Was it a Dream? (Short version)

Where Am I?

I'm not looking forward to school today. I know most kids hate school, but I don't mind it. I mean, school would just be miserable if I hated it, considering it's almost everyday. I'm just worried about a science quiz I didn't study for. Maybe I could look over my notes in history or French or something.

I gaze out the window as the bus slowly comes to a stop. I grab my bag and slump it over my shoulder as I wait for everyone to get up. Soon, they're all exiting one by one. I turn right when I get off and continue down the pavement, trying to not get in anyone's way. The eighth graders enter way to the right of the school, and, of course, my bus is in front of the high school entrance. I guess it will be better for next year. I step inside, feeling the warmth surround me, eliminating the cold. I go inside the gym and sit on the bleachers with my friends.

"Hey, Jade." Kiana says as I sit myself down next to Rachel.

"Hey." I breath. "It's so cold out there!" I exclaim as I sit down. It's almost spring but it's been windy all week and the snow doesn't seem like it's going away anytime soon.

"I know! My fingers are numb." My friend Kiana extends her pale hands and glances down at them.
"Yeah, and Jacob threw a snowball at me." Rachel announces, clearly upset.

"Oh God." I respond making this frowny face while staring at her. I'm not surprised though, this type of thing is normal for the two siblings.

"Yeah, but then I pushed him in the snow, so . . ." Rachel responds awkwardly. We all laugh at her payback. Imagining her brother in a snow bank is priceless. The bell rings, signaling us to head to our homerooms. Kiana is in my homeroom, but sadly, Rachel isn't.

I set my bag on a desk and take out my iPad and all of my binders. I lift my bag and go kneel in front of my blue bottom locker. I open the small door and hang my now empty bag on a hook at the top of the locker's cream-colored wall. I see Kiana coming over to her locker, so I go to stand up and leave since her locker is right above mine. When I'm almost standing, I feel something hard slam the back of my head. That's all I remember before blacking out instantly. My head is sensitive but dang, I couldn't even process what was happening.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I open my eyes, but I can't see anything. It's so dark, like I'm in a big black space of nothing. I get up and walk around, trying to find something, anything. I frantically look at any place my eyes can find. Nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing. I might as well just give up, it's not like there's anything here. When I'm about to give up and sit myself back down, I suddenly feel the floor collapse. There's this sensation like I'm falling. Falling. I'm falling! Help!

I reach my arms out to stop the fall, but there's nothing to grab onto. So I continue descending, hopelessly flailing my arms around. I scream and yell, scared about what will soon come.

What will come? Am I going to die? Is this it? How did I even get here? Where is everyone? Will I ever see them again? Will I even live long enough to see anyone again?

My body tenses up as I stop flailing. I try to brace for impact, but will there even be an impact? I've been falling for a long time. . . is this going to go on forever? I start to feel sleepy and keeping my eyes open becomes more difficult by the second. I black out again, not being able to hold consciousness.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I open my eyes to see a clear, light blue sky. How did I get outside? I sit up and look around. There's tall trees all around me with bright green leaves and dark brown bark. I'm in a forest? Wait, where's the snow? Where's the school? Where am I?

I stand up and start patting my legs and rear to remove any dirt and dust that lingers on my clothes. Huh? What am I wearing? I look down at a bright blue, short sleeved dress that goes just below my knees. A white apron is tied around my waist and chest. I look down at my feet, wiggling my toes. I'm wearing white tights and Mary Jane shoes as black as coal. My head feels slightly heavy, I lift my hands and pat my head. There's something on it. I take it off and gaze down at a black headband with a small black bow on the top. How did I get in these clothes? I set the headband back on my head and start walking through the forest.