May 6th 2508
18:00
Ella was shivering, bouncing on her heels and hopping up and down, shaking out the horror of the day.
She'd showered for almost an hour, from the shower in her room. It was surprising how long she spent on with her body and hair toweled up, despite acting cold.
18:45
She was in her room, showering for almost an hour. It was amazing how long a person could live comfortably while double toweled instead of just putting on a pair of pajamas like a reasonable human being.
Just the longest period of clothing limbo.
19:00
Well, Ella was in a dancing mood, music blaring out the windows. The song genre changed, from bouncing up and down to taking the lead in a ballroom waltz. And goodness did Ella love her hair, letting it swing and sway.
Finally, after shaking herself dry, like the most compulsively obsessed wet dog in the world.
Ella put some clothes on.
19:05
A black and red Miami heat jersey and the baggyiest shorts in the world. Baggy enough to let her bounce around and dance for the length of six new songs, seven if the repeated song counted as two.
Ella's room was on the second of two floors rushed down the stair to the kitchen where Ella' far, far taller mother was dishing a label of yellow gunk into three small plastic bowls for three tall toddlers on their own little set of stools.
A shorter formerly well-built man appeared ND kissed up to peck the bottom of her chin. Age had rounded out a once iron form, nothing of him had softened around the jaw, which might as well have been sculpted. A military grunt if there ever was one.
A head and a half apart, they hugged and danced together like the most natural thing in the world while Ella on the other hand played with her food, stabbing and poking at it while the rest settled.
19:25
The family ate, Ella's mother broke the silence, eating with a question that forced Ella's head up.
A family chat kicked off, their parents' faces changed and grew concerned, each of them painting and moving their hands. What ever they were explaining had worked to leave Ella thoughtful.
19:40
The conversation lasted over ten minutes, lingering long after she'd stopped eating. The plate was picked up and cleared into a dog bowl, where more food was placed.
19:45
It took a minute to even get to the family's long back yard. Food in bowl, Ella shouted, then whistled. Ella could even do the two-finger whistle too, which was actually impressive. But the dog didn't come.
19:50
Ella tapped out and headed to bed, actively rushing to her room where her mom was waiting. There, at the desk, they did homework together, Elle's mom taking over-watch.
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The night was quiet until Kate slipped through the lasers, ropes, and shadows.
Ella's misery met Kate's desperation in a clash of whispers.
Friendship, betrayal, and lies tangled together—
and the alarm ticked closer to discovery.
By the time Ella's father rushed in, Kate was already gone.
Next time on Zenith:
When truth and trickery blur, will Ella stand with Kate—or against her?