Shadows of Another World

Chapter 1

   The rain fell and fell on the small two story home of Liam Becket. Liam was a boy of about fourteen years of age. He had fluffy brown hair with black streaks strewn throughout. He had a charming grin and personality. Becket mostly wore polo shirts with a brown leather jacket given to him by his father.

   The home was light blue in color, and black on the roof. It was two stories, but only a small portion was above the first floor, containing only the bedrooms.

   Liam watched as the rain poured. The lamp on bedside table only slightly illuminated the room. Small drops flowing down the window. Wooden boards lined the floor. Yellow wallpaper surrounded the room. A calm, almost peaceful, room was the place Liam was currently in. This room was so peaceful in fact that Liam never even noticed his mother standing in the doorway.

   "Liam," his mother said in a serious tone, "I must tell you something."

   Liam's mother was short, no less than five and a half feet. She was in her mid thirties, and she had loved her late husband until the very end. Ms. Becket was a kind spirited woman who had short brown locks.

   "What is it, Mom?" Liam asked.

   "You see... you... it would be better if I just showed you," Liam's mother said.

   After she said this, she put her hand palm up. Liam watched intently as his mother put her thumb in the middle of her palm and shifted it down to her wrist. Then, like magic, a small flame sparked to life in the middle of her palm. Liam opened his mouth in amazement.

   "How did you do that?!" Liam exclaimed.

   "Years of practice. I want you to learn how to do things like this. Learn about creatures, and how to protect yourself," Liam's mother told him with a small hint of sadness in her voice, "Follow me."

   Liam did not respond, and just got up an left. They climbed down the small staircase leading to their upstairs and over to a small pantry in their kitchen. Ms. Becket pushed some food to the sides of the pantry and removed a brick from the wall. A small cove of nothingness seemed to lie behind. Finally, Liam's mother reached in.

   The room seemed to start to glow, at first slowly, but then more rapidly. Green light seemed to surround them both. Wind began to move quickly around them, so fast that they could only feel that wind mixed with the green light.

   The light began to diminish, and the wind began to soothe. Liam could feel soft grass beneath his bare feet. A large sprawling valley lay beneath the plateau they currently stood upon. A mix of pink trees, flying and swimming creatures, and above all a large twisting building in the middle of it all filled Liam's vision.

   The building was like a treehouse, but larger. The leaves of the tree were a rainbow of colors, like fall leaves on steroids. Bright, vibrant yellows, oranges, reds, pinks, purples, greens, and blues covered the tree. It looked like a mosaic. Towers emerged from the tree, like a wizard's tower. A large circular structure sat in the middle of the tree with balconies and walkways connecting the different rooms. Small people could be made out from the distance they were at, but not well. At the base of the tree there sat a large almost cottage like structure. Stained glass covered the building.

   "What is this place?" Asked Liam in amazement.

   "This is the world between worlds. A place in which only those who are gifted can enter. The perfect place for a student. However, there is no time to waste. I know this might be sudden, but this is how I was introduced to this land so it will be how you are introduced. The school has already been informed of your arrival, so you just need to head there and you should be all caught up. Goodbye, Liam," Ms. Becket looked as though she was keeping a tear from her eye.

   "Wait, what?"

   Just as Liam said this his mother seemed to vanish in a pile of rose petals. Now, it was just Liam and the land between worlds.