Hidden Realm

Chapter Three: Journey & Arrivals

The boat had left and the sight of the island has long since ceased to be in view. It was quiet on the deck of the boat so I was sitting on a chair, sketching the scene before me. The sky is a beautiful bright blue with few clouds, the water was clear, the sun shining brightly and no other boats in sight. I had added in a small part of the deck and my brother, who is sitting on a deck chair reading a Christopher Brookmyre novel.

In a couple of hours it would be dark and we would have to get some sleep. I had never thought that a boat could be so peaceful, but it really was, it was quiet and there wasn't much going on. I put my sketch book inside my bag and took out my kindle and started to read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

After Harry had just found out he was going to be in the triwizard tournament, I could feel my eyelids getting heavier and soon fell into darkness.

***

I woke up in a room with no light, but my night vision aloud me to see. I jolted a little, startled, until I got my bearings. Alex must have moved me, I'll have to thank him later. I was sitting on a small bed and I felt better after realising where I am, but that feeling immediately faded when I remembered where I was going.

I looked at the time on my phone and saw it was 3am, even though it was only two hours from when I'd normally wake up, I felt drained and in need of more sleep. I tossed and turned, but couldn't seem to fade back into that dark oblivion that accompanied sleep. So I got up, grabbed my guitar and went back to the deck.

Once there, I found a blanket on one of the chairs and wrapped it around myself, before sitting down.

I picked up my guitar and started to play the soft cords to 'I Won't Give Up' by Jason Mraz. Looking out onto the sea makes me wonder what's really out there, how many different creatures and people there are and all that separates us is water.

I felt a presence behind me and looked up to see my brother looking out at the sea with a thoughtful expression, probably thinking the same thing I had just been.

***

A few hours later we were on the road driving from Dover. There was a comfortable silence, until my brother decided he wanted to start a conversation.

"What subjects did you take?" He asked.

"Computing science, history, art & design, english, maths and music."

"That's a weird combination, but of course, so are are you." Alex teased.

"Why thank you, dear brother." I said sarcastically. Be nice, I thought.

"No problem, dear sister."

We were bickering back and forth and not after long, maybe two hours, a big building came into sight. It had stone columns, cream-coloured brick and tall, white oak double doors. The building seemed to look old in design, but had a modern look to it. The building had an aura of agelessness but with powerful knowledge, like a child with the eyes of someone who had seen too much. With the afternoon sun shining down on it, it was more than beautiful. 

Alex brought the car to a stop and we both just sat staring up at the building. I really couldn't fault the architects design choices. There was another building a few minutes from the school, it looked a little older than the school building, it had three stories and it lookes like a large house. This must be one of the dorm buildings.

We got out of the car and I checked the room number. West wing, room number 430. I guess this was going to be my home for the duration of my stay. I just hope that it wasn't going to be a long stay.

We took my stuff upstairs and I unlocked the door. I dumped my stuff on the floor, then I looked at my brother as he done the same. He looked at me and in complete silence we walked back to the car.