How it all began

A soft trod of footsteps follow behind me as I sprint through the school's courts. I turn my head just enough to see behind me, I see nothing but a lone finch pecking at the cracks in the pavement. I clutch my heart, where pain has begun to swell, and continue my way across the courts. 1

"Casey!" I yell out but I instantly regret it. I was having a hard enough time keeping my breath as I ran and calling to a friend that was far ahead of me did not help at all. I was nearing the trail that led into the school's back woods and out to a large track for runners. 2

I both hated and liked the trail. I hated how it led downhill then back up another hill. The hills weren't big enough to make you winded and cramped but it could still get you at a lost for breath. 3

As for liking the trail, the only reason was that the scenery had a strange beauty. It looked like any normal woods with a muddy creek on the right of the trail but it gave off a sense of wonder. My spine always pricked and I felt as if eyes were staring straight in to my soul when I wandered alone down it. So, of course, that is why I am now trying to get my friend to slow down, that way I am no longer alone. 4

I catch a glimpse of dark crimson hair as I reach the beginning of the trail. "CASEY! WAIT FOR ME!" I bellow even though I am already winded from running all the way from the other end of the school. 5

The bushes rattle beside me and a voice hisses darkly in my ear. "Get out." My heart lurches in fear and I feel my body pelting down the path. My legs were moving out of instinct. Run when something scary happens. Thank God for instincts. 6

I connect full-force into Casey. Her freckled face was staring at me in confusion as we struggle to keep our balance from the collision. I wasn't aware of the fact I was clinging to her arm and my body was shaking in terror. All I knew was that I just had one the biggest shocks of my life. 7

"Andi, calm down." Casey cooed, prying me loose from her.8

"There-There someone in the bushes. " I stutter through chattering teeth. 9

"Someone there?" She asks a hint of curiosity in her voice. "Was it Cordanell? He seems keen of this forest. Or could it be...Dao?" She spat the last name with disgust. 10

Dao had been the villain, in disguise of a hero, of our simple plotted fantasy adventures. He was the one that tricked innocent souls in to following him and becoming his puppets of destruction. He was also the brother to the biggest hero of our stories. 11

I start to calm and glance back to where I heard the voice. "I don't know." I finally answer. How could she think it was just one of our characters? They weren't real, so surely they couldn't appear in the middle of a wood just to taunt you. Right?12

"Well, then we can go see." Casey states and links her arm with mine. I object but she has already pulled me back up the hill. My body starts to shake again as we reach the area where I heard the voice. 13

"Come out, come out!" Casey yells at the bush. "We are friends to all those that are of the Magic Lands but enemies to those of Dao's army!" 14

The bush rattles and I yelp in fear. Casey merely grins and drags me over to the bush. As she neared a calico cat springs from its hiding place amongst the branches and darts away before I could even let out my scream. 15

"Well, there goes our enemy. So, shall we go see our friends?" Casey asks me and I give her a skeptical look. She pats my back lightly and releases my arm. I stay stiffly still as she shuffles into the shrubbery and is soon out of sight. 16

"C-Casey?" I barely yell loud enough for myself to even hear. No answer. I repeat, this time much louder. Still no answer. 17

An odd feeling formed in my gut as I stared at the woods before me. It was pleasant though. It felt as if I was enjoying a taste of passion. My heart started to long for whatever lay hidden by the woods and my feet ached to move. 18

Slowly, I stepped forward. As I headed quietly in to the shrubbery the air started to turn crisp and fresh. The bushes did not sting my skin but felt had a velvety touch on my skin. 19

I glanced to my left and saw, for a quick moment, the outline of a man in bright, odd clothing sticking his head out from behind a tree. He also had thick white hair but that was all I could make out of him. For before I could even get a good look at him he vanished out of sight. My heart tinged a little in fear and wonder at whom this man was but my legs walked on. 20

I turned my gaze back in front of me and noticed that there were no more trees. Instead I faced a field covered in brightly colored poppies and what looked like an ocean off to the side of it. My mouth became agape in awe when my brown eyes fell upon a galleon resting in the white sand of the shore. 21

"Welcome to the Magic Lands." Casey says suddenly, making me flinch. I hadn't noticed her lying sprawled on the ground a few feet away. She was staring lazily up at the cyan sky. 22

"I think the ship will be great if we get it off the beach." Casey states. 23

"B-but what is this place? Does the school know about this?" I muster, still staring at the ship. It had old yellowing sails and looked like it had been through one to many voyages.24

"Nope and they probably never will know of this place. They're not smart enough to realize what lies just under their noses. This place was created by the dreams and hopes of children when their countries were at war. We are stuck on one of the small islands right now." 25

"This place is real?"26

"Does it look real?" 27

"Yes."28

"Then it is real." Casey states matter-of-fact as she climbs to her feet. She turns to face me and grins. "You know, that ship needs a pair of captains. And someone who can chart the history of this place and of our adventures."29