Space Tourist

Space Tourist

By Emily [me]

I felt so excited, I could almost hear my own heart leaping out of my chest. Why? Today was the day I would be going to outer space! I couldn’t wait. All those days of training would finally pay off. You see, I’ve been training hard for the last few days in order to prepare going up in outer space. It was the hardest moments of my life, but it was definitely worth it. To explore a place beyond Earth? Even for a few hours? I’d definitely take a chance. I remember my very first day of training. The feeling of excitement, knowing that I would be going to outer space, that rush of adrenaline, ready to take on whatever was in my way. But there was also one more feeling I got while waiting for my trainer to arrive. That feeling of worry. Worrying that I wouldn’t be good enough, that I would fail the training, and that I’d lose the privilege to go to space. I was very scared, but I soon shook off the feeling once I met my trainer. My trainer was a very friendly, middle-aged woman whose name was Andromeda. We shook hands and introduced ourselves. After that, Andromeda led me to a big room with lots of machines and other devices. That was where my training began. In the middle of the room, there was a huge, silver, circular machine with a small, black seat in the middle. I was placed onto the seat and was tightly strapped on. At first I didn’t know what was going on until my trainer explained to me that this part of the training would be to help me understand what the feeling would be as I leave the Earth’s atmosphere, and to get me used to the rapid movement of spinning. I tried to ask a question, but the machine had already sprung to life. The spinning started slowly, and then gradually got faster and faster. I was whipped around and tossed like I was weightless. I felt sick as I clutched my straps for dear life. After the rattling ride ended, I hobbled down from the seat and got a five minute break to catch my breath. After I relaxed a little, Andromeda told me what my next training lesson would be about. I listened to her, as she explained to me that another part of the training would be to help me get used to living in tight spaces.  I was put in a small room made entirely out of metal. It contained a small table in the middle of the room. There was a small opening in one of the walls that contained a sleeping bag and a rather fluffy pillow. As my trainer showed me around, the only things I recognized were a small window, a few buttons and cords, and a short cabinet. Other than that, there was really nothing in the room. My trainer told me that I would be shut in this room for two hours. There wasn't much to do in there so I tried to take a nap. I crawled inside the narrow opening and strapped myself down inside the sleeping bag. It was very comfortable and I soon dozed off. Andromeda came back exactly on time and woke me up. As I rubbed my eyes, I could see her smiling a bit. I wondered why. Was I snoring? Drooling? That would’ve been very embarrassing! But I hid my blushed face from her as she led me down again to a hallway and I was introduced to my final training lesson. It was unusual, but I guessed it was supposed to be unusual for a good reason. I was given a change room to change in and with the help of my trainer, I put on a massive spacesuit, three times my size and I wobbled over to a shallow swimming pool. I asked her why I would be swimming in a spacesuit, and she explained to me that in water, it is almost the same thing as being in no gravity. She told me that this experience would allow me to get used to wearing a space suit in outer space without gravity. I wasn’t exactly prepared, and I was tripped face-first into the water, but I soon got up and started to trudge through the water to the other end of the pool. It felt like walking in mud! It was very hard to move, but I soon got the hang of it. Andromeda was so proud of me, and it felt great to accomplish something I worked hard for. Back in reality, I board the spacecraft that would carry me to outer space. I strap myself onto a seat and remember my first training lesson. I remember the rapid spinning and brace myself for the feeling again as the spacecraft rumbles. I wave good-bye to my family and Andromeda, and squeeze my eyes tightly. The countdown ends, and I feel myself spinning and spinning…to outer space.

The End.

Hylla and the Heroes

All characters except for Hylla is Rick Riordan's creation! This is not a real book, it's just for fun! I hope you like my little version of Percy Jackson's adventures!

It was the day of the great, long-waited book-writing contest.

 The event took place in the gym, filled with parents, teachers, and students,

 Hylla scanned her sheet of papers and made a quick summary in her head. Percy Jackson, heroes, Cerberus, Zeus, check! She smiled. She was very confident and sure that she would win the contest. But in all her pride, she was oblivious to the fact that there was someone, or should I say, something that was looking at her through the school windows. It fluttered its heavy bat wings and grinned, showing longs, venomous fangs. It backed away from the window as Hylla approached the mic. She smiled brightly at the audience and the audience started to clap. Hylla cleared her throat and began,

 "It was a foggy morning at camp, Percy had overslept. Annabeth ran inside his cabin and started pulling at his sheets. 'Percy! Wake up! A fury is here! I don't know how it came in but the magical borders had been weakening lately! C'mon!' Hylla paused for effect, then continued, "Percy bolted right up quickly, his hair a disheveled mess. 'What!?' he cried, 'Monsters aren't allowed inside camp!" Annabeth nodded earnestly, 'I know that, but the fury just came crashing in through the cabin windows and-'" Right on cue, a giant bat-like creature smashed through the gym windows. Screams pierced the silent gym and people began running for the doors. Hylla looked at the monster, stunned.

 "It can't be!" she cried, shocked with terror, "Th-that's a-" She was cut off by a blond-haired boy shoving her aside like a rag doll as he was running toward the two gym doors. She tumbled and fell and hit her head on the dusty floor. She panicked.

 "That's a fury!" she screamed as the monster flew toward her with claws wide open. Hylla ran for her life toward the doors, exiting through the hallway. But halfway there, she tripped and fell again on the ground and laid there motionless as the monster grabbed at her with perfect aim. She closed her and winced, expecting a painful death. But nothing came. Grunts and sword slashes were heard but she only saw darkness as her hands covered her eyes. She scooted herself to a far corner and waited for it all to end. Suddenly, a monster's scream roared throughout the gym and she pressed her hands against her ears, closing her eyes as tightly as she could. Then footsteps approached her but she dared not to open her eyes.

 "Hello," said a boy's voice, as she slowly uncovered her ears.

 "I am sorry to have scared you, you're safe now."

 Hylla opened her eyes and blinked. Standing in front of her were three kids about her age. She rose uncertainly.

 "Who are you? And what was that?" she demanded, wanting answers as soon as possible  Plus, she wanted to get out of here.

 The boy in the middle with dark brown hair and orange t-shirt motioned at the two kids beside him. The girl to his left had long blond hair and a orange t-shirt too. Her face was petite and her eyes were stormy-gray. The boy on his right a cap and long pants, even though it was a fairly hot weather outside.

 "This is Annabeth and this is Grover," he said, "We're from New York."

 Hylla opened her mouth in shock. Her brown eyes turned huge as saucers.

 "No way, I don't believe it. No." she stuttered, glancing back and forth between the new-comers.

 "You're from a book! I love you guys but this is far too unreal for me to accept." Hylla stared at them.

 "What's not to accept?" asked the girl," We came just in the nick of a time to save your butt."

 Percy scowled at Annabeth.

 "Don't be rude," he said, "She's gonna know sooner or later anyway,"

 Annabeth blushed and stepped back. Grover nodded.

"Yeah, she's the one," he said,"The fury was aiming for her and her only, Percy. We gotta bring her back to camp."

 Hylla looked confused, "Wait, where?" She was beginning to think this was all just a dumb prank.

 Percy stepped forward, his two friends looking at me intently.

 "My name is Percy Jackson and we're from Camp Half-Blood."
 Hylla fainted.