Living in Secrets

Introduction

Author's Note: Hello! I actually wrote this like a year and a half ago for a school assignment, but I've decided to edit it.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT INTRODUCTION 

            What is one thing that all humans have in common? A fascination with animals. I bet you have a favorite animal. And I won that bet. You now owe me a puppy. Not really, I'm only joking. Don't bet. Betting is bad. But I still want a puppy. Or a kitten. Or maybe a hamster... I'm getting off topic, aren't I? Okay, sorry. Where was I? Oh yeah. Now, there are a bunch of Hollywood stories involving a person that can transform into an animal, whether by potions, spells, or magical genes. But it's all just a bunch of rubbish, right? Wrong. There really are humans that can transform into animals. No, this isn't some crazy theory. It is cold hard fact. How do I know? I am one of those humans. My name is Phil Lester. I am a Changer. And this, dear reader, is my story.

            First, let's cover the basics. MAGIC EXISTS. Good, now that that's covered, let's move on. There is a magic underground world called Mythterria. It is a beautiful, colorful place full of magic. There are zoos with magical creatures you have never even heard of before, playgrounds with colorful circles that bounce you 75 feet in the air, slides instead of stairs to walk down, and an ice cream parlor with ice cream flavors better than your tastiest dream. The secret entrances to Mythterria are located within every single grocery store in existence on the ketchup aisle (Weird, right?), in certain gas station men's restrooms (I have no idea why, but they are only in the men's restrooms and not in the ladies'. It's rather sexist, I know.), and in any shower worldwide, if you are eating special candy. (It's called tele-taffy. It reminds me of the teletubbies.) And of course you can only get it from the candy shop in Mythterria.

There are certain people that are destined to become Changers. When they reach the magical age of 10 years, 3 months, 27 days 4 hours 6 minutes 23.5 seconds (Don't ask me why the age is that exact, I have no clue.), time freezes and you are lead to Mythterria by the scientists' interns. Once there, everything is explained and you are given a colorful yet painful shot in the neck that gives you the ability to transform into a specific animal at will. (Mine was a weird shade of yellow, but I heard the color differs depending on your soul animal.) You are then sent back to that exact place in time in the human world, and you are free to travel between the two worlds at your own free will. When you reach the age of fourteen, you are eligible to go on special missions. That's how I met my best friend Dan, but I'll introduce you later. Where was I? Oh yes, the missions. They start off fairly easy and get harder with age. And this, my friend, is where the story truly begins.