The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim (the mitten read aloud .TXT) 📗

Because I am the weapon.

I am the gold-destroyer.

And I will end the soul who lies.

“It is I that you seek,” I declare proudly, and I have never been surer of anything in my life. “I am the Godrealm’s last fallen star.”

Shock reverberates through the sanctuary at my declaration, and the goddess’s skin shines a brilliant magenta.

“Oh, how the Mother works in mysterious ways.” There is satisfaction and hunger in her eyes, both hands poised to destroy me. I am now her only target.

But I know what’s coming.

And I am prepared.

Yes, the voice whispers in my ear. It’s time for you to shine, my little fallen star.

I smile. I gather all the dark and light, love and hurt, good and bad from my life into one monumental ball of fire. Above all, I think of Hattie, the best sister anyone could have ever wished for.

And as the goddess comes for me, I counter her with a unique cocktail of divinity and human experience. I release the inner heat from every pore of my body, and, in a blinding blaze, simultaneously let go of and embrace my potential, channeling it all toward the gold statue of the Cave Bear Goddess. The black flames explode out of the Gi cauldron and fly toward the statue, their sheer force shattering the sculpted gold into a thousand little pieces.

“Nooo!” the goddess cries, as she is ripped out of my auntie’s body. She stands in her frumpy mortal guise once more, fear gripping her eyes. And as she looks at the shards of her statue littering the floor of the sanctuary, she, too, begins to shatter.

The deity shrieks. And in that moment, the world seems to hold its breath and gasp at the same time. Time stands still and is simultaneously full of motion. It is thunderous and silent, chaotic and calm. The very fabric of the atmosphere rips open as the goddess explodes into a dazzling shower of light. And when our eyes finally recover, it all becomes ever so clear.

I am the last divine star that fell from the Godrealm’s sky.

I am the one who was destined to stop the end of all days.

I have lost, but I have gained.

Because I am strong. And I am brave.

My name is Riley Oh, and I was born to shine.

TO BE HONEST, EVERYTHING FEELS sort of anticlimactic after that. I find myself standing awkwardly among everyone, twiddling my thumbs and trying to find the right words to say.

Just to recap, I’ve found out I’m a piece of the divine—the Godrealm’s last fallen star (which is kind of awesome), and I’ve managed to vanquish the Cave Bear Goddess (which is also kind of awesome, since I pretty much saved the world).

But as the excitement dies down, I realize my two families still have no memory of who I really am. And, more important, Hattie is still gone. Her body remains lifeless on the floor, surrounded by my crying parents. Nothing I can do or say will change that. And despite my having stopped the end of all days, it hurts deeply to know that I failed her.

I drop my head into my hands as my leaky-bladder eyes make their appearance. I miss Hattie so much.

“Thank you for all that you have done for us,” Appa says to me between tears, a weird sense of formality clipping his tone. “For stopping the goddess, and for trying to save our daughter…I mean, your sister…uh…” He trails off and gives me this awkward half hug, half pat on the back. Auntie Okja, who is now recovering, also gives me a small grateful smile.

“Yes, the Horangi thank you, too,” Sora agrees, calm but solemn. “You showed great courage today, and we will always remember that.”

Jennie, Cosette, David, and Noah try to comfort me, banding around me in a circle of friendship I never thought I’d have.

“Don’t worry, star girl,” Jennie says. “We still remember you, and there’ll be a way to restore their memories of you, I’m sure of it.”

Cosette and David nod. “We’ll help you. You won’t have to do it alone.”

Noah nudges his fogged-up glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Hattie would have wanted us to help you,” he says quietly. “I know it.”

Emmett and Taeyo consider me from afar, probably curious but also cautious, considering I just destroyed a goddess. It’s not every day you see that happen.

Areum calls for me from outside the sanctuary. And since I don’t really know what else to say or do right now anyway, I pretend I need to visit the restroom and take my leave.

I find the inmyeonjo by the elevator. But she’s not alone.

Next to her is a statuesque creature with a great mane, a single blunt horn, and red eyes that shine like rubies. His bioluminescent scales glisten as he nods toward me, the bell around his neck jingling a sweet melody.

“Haetae?” I ask in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“You have done well, fallen star.”

I blink, and suddenly I see the bearded man standing before me. He’s just as I remember him—well dressed and well built with an impressively bushy beard. But now, his eyes shine ruby red.

I blink again, and he’s the Haetae again.

Blink.

Bearded man.

Blink.

Haetae.

“Wait, you’re the bearded man?” I ask, starting to understand. “You were pretending to be a guard at the laundromat? You’re actually the Haetae?”

He tips his head. “At your service.”

“It was you, wasn’t it? You were the one talking to me today. In my mind.”

A warm smile spreads across his face. “Indeed it was.”

“But why?” I rub the back of my neck. “Why did you help me?”

“I am Mago Halmi’s guardian. I made a grave mistake when I bit the dark sun and the dark moon at the goddesses’ request. I have been roaming the Mortalrealm since the pieces fell here, to ensure that the remaining stars do not get into the goddesses’ hands. Something at which I admit I have not been very successful.”

I frown. “But