Portal │ ONC 2025

The world is falling apart, and so is she.
The sun burns too hot. The ground is cracked open, desperate for water that never comes. And inside her house, the heat isn't the worst thing. Her mother's words hit just as hard, reminding her that she's a burden, a disappointment, something taking up too much space. School isn't much better. No one notices when she's there, no one cares when she's gone. She's background noise, just another person drifting by, too exhausted to try anymore.

And then the puddle appears. It shouldn't be there. But there it is, dark and waiting. When she kneels beside it, her reflection stares back. It blinks. And then it pulls her in. She wakes up somewhere else. Being dragged into another world isn't the problem. Now she is important to this other world. Now, she is seen. But because she is so valuable in this new world, there are people and creatures that want her dead. That wants to eat her, alive.

And possibly, someone that might want her to stay, for her. Would it be enough?

Portal is a paranormal fantasy adventure filled with sapphic tension, monsters that shouldn't exist, and a world that refuses to let her go. For the Open Novella Writing Contest 2025.

Elements of Curious Play (Fushigi Yuugi) and characters loosely adapted from Arcane: League of Legends! Also touching on mental health, abuse, action and sexual content - so please be aware this is Mature-themed! Music inspos are on my personal website link on my profile, so check it out while reading!