The Day The World Ended

Chapter 2

June 11th

4:27 a.m.

I awake to a faint scratching noise. I pinch the bridge of my nose with two of my fingers and squeeze my eyes tighter shut. The scratching grows louder and closer, until the sound is surrounding me.

It is then that I open my eyes to black and silence. I sit up and when they adjust I can see nothing out of place, and nothing that I can see has made the noise. I glance around the dark room, and when I'm satisfied that there is no one other than myself present, I lay back down and close my eyes.

Sccrtch sccrtch.

The barely audible noise resumes. Once again I open my eyes to nothing. I pull the blanket over my head, desperate for sleep.

SCCRTCH SCCRTCH

I scramble out of my bed, throwing my blankets on the floor in the process. I whip my head around, looking to every corner of the room. I can't find the source of the noise.

I walk over to my door, and peek my head out. My parents still have their door closed, and I can hear my brother snoring across the hall. I pull my head back in and close the door.

I turn around and walk over to my bed, lay down and close my eyes.

"Oh, get up already." A soft voice whispers in my ear.

For the second time, I fly out from underneath the covers and land on the floor with a thud.

"Well, that must've hurt." The soft voice is a tiny bit louder, so I look up to where it comes from.

Sitting gracefully next to my pillow is a little female, about the size of my hand. She has a brown pixie cut, and is wearing blue jeans and a blue plaid shirt. She is grinning playfully, and her hands are clasped together.

I sit there with my mouth wide.

"Better close your lips before you catch some flies." The woman giggles.

"Who-wha-who are you?" I shake my head in disbelief.

"The name's Lena." She jumps down next to me. "Sorry for waking you, I just wanted to talk."

I can't believe my eyes. This is a dream. Definitely a dream.

"Not a dream." Lena punches my knee, but it only feels like a tap.

"What are you? Why are you here?"

She sticks her hands in her jean pockets and rocks back and forth on her heels. "Same questions, different person. I'm a Munchkin, and I'm here to talk to you about some things."

"Don't you think it's a bit early?" I stand.

"Nope. It's the perfect time, when no one is around. Besides, I enjoy the mysteries of the night. So. Before I begin, have you ever heard of Hunray mythology?"