Dreamscape

Chapter 1

Warning: this is my first book. Keep that in mind, please...
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It was a beautiful day outside in the city. The sun was blocked by dark gray rain clouds and the hot air was beginning to cool down with the soft breezes. Just the way Susan liked it.

"Mama, lookit!" She yelled.

Her mother put down her book and joined her by the window. "What is it?"

"It's so pretty outside!"

"But it's about to rain."

"I love the rain. The sound makes me wanna go to sleep," Susan said. "I like the cold wind, too"

"Well, if you love it so much, then why don't we take a little walk outside?" Her mother suggested.

Susan beamed with delight and ran to her room to quickly change. She chose a soft blue sundress and her orange fish rain boots. When she was finally finished, her mother was already waiting for with their rain coats and umbrellas in one hand and the house key in the other.

"Ready?" Susan nodded and began to jump with excitement. "Then let's go!"
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They were both relieved to finally be out of their apartment; the fresh air seemed to cleanse their lungs. While many people wanted to quickly get home to avoid the rain, Susan and her mother walked past the stores slowly to wait for the rain, ignoring the loud honking of the traffic jam near them.

The cold breeze came in strongly as they strolled along the nearly empty sidewalk of the city. The majority of the people who would normally crowd the walk ways were running in hopes of beating the rain, therefore emptying the sidewalk quickly. Susan smiled and waved to each of the people that ran by in hopes of catching their attention. A young woman dressed in a strict work attire had stopped to catch her breath when she noticed Susan smiling at her. The woman weakly lifted her arm, waved back, then continued to jog.

"Susan, dear, why don't we look for your birthday dress now that we're out here?" Her mother asked. Susan nodded eagerly in agreement.

She and her mother had been looking at a beautiful, white lace dress when Susan suddenly felt a prick in the back of her mind. She looked around, wondering what had caused it, while her mother chatted on about how adorable her "little Suzie" would look in the dress.

"Mama, I have to go," Susan mumbled and let go of her mother's hand.

"Hm? What is it dear?" Her mother asked.

Susan sprinted through the traffic jam, ignoring her mother's frantic screams. She ran through the public park and past another street clogged with more traffic.

It's somewhere near here, she thought breathlessly.

The sidewalk was a bit crowded, so she had a lot of trouble reaching the alley.

Here, this is where the prick thingy came from.

In front of her, all the way down the alley, was a shining golden portal that emitted a warm sense of security. Tiny particle lazily floated around it, but began to speed up as she got closer. Susan passed her hand through the golden portal and was abruptly pulled in.

She inhaled sharply, closed her eyes, and braced herself for whatever is waiting for her on the other side. Within a split second, the cool breeze was replaced by a hot dry wind, and the soothing sound of faraway thunder by the sound of chirping birds. Susan opened her eyes and found herself free falling face first towards a little boy who mindlessly picked at the grass in search for weeds.