Breadcrumbs by the Bridge

Georgina pulled another piece of bread from her satchel and tossed it toward the ducks. The morning sun filtered through the leaves at Thistledown Park, making everything look golden and peaceful. She loved coming here before the city woke up properly.

"Here, little ones," she whispered, crouching by the stream's edge.

The ducks paddled closer, their orange beaks bobbing as they grabbed the floating crumbs. One particularly bold duck waddled right up to her boots, tilting its head as if asking for more.

Georgina grinned and reached into her satchel again. "You're quite the beggar, aren't you?"

A twig snapped behind her.

She turned, expecting to see another early morning jogger or dog walker. Instead, three figures in dark clothing stood at the edge of the clearing, watching her. Their faces were hidden beneath deep hoods, and they moved with an odd, silent coordination that made her stomach twist.

The bold duck honked once and paddled away quickly.

The Unexpected Invitation

Georgina's hand tightened around her satchel. The three figures stepped forward in perfect unison, their boots making no sound on the grass.

"Don't run," the middle figure said, her voice surprisingly gentle. She pushed back her hood, revealing a woman with short silver hair and kind brown eyes. "We're not here to hurt you."

The other two figures lowered their hoods as well. One was a tall man with weathered hands, the other a younger woman with paint-stained fingers.

"You're Georgina, aren't you?" the silver-haired woman asked.

Georgina took a step back, her boots splashing in a shallow puddle by the stream. "How do you know my name?"

"Because you've been chosen," the man said, pulling out a small device that looked like a pocket watch. It hummed softly and projected tiny dancing lights. "The Park Selection has been monitoring children with special qualities."

The woman with paint-stained fingers smiled. "You feed the ducks here every Tuesday morning. You always share your lunch with that stray cat behind the bakery. You pretend to be braver than you feel."

Georgina's heart hammered. "What do you want?"

"To invite you to compete in the Underground Championships," the silver-haired woman said. "Other children are waiting."

Before Georgina could protest, the man pressed a button on his device. The world shimmered, and suddenly they weren't in the park anymore.