Through The Elvish Door

Chapter 1

7:02 PM seems like a good time to die, I thought while falling face first into my bed. I looked back up at my clock, 7:03 PM seems bittersweet. I groan as I try to shake off the mind numbing day I had just experienced.

When I look over the events of my day, the memories seem to blend into each other like a mixture of salt and sugar. The tune of keyboard keys and copying machines kept replaying in my head. Most of my days ended like this because between the routinely hours of 9 AM- 5 PM, I was stuck in a cubicle, typing my life away. Then, I'm stuck in rush hour traffic for two more hours with air heads that do not know how to drive. However, that information is not new.

I used all of the energy I had to sit up on my bed. I looked around my closet-like room. It  consisted of a full bed in the corner, a nightstand that was cluttered with dirty dishes and ginormous books that I had bought to read on a rainy day. They mostly discussed theories I don't know where to begin to understand. Besides the books that cluttered my room, there were also clothes that were scattered on the floor. Due to my lack f motivation for laundry, most of the clothes were dirty.

I looked back at the clock, which took place on my floor, 7:10 PM, a time that seemed perfect to start getting ready for the crazy night I was about to experience.

Apparently, office women have a reputation for leaving the office to go home to her ten cats, and boring TV dinner. I heard this broad stereotype the other day from my friend, Stephen, who also works at the office. A man with beautiful dark skin, and a nasty habit of spreading the office gossip. He worked at the cubicle next to mine to be exact. He kept droning on about how he would never date women from the office. He went on to name ridiculous stereotypes I've never heard of.

However, I disagree with Stephen. During the day, I smile, talk about the weather, and if I'm feeling ambitious, I ask about the kids. I talk to these boring people about their boring lives in the break room with a cup of coffee in hand, a routine I engage in everyday to "fit" in. Once I get home to my safe haven, I'm not the "boring" office woman I claim to be.

I strip off my black slacks and blazer to be replaced by a tight, black dress that goes up to my mid-thigh with long, lacy sleeves. My two inch work heels get replaced by five inch stilettos. I let my raven black hair out of the tight bun I wore everyday. My hair fell in loose waves that reached my lower back. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to forget my day. I smiled, knowing that tonight I can forget about my alter ego, Office Victoria.

Office Victoria wouldn't go clubbing all night. She wouldn't dare go from stranger to stranger. She wouldn't look me in the eye if she saw me on the street. People assumed we are the same person, assume that our personalities collide, even assumed that we acknowledge each other. However, she wouldn't even acknowledge that I exist if I was a hundred foot tall building.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a pounding at the door. I sighed as I walked to the door with my heels clicking on the cheap wooden floor. The pounding started again. I yelled, " I'm coming! Calm down!".

I open the door to find my best friend, Gizelle. She is a short, petite individual with curly, red hair that is put into a high ponytail. She has crystal blue eyes that can captivate someone into a trance. Freckles dance along her face and shoulders. She is wearing a white dress that stops at mid-thigh. The dress makes her resemble a Greek goddess where it has spaghetti straps, rhinestones on top of the dress and at the bottom it consists of light material that flows. The silver, six inch heels let her come to my height.

I snapped out of my thoughts when she said my name. I looked at her questionably and in confusion.

"We've been planning tonight for weeks. You can't just forget about it in a blink of an eye." she said.

  "Right, that's why I got ready to celebrate." I exclaimed.

She was already frantically going around my apartment, picking up dirty clothes, putting them in an empty hamper I don't use, and straightening up what was left of my so called apartment. The safe haven I called home.

I sighed and rolled my eyes at her behavior. This isn't anything new, she's been like this ever since I've met her. She prefers order and taking precautions. She wasn't interested in chaos or being spontaneous. That quality of her is why we connected so much because fire loves ice. It makes sense because it is better not going into something blindly. With her, everything is safe, is in order. It makes me breathe a little easier compared to the people I used to be with because she's also my safe haven, a place I can call home.                                             

"Are you ready to go?" she asked while heading to the door, and checking her phone.

  "If I wasn't, you'd know." I said while rolling my eyes as she pulled me out of my cozy apartment.

  "Hold on, I have to get something." I said as she groaned.

  "Hurry up." I could hear the tapping of her hells to indicate her decreasing impatience.
 
I walked into my bedroom to grab my purse that contains my phone, wallet, I.D., etc.. As I was leaving, I had a feeling that sent chills throughout my entire body.

I looked at the clock, 7:30 PM. Time seems to slow down when I was in this place. I started walking back to the door, when I saw something move over my shoulder. I looked back, hoping and praying that my intuition was wrong.

The clock had completely transformed like it had been possessed by magic. Everything had changed about the clock. The numbers were glowing, bright red, almost blinding to the human eye.

I shielded my eyes from the glowing numbers to get closer to what was happening in front of me. The tiny, normal clock transformed into a living creature. The numbers that seems so clear before, had turned into teeth that was twisted into a smile. On top of the clock, there were two eyeballs that looked straight into my soul. I felt violated from the creature in front of me. It was wrapped in vines with thorns that could cut human flesh like paper to scissors. The air around the clock was glowing, and was mixed with a glitter substance that seemed enchanting.

Then, in a blink of an eye, time had started up again. The clock had returned back to normal with the red numbers and black body. The clock had showed the time, 7:30 PM, which seemed impossible.

I tried to start breathing again, but it  had came out in short breaths instead. I put a hand in my chest to try to calm my breathing.

  "Victoria can you take any longer?", Gizelle yelled from the door. I heard her footsteps starting towards me as my breathing was slowing down.

She pulled me out of the apartment as she ranted about how I take forever. However, I didn't hear a word she was saying. My mind kept drifting to the clock, while I tried to piece together what could have caused that type of reaction.

Gizelle pushed me into the taxi that was taking us to some sleazy club where clothes were an option. I stared out the window as the city flew by me in a haze.

Maybe tonight will make me forget what happened. Maybe the club will distract me from worrying too much. Maybe tonight will make me ignorant of what I experienced. I will do everything in my power to forget it ever happened.

Gizelle pulled me out of my thoughts by nudging me to club in front of of us. She threw money to the driver as she got out and slammed the door.

She ran to my side of the car to open my door and to pull me out of the car. She covered my eyes to make sure it was a surprise . I smiled as she guided me to the destination. I heard the music getting louder and I felt the vibrations increasing around me. She uncovered my eyes to reveal where we were.

"Happy 21st Birthday, Victoria." She whispered into my ear as I gasped when I read the name.

The Fairy Palace.