I wake up, dizzy and confused. I don't remember anything that happened after falling here. I push myself up, looking around.
I'm in a completely different world.
Buildings taller than I've ever even dreamed of stand around me. The edge of the sun peaks over the building on my right. Ahead of me, shiny new cars go by. The same goes on behind me.
People walk by, not noticing me. As if I wasn't there.
But of course, only Alex will know where I am.
Alex, who hasn't shown up yet.
I crawl over and sit against the building on my right, so the sun doesn't shine in my eyes. I'm also too tired and stunned to stand up and walk anywhere, so this will have to do.
I listen to the sounds of the cars passing by. There were a lot, a lot more than at home.
But this is home now, I remind myself.
I listen to the music that plays through the speakers above my head. It's music I have never heard before; I don't even recognize the type of music. Really fast, and has a lot of electrical sounds. I decide that I don't like it, and stick to the soft music I've always loved.
I watch the sky as birds fly by. I wonder what it would be like to be able to fly. What it would be like to be free from everything.
I spot a large bird flying quite low to the ground. It flies a little shakily, craning its neck from side to side, as if looking for something. It seems to look towards me and I smile at him.
Or her.
Suddenly, it swoops down towards me. I throw myself to the side, out of its way, hoping that it misses me. But at the last minute, it suddenly slows down next to me and stares. I stare back.
After a minute, it flies away, leaving something behind. It looks like a single piece of paper, rolled up, and tied with twine.
I pick it up, not knowing what to expect.
I open it and read.
Kris,
I am so sorry that this has happened. Me and Nora don't even know what happened. All we know is that you did not drink the rest of the potion, and that could end in a horrible way.
I am aware that you have made it to Earth safely. I just hope the potion worked one hundred percent, did everything it needed to do.
Although knowing the System, something probably went wrong, since it's filled with little glitches.
Keep a low profile until we know for sure what's going to happen.
Write back to me through the Witch's Portal. My number is 139-2796.
Lots of love and luck,
Mar.
"Sorry I'm late". I look up, startled. A man, probably about twenty, bends down in front of me. He nods at the note. "We won't know for sure until later."
He speaks in a sweet, song-like fashion. Lilting.
"Who are you?" I ask him.
"Alex. Don't tell me you've lost your memory."
I shake my head no, looking into his blue eyes. Into his ocean blue eyes, which were gorgeous, unlike my brown ones.
"Come on", he says, holding his hand out to me. I take it gratefully, knowing I probably wouldn't have been able to get up on my own. I shove Mar's note into my pocket.
"Your name is Kris, right?" I nod. He smiles to himself. "Well, Kris... welcome."
"So, you're my welcoming committee."
He smiles. "I guess you could say that. Let's show you around."
We walk around the streets of New York City. He shows me the cute little shops, walks me around the parks, and even takes me to a museum. Later in the day, he takes me to an outdoor cafe, where it is soothingly quiet, where only the birds singing could be heard.
