhead, threatening to pour into the crater they both sat in the middle of. “Penny, stop messing around, it’s time to go.”

The girl’s eyes were wide, but her mind opened ever more to take it all in. The world was muffled and thick, but her brain was roaring with information: pictures, stories, histories, and power. She saw worlds and galaxies, time and gravity.

“Penny!” The boy grabbed the girl’s shoulder. Energy coursed through him and back to the ball. All three lit up, glowing like the sun and disappeared into the cool spring air.

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