The Things That Fall from the Sky
By Amelia, Year 6
I Give My Enemy Advice
“‘The Burning Bullet’ Seriously?” I flicked a shining ball out of my wrist pouch and into the air. The star landed on the tip of my silver boomerang, hovering just above the point.
“Couldn’t you have thought of another name?” I sent the boomerang spinning until it dispelled the star at my enemy. Bullet lifted his gun and a bang rang out. The projectile collided with my star in mid-air, and they exploded. I shot out my hand to catch my boomerang as it rebounded.
“I tried to,” Bullet informed in his deep, almost robotic voice. He pulled out a weird silver and yellow laser gun and fired at me. I jumped to the side as the beam collided with a wall behind me.
“But all the good ones were taken. Iron Man, Superman, Thor? There aren’t too many options left.” He paused thoughtfully. “You know, my proper name is The Bright Burning Bullet of Awesome Legendaryness, but nobody calls me that.”
I blinked behind my mask. “Wow. That is…”
“It’s incredible,” Bullet exclaimed defensively. “If you don’t like it, you can blame yourself. You showed up, and I didn’t have time to think of another name.”
“Well, then I sincerely apologise.” I flicked my star pouch. Nothing happened. I flicked it again and groaned. I was out of stars.
Bullet shot at me again, and I jerked my second boomerang out of my pocket. I flung it in front of my face. The laser collided with the weapon’s silver and black face and exploded. I paused there for a moment.
“You good, Star?” Bullet called, his voice orotund. I broke my stance and nodded.
“Yeah, all good.” I looked up at the sun. “Have to get to school though.” Bullet clicked his fingers and glanced at his wrist. “Dang, 8:02 already? ‘Bout time we wrap up. I’ve already gotten a few demerits, and a couple more and I get a detention. Won’t be able to fight you if I’m stuck in a classroom that smells like stale play dough all afternoon.”
I barked a laugh. “You go. I need to throw the stars back into the sky.”
Bullet nodded. “Good fight, Star. I’ll look out for you this afternoon?”
“Nah, I’ve got homework. Tomorrow, though.”The robotic man nodded. “Tomorrow, then.” With that, he pressed his fingers against his palm twice, and a burst of cold air hit me. Bullet pushed off the ground and flew East.
*
As Bullet disappeared into the sun, I walked over the dusty battlefield to the glinting remains of an exploded star. I can’t be affected by the explosion of the star, but they can be poisonous if a shard gets inside of your body, how I know that I have no idea. It’s a thing with the power.
I just get stars. That sounds unusual, but I don’t know how else to say it.
I stooped, picking up the pieces and dropping them into my palm. Then I clasped my hands and squeezed. There was a warm, white glow, and I unclasped them. A tennis-ball-sized sphere rested in the centre of my palm, setting off a light beam. I don’t know how I restore exploded stars back to a whole either, so don’t ask.
Here, most people would say something wise and thoughtful, like;
‘Stars are fascinating things that have incredible significance bla, bla, bla stars!!!’.
(Insert fancy jazz hands here) Me? Absolutely not. Until a few years ago, the thought that I could hold a ball of pure gas still made me want to laugh, and I’m in year 11.
Scrap that, I still want to laugh.
It usually takes a few minutes for me to restore all the stars, but not long to send them back into the sky. I took out my boomerang, hung the stars around the tip, and then chucked the boomerang as far as I could in the opposite direction of the sun. I waited a minute, then put out my hand and prayed the boomerang would not find my face as an appealing landing ground.
Once I returned the stars, the familiar background tugging on my heart faded.
I then pulled my mask off and my black suit sucks into the mask- children, this is called supermaterial combustion and is not taught at school.
After that, I took off in my school’s direction and prayed that I wouldn’t have to spend another lunchtime with Mrs McTate.
I should probably introduce myself before continuing. I’m Valmin Kingson, and I’m 17. Is that too young for a villain? Absolutely.
I didn’t ask for my powers, and I don’t know how I got them.
This is the story of the biggest and probably scariest day of my life. Most of you probably picked this book up thinking; Fiction!
I wish it was. But if that’s good for you, keep reading. It’s fine if you think this is a work of imagination.
So go ahead, and enjoy my stress and near-death experiences.
Happy reading.
*
On the way to school, I slowed past the newsagency to spot myself on BillaNow.
“Another destructive disaster caused by the Fallen Star has occurred at the edge of Billa.” The reporter was saying- someone called Jess Turner. “The loss is minimal, however, the attacks are becoming more and more frequent. Thank goodness that the Burning Bullet arrived at the scene on time.”
The screen switched to footage of the fight that had occurred that morning. Bullet was in the process of shooting, his arm raised as he fired his weapon- a large, cylinder laser gun. He wore his usual bulky black, yellow and red suit, and three yellow horns rose from his helmet. Black goggles rested over his eyes and a red metal mask covered his mouth and nose- I was fairly sure that was a voice changer. I guessed he was around my age because he had mentioned having to get to school. The only part left bare was sections of his face, showing dark brown skin.
On the other side of the ruined battlefield, I threw a star at Bullet in my black mask. The yellow star on my forehead glowed, casting an eerie shine on my surroundings. The white eyes of the mask were blank.
I tried not to think of how much I looked like a real villain.
Hurriedly, I continued past the shop window to my school.
The Pull Gets Annoying
I arrived at Billa Public at 8:55 and rushed into the school gates. Many people say Billa Public is a… chaotic school.
I say it’s just different.
Yes, the class idiots are seeing how many kick-me notes they can put on a teacher without them noticing.Yes, there are the girls in the corner gossiping about the latest trends.Yes, the jerks are seeing who is the strongest by throwing random students’ school bags over the fence.
Like I said- different, not good.
I don’t love school. Probably because of how often I receive lectures for skipping it. Also, the teachers smell like play dough and the classroom smells like rancid meat.
Not a good combination.
“Val!” A student ran up to me, brandishing the thickest book from the library like a weapon. That’s Kaia, my little sister. She’s two years younger than me, and the smartest kid in the school. She’s in the top Engineering class and had straight A+s in Science. Kaia created her phone from scratch, and you never know where her latest tiny droid has gotten to.
So check your cereal. Kaia has a distinct dress code- red and yellow. Today, she sported red skorts and a jumper, as well as a yellow T-shirt. She wore a necklace with gold pendants and small stud earrings.
No, I don’t care that she’s African-American and I’m Australian, she is my sister.And no, I don’t have the accent, so please don’t ask why I don’t sound Aussie.
“Val, where were you?” She demanded, looking me up and down. “You look like you got dressed in a rush.”
I looked down at my yellow sleeveless top, loose black jumper and shorts, and then back at my sister.
“Rudeness. I do not.”
Kaia grinned. “You do.”
A sudden piercing chime sounded- the announcement that the torture of school was about to begin.
Kaia winced at the sound before jumping to hug me goodbye.
“I’ll see you after school.” She pulled away, grabbing my shoulders and giving me a deadly look in the eye. “Don’t burn anything.”
I scoffed. “You’re the one who likes setting paper on fire.”
Kaia rewarded my remark with a devilish grin before running to class.
I sighed as I headed in the other direction. Six hours. I would just have to last that long.
I drowned my face in water at the bathroom sink and gasped, looking up into the mirror. My messy rusty hair was dripping wet, draping over my brown eyes and freckled face. My uneven star earrings were upside down.
I thought I knew I could make it through the day, but now…I gasped as a sharp pain struck my chest like a ripping claw. Exhausted, I flopped down on a small bench in the corner, head in my hands. It had been too much lately. Before, I was able to last weeks without using my powers but now the pull was too much.
I sighed. I had an idea, but I really, really didn’t want to use it. Another searing pain struck through my chest, and I choked back a yelp.
Slowly, I lifted my head and looked at the thin window of the bathroom near the roof.
I had to do it now, or the pain would be too much. I said a silent apology to Kaia for skipping school again and slipped away.
I had my eyes set on one star in particular. The Phoenix star isn’t of much importance to people, but I knew how powerful it was. I felt it.
It was about lunch, so I strode into the middle of a small clearing of the forest. I was in my mask and black suit again- I never take the chance of someone seeing me and recognising who I am.
I sighed. I didn’t want to use my powers. But I had to. Otherwise, the pain would become overwhelming.
Hopefully, this star would balance the tear.
I shot out my black-gloved hand, and pulled it into a claw. Suddenly, a white light flashed in the sky. Then a ball of light streaked towards me. I stood my ground, and there was an explosion.
The dust cleared. I opened my eyes. In my palm rested a ball of glowing energy. It was larger than the other stars, and much, much more powerful.
But it had worked. Though the familiar tug at my heart had started again, the agonizing ripping in my chest had faded, and I could breathe properly now.
Thank the stars.
Carefully, I tucked the star into a pouch on my leg and closed it.
I walked into the trees towards the city and my home, finally free of the pain.
I didn’t know what was falling towards me.
All The Stars Are Falling Down, My Fair Lady
“You know, you could roast like- 10 marshmallows on your helmet horns at once,” I announced thoughtfully as I threw another star at Bullet. It was sunset as we fought on the edge of the town. We were behind the last block of properties, between the homes and the green forest.
“I mean, once you wash it, of course, it’ll be the best marshmallow-roasting tool I’ve ever seen.”
Bullet shook his head. “Star, you have the weirdest ideas sometimes. You remind me of someone I know.”
I shrugged. “They must be one incredible person, then.”
Suddenly, there was a boom and a rush of heat bombed my face. I whipped around. One of the houses had burst into flames. Fire danced around its walls as it crumbled like sand. The culprit?
A shard the star skidded to a stop at my feet. Both Bullet and I stopped. The he stepped forward, gripping his gun. “What are you doing?”
I looked at the house, speechless. “That wasn’t me.”There was a flash. The sky turned a blood crimson. And then the stars fell.
Burning lights streaked down from the sky, exploding wherever they landed.
Bullet swung around, perplexed.
“Star,” He said, dangerously soft. “Turn them off.”“I’m not doing this.” I insisted. A star fell behind him, exploding an unfortunate tree in dust and shards. Bullet stepped forward, closer.
“Star, turn them off.” He demanded again.
“This isn’t me.”
Bullet raised his weapon- a red and silver laser gun and shot at me. I jumped back, the projectile missing me by an inch.
“Just turn them off.” He shot again. I flicked out my silver boomerang and deflected the laser.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Star.” Bullet paused. “Why are you doing this? It isn’t you.”
“Exactly,” I exclaimed. “I’m not doing this.” I didn’t understand. I hadn’t pulled down these stars – I had only pulled down the Phoenix.
I froze. I had left the pull on though. To keep the Phoenix star down, I had to continue pulling. It had been over a day- longer than I had ever kept a star down before.
The stars were still being drawn towards my town- towards me.I opened my mouth to speak, but Bullet fired again. I ducked but felt the projectile brush my hair.
“Turn it off,” he growled. Bullet wasn’t listening – he was convinced that I was purposefully pulling down the stars.
So I ran.
I heard Bullet’s voice yelling through the forest, but I didn’t stop running. How could I explain everything?
The pain.
The hatred.
That I had no choice.
That I had to use my powers.
That people would always see me as the villain.
I ran and ran until I was far enough from Bullet and the city. Memories that haunted me like nightmares whispered in my ear, playing over and over in my head as I ran.
Pulling down a star for the first time. People, children seeing me, wary but curious of my newfound power.
It was incredible – they didn’t run or scream. They look upon me in astonishment and awe, like they thought it might be good.
And then the star exploded.
I survived.
They didn’t. I turned- in the shadows, I saw two things;
A figure.
A phone.
“Freak.” I was scared of what I had done.
I was scared of me. So I ran.
Two weeks later, I was in agony. After a while, I figured that I had to keep pulling down stars to ease the pain.
Soon, I had a mask and a disguise, so no one would realize who the monster of the town was.
I had an enemy once I met Bullet.
I had power.
I had killed.
I had destroyed. I was a true villain. And so everyone saw me as one.
I couldn’t help it.
I couldn’t stop and explain.
And I couldn’t stop the pain.
I ran from the memories and nightmares deep into the forest.
Finally, I stopped and looked up through the trees. The night sky looked empty as if all the stars had blinked out and fallen.
They had.
I needed to work fast if I was going to stop them all from falling and destroying the whole town.
Hurriedly, I scrambled at my leg pouch and pulled out the Phoenix star. Then I grabbed by boomerang and strung the star on the tip. I threw it. I paused, hoping and hoping it worked.
It didn’t. The star flung back to me like a magnet, persistent and obstinate. I drew in a breath as the star landed back in my hand.
I tried again.
It came back. It wouldn’t go. It wouldn’t work.
Then there was an explosion. I was thrown backwards. I hit a tree, and I felt a crack in my chest.
My ears were ringing, and my vision was fuzzy. I saw Bullet through the trees, advancing, clutching his weapon. Then he stopped and dropped his laser gun.
“Val?”Bullet ran to me and dropped to my side.
“Val!” He yelled. I looked up at him, confusion scribbled on my face. Then he reached up to his mask and pressed the side of his goggles. Bullet’s mask cracked in half and opened with a hiss, revealing his face.
It wasn’t a teenage boy like I had suspected.
It was Kaia.“Kaia?” My hand was shaking. I felt for my mask and realized half of it had cracked off.
“I’m sorry-” I stuttered. “I- I didn’t mean for this. I thought I could endure the pain but it became too much.” I scrambled as she pulled me up to a sitting position against the tree. I knew she didn’t understand, but the words just tumbled out of my mouth like hail. “I pulled down the Phoenix star- I thought it would balance the pull but I left the pull on and they all just fell.”
“I know,” She whispered, her voice normal now that she had taken her voice converter off. “I know you wouldn’t do this Val. How do we stop it?” I didn’t want to tell her how it really worked- and how there was only one way to stop it now.
‘Kaia…” I started tremulously. “I pull them down with my life force. They’re attracted to me.”
She stared at me blankly. “…Okay… then what do we do?”
I took a deep breath. “Kay, the only way to stop them… is if I die.”
Kaia stopped as if frozen. “…What?” She swallowed. “You’re bluffing. There’s another way.”“Kaia- there isn’t.”
“No- no there is. we just need to figure it out.”
“Kay-”
“What if we-”
“Kay!” I yelled. She looked at me, tears in her eyes. “There isn’t another way.”
Kaia took a shaky breath. “I can’t lose you too.” She whispered, her voice brittle. “I’ve lost everyone- my old family- so many people have died, you’re all I have left. I can’t—’
‘And more people will die if I don’t stop this!’
Kaia was silent. A tear dropped.
“Kay, please,” I said softly. “People have always seen me as the villain- they always will. It’s been inevitable since the day I got my powers.
I tried to be good, I tried so hard. But it all went wrong. My first star exploded. People died. They called me a freak. They screamed and hated me.
‘Please, let me do this one good thing.”
Kaia was silent, tears running, but she nodded. Slowly, I pushed myself up using the tree to balance. I winced as a sharp pain coursed up my side. Before I took a step, Kaia wrapped her arms around me and hugged me.
It was a goodbye.
“I never hated you.” She whispered, almost inaudible.
I wanted to stop. I wanted to go back home with my sister and never leave.
But I couldn’t.
Reluctantly, Kaia let go. I breathed in, and hobbled away. We were at the far edge of the forest, where a clearing dropped into a cliff. I made my way slowly to the crag.
I knocked open my leg pouch, and the Phoenix star flew out. I flicked my boomerang into my hand, and caught the star on the edge.
I looked to Kaia.
Mouthed I love you.
And then I flicked the star towards my heart.
My chest glowed. My lungs felt like they were being squeezed and would collapse. The world faded.
The last thing I heard was Kaia scream,
As I fell over the cliff.
Surprise! I’m Not Dead!
Well. This is awkward. I’m meant to be dead. I bet you thought that too.
It seems not. Look, I wish I could tell you how I survived.
I can’t.
I don’t know. Maybe the star’s poisonous power in my chest made my heart stop for those few minutes.Maybe that was long enough for my life force to stop and the pull to be severed, and for the stars to stop falling.
But I don’t know. I hardly remember anything, it was all fuzzy, as it is once you fall off a cliff.
So here I’ve asked my sister to write it.
This is Kaia, and this is what I remember;
I was on the top of the cliff, a sheer drop to my left and the forest to my right. The forestry was a deep green, and the air was caked in dust.
I remember that I was crying. My brother had sacrificed himself to stop the stars from falling.He had gone over the cliff.
Any hope, any desperate wish I had for his survival was gone. I couldn’t think of how it could get any better. It must have been minutes, and I was staring at the cliff Valmin had just gone over.
I felt tears make their way down my cheek, but I didn’t brush them away.
I couldn’t.I was staring at the sheer drop, my mind fogged with grief.
And then a hand appeared.
I froze.
The hand was followed by an arm, which was followed by my beaten and bruised brother.
I was dumbstruck as we stared at each other.
He offered a tired smile. Then I lunged at him, grappling my arms around his waist, not even fixating on the annoying height difference.
I felt my brother’s arms wrap around me, and he squeezed.
And that’s how we ended. I still had a million questions, but that’s how my brother Valmin and I ended,
the day the stars fell from the sky.
The Things That Fall From the Sky by Amelia was created as part of Story Factory’s Novella Kitchen. Nine young people were invited to Story Factory in September for the Novella Kitchen, a two-day, bite-sized, book-writing bootcamp that gave them a taste of Story Factory’s Year of the Novella program – and the challenge of writing an entire novella in a single weekend.