EARTH'S DEFENDERS: battle for survival

Lying on her bed, Lucy stared blankly at the ceiling as the sun rose through the window, casting bright, sharp rays across the room. Outside, people talked about their daily lives, their conversations and laughter fading away with the breeze. The world beyond her window seemed to slow down, and for a brief moment, everything felt peaceful, in a way that made the morning feel almost sacred. In that stillness, the world felt right.

The calm didn’t last long. Her bedroom door creaked wide open, her mom’s unmistakable way of saying, “Get your ass off that bed, now.”

Lucy groaned as she reluctantly arranged her bedcovers, pushing down the warmth and comfort she would rather stay wrapped in. It was still early by city standards, but in this village, where half the population were farmers already long at work, this was practically mid-morning.

After scrubbing her teeth and taking a quick shower, she put on her school uniform and headed to the dining room. The aroma hit her first, freshly baked pies, creamy potato stew, peas, bread, bright slices of fruit, and steaming tea. One undeniable perk of living with farmers was having fresh farm food on the table every morning.

“Have some more,” her mom said, adding another spoonful of potato stew to her plate. She wore a pale orange sleeveless gown and moccasins, her hair tied neatly into a bun. Her mother, who never cared much for jewelry, wore only her dangly silver earrings. But what truly stood out was her blonde hair, giving her an ethereal look.

People often said Lucy was the exact replica of her mother, but she always thought her mom was far more beautiful…effortlessly so.

Watching her mother eat, taking small bites at a time, Lucy found herself reflecting on happier days, when the house wasn’t so quiet. Back when her father was still around, they would all have breakfast together. Her mother always made sure they ate more than enough, urging them to hurry so they wouldn’t be late. Her father, a teacher at Liberty High School a few miles away, would drop her off at school in the village before heading to work.

Lucy had never seen her parents argue or even have any disagreement. To her, they were the perfect couple.

Waking up to the news of their divorce had shattered her. The shock, the devastation, no words could capture it. Watching her father move out and sitting through meals with an empty chair… He still called, but the phone conversations did little to fill the hollow space he left behind.

But it was her mother who suffered most. Sometimes Lucy passed her room at night and heard her crying softly, as though the grief had swallowed her. Eventually, her mother abandoned the bedroom she once shared with her husband and moved into the guest room. Farming became her therapy, the place where she found comfort. When Lucy once asked what caused the divorce, her mother’s answer was painfully simple, “We stopped loving each other.” She never understood what that meant. How do you just stop loving someone?

But that was then, they had both found a way to move forward. Her mother had regained her spark. Her father remarried and invited Lucy to spend holidays with him in the city, promising all the fun they would have together. But Lucy couldn’t leave her mother, not when she was all her mother had.

Finishing the last of her tea, Lucy stood and carried her plate to the kitchen.

“Good luck on your farm fest, Lucy,” her mother said warmly, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek.

Lucy grabbed her school bag and stepped outside, welcoming the chilled morning air and feeling a surge of confidence within her. Today was going to be a lovely day and she intended to claim the win.

Standing alongside her fellow students, in front of the farm plot given to them for the project, Lucy felt nervous under the judges’ scrutiny. Their garden was filled with fresh vegetables, and birds were flitting about. This was it, the moment of triumph after one month of hard work and dedication.

This was more than a project for Lucy. It was an opportunity to prove herself once again and retain her title as the top student in her class. And yes, for the sweet satisfaction of seeing Beatrice and her crew seething with envy. The wait seemed endless and suffocating.

Finally, when she heard her name called for the first position, Lucy’s heart filled with joy. She had done it, four consecutive wins, a new record. Some, like her mom, believed it was luck; others whispered cheating. But she knew better.

As Lucy stepped forward, her eyes locked onto a familiar yet strange figure. She froze, cold spreading from her heart downward. Her excitement faltered, her steps quivering as she forced herself back in line, the strange woman’s gaze never leaving her. The memory of their last encounter pressed into her mind, sending goosebumps racing over her skin.

She remembered that day vividly, the day she was alone on her mom's farm, walking from one section to another. She let her palms brush gently over each plant, releasing that invisible energy she still didn’t fully understand. She felt the plants’ vitality pulse back at her, each time resonating with her own.

That was the real secret behind her mom’s bountiful harvests. Lucy still didn’t know how she was able to do it, but ever since she had discovered her strange ability, she had used it only to help her mom and herself.

---

“Can I help you?” Lucy asked when she noticed a strange woman standing at the far end of the farm. She didn’t recognize her, not as one of her mom’s friends nor any of the neighbors, and she was certain she had never seen that face before; maybe the woman was lost.

Dropping the debris in her hands, Lucy moved forward cautiously. The sight of the woman’s pale skin, coupled with the weird long white dress she wore, her ocean blue eyes, and red fingers, made Lucy’s stomach tighten.

“What do you want?” Lucy asked, scanning the area for any weapon she could use for defense.

“You are special,” the woman said at last, her voice low and chilling. She reached out, running her cold, red fingers across Lucy’s face as her gaze deepened. “And I’m sure you already know that. When the time is right, I will come back for you. But until then, you must stop using your powers… or else they will come for you.”

With those words, she pushed Lucy backward with unnatural force, knocking her off her feet.

How did this woman know about her powers? It was a secret she had never shared with anyone, not even with her mom. And who were they? Who was coming for her?

These questions got stuck in her throat as the woman vanished like a breath of cold wind.

---

Now, seeing her again brought mixed emotions rushing through Lucy. She was excited that she was finally going to uncover the mystery behind her abilities. But the thought of leaving her mom filled her with unbearable sadness she couldn’t shake.

But a choice had to be made: remain in this quiet village with her questions gnawing at her, or take that difficult step to discover who she truly was… and what she was meant to become.