Imagination's last hope: The quest to save the unseen world

Chapter 4

"Hello! Earth to Rachel. Rachel, are you there?" Dad waved his hand in front of Rachel's face. She almost fell off of her chair from the fright he gave her.

"Sorry, Dad." Rachel apologised.

She looked at her plate. She hadn't eaten her food, even though it was her favourite, a chicken pie. Rachel couldn't focus on anything. What Finnigan told her was a lot to take in. She had a lot to think about.

"What's going on with you tonight?" Caleb asked.

"School was hectic today." Rachel lied. She couldn't tell them about Finnigan.

She remembered when she was little that, her mother once took her to a psychologist because she had an imaginary friend. The lady said that it was just a phase that all kids went through and that she would outgrow it when she got older. And now, Finnigan is telling her that none of that was true and that he has been real all this time.

"I'm not so hungry tonight. Do you mind if I go to my room? I still have some homework to finish." Rachel asked.

Before her parents could answer, she already left the table.

Rachel tried to fall asleep, but she couldn't. She kept on tossing and turning. Her mind was working overtime to figure out what to do. None of this felt like reality. She had never even heard of something like this happening. A million thoughts were going through Rachel's mind. How can any of this be real? How is this even possible? Rachel wanted to believe in science, in the facts. Scientifically, there is no way that any of this is even possible. But Rachel believed in magic. She believed in fairytales, mermaids, and imaginary friends.

Her gut was telling her that there was no way this was possible, but her heart was telling her she needed to help Finnigan.

Finnigan has been her best friend since she was little. He has always been there for her and never left her side. Even in class when she was supposed to do her work. Her teacher once sent her to the principal because she couldn't stop giggling. Rachel tried to explain that Finnigan told a funny joke, but the class looked at her like she had lost her mind. As she got older, she realised why everyone looked at her like that. Even though Rachel knew he was just an imaginary friend, it felt real. And now, she discovers it might not have been her imagination.

Rachel smiled as she remembered the wonderful times she and Finnigan had spent together.

She couldn't just let him down. What if what he told her is real, and she doesn't help him? The world will get destroyed. I need to help him. What's the worst thing that can happen? She thought. She would find out soon enough if this were just her imagination playing tricks on her.

Rachel pulled the duvet cover over her and turned on her side. She was going to take the chance and help Finnigan save the world. It was the least that she could do for him.