The Other Side of the Gate

The First Encounter

                There are points in your life when you can tell that everything is changing. Maybe it's going through that big move, or going to a new school. For me, it was both, plus something a little unexpected. It all started when I fell asleep during my first night in Fairfax. I had moved into a small apartment in the heart of the city near a month before my freshmen semester at George Mason begun as my parents wanted me to "Get a feel for the city", something I could do during school, but any chance to get away from my parents was a chance I was taking without hesitation. The town was nice enough, but there's nothing too fantastic or notable. Not like I had time to look and explore anyways - by the time I finished getting unpacked and set up, I was dead tired. 

        When I finally laid down to get some shut eye, that's when things got strange. 

       In my dreams, I seemed to be in a void of wavering pastel colors, which wasn't too out of place for me, a lot of my dreams were spent in voids.  What caught me off guard was when I heard a voice.

       "Great Summoner Scarlet, can you hear us!?"

        "I think the question is if she can see us."

       Make that 2 voices.

       I could hear them, sure, but as I turned and glanced around, there was only void. 

      "I can hear you, but I certainly can't see you!" I called out, and that's when the earth began to shake under me, knocking me off my feet. When I sat up, there were now two figures non-human figures standing before me. In my dizzy haze, I saw what seemed to be an angel - no, seraph - and a demon of some sort. The seraph looked at me with icy blue eyes full of concern, while the demon's red glare seemed to pierce right through my soul.

      "I'm sorry, Great Summoner, did we startle you?" said the seraph, outstretching her hand. "Here, let me help you up." 

      Taking her hand, I came to realization that she was far stronger than she looked as I was yanked up at a speed much faster than anything I was expecting. I managed to mutter out a "Thank You," as I took a moment to recover from my sudden whiplash.

     Then the demon began to speak "Maria, I think you scared her, not like I'm complaining. She's pretty funny to watch. Wonder what happens if I just-" 

     "KAIT! Cut it out! That's not funny and it's no way to get a contract!" The angel, presumably named Maria, said. 

       "Fair enough, but you gotta let me have my fun." The demon, Kait, replied, "And don't worry, what summoner wouldn't want to make a contract with us?"

           Contract? What were they talking about?

          "Um, excuse me, but what is this about contracts? " I asked, interrupting their conversation.

           "Oh! Do...you not know?" Maria said, her eyes widening in surprise. "Well, you see-"

           "Save the lesson for later, you, Scarlet, we're offering to be your Heroes, which is an honor if you ask me. Do you want an arch-demon and a seraph as your bodyguards or not?" Kait said, her booming voice over powering Maria's much softer one.

        "I guess, but how do you know my name-" I said, before Kait interrupted me. She certainly didn't have any manners, that's for sure.

         "Excellent, pleasure to be working with you, don't be a stranger BUH-BYEEEE!" she said so quickly I found myself barely keeping up. With that, Maria and Kait left as soon as they arrived. 

         Dozens of hundreds of silhouettes then surrounded me, of every shape and size. They all were calling my name.

        "Scarlet, Scarlet! Can you hear us, Scarlet?"