First of all, you should know this. My name is Hara. Like all beginnings, it starts off with birth. Everyone's birth is different, but mine is really different. A day after my birth, my parents and I had to flee with the rest of our village, due to the Malran's invasion. I was a refuee at birth. We fled to Ranji, the safest village in our country.

But that was 11 years ago. My family and I had lived next to my school in Ranji, Ranji Primary. We had uniforms there, and everyone followed the rules. We had so much fun, but there was one thing that ruined it for me, and it was the fact that I only had one best friend and that I felt invisible. My friend, Iza would always support me. But there is one person I loathed the most: Liria.

Such a drama queen, Hara!

Back off, Liria!

Other than that, my life was great. My parents always promised this town was safe and that we were here to stay. Everyday, Iza came to my house after school and we talked and helped each other do homework. Sometimes I wondered if the place was really safe. I even had an extra bed for her in my room.

One day, I was having a big fight with Liria again. Suddenly, a siren sounded. It's a school lockdown. Someone is invading.The yards were already empty and no one was outside but us. We tried to run to one of the classrooms but it was too late. Someone caught us and dragged us into a boat decked at the nearby river. I was right. Even the safest was unsafe.

I knew who this person was. He was a Malran. "I think we're heading for the Malrani Republic. We're getting captured as hostages. Our only way back is for our town to pay." I whispered. "Ya say it like it's a good thing!"Liria whispered back. We arrived at a big desert town. The Malran took over alot of towns, no wonder they were so rich.

We were led to a prison cell. There, a bossy man stood in front, waiting to talk. "You are prisoners until someone brings you back. From now on, you live in this cell. Now tut tut." He walked away, with servants walking behind him. "What are we going to do?" asked Liria's friend, Beka. "I don't know." Iza replied faintly.

Everyone at home then found out. My parents were worried sick. My mum ended up in the hospital, unconscious after recieving the threatening letter. I spent most of the time working. They gave us a meal a day instead of three. It was horrible. But one day, Iza and I met the old general of Ranji. He was captured too.

He made a plan for us to escape, but he could only have 2 other people with him. He said Liria and Beka couldn't come. Even though I hated Liria and Beka, I thought about it hard. She was my friend. After all that time we were in the prison, she treated me like a friend. I decided to sneak her on, even Beka. I told her the plan, and she hugged me like we never fought before.