Chapter 1: The city of Skyfall

POV AKIRA SELENA

Sometimes, if not every time, looking out the window is the same as looking at a painting whose landscape remains intact despite the advancing time on the clock suspended on the dining room wall.

Skyfall is a small, quiet town protected by countless mountains in the farthest reaches of North America. The sun is a stranger to us, and when it decides to visit, it hides among the thick clouds and is not even noticed by many. My mother told me that the guardians drove the sun from our land because it reminded us of the gold and glitter of precious stones that cost the lives of many of our ancestors. So we serve the night and the moonlight, and our song is the howling of wolves that guide the wild spirits of warriors with spears and arrows in their hands.  But of course these are just stories told by my people. A failed attempt to add something interesting to this place, and thus beat boredom if only for ten minutes. However, my mother blindly believes in these old tales, to the point that she chose Selena for my name. 

"Akira, the one who was chosen by the sacred to fight alongside the new warrior chosen by fate."

She confided to me one day after she had abused her drink a bit. 

And when I asked my father the meaning of those words, he faced me and said: 

" Your mother is always right.”

 So he continued to work on his spear project.

The truth is that in no way do I look like my parents. While their skin, is dark, their cheeks a little reddish and their eyes are small and almond shaped, my eyes are expressive like two twinkling stars and my skin is so clear that there could be no other name more perfect for me than Selena who reminds of the moon. Our long straight black hair that falls down our shoulders, keeping our ears and necks well warm, being the only feature we have in common.

I would easily feel like an ET in Skyfall if it weren't for the Rockefeller family. They are the only ones who do not have the physical characteristics similar to my parents or the entire local population. 

 Mr. Jeremy Rockefeller is an outsider, as he is often referred to by most of the villagers. I prefer to call him the gentleman from the future. His arrival symbolizes a huge gain for Skyfall. A breath of modernity combined with a desire to turn my small town into an attractive tourist and investment zone. However, not everyone approves of the idea. Mr. Jeremy must have lost count of how many wooden doors of the little stone and straw houses have slammed in his face. A huge insult to Mr. Rockefeller who lives in a luxurious mansion somewhat removed from the other houses. You see, territory is a word to be taken seriously when talking about my people, as is the word family. Which leads me to suspect that this is the reason he has always brought his two children along on our brief "summers", thus painting an image of an exemplary father and head of the family.

Lilian and Richard, her children, are my friends, or at least we pretend they are. You see, at first impression it was hard to believe that someone like them would want a friendship from a girl who uses bow and arrow better than cutlery on a table. But to everyone's surprise, our friendship has lasted through time. And although Richard has to stay the last few years in the big city so that one day he can take over his father's responsibilities, I'm sure nothing has changed. Or at least I hope not...

"Doesn't that letter have too much red in it?"

My mother asks with an insinuating tone of voice as she sees lots of roses on the white paper.

I have never seen a rose, but I have learned to recognize the flower through my memories about the spring told by Lilian  

"Don't start, Mom!"

I dodge as much as I can, fully aware how insistent she can be when things are not to her liking.

"Do you really believe they are your friends? They only want your friendship to get closer to our people" She continues.

" What harm is there? I would also feel very bad about being rejected by a people if I had intentions as good as Mr. Jeremy's." 

I argue, finishing putting on my imported jacket that Lilian gave me last year.

"Besides, I also like to know about the world out there, their world, where women wear clothes like these or even better. Lilian showed me pictures of so many places and things that I need to see and do. I feel good around them, not like a fish out of water when I am with the young people of our people."

I speak, opening my heart. But, her gaze remains distant and her countenance apprehensive.

"Alfred will escort you there" She decrees.

Is that serious? Did she listen to a word I said? 

"Mom, please! I am 20 years old, I don't need someone to accompany me!" 

I protest.

"No negotiations!" she says and I look away from her to my father.

" Dad, please!" 

" Your mother is always right!" He replies before going back to work on his spear.

Someone knocks on the door, soon my mother goes to open it and I can't believe it's Alfred.

" Wait, how did you know so quickly that my mother is waiting for you?"

They look at each other and I get the feeling that they are hiding a secret from me.

" What matters is that he is here and will accompany you" My mother says.

 And again my words, like my questions, are ignored by her. So I know there is no other option.

 But, is a dinner party at the Rockfeller mansion worth the sacrifice of me enduring the company of the most annoying thick boy in all of Skyfall?