Saving Seraphine [ONC2020]

CHAPTER 1

Swirls of orange and red dance in my vision, forming a spiral tunnel around me. I'm Sucked into a vortex, as the world above vanishes into darkness. A small ray of white light peaks through calling to me, I crawl towards it. The light grows wider and brighter with each step I take. It's painful to look at so I lift my arm to block out the blinding light.

On the other side of the light is a mostly desolate place. Everything looks dead, from the sticks pretending to be trees to the looming green clouds in the pale gray sky. Even over the smell of smoke and death, it all feels so real. Something screeches and it's unlike anything I've ever heard before. I spin looking for it's whereabouts, but the more I spin the dizzier I become. The colors return, but quickly vanish leaving a solid transparent wall around me. I place my hand against the glassy surface, it's as cold as ice, but warm like fire.

I'm taken back by a golden set of eyes that blink at me from the other side. My pulse quickens from the sight of it. I allow my feet to carry me to the other side, only to have the eye appear and blink again. It all feels like a bad dream. I attempt to close my eyes to forget all of it, but my eyes won't close. The blinking continues, I'm trapped.

I try to scream, but nothing comes out, not at first anyway. I give my voice another try, but the only thing I hear is that noise again. I bring a hand to my face attempting to stop the sound, only to discover I don't have hands. Sharp talons protrude from gray scaly paws. I back away waiting for the eye to blink only it doesn't, because my vision turns a golden red, and suddenly I'm looking in at a human creature, with flaming auburn locks and the same golden eyes I'd seen through the looking glass.

A gasp escapes my lips, as the sounds of the city roll back into my head. A siren wails loudly in the distance, people murmur, and then the music kicks in all around me. I feel like I'm being thrown back with a jolt. My eyes open and I find my lips pressed against a man with the most gorgeous gorgeous brown eyes that I've ever seen.

I stumble back, the man steadies me with his strong hands. All around us red, orange, and gold confetti cascade to the ground. The man's face is consumed by these colors. I feel as if I'm going back into the tunnel, only this time my stomach twists and I find myself covering my mouth as bile rises in my throat. The thought of the vortex, that place, and the big golden eyes swirl around in my head.

My hand slips from the man standing before me, his face still a mix of colors from the light reflecting off the shiny confetti. My stomach twists harder, and I need a bathroom before I vomit on the poor guy. I lift a hand, sweet Jesus it's my hand and not some crazy claw. The thought sickens me. I don't look back as I jet for the bathroom. Clicking heels on the hard wooden dance floor trail behind me.

"Phi," a voice calls out.

I slam into the bathroom door nearly taking the door off its hinges. A girl with black mascara running down her face glares at me. I don't have time to worry about her as everything I've consumed all day comes roaring back up. Without closing the stall door I get on my knees and vomit into the cold porcelain bowl.

Soft warm hands rake through my unkempt hair, as a calming melodic voice hums a tune, all while I gag and heave in a public restroom toilet.

"Oh Phi, at least you got to make out with a hot guy in a suit," she says.

Hailey Montgomery to the rescue as always. My best friend, my knight in shining armor. When my eyes stop hurting and my stomach stops heaving I look up into her familiar green eyes and breathe a sigh of relief.

"What am I going to do with you Seraphine?" she whispers, shaking her head.

Her dangling earrings clink together causing a sharp sound in my already sensitive ear. I reach up to cover them when another voice, a male voice enters the girls room.

"Hales, Phi, it's Joe."

The deep sing song voice makes me smile, but smiling isn't good because I puke again.

"Oh girl," he says, as he leans against the stall door. "Just a heads up, that hottie with a body you just kissed is standing right outside the door."

I groan pulling back from the toilet. I try closing my eyes, but the images of the vision I had flickers in my head. It's like the blinking light you see after you take a picture with a flash. I gasp and throw up even more.

"I'll make sure he's gone."

I rest my head against Hailey's chest and sigh. She chuckles behind me causing my body to bounce with hers, and I think I might be sick again.

"What's so funny?" I groan tilting my head so I can get a better view of her.

"I find it amusing that you can almost puke on a random hot guy and he still waits for you. If that were me Phi he would have run out of here so fast," she laughs again.

I shake my head and laugh, "Remind me never to drink again," I groan.

"I can't promise you'll listen," she teases.

"All clear," Joe calls out.

"Ew, get out you perv!"

A girl yells out from the stall next to us. Even after the weird vision, and the puking episode I still manage to laugh with Hales.