The Fourth Realm

Chapter 1

Pitter, patter, as it rains. I gaze out the school bus while the girl sitting next to me is texting. She leaves and some other people leave, until it's just me, my best friend Alex, and three other people. Alex and I get off the bus. It's raining more than usual. I put up my hood and wipe my glasses. Alex and I don't say anything, usually he talks a lot. Then I accidentally step into a puddle, except it wasn't a puddle, it was a hole. It didn't look like one, it blended in with the sidewalk. I tried to get out but I couldn't, and I fell into darkness.

I woke up on someone's lawn, and my back and my head hurts from the fall. I know I'm not imagining this, this isn't a dream. Unlike in most books. I grabbed my backpack that came with me.  I looked at the sky and I saw a dark hole forming, and someone fell from it, Alex. "You idiot," I say, he just shrugs. "Hey! What are you two doing on my lawn?" Someone yelled. We turned around and we saw a cottage, and outside its door was a short, old man, about my height. "You see, sir, we fell into a hole and ended up here" I gestured toward his lawn.

"You seem new here, looks like you're from the Second Realm," he said.

"Huh?" Alex and I said in unison.

He sighed, "I guess you need an explanation. For some reason, the Second World people don't know about this. There are the four Universal Realms, this is the First, the Second, you know how it goes. You go to different Realms by invisible Portals that are hard to find. By the way, my name is Finnegan."

I'm so hungry, the last time I ate was at school during lunch time, and I didn't eat much. "You can stay for a meal." he said, as if he read my mind. I set my backpack down somewhere while he made some sandwiches with some unknown meat. I decided not to question it but It was still good

"You should stay at the Inn." said Finnegan as he gave us 10 bronze coins. I snatched my bag from the floor then Alex and I went into town to find the Inn. There were many merchants and stands out with bizarre and strange items out. They had signs that read: 1 Bronze coin for a pound of bellberries, 2 bronze coins for two square feet of neffar wool. We found the Inn and it looked pretty decent. Alex and I entered, it had a little earthy smell with cologne. "Two bronze coins per room." said the innkeeper with a gruff voice. I tossed the coins on the counter and he gave me the key, "Room 147, third floor."

Our room had two beds, a small bathroom, a table with a bowl of fruit, a bookcase, two chairs, and a radio. Alex grabbed an apple, plopped on his bed, and turned on the radio. There weren't any pop or rock songs, only songs with instruments, folk, or country. I glanced at the books and they were all nonfiction books or classical tales. My backpack was still here, in my backpack was my phone. I tried to call my parents, but apparently you can't communicate between Realms. Am I missing back at home? My parents are probably worried sick. If I had just placed my foot differently, none of this would ever happen. The clock chimed and it was midnight. It's late, I need some rest.