A Rooted Reality [OSC story]

Chapter 2: Different

The week has gone by quite slowly, I think it was my excitement bubbling up inside of me. Traveling to another planet seemed unreal to me and I was going to be the first person to see it.

Throughout the week, they checked my health by normal checkups; it was tiring but I got used to it. They also showed me the Machine, it was a lot smaller then I was expecting. About the size of a television box but a bit bigger. I could fit if I crawled which wasn't exactly what I was picturing.
The thing was somewhat futuristic looking; I felt like I was in a movie when I looked at it. It was almost 1990 and technology has advanced so much since the first couple of mechanics.

I also began writing in a journal like Noelle suggested. She has been giving me some tips on what to do throughout the day and just in general. Everything was going smoothly till it was the day the machine was announced to be completed. For some reason in that moment my excitement rose and butterflies flew in my stomach- I was going over scenarios in my head and it seemed surreal. This was happening!

I stood in front of the machine while Mr. Winn encouraged me and told me what to do. I had to just examine the area and what the environment was like. Easy enough!

He held the button that linked up to my bracelet and a leather journal next to it.

"I wish you well, and remember when you feel the shock come back immediately." Mr. Winn stated and patted my back.

"Yes sir, I won't let you down." I said and patted down my shirt.

I was wearing casual attire, nothing over complicated just a tee and some shorts.

I breathed in and out then crouched down looking into the darkness swirling in the machine. It was intimidating but I closed my eyes and entered.

—

I couldn't see or hear anything, it was complete darkness. I felt like I was falling in the air yet I couldn't move. I was frozen in darkness. My senses went numb and I felt like I was just shot. My back started feeling pain and my whole body ached. I didn't know what was happening, but I hoped I wasn't dying. I tried to move my arms but couldn't, it was hell. I soon saw a shock of electricity almost like lightning sparking around the darkness till a patch of light appeared. My senses flushed back into my body and I moved towards it in a fast motion.

—

I heard a tree branch crack and my eyes slowly opened.

"Agh.. where am I?" I mumbled and got to my feet.

I shook my head and observed where I was. It looked exactly like earth. Did I really go through the portal?

I was on the edge of a forest it seemed. It was snowing yet I didn't feel cold to an extreme. It felt like a breeze. It was summer on earth yet here it was winter. The seasons must be the opposite.

I continued to look around and I noticed mountains in the distance and a small house was in the plain close to the forest. Oh! That means there's life here..

As I looked around I heard what sounded like a horse neighing. I walked towards the sound, finding a life form would be important and good news to tell. I walked through the snow with ease till I saw a shadowy figure in the distance. There was a horse like creature and a smaller life form I couldn't make out.

"Hey! What are you doing on my land?!" The smaller shadowy figure shouted. It sounded like a woman about my age.

"Eh!?" I yelped.

The figure came closer on the horse creature. I backed up and fell to the ground but still keeping my eyes on what was coming.

The horse creature had long hair like a highland cow and a back of a snail. It had a more canine like face, then a horse and a fox like tail.

When I looked up to see the other life form I audibly shook my head in confusion like I was seeing things. The creature had the body of a lily pad, she had short black furred limbs and was staring right at me.

"Aye! I'm talking to you!" She shouted at me.

"Oh god! This is so freaky.. Uh- not what I was expecting at all.." I mumbled to myself.

"Huh? What was that?" She questioned while still being on edge.

"What are you?" I asked with curiosity, completely ignoring her question from before.

"Excuse me-?.." she retorted with disgust.

"Your a lily pad!" I blurted out in disbelief.

"Yeah? And your a cactus! What about it? Now answer my question- what are you doing here? This is private property!" The creature hopped down and looked at me.

Wait? What did she just say.. A Cactus?

I looked down at myself and noticed my body.. it wasn't human, in fact it was exactly what she said; a Cactus. I lifted my arm up and examined it, still seeing the bracelet on my wrist.

"Holy shit, what happened!?" I yelped and jumped to my feet.

"Are you ok?" She questioned and took a step closer.

"This.. this shouldn't have happened!" I started rambling to myself freaking out.

The Lily Pad just stood staring at me with confusion and worry on her face.

"I-" as I was going to say something the shock from my bracelet went off.

I looked around and then back to the forest where I came from. My feet kicked off the ground and I ran back, I hoped when I went back I would return to normal.

"Hey!! Where are you going!!?" She shouted after me.

I caught up to where I came from, I noticed what looked like a copy of the machine right next to a small tree. I sighed with relief and entered as quick as I could.