SandScript 2023 [Digital Exclusive]

Unless something was out there.
“Pandora doesn’t have any docks but it would make sense to have a port there if we need to
transport supplies to another island!” the girl exclaimed, a lightbulb above her head. “We need
to go there! That could explain why they were included on this newer map.”
Aidan sat up from the couch and set his book down page first onto the table. “Woah, hold up a
second! Pandora is a day trip away, Brigid. Let’s just take a step back. I think that the Pandora
docks were taken away and then added in the same year newly updated maps were made.
1818, right?”
She took a deep breath, agreeing with the boy across from her. “Yeah, yeah it was 1818. It
showed up in my book as well. What do you mean by ‘taken away?’”
“The docks are in the 1817 map with the new islands, but not in the one made right after in
1818, taking away the island to the east and the port, and then the new map made only a
couple years ago adds it back,” Aidan explained, staying focused on each map the two had
laid out onto the table between them.
“The two maps were made so close together in time. I can’t help but wonder why? And why
was it added back in? Did you find who was running the graphing department back then?”
“Arthur Groves,” he sighed. “Other than his notorious outburst, his work didn’t have anything
significant to it.”
“Isn’t he the man who went crazy and killed his family before being arrested by the royal
guards?” Brigid guessed confidently.
“No, that was someone else. Groves did go crazy but committed far worse crimes. He claimed
to be the most powerful man in the world, killed only his wife while also attempting to
assassinate the king before eventually disappearing,” Aidan corrected, a smirk forming on his
lips. “Close though, it was a woman you were thinking of, and she did that in 1903.”
Brigid laughed nervously as the boy winked, adjusting in her seat. “Right! Right.” The girl
found herself suddenly feeling uncertain about the boy she grew up with, although she wasn’t
embarrassed or uncomfortable sitting in the quiet room with him, even after she mistook one
event for another. Before she could identify exactly when it occurred or what exactly caused
it, Brigid realized she was looking at him with different eyes. Had he always had such bright
green eyes… and are those specks of gold? His whole body appeared to be focused on the
project at hand as he leaned intently towards the textbooks and maps strewn across the table
and it took more than a few moments to notice a fact that should have been obvious: he was
truly interested in this new ‘project’ she had discovered. “Aidan, do you like history?”
‘Uh, yeah, I guess. I’m good at it. Always have been,” He responded quickly, dismissing the
awkward silence from the previous conversation, running his hand through his hair like he had
earlier in the day.
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