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The US election system is one of the most flawed, corrupt, and horrible, for a western country, and especially for a nation that claims to be democratic. The United States uses a voting system that has been called “first pass the post”. This means that whatever candidate with the most individual votes wins. This might sound good at first, but it definitely isn’t. The US elections have multiple candidates, which means that in the end, the candidate with the most votes is not the candidate who won. The US makes this even worse, where even the candidate with the most votes might not win, with the electoral college system, like in the 2016 election where the Republican candidate won despite the Democratic candidate having more votes, although neither were the majority. This isn’t even near a good election system, so why not change it?

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Hey, if you’re looking for any inspiration, for self confidence, exercising, anything, just read on. On Monday, I was tumbling outside on my Airtrack, and saw a younger girl running. She finished on my neighbors sidewalk, and immediately looked at her time. I could sense her happiness from where I was. That made me wonder what my time is. My most recent one taken was almost a year ago. I know that can’t be the same anymore, since I don’t run long distance or do Cross Country. I started to guess what my time would be, high 7 minute, low 8 minute? I would’ve never guessed my time to be what it was. I’ve never been like my friends. I’m slower than most kids my age, and I just don’t look the same. I thought that running a mile everyday would make me look the same. Make me look bigger and better. So I get my shoes on and my playlist playing. My Apple Watch tracked my distance and time. The run felt really long, and never ending. My strides got shorter and shorter until I was barely going anywhere. I have 0.04 miles left and that isn’t much at all. I remember Coach Eversole telling me to sprint and run as fast as possible at the end, and I started to do that. When I checked my time, I was in complete shock. I had always been the fastest runner in my family. I used to have a low 7 minute time. Now I have a mid 9 minute time and I was kinda sad. Knowing this, I concluded that I won’t ever stop running a mile everyday, and that I will eventually get under 7 minutes.

After running for a week, I feel better mentally and physically. This week has been really good, even after a bike crash. I just got up and shook it off. I have been happier and got school and chores done quicker. I haven’t distracted myself as much with my phone, because I know that I need to run after school and chores. I don’t think I will even stop running after I get under 7 minutes, because then I will just set myself backwards again. And after the first few days, running is fun, and gives me something to look forward to do.

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Halloween

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You think going to the eighth grade dance would be fun and calm but no. There were police, military officers, government officials, all here for me. A lousy 15 year old girl. You’d think I’d have at least one more week before everyone found out who I was.

————————————————-4 months earlier——————————————————

“.Anara are you packed the landlord said we have to be gone by 6 pm. Do you need any help carrying anything or packing anything?” My mom said in a warm helpful tone.

“Thanks mom but I’m fine, I just have two more things to pack” I looked down at to two last boxes. The two empty boxes needing to be filled. Hi my name is Anara pretty interesting name if I say so my self. This is the 3rd time we’ve moved this year. I’m not a military brat never had been and believe it or not we used to have a home, a real home were we stayed for years until dad disappeared. I was about 11 years old when he disappeared but, whatever happen to him left mom stuck in a pile of quick sand that has taken years to almost escape from. There’s no one else to push her back in and for that I’m happy for her. We’ve been moving around house to house for four years we used to move every mont or so but now we only move every 4 months which means we’re almost home.

I look back at my empty boxes. I grabbed my pile of mask and stuffed them into a box. Then I grabbed all my precious crystals and jewels and placed the fragile beauty’s in the box with my crystal books. I grabbed as many boxes as I could and took them the van. I walked to my room for the last time and said goodbye for the one millionth time.

“We’re going to a place called Natalis. It’s a really beautiful place, there is so much wildlife it’s amazing!” My mom looked at me star gazed.

“ how exiting, now Im going to get so many misquote bites! Whoop whoop.” I said sarcastically enthusiastically kinda wishing I didn’t say it at all.

“How about we go to a crystal shop on the way. You can add a new crystal to that collection of yours.”

“ yeah that sounds okay.  I just kinda wish dad was here now to see how big it got. I miss him”

“Yeah me too” my mom said then the car fell silent and awkwardness started to linger around.

————————————-——————-part 2————————————————————

“Here we are natalis spring!”my mom Said strikingly. I look out the window and was amazed. We passed a shimmering waterfall and trees with huge leafs that leaped over our car and flowers that glowed even in the dim shade of the trees as if fairy’s slept in the flowers. All this land was so beautiful, so curious, so...familiar?

“Mom?” I looked at my mom confused with the familiarity of this magical place.

“Yes sweetie? Is something wrong”

“Why is this place so familiar? I don’t remember ever coming here so it doesn’t make any sense.”

My mom looked at me with a face that I could tell she was hiding something.

“Um...maybe you saw a picture of it or something when you were little?” I saw sweat start to pour down my moms face.

“Um ok?”I turned my face back to the window and stared.

We skittered up the street then pulled in to the drive way of a decent sized blue house. I toured the house from room to room. There was three decent sized bedrooms, a living and family room, a kitchen connected to the dining room, laundry room, theater room, bathroom and a gigantic back yard. Compared to all the other houses We've lived in this was a mansion!

I walked up the stairs to my room. It had walls painted  Ocean foam a color I’ve always admired. I looked around and then... stars, a gigantic bed with dark blue curtains that hang from the top as if I was in a fairy tale. There was a lovely sky blue nightstand with a built in lamp I put my crystals on. I started to unpack everything from clothes to books, everything. I lifted up the last box full of books and spun my self over to the walk in closet where my book shelf is. I walked over when my fingers slipped and wham! The box slammed on my foot. I yelped in a hysteria of pain. Out of frustration before I could think I slammed my foot into the madly. A small trap door flung open showing a pull-string elevator.

“Mom...” I said full wonder and curiosity.

“Yeah?”

“Did you know they’re was a elevator in my closet?”

“No”my mom said “and if you go in there bring a weapon just in case, for all we know Frankenstein could be up there!”she joked “I’m serious though bring a weapon and if your not back in 10 minutes I’m calling the cops!”

“Ok”I grabbed my phone, my pocket knife, my purse and, my turquoise jewel for protection then meandered to the elevator. I sat in the tiny square, kept my mask up and started to pull. Pull, grip, pull, grip. I pulled and pulled and it felt like it’s been centuries since I was in my room when it was only 5 minutes. By the time I  reached the top of the elevator my hands were pink and swelled with pain.The elevator stoped at another small white door. I opened the door to see stairs big beautiful stairs. I walked up the stairs that had red carpet rolled out on it. I reached the top when I saw something so beautiful and powerful it looked as if meant for me when I realized, I’m not alone.

———————————————————part 3————————————————————

“Ring! Ring!” My phone rang spiriting to awe and silence of the room in two half’s. It was my mom “hey! We’re are you I didn’t call the cops yet but don’t test me!”

“Mom!mom! I’m fine I’m not hurt I finally found we’re it leads to and it’s amazing but I’m only in the entry. Mom, may I please have at least 15 more minutes 20 at the most. I promise I will be fine, it’s not like someone else is up here with me!” I say begging.

“Ok but 20 minutes and that is it ok.”

“Ok, thank you.”

I placed the phone in my pocket and continued to be amazed. At the top there was a table with- get this -crystals on it, and not only that. In the center was a beautiful crystal jewelry  set. There was a bracelet, earrings and, a necklace. The necklace though, was special. It had no crystal I have ever seen in my life even through all my research and reading. This one glowed! It shined so bright even in the dim lighting of the room. I looked around some more and found healing books. Not just any healing book though, it was one of the forbidden books.

I grabbed the crystals along with the book and jewelry and put it in my purse.

after 5 more minutes of pulling for the elevator I was finally back in my room. I popped out of the elevator and ran down the stairs where my mom was unpacking. She looked up startled at my dramatic entrance. I continued to pant then, i looked at my mom and smiled.

————————————————————part 4———————————————————

I smiled while my mom tried to calm her heart rate. “What was that for!” My mom said still a little in shock.

“mom, I think there was someone here or is here right now who either heals and collect crystals or knows that I do.”

“what do you mean knows you’re here? How can someone know you that well when we don’t even know who they are.” I grabbed my purse and carefully emptied the contents inside.

I looked over to see my moms eyes slowly widen. I then grabbed the book and showed her my mom looked as if she was about to faint. “How is this even possible? I...I don’t even know what to say, how can anyone have a book like that also it’s strictly forbidden! Put it away before someone see’s and calls the cops!” I scurried up the stairs and put the book with my other books. You probably have no idea what’s going on so let me take you century’s back.

a long long super long time ago there was much magic in the world. While yes there were things like fire ice and air magic the main magic that was studied was the art of healing.

There was no use for hospitals or pharmacy’s when every one used could heal them selfs but, just like in the movies and tv shows there were people who wanted to use these powers to become very powerful even immortal. Soon these people started to show up every where and once they got powerful they started a war. The war lasted for about a year and that’s when the government decided to band magic to prevent that from ever happening again. You were allowed to know basic magic but that’s all. If you were caught doing normal magic or  caught with material or books for it you would go to jail and could even be sentenced to death. Do to this, magic slowly began to disappear slowly.

I put the book away and ran back down stairs. Before my mom had a chance to yell at me I pulled out the necklace as it continued glow and glimmer. I told her how I found it in the secret room with a bracelet and earrings that matched it. I gave it to my mom and she held it out for me to see it was no longer glowing.

“what happened?” I asked as my mom gave it back to me then, it the glow returned again but this time bursting. As I stared at the jewel I was tempted to wear it. I slowly grabbed it and put it around my neck.

“no no what are you doing!”my mom screamed “Anara don’t do that! We don’t know what could happen, take it off now!!”

click. I snapped the necklace on me then, the room fell silent for a minute then everything in the room started to shake as if a hurricane had come. One by one objects in the room started to levitate then, my necklace glowed so bright, as bright as the moon in a dark night, even as bright as the sun. The room started to spin fast getting faster every seconds then, blackness.

“Anara.” A young voice flashed through my head “Your my special little girl.I love you.” The voice so vivid and familiar “and I’ll never hurt you again. Anara. Anara? Anara!” I slowly opened my eyes to the brightness in the room, to see my mom scared and violently shaking me. “Wake up! Please.”

“Mom. Mom! I’m awake please stop shaking me! It’s hurting my head” my mom squeezed me in a hug so tight I felt as if my lung would burst. “What happened?”

“Well, let’s see. You found a necklace and put it on even though I said don’t, things started flying around, the necklace glowed and you fainted.” My mom said trying to remember if she left anything out. I felt around my neck where I put the choker on I felt the mystery gem  then, I looked around and saw torn up boxes and random things that fell out on the floor. I started to pick up the random items and put them back. I started to put the books on the bookshelf when my mom came over and started to pick up some boxes. “I’m not going to ground you but listen to me please. If you faint again or get any sickness symptoms I’m taking you to the hospital.” My mom said looking at me with concern “ after we clean up go get ready. You’re  supposed to meet some old friends of mine. There having a party and grilling and, who knows you might actually make some friends.”my mom smiled with glee.
————————————————————part 5——————————————————.

We arrived at a red house. There were a lot of cars pulled up on there street and, I could hear people screaming in happiness and giggling. “We’re here” my mom said with a face bursting with joy. I opened the door and pulled myself out to the brightness of the world. My mom walked around the car and hugged me. A woman with wavy orange hair and a huge smile came walking toward us. “Anara this is my friend, eve”

“hi” I said as the woman walked over realizing there was a girl with her. This girl was probably around my age. she had freckles and big blue eyes with a heart shape face and almond shape eyes and bangs in her beautiful blue waves of hair. “I’m Anara. What’s your name?”

“uh...hi, I’m Anastasia. I can show you around if you want and you can meet my cousins . Oh and this is my mom.” I looked up and smiled, now seeing the resemblance in the faces. I looked at my mom and she smiled. I nodded and left into the small group of kids following Anastasia.

“so uh.. are you knew to this area? My mom said that she had a friend that had a daughter and they were moving here from St. Louis.” She looked at me with her striking blue eye. “I honestly thought my mom was talking about someone younger but I’m actually kinda happy it’s someone around my age, and a girl, no less.”

“oh yeah...we live here now and I hope we can actually stay here so I can actually call this place home and make friends. Actual. Real. Friends.” I looked at her with a soften face.

“I’ll make a deal” Anastasia said with a kind expression on her face “I could be your first friend if you could be mine, I don’t have any friends. I’m super kind and helpful but I guess that’s not enough to be a friend here.”

I looked at her and smiled “deal” I said. She showed me around. I met her cousins darla, Tim and Tj. She showed me the bathroom, the kitchen, the living and family room and, the dining room leaving only her room. We walked up to her room door and stood there.

“Please don’t make fun of my room please I like it the way it is” she said and I nodded in acceptance. The next second she opened the door revealing so much light at once. I looked up and saw fairy lights on the ceiling. I looked around and saw a princess bed like mine and giggled. I continued to look around when she said “I like your necklace. What type of crystal is it? I’ve never seen any thing like it”

“I...I don’t know what it is either and I have books and books about crystals for healing practices” suddenly realizing what I said I cover my mouth and looked at Anastasia who looked shock. Her expression died down quick and turned into a mischievous smile.

she looked around and down the hall to see if any one was near. She closed and locked her door and then pulled 3 random books from her bookshelf in a order. The wall started to shake and then the bookshelf popped out of the wall and slid over, opening up to a set of stairs.

———————————————————part 6————————————————————

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part 2/2

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E-venture

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