Nessa

Episode Four

Nessa had spent the entire night dreaming. What made it weirder was this was the first time she was having a dream...ever. She always thought that dreams were stuff only mindless people had. But after today she started questioning whether she had a mind.

In the dream, her eyes were closed yet she could perfectly see what was going on around her. She seemed to be lying on a chair in the living room and Luka was lying in the one opposite her. 

Suddenly she heard her father's voice. "Isabelle, it's okay. They would be alright. King told us removing the Autopad equals their death. We haven't done that so you need to relax."

Nessa's mother's eyes were teary and her voice broke as she said. "That monster also said if they died in his world, they died for real."

Her dad bit his lip. "We'd just have to trust our kids."

"But..." her mother was saying then she choked on her words. She swallowed then continued. "But, king gave us an opportunity to go to the world. We have a chance to speak with them and help them."

Her dad seemed to consider what she said, whatever it meant. Then he said. "No, we give them more time..."

Suddenly, Nessa jolted awake as water poured on her body.. She wiped her eyes and noticed that Luka was holding a bucket.

"Well, at least now I know that works no matter the world you're in." He said dropping the bucket. Where had he even gotten it?

"Why didn't you just wake me up like a normal person?" Nessa asked.

"Because, you were sleeping like an abnormal person. I've been trying to wake you up for hours."

Nessa arched a brow.

"Okay only a few seconds." Luka agreed. 

"But everyone is already heading towards the academy. I don't want to be left behind."

Nessa stood from the grass and dusted her butt. "Well we better start moving."

She dragged Luka by the arm and went after the crowd. In minutes, they stood facing a set of twin golden doors, the doors to the Academy. 

The Academy had to be the largest building Nessa had ever seen. It had black seamless walls and towers that made it look like it had been sculpted from one big giant rock.

Nessa didn't have the time to notice any more details because almost immediately, the doors opened leading into a vast hall. 

The hall was grand by any standards, despite the fact that it was poorly illuminated. Only one candelabrum burned brightly in the middle of the room, casting eerie shadows along the wall.

Everyone walked into the hall and after a minute nothing happened. Two minutes, three minutes,

Everyone started feeling uneasy.

"Are you sure this is the academy?" Luka asked Nessa. 

"Why are you asking me? Do I look like an Academy tour guide..."

"Kinda," Luka smirked and Nessa slapped her forehead.

Suddenly torches along the wall started lighting up like it was some sort of domino effect. 

More candelabras burned brightly from the ceiling and then Nessa heard a very familiar voice.

"Welcome, players."

The voice unmistakably belonged to Miss Avery. Nessa looked in the direction the voice was coming from, but she didn't see any orb. Instead there was a podium and standing on that podium was Miss Avery herself.