Estasia (Short Story)

Chapter One

Hey, can you lock up?" Jane asks me, walking out of the bathroom and slipping a jean jacket over her red dress. "It's date night for Henry and I."

I chuckle and pull a rag from the warm water in the bucket, I drag it over the booth table "sure, have fun."

She flashes me a bright smile, thanks me then leaves the diner. She hops into her old truck and drives away. I finish wiping down the tables then pull my black jacket over my work dress and flip off the lights. I quickly lock the doors then draw in a deep breath, the cool night air filling my lungs. My eyes scan the empty parking lot and the wood behind the diner. Which way do I wanna go. . . The long way around the wood, all alone on that road till I reach my neighborhood or the short cut through the creepy wood? Either way I'm alone and it's creepy so might as well get it over with quickly - I turn into the wood. The full moon filters through the lead canopy and illuminates the wide dirt path I'm following. The trees are quiet except for the chirping bugs and the occasional flutter of a startled bird.

My mind floods with memories.

A couple on a midnight stroll found me, a little 5 year old girl in a soaking wet dress wandering the woods. Concerned, they'd asked why I was out there so late and where my parents were. I told them I didn't. I still don't. I remember waking up on the dirty ground and nothing before that. After hours of police questioning and pictures being snapped by reporters I was sent into foster care. My life was full of switching homes, families and therapists. I only escaped the life of suffocating questions when I turned 18. Best day of my life.

Suddenly, my foot catches a tree root, pulling me from my trip down memory lane and sending me side ways tumbling down the slope. Rocks and twigs tore at my exposed skin. After what seemed like forever of my body rolling over and over I finally come to a rest as the land flattened out.

Well, that was just . . . grand. I'm gonna hurt in the morning.

I sit up slowly and my body aches in protest.

Or it's gonna hurt right now. Yeah Talia, lets walk home in the dark woods then be your usual clumsy self and almost kill yourself. Great plan.

I pull myself up using a nearby tree and swipe my hands over my dress, brushing the dirt and leafs off the blue material. A glimmer of light sparks in the corner of my eye and I find myself turning to face a small pond that mirrored the full moon.

Wow. That's pretty. How have I never seen this before?

I step towards the pond and look into the clear water, expecting to see myself staring back. . . I stumble back when I see a man with startling blue eyes where my reflection should be. I glance behind me and my pounding heart somewhat calms when I see no one is there. Curious, I step back to the pond. I lean in close and - nothing. The only reflection in the pool is mine.

Well that's weird. I could've sworn there was someone else. Maybe I'm losing my mind. Or I just need sleep. Lets hope it's the second one. I don't think a straight jacket and four padded walls would work for me.

I spin to return to the path to finish my journey home but my converse slip on the soft dirt and, for the second time tonight, I fall. Cold surrounds me and a bright white light explodes in front of my eyes. My back hits something hard just as nausea washes over me. I roll over onto my knees and my stomach begins to empty itself. When I'm finished a voice startles me to my feet.

"Excuse me, are you okay?"

I look to the voice and see the guy from the pond reflection. Whoever he was he was definitely not from Oregon. He was wearing some kind of uniform made of metal and brown leather.

"W-who are you?" I ask, my heart racing.

"William Parin of Estasia's Guard" he says, his voice and stance practically screaming authority. "Who are you?"