{"id":210,"date":"2025-04-08T20:25:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T20:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writingwizards.org\/?p=210"},"modified":"2025-06-07T18:11:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-07T18:11:59","slug":"mission-atlantis-cathy-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writingwizards.org\/?p=210","title":{"rendered":"Excerpt from Mission Atlantis &#8211; Cathy B."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||-30px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||9px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Prologue<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Dear Diary,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I have had a lot happen to me over the past few years. So much, in fact, that I can\u2019t fit it in one notebook. So I will tell you my tale, or at least a part of it, in various notebooks. It\u2019s a long one, so buckle in and hold tight. And also, if there is anyone reading this, just\u2026STOP READING RIGHT NOW AND DON\u2019T EVER COME BACK! <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SIGH. <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019re still here. Fine, I guess you can read. Since you&#8217;re still here, here\u2019s my story:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Chapter 1<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I jumped in my seat as the blaring school bell rang. New Horizons Academy sounded cool, but in reality wasn&#8217;t that amazing. Its furniture was broken and uncomfortable, the paint was chipping and peeling right off the walls, and the teachers didn&#8217;t know how to control the classes, let alone teach them. I learned more outside of class than inside. A loud laugh rang out from behind me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Look, it&#8217;s little miss-know-it-all!&#8221; This is one of the times I hate having a twin brother. James whispered something to his friends who snickered. A wad of paper hit me on the back of my head. I picked it up from where it was on my desk and threw it back at the boys. It hit one of the boys, Mike, square in the face.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHey!\u201d He growled.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I shrugged. \u201cDude, seriously, not my problem.\u201d I left the room, with the boys in stunned silence behind me. My hair swished over her shoulder as I walked. My stack of notebooks crammed with writing and my binders stuffed with papers and folders felt heavy, but the weight lifted as I saw my friends, the popular girls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHey! Cat! Over here!\u201d The co-leader, Nat, who was my best friend, called. I was the leader.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHi!\u201d I called back. All the girls hugged me and high-fived me as I heard a stampede of footsteps behind me. I turned to find James and his boy crew right behind him. My squad and I rolled our eyes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDude, what now? Come to annoy us again? How about you just leave?\u201d I sighed, annoyed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u201cActually, I\u2019ve come to challenge you to a burn battle. After all, you hurt our buddy Mike.\u201d Mike stepped to the front.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIT\u2019S NOT EVEN BLEEDING,\u201d I all but shouted. The \u201cwound\u201d the boys were making such a fuss about was a miniscule scratch on the bridge of his nose. \u201cIT\u2019S BARELY VISIBLE.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cARE YOU GONNA DO THE BURN BATTLE OR WHAT?\u201d James matched her tone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFINE!\u201d I screamed. \u201cLET\u2019S GET THIS OVER WITH!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">James grinned smugly and said, \u201cYour face could make onions cry.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPlease, if laughter is the best medicine, your face could cure the world.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s a shame you&#8217;re so dumb, because you actually thought you could win.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cReally? Beating ME? That\u2019s a cute little daydream you got there.\u201d I rolled my eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWow, you\u2019re so dramatic, you\u2019re more than a drama queen. You&#8217;re the whole royal family.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cUmmm\u2026\u201d I said under my breath.I was freaking out. I had to beat him, to show girls that they can be stronger than boys. I racked my mind for a burn, searching in every corner. Except for one. But I won\u2019t go there. Even if it has the burn of the century.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSay, \u2018I see you\u2019re ready to enter the realm of fantasy. You\u2019re never going to beat me,\u2019\u201d A voice whispered to me. But when I frantically searched for a body to match the voice, I found no one but the boy squad, the girl squad, James, and I. I decided to trust the person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI see you\u2019re ready to enter the realm of fantasy. You\u2019re never going to beat me. Even with an army of knights in shining armor.\u201d I added my own little flourish.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">James\u2019 face turned bright red as he struggled to come up with a reply. I took advantage of his silence and smirked as I said my signature closing line, \u201cRoses are red, violets are blue, did I stutter when I roasted you?\u201d James\u2019 anger turned to violence. He stormed towards me, preparing for a punch. He swung his arm bulkily, but I swiftly dodged it. I uppercutted his jaw, then kicked him in the sweet spot. He doubled over as all the girls cheered behind me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYeah, Nat!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cGo, Nat!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bell rang and everyone filed into their classrooms. James glared at me and said, \u201cThis isn\u2019t over.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOh, I know.\u201d I tried to hide my glee.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI will win. And I will find you and personally annoy you to death.\u201d He growled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLooking forward to it.\u201d I grinned smugly and walked to class.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Chapter 2<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students crowded around me, trying to maneuver around the rows of steel desks. I sat down in the front row, and pulled out a notebook and a pencil.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Sano, a tall teacher wearing jeans and a white and gray plaid shirt\u2013who had a bit of a belly\u2013bellowed, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to start. Whoever doesn&#8217;t pay attention will most likely fail the homework and the quiz.&#8221; Most of the class quieted down, except for the boys in the back. They kept on whispering.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0But then\u2026 &#8220;Miss Johnson! What is 157 divided by 3?&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I replied, \u201c52.3.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a less blaring, but still rude tone, Mr. Sano said, &#8220;Well done, Miss Johnson. Now, write the equation on the board.\u201d I walked up to the blackboard. I grabbed a piece of long white chalk and started writing the equation. The chalk made horrible scraping sounds against the board. When I finished, I said the equation aloud and went back to my seat. For the rest of class, Mr. Sano raved about the power of the x and y coordinates. The whole time, I was taking notes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the bell rang, I picked up my things, adjusted my glasses, and rushed out of class. I took a stick of chapstick and put some on. I went back to homeroom, grabbed my backpack, and left the gray brown building. All the girls around me had managed to get good clothes after the incident, but not me and James. The boys really didn&#8217;t care about James&#8217; clothes and the girls didn&#8217;t care about my clothes, but the feeling was still there, like an elephant in the room. My black leggings and thin sweater on top were a huge contrast to the other girls&#8217; bright blue ripped jeans and Lululemon shirts. From inside my backpack I pulled out a stylish but cheap beige raincoat and a Marvel themed scarf. I slid my arms into the coat. I swung my brown leather backpack over my shoulder. As I walked, I wrapped myself in my scarf. A blast of cold wind hit me and I shivered, even though I had my coat and sweater.. My house was all the way on the other side of the city. But I don&#8217;t mind the walk. It gives me time to think. One of the things I loved to do is walk back from the cliff. I ran to the edge of the cliff and started to climb down.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I perked up as I had a brilliant idea. I started jumping down, ledge by ledge, until I reached the grainy sand of the San Francisco beach. The fresh salty air no longer smelled polluted. It reminded me of back home in France. The beaches were beautiful there. Like the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notre-Dame beach in Porquerolles near my home. I loved going surfing there. I had been so distracted that I didn\u2019t notice a bicycle zooming up at me. \u201cHoly cra\u2014\u201d My world went black.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4><strong>TO BE CONTINUED&#8230;<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PrologueDear Diary, I have had a lot happen to me over the past few years. So much, in fact, that I can\u2019t fit it in one notebook. So I will tell you my tale, or at least a part of it, in various notebooks. It\u2019s a long one, so buckle in and hold tight. And [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-edition-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingwizards.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingwizards.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingwizards.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingwizards.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingwizards.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=210"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/writingwizards.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":264,"href":"https:\/\/writingwizards.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210\/revisions\/264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingwizards.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingwizards.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingwizards.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}