Short Stories

Odd One Out

Heyy!
In this book I'll put stories I made based of writing prompts. I will place a picture at the beginning of every with the prompt used.
I do requests, so if you want me to write something, sent me a message!
Enjoy!!

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I sit back down. The bus goes on the road once again, but this time I have no idea where we are going to. I look outside, but don't recognise the streets the bus follows. After half an hour the bus enters a forest I didn't know existed this close by. I get my phone out of my pocket to check google maps where I am. I'm petrified. In only half an hour, the bus didn't only leave the city, but also half the country behind. We just traveled about 200km. How is that possible? I don't get it...

I look around inside the bus, to see if there is somebody else who is just as terrified as I am. But what I see slaps every last bit of tiredness out of my body. Everybody around me, and I mean everybody- from the passengers to the busdriver-, have... changed. They don't look scared. Not in the slightest. They look releaved. That is, until they notise the odd one out.

Me.

First all we do is stare. They at me, me at them. They look horrified. I can only imagine I look the same. Cold sweat is all over my body. Simply put, I'm terrified. I scan for a way out. The windows can't be opened without breaking them. About twenty....creatures stand between me and the door.

No one has yet to make a move. We are all statues glaring at each other. Looking like we've seen ghosts. Maybe there is a ghost between them, I don't know. I have no idea what I'm looking at. They look human, but at the same time totally not.

The killing silence is broken by a scream from a...man? close to me. Panic thrives through the bus. Every scream empowers another. Some sound somewhat human, most don't.

I back away, scared they get any ideas about hurting me. The creatures see me do this and slowly, one by one, the screaming stops. I realise a female-looking creature is shushing them. She? moves towards me. She keeps her arms wide and her body low. What does she think I am? An wild and dangerous animal or something?!?

I stand upright. I look her dead in the eye and speak: "You can act normal, ya know? I'm human, not an animal on the loose."

A bold move, I know. I'm to tired for this. My head couldn't even think of politeness. And this situation is just offending.

Some of the beings behind her shuffle uncomfortably. She, however, stands tall. Dominance and confidence radiates off of her. "That's some additude you've got there. Who are you and what are you doing here?"

She could've told me her name first. Way to build up some trust. "The name's Claire. I had a way too long shift at work. When we were at the last stop, or the official one at least, my tired head saw that none of you stood up. I was curious and sat back down. Will you now enlighten me with your name or are we just gonna stare at each other for the rest of the night?" If that's going to happen, I'm taking a nap.

"My name is Skye Lyra. Sorry for our rudeness. We must have misunderstood the situation. The only humans that go here.... let's not talk about them. Someone here will take you home as soon as possible. For now, would you like to join us outside?"

Her words are polite, but her voice sounds annoyed. She doesn't want me here. Maybe that is just the tiredness speaking.

Around Skye the creatures make noises of disagreement. Saying that me staying in the bus is safer for them. That they don't want me to see what is outside. But Skye won't listen. Her pink and purple hand gestures for me to follow her.

"What work do you do?" She asks as we step out of the bus. Other creatures flow behind us, glad to be out. Or to be here, I guess.

"Nurse," I answer with eyes wide of bewilderment.

The forest around me is filled with fairy lights that reach for miles. The trees are enormous and out of a few of them have wooden boards sticking out. Like a spiral staircase they climb up.

I let my eyes travel there. High up treehouses are connected to one another with wooden bridges. Lanterns fill the treetops like they represent the stars.

The treehouses are filled with families laughing at the table while eating dinner besides the windows. Some creatures on the bridges wave down to the ones around me. Knots fill my stomach. Jealousy takes a hold of my heart.

To have something like this, something beautiful and peaceful... something like family and home...

"Amazing...", I breath out. I don't realise the words slipped of my tongue until Skye looked back at me. She stopped walking to smile at me.

"Isn't it?", she simply states. "You are allowed to stay, if you want, that is. We can use a nurse around here."

She chuckles at my knitted eyebrows. In response she stretches out her hand and gives me a warm smile, as if she says welcome home.

I take it.