In Between Two Worlds

A Small Hope

Iris couldn't tell where she was, all she knew was it dark, so very dark. But not dark in the sense that she couldn't see, oh no, Iris could perfectly see her arm, even if it was reached out as far as she could stretch. Everything else was dark, there were no walls, as she had tried so many times to touch them to guide her, if she was even in a room that is. Iris walked ahead, not knowing what else to do.

At first the only thing she could hear was the sound of her foot steps, but soon she started hearing whispers all around her. Iris looked around for the source of the whispers, but she couldn't find them. Soon the whispers became soft voices talking;

"Don't give up, your almost there..."

"Be brave soul-bound, keep going..."

"We believe in you.."

"Don't stop..."

Iris couldn't understand what they where talking about, but kept walking like they said. Soon she started seeing a light up ahead, so she walked to it, not ran, there was no need to. Iris reached the light source to see that it was a bunch of light blue strands. When she got near them, Iris both felt calm and intimated by how they looked, which confused her, since it was only string... Right?

Just as she was about to touch a blue string, she felt herself being shaken. Opening her eyes to the bright light of her biology class, she glanced at the person that awakened her. Looking right into the golden honey colored eyes of the dark skinned male, she asks, "Yes?" The boy gave her a patient smile, "The bell rang for lunch, and I figured I would wake you." He explained, making her sit straight up out of shock, "What!? Thank you for waking me!" She exclaimed, standing up quickly, nearly falling over. He nods and smiles, turning to go.

"Wait!" Iris said, watching the male turn, looking into his beautiful eyes, "What's your name?" She asked softly in a curious tone. "It's Phoenix." He said softly, "Well Phoenix, your eyes are beautiful." Iris said softly, captured by them. It wasn't the color that entranced her, it was the warmness she felt when looking into them, the calm and soothing sensation, it almost made her forget Rosie. Almost.

"Well thank you Soul-Bound, I would love to stay and chat but I have to meet someone, have a nice day." Phoenix said, smiling brighter. His bottom teeth were slightly crooked, making him look very endearing and well, more human than the people around Iris.

It seemed that everyone forgot Rosie, even when she was at school, everyone began to act strangely. It was hard to miss as everyone slowly began to act less and less like themselves, they were beginning to act robotic. Hell, even some of her closest friends made Iris feel like they were robots with humanoid expressions and actions. But it wasn't looks that made Iris think that, it was the fact that their voices lacked emotions, and were very dull, almost as if they were depressed. But how could the whole school become suddenly depressed?

Iris snapped back into reality and finished gathering her stuff. It was too late to grab food, the bell was only seven minutes from ringing. Instead she headed to her next class, looking at the same old boring halls and doors. It was rather strange, the halls seemed duller than usual... She could have sworn they were blue yesterday, not grey...

It was strange, she concluded. But what could she do? It's not like she could go to the police since they probably would laugh in her face, she couldn't go to her parents because they would think she's troubled and get her therapy, and friends were off the lift, since she doesn't even trust them, and what the hell could the teachers even do?

Reaching the plain door, room 903, Iris sighed. Here she is, just before 5th period, debating on what to do, when there isn't anything to worry about. But still, it doesn't make sense to her, it was strange how everyone was acting,  but maybe that's the effect of high school stress. Yeah, that's it, nothing else, just the stress of testing and getting good grades. 

Iris stepped to the side of the door and began to look through her backpack for homework, when the familiar ring of the over head speakers, before the once cheery, now dull voice sounded out in the halls, "Iris Rosemary, please come to the office." Iris raised an eyebrow, before picking up her backpack of the cold stone floor and slinging it over her shoulder to the front office.

What did she do? Why would she need to go to the office? Was she in trouble? What was going on? Iris pondered these questions as she made the daunting journey to the office. She neared the decorated glass door, the smiling pictures of the cartoon students seemed to taunt her. Pulling the clear door open, she stepped into the cold room, nearing the front desk. "Hi, what was I was called up for?" Iris said calmly to the front lady, even though on the inside she was freaking out.

"Oh, yes, there is someone waiting for you." The kind lady said, pointing into a room. Iris nodded and forced a smile, heading over into the room. Once she stepped into the room, her heart dropped, the lady with navy blue uniform and gold pin only meant one thing. "Hello Miss, may I ask you a few questions about your friend Rose?"