A world where time is eternal and all are immortal. A majestic city full of possibilities. The only catch, once you arrive, you can't leave. That is the Dreamworld.
After falling into the Dreamworld, all Ashlyn wants to do is return home to her f...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
It was about a fifteen-minute walk before Ashlyn even gained sight of the city. She glanced up in awe at the magnificence before her. Every building sparkled rising high in the sky from their reflective enclosure. Water surrounded the glass-like gates with a wooden bridge leading to the entrance to the city, the buildings and wall reflecting in the ripples.
"Welcome to the mirrored city." Kailee paused outside the gates turning to face Ashlyn with a giant grin.
Ashlyn studied her reflection in the gates frowning at how sorry of a sight she looked. Her chocolate brown hair was a half dry, frizzy mess. She looked like a raccoon, her hazel colored eyes shimmering in frustration. She still wore the clothing she had arrived in, a simple t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Her socks were no longer white from the long trek. She wished she'd been wearing shoes when she arrived.
"Are you done checking yourself out?"
Ashlyn glared at Granger. He was the reason she looked like this. If only that idiot hadn't dropped a bucket of water on her head.
"Stop moping, there have been worse looking people that have graced us. At least you weren't a bloody mess."
"People arrive covered in blood?" Ashlyn's eyes widened in shock.
"They arrive in whatever state their body was in when they lost consciousness," Kailee replied. Her palm rested against the gates of the city.
Ashlyn watched as a red light gradually moved behind Kailee's palm, the glass gate humming to the movement of the light before a robotic voice spoke. "Kailee Wynston, Welcomer, permission granted to enter."
Kailee nodded, taking a step back to let Granger have his turn. Granger stepped forward to place his hand on the wall. "Granger Thomas, Welcomer in Training, Probationary status," the robot paused contemplating if it should allow entrance.
"Stop playing with me, you stupid machine!" Granger snapped. He banged his other fist against the glass in anger.
"Permission granted to enter," the robot replied.
Granger nodded and turned to look at Ashlyn. He about yanked her arm out of socket as he forced her to put her hand on the gate.
"Don't be so rough!" she cried.
"Come on, we don't have all day," he said.
The mirrored gate felt cool against her hand. There was a tickling sensation as the strange technology scanned her hand. The gate took longer to respond compared to the other two. Ashlyn worried it would not let her in, her palms becoming moist from her nervousness as it remained pressed against the glass.
"Hmm, that's odd," Kailee muttered. Granger responded with a small bob of his head, his arms crossed as he impatiently tapped his foot.
"Why isn't it saying anything?" Ashlyn glanced back at her two escorts, her voice rising in a mild panic.
