Upside Down

Chapter One - It's just the beginning

CHAPTER ONE 

— It’s just the beginning —

We wake up, we eat, we work, and then we sleep. And just in a short amount of time, another day begins. It’s always the same routine, isn’t it? 

Life. 

You’d hope something more interesting would happen the next day, but nothing ever does. it’s just the same every-day-boring; barely anything to ever look forward to. But, what if I told you something unexpected was going to happen tonight, when the clock strikes 12? 

Something unimaginable? 

Something that would turn your life upside down?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few blocks away from the London Eye was a mansion. There were big metal gates surrounding it. It had a huge garden filled with flowers of all colours, and right in the center was a beautiful fountain with bizarre carvings, which seemed to be telling a story. Nobody knew how it got there; it just appeared like magic. Right in the middle of the garden. 

The owner, of course, did not care. They thought that maybe it was just a gift from an anonymous person.

Their daughter, however found it very interesting. Ever since she was small she would stay by the fountain and read some of her favourite books, or sometimes she would just stare at the carvings for hours and would never get bored. 

The mansion was more beautiful than you would ever imagine; you’d expect strangers to walk by, glancing at it and admiring its beauty. But the they never notice it. 

It was like the mansion was invisible; you could only see it through the corner of your eye, like it had been bewitched to be hidden from the others. Oh, how the homeowners had trouble telling the delivery man their address, how no one ever could find it, and they always had to go out and point out the directions leaving them with sudden realization and astonishment was it there all along? They thought. How could they have not noticed?

The mansion belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Carter, along with their fifteen year old daughter, Astoria. Astoria was a bright and outgoing girl; her wavy dark brown hair and aqua blue eyes were her most appealing features. You’d probably believe Astoria was the queen bee at school who got everything she wanted, but she’s the exact opposite. 

She’s considered more of a ‘nerd’. No, not a stereotypical one who knows everything about anything, wears glasses, ties her hair up, and raises their hand in every single subject. She just has her head buried in books. If you want her to stop reading, I suggest you give up, because no one has the power to do that. 

Ever since Astoria was a little girl, she dreamed of going on an adventure, whether it was saving the world, discovering new things or finding buried treasure. Although sometimes she doubts that it’ll ever happen, she doesn’t lose hope.

Astoria is also what most people nowadays call, a fangirl. She obsesses over Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Supernatural and Sherlock. She could spend all day watching them and reading fanfiction. Never even once doubting their existence. Demons, dragons, mermaids, ghosts, angels, aliens, they’re all real, according to Astoria. No matter how many times people tell her that they’re just silly fairytales, and she should grow up and accept reality; Astoria didn’t let the criticism get to her. She knows deep in her heart, that someday she will prove them wrong. 

“Astoria!” Mrs. Carter called out from the living room. 

“Yes, mum?” Astoria replied, impatiently. It was one of her “Mum, I’m busy, leave me alone” tones.