Forever after

Chapter One • Arrival

I opened my eyes, a sharp jolt of pain radiating through my skull as if a thousand tiny needles were dancing in my brain. The rhythmic thumping of my heart echoed in my ears, accompanied by a relentless ringing that seemed to drown out the world around me.

As I squinted against the blinding sunlight filtering through my lashes, I was greeted by a breathtaking panorama of vibrant yellows, fiery oranges, and deep blues, all interspersed with fluffy white clouds that floated lazily across the sky.

With a groan, I lifted my head, surprised to find myself not on the familiar, clingy blue carpet of the library, but instead resting on a bed of warm, grainy sand that shifted beneath me.

Gradually, the ringing in my ears subsided, replaced by the soothing sound of waves gently caressing the shore and the distant cries of seagulls soaring overhead.

My strawberry blonde hair cascaded down my shoulders in wild, wavy tangles, dancing in the gentle breeze that wrapped around me like a soft embrace.

Where am I? Panic surged through me as my fingers dug into the sand, grounding me as I surveyed the endless stretch of beach that lay before me. Confusion clouded my mind. How did I end up here?

With a determined effort, I pushed myself into a sitting position, wincing as I rubbed my throbbing head. Slowly, fragments of memory began to resurface, like pieces of a puzzle waiting to be assembled.

...

The weight of the art history notes pressed down on me like a heavy fog, and a deep groan escaped my lips. Boredom wrapped around me, suffocating and relentless. With a swift motion, I slammed my laptop shut and shoved it into my bag, eager to escape the monotony.

My eyes flicked to my phone, a spark of curiosity igniting within me. Just a quick glance wouldn't hurt, I thought, as I snatched it up and tapped on a notification. Instantly, Julia's post popped up, a little gem she had forgotten to hide from me in her close friends' list.

I sank back into my chair, feeling the weight of her words. "Plain AJ is studying in the library! No one tell her about tonight's party LMAO!!" The sting of her mockery was exactly what I had anticipated. There I was, captured in a snapshot, hunched over my laptop, and I couldn't help but question why I even bothered to try.

With a determined huff, I gathered my belongings, stuffing them into my bag with a sense of urgency. I stood up, pushing my chair in with a resolute shove. I was going to that party, and while I knew I might regret it later, I was equally determined to show everyone that I was far from plain.

As I turned to leave, a soft thud echoed through the library, pulling my attention back. I hesitated, curiosity piquing my interest, and followed the sound. A shadowy figure in a cloak slipped behind a shelf, vanishing like a whisper in the wind.

"What the..." I murmured, quickening my pace to catch up. Rounding the corner, I found myself staring at an empty aisle, save for a solitary book lying in the center.

I approached it cautiously, bending down to pick it up. "Forever After, a tale of a land as far as it is near?" I read aloud, intrigued by the title. Flipping it open, I was greeted by the words, 'Our story starts with Belle, the daughter of a French inventor named Maurice.' My eyes skimmed through the pages, captivated by the illustrations and the promise of adventure.

But then, as I reached the middle of the book, the pages turned blank, an unsettling emptiness that left me breathless. On the last illustrated page, I found a stunning drawing of a vast beach, painted in hues of a watercolor sunset. Yet, something felt incomplete, as if something was missing from the scene.

I ran my fingers across the page, and suddenly, I felt my entire body be pulled forward. And everything went black.

...