HYBRID (Now a draft)

Six

 Max stood very still. This was not possible. Or was it? 

He looked around. The lush carpeted floor reminded him of some of Aunt Pearl's mansions. The hallway was brightly lit. The infinity stretch of doors all looked the same. White doors with golden doorknobs.

He touched the wall. Solid. A door. His hand did not poke through.

He sucked in a long breath to calm himself down. What had Aunt Pearl done? The vial clearly held something supernatural. He'd never read anything like it. It felt powerful, magical. Did magic exist on Earth? He felt childish just thinking about it.

But now was not the time to think about magic. He had to find Aunt Pearl and get her out of this mess he'd gotten her into. Why did he pick up that rock? Who was that man ? How did Aunt Pearl turn their cottage into this luxurious hotel hallway ? How was he going to find the exit? Was there even an exit? Where is Aunt Pearl? What is Aunt Pearl? Then he remembered Aunt Pearl's last words to him: Find Peace. What did that even mean?

He stopped pacing. Sat down. And thought.

Peace. It had to do with something he was familiar with. He furrowed hid long eyebrows. Peace. Then he remembered. A horse. A beautiful black stallion that he'd had when he was younger, before they moved to the city to get over him , and before now. Peace had gone missing when he was nine. Aunt pearl had told him before that even though Peace was gone, he would be on cloud nine if he were in heaven.

He observed the closest door to him. There was a tiny number carved just above the door knob. One hundred and one. He looked to his right. One hundred. He took a step forward and bent down. The numbers went up this way. He doubled back and ran down the hallway as fast as he could. The carpet floor muffled the pounding of his footsteps.

He skidded to a stop before door nine. He reached for the door hesitantly. He turned the knob, and pushed.

The room was dark. Then it lit automatically.  It was a smallish room , complete with a dressing table, a bed, and a door on the other side.

His hat and backpack were somehow on the table. He moved over to put both things on. There was also a small note and another vial. He stuffed the vial in his backpack. The note was clearly in Aunt Pearl's neat hand-writing:

Dearest Max,

If you are reading this then they have found us. 

Time is running out. You must flee this place. This place is an illusion, and it will not last for long. Go find help, save yourself. Do not worry about me. The vial is for emergencies only. Do not use it until the last resort. 

                                                                                                                                           Love, Aunt Pearl

  He stuffed the note in his backpack when he was done reading. He could feel his heart thumping. But he told himself to stay calm. He had to find a way to save Aunt Pearl. This was his fault. That horrible man had probably kidnapped her or something worse. He was going to find help.

He straightened his hat ,took a deep breath and opened the other door.

He barely had time to acknowledge the pouring rain before he was suddenly pinned to the ground by a lithe figure, dagger pressed against his neck.