Screw It, Let's Be Magic

Chapter nine

It's hard to describe what it felt like to walk between worlds. You felt light, but heavy at the same time, like you were trying to swim through honey. Nothing felt like it mattered, and it seemed perfectly reasonable just to stop, and sit there forever in the peace and quiet. But there was this nagging voice in the back of your head, saying that you couldn't stop, or bad things would happen. So we pressed forward, and pushed our way through the door. Your hands went through first. Then your arms, then your head, and the rest of you followed. And boy were we dizzy by the end of it.

"So which... Which way is up?" Called Sam, giggling after falling headfirst into a ditch. Adrian stumbled over and pulled her out. "Where are we?" Asked fennec, eyes wide. I couldn't help but wonder the same thing. The trees were forty feet high, with enormous trunks, and wrap-around branches. A leaf could be anywhere from as big as my head to as big as Adrian's entire self. Bright flowers and plants surrounded us, as well as shadows that stretched miles long.

The strangest thing of all, however, was the silence.

No birds chattered, no wind blew, and no animals called. All we could hear was our own breathing, and our own hearts. Kaliah looked around sullenly, and pointed to a break in the foliage.
"There's a path there that leads to the villages. That's where we'll find what we need." She started down the path, and I ran to catch up with her. She continued at the same speed, black eyes surveying the area.

"Kaliah, what is it that we need?" I asked, looking back to the group behind us. They followed along bunched together, never daring to move from the center of the path.
"We need the trapped ones," she said, keeping her eyes straight ahead.
"What are you talking about? What do you mean 'trapped ones?'" She stopped abruptly, and I ran into her. She turned, eyes welling up with tears.

"The people that they left behind when they sealed the door. They left kids our age Jess, left them behind. They were supposed to keep the monsters at bay, but they had no parents, no protection. They were just... Alone." She blinked, and turned back to the path. We walked in silence for a long while.
And then Kaliah spotted the first building.

She ran forward with uncanny speed, throwing open the curtain door on the little shack. It was old, built from branches and stone. Fennec beat me to the door, and peered inside.

"Whoa," he said, hanging on the door frame. I stepped into the little home, and glanced around me. Two little beds were made up on the floor, a printed blanket setting atop each of them. There was a dresser filled with faded clothes and other personal items, and a wooden table sat low to the ground. Kaliah brushed past me, and picked up a small wooden bowl. Inside there was a shimmering powder. She sprinkled some on head, and motioned for me to do the same.

"This powder was used to keep the evil creatures at bay. It didn't work wonderfully with the large ones, but the little ones wouldn't bother you if you used it." I picked some up, and let if fall through my fingers into the bowl. It was a fine powder, soft and white. The kind that would remind you of the old fairy dust toys. I threw some at my face. It was a bad idea.
"Achoo!" I sprayed glitter everywhere.

"No, not like that!" Kaliah half giggled. She grabbed a handful of dust, and sprinkled half of it on my head, and the other half on Fennec's. He sneezed most of it off within a few seconds.
"Hahaha! Oh my gosh Fennec!" Adrian walked in, and poked Fennec's face.
"Your so sparkly that even a fairy wouldn't want you!" Fennec grabbed a handful, and proofed it onto Adrian's face.

"Look who's talking." Fennec said, smirking.
"Hey, I want some glitter too!" Cried Ocean, and grabbed a handful. He dumped it on his head, and then shook it off on everyone.
"Geez Louise Ocean! Quit it already! I know siblings aren't supposed to fight, but I will punch you!"