«The next morning, Alex stood at her kitchen counter, stirring her coffee. Today was Saturday; she started work later on Saturdays so she could sleep in a bit. »Mr. Snuggles brushed up against her leg, then jumped up onto the kitchen counter, demanding attention. Alex smoothed down the fur along his spine absently, still a bit foggy with sleep. The smell of coffee and morning Paris air filled her apartment, the warm breeze coming in through her open kitchen window. «As Alex stirred her coffee, she watched the shapes form in the foamy layer on the surface. She put her spoon down and blew on the surface of the warm, brown liquid… »And was suddenly somewhere else, someone else, different yet the same. «It was only for a moment, but she saw brown cabin walls, a giant, ancient looking book, herbs scattered across the work table, and a cup filled with warm water and floating leaves and flower petals. »Then Alex was herself again. «What keeps happening to me? She wondered. She was seriously considering seeing a doctor, but what would they say? That she was hallucinating? That she was mentally ill or going insane? That she needed to be locked up? »Hello? «That wasn’t one of Alex’s thoughts. It had come from her mind, a voice like her own yet somehow unfamiliar, but it wasn’t her internal voice. This was something else. Or someone else. »Can you hear me? The voice asked. «Yes, I can hear you, Alex thought back. Who or what are you? And how are you doing this? »I’m Drina, the voice replied. It resembled Alex’s own voice, but sounded younger and slightly different, like how one’s voice sounds different on a recording. Are you the one I’ve seen? The vision I got yesterday? «Which one? I’ve had a few strange hallucinations. You’ll have to be more specific. »You mean there are others? I’ve only seen you. «Tell me what you saw. »Rain. A thunderstorm, like the one I’d been watching. But instead of in the woods, it was in a rooftop. And instead of my dragon laying on me, it was a boy. «Yes, that was me. I saw your thunderstorm, the one in the woods. There was a dragon on my chest. »That’s Mr. Snuggles. He’s grumpy. And lazy. «My pet cat is named Mr. Snuggles »I doubt that’s a coincidence. I just don’t know what these visions mean, or why we keep getting them. «What about the others? Can you contact them? Alex thought of the other visions she’d seen yesterday. A lake with a house nearby, and she’d been kissing a boy who’d looked like Evander but younger and skinnier. A palace that resembled Hogwarts in Harry Potter, but white marble instead of wood and stone. She wondered who those people were, what their lives were like. Why was she seeing them, but not this other girl? What was the connection between all this? »No, I haven’t seen them or their worlds before, Drina replied. That’s how I contacted you. I remembered what I saw before and tried to connect to it again. With a little help from herb magik. «Magic? Never mind. How is this all connected? And did you say “worlds?” »Technically, I didn’t say anything. But yes, “worlds.” Maybe that’s it. Maybe we’re all part of different worlds, different universes, that are all connected. We can see each other because we’re connected in some way. «How? »I don’t know yet. But I’ll look into it. Last night, after that first vision, I glimpsed into the future. There’s change coming. Big change. Maybe this is the start. «You can glimpse into the future? »Sometimes, and not very much. Only bits and pieces. It’s very hard work. Anyway, go about your daily life. Act like everything is normal. And don’t say anything about this to anyone. Not even that boyfriend of yours. «How did you know he was my boyfriend? »I guessed. Unless guys are always lying on your chest? «Good point. How do I contact you again if I need to. »You don’t. I’ll reach you. «And with that, Drina’s voice was gone.

»After her mental conversation with Drina, Alex had gone to work and pretended everything was normal, as Drina had instructed. Alex and Evander had had lunch at her café, then she’d gotten back to work. «After work, Alex had told him she had some work to finish up at home, and he’d agreed to come over for dinner. »Alex unlocked the door to her apartment, set her keys on the foyer table, and took off her jacket. Mr. Snuggles came over to greet her, twining himself around her legs. She scooped up the cat and kissed his head. «Everything in Alex’s apartment looked the same, but she felt like something was different, out of place. Something had changed while she was gone. Suddenly, she heard a noise coming from her bedroom. Mr. Snuggles jumped out of Alex’s arms and walked over to sniff the door. Then he sat down outside it, licking his paw. »Alex walked over to her bedroom and hesitantly opened the door. In the middle of her room was a girl. She was thumbing through a book on Alex’s nightstand but looked up when Alex opened the door. «”Took you long enough to get here. I was wondering when you’d be home.” “Who are you and what are you doing in my bedroom. No, what are you doing in my house?” »Alex looked the girl over. She looked about fifteen, with warm brown curls that past her shoulders and coffee-brown eyes. She had a smattering of freckles across her cheeks and nose, which was small and made her face look younger. The girl looked like a younger version of Alex, one who spent a lot more time outside in the sun. «”Our conversation this morning? Remember? Or did you act like nothing was wrong a little too well?” »”Wait, you’re the girl I was talking to? Drina?” «”Well, thinking to, really,” the girl replied. She wore a brown tunic and a flowy green skirt. A brown leather belt rested around her waist, covered with pockets and pouches. “But yes, I’m Drina.” »”How did you get here?” Alex asked. “Didn’t we establish that you might’ve been in a different world entirely?” «”Yes. That’s a good question, actually. And the answer is: I don’t know. A little while after our lovely conversation, the mirror above my work table started glowing and swirling. It got all foggy and whirlpooly, and when I touched it, it sucked me through. I ended up in your bedroom, looking up at a similar mirror.” »”So maybe that’s the connection? A weird portal mirror thing?” «”I highly doubt it. I don’t think ‘a weird portal mirror thing’ would allow us to see visions of each other and connect us so that we can communicate telepathically across dimensions,” Drina said, using air quotes. “Also, how would it explain the other visions you’ve been having? Do those people have similar ‘weird portal mirror things,’ too? Also, we weren’t anywhere near the mirrors when we had the visions. Therefore, I don’t think they’re connected.” »”Well, how else would you explain your sudden teleportation? Especially if it really was across dimensions?” «”Circumstance,” Drina replied matter-of-factly. “Fate. Destiny. Call it what you like. But the universe wanted to bring us together, for some reason, and that was the only way it could think to do it.” »”Really. Fate. The universe. That’s really what you think this is? An arbitrary concept people use to explain how random things happen to them so that it doesn’t seem so random? To make them feel special? Because that’s all fate is. Therefore, it cannot be ‘fate’ that brought us together. There has to be a logical explanation.” Alex started pacing, thinking how it was possible for a girl, possibly from a different dimension, to suddenly appear in her bedroom through a magic mirror portal. «”I don’t know, but I would trust the universe if I were you. It doesn’t like being insulted.” »”Yeah, and what’s gonna happen if I insult the universe?” Alex asked mockingly. «”The universe will repay you in kind,” Drina warned. »”So karma. Another made up concept I don’t believe in.” «”Say what you want, but I will not associate with your negative energy. By the way, do you have something I can wear? I think it would benefit me to blend in with this dimension,” Drina said, looking down at her rustic tunic and skirt. »”I might have some old clothes you can borrow. They might be a little big, though.” «”I’ll manage.” »Alex went into her closet to dig out some of the bins filled with her old, too-small clothes. Drina wandered out of Alex’s room and began exploring her apartment. Mr. Snuggles strolled over to her and sniffed her boots. Satisfied by whatever he smelled, he nuzzled Drina’s leg and began purring, demanding petting and cuddles. «”Your cat is vibrating,” Drina called to Alex. “I think it might explode.” »”That means he likes you,” Alex replied, digging in a bin of her old clothes. «”What, if he explodes? That doesn’t seem good. I don’t think I want him to like me.” Drina shooed the cat away with her foot. Mr. Snuggles simply leaped onto the couch in the living room and began licking himself. »”He’s not going to explode,” Alex said, coming out of her room with a stack of clothes. “Here, these might fit you.” She handed Drina a pleated, plaid skirt, a collared white shirt, and a beige knit sweater. “You can keep your boots on. I don’t think I have any shoes that will fit you.” «”Thanks,” Drina said, then went into Alex’s room to change. »When she came back out, she was wearing Alex’s old outfit. The shirt and sweater hung and bit loose on her, and the skirt was bunched at the waist by the tightness of her belt. Drina had kept her leather belt on, the pouches sticking out like sore thumbs. «”Yeah, it’s a little big,” Drina commented. »”Sorry, it’s the smallest I’ve got,” Alex said. «”It’s fine. Thank you.” »”No problem. Now, let’s try to figure out how you got here.” «Drina sat down at Alex’s small kitchen table and licked her feet up. Alex walked over and pushed Drina’s feet off her table. »”We have to eat on that, you know,” she said as she got a wet rag to wipe the fresh dirt from Drina’s boots off the table. «”I’ve got nothing,” Drina said after a bit, ignoring Alex’s comment. “No idea how I got here.” »”There must be some clue. I mean, why here, why now? Is it because we made contact?” Alex washed off the rag and hung it over the sink. «”Like I said, maybe the universe just wants me here. I saw something big was going to happen, something that would change our lives forever. Maybe this is it.” »”Well, it certainly is life changing,” Alex admitted. At that moment, Evander walked through the front door. «”Hey. I brought croissants,” he said, coming over to peck Alex on the cheek. “Some chocolat and some regular.” He set the box on the table and seemed to notice Drina for the first time. “Who’s this?” »”That’s… my cousin,” Alex replied hesitantly. “From America.” «”What’s an America?” Drina whispered to Alex as Evander picked up Mr. Snuggles. »”Nice to meet you…?” Evander trailed off questioningly. «”Drina.” She shook Evander’s outstretched hand. »”Well, Drina, welcome to Paris. What state are you from?” «”Uuummm…” Drina looked at Alex, visibly confused. »”Virginia. She’s from Virginia,” Alex replied hastily. “You know, some small town farm in the middle of nowhere. This big city stuff is pretty new to her.” «”Ah,” Evander said, nodding in understanding. “Must be pretty overwhelming.” »”Oh, it’s overwhelming, all right,” Drina muttered. «”So,” Evander said, “shall we get dinner started?”

Alex’s life was normal. Ordinary. Routine. Every morning, she woke up as the sun rose over the rooftops of Paris. She got dressed, grabbed a croissant and a cup of coffee for breakfast, then left her apartment to go to work. Alex owned her own book café: part bookstore, part coffee shop. It had been her dream to open the shop on the streets of Paris since the first time she’d set foot there. It was called Le Café de L’académie: The Academia Café. The café combined all her favorite things: books, coffee, old historic buildings, and peaceful places to spark creativity. After work, Alex bought a bite for lunch and went to meet her boyfriend at their usual rendez-vous. The Louvre was only a few minutes’ walk from her café, which was one of the reasons why she’d chosen its spot. She could walk to the famous museum every day after work, and being near big tourist attractions really helped buisness. Alex would meet her boyfriend outside the museum every day after work, and every day, he was waiting for her. Evander was the perfect boyfriend. They had met in college, where they had connected over their love of Paris, literature, and Renaissance artwork. They didn’t fight much (they had fought plenty in college), and they didn’t live far apart. Evander always made her laugh and always knew exactly what to say. Today when she walked up to their usual spot outside the Louvre, she found him waiting with a box of macarons. Her favorite. “I bought these from la pâtisserie,” Evander said as she sat down next to him. “Some pistache, your favorite, and some chocolat, my favorite.” “Thanks,” Alex said, kissing him on the cheek. “You’re the best.” “Yeah. I know.” When Evander smiled, it showed off his dimples and high cheekbones. They ate their macarons and talked about how their day had been and how work was going. Evander worked for a French newspaper, where he wrote poetry and historical fiction in the paper’s creative writing section. “You know, I’ve been thinking about writing a piece about some of the statues in there,” Evander said, gesturing to the museum behind them. “Like, a poem from the perspective of one of the sculptures.” “That would be interesting. Like giving life to the statues, sharing their stories. Or your interpretation, at least.” “Yeah. I don’t know, though. Not everyone may find it as interesting as you do,” Evander said, fondly looking at her sideways. “Well, then they have no taste,” Alex replied with a grin. “You’re so weird. It’s one of the things I like about you.” “I know.” Alex leaned in to kiss him, and he met her halfway. She leaned into the kiss, but suddenly, she wasn’t Alex kissing Evander anymore. She was someone else, herself but not herself, kissing a boy that was like Evander but wasn’t at the same time. What the heck?

Lexi pulled away, startled by the vision she’d just seen. Daydream? Hallucination? She didn’t know what to call it. “Sorry,” her best friend—the boy she’d just been kissing—said. “Did I do it wrong? I knew I did it wrong. I messed it all up—“ “No, Ev, you were fine,” Lexi reassured him. Her first kiss. She couldn’t help but feel excited. “I was just a little surprised. I mean, I’ve never kissed anyone before.” “Was it everything you’d hoped for?” Evander asked. Lexi leaned towards him. “It was even better.” She kissed him again, a little longer this time, enjoying the sensation. Lexi pulled away and sighed. “We should probably head back inside. Before someone finds us out here, you know.” Kissing, she thought. “Would it be such a bad thing if they found us out here, you know?” Ev asked. “No. I mean, I don’t know,” Lexi stuttered. “This is kind of new, so maybe we should just keep it between you and me, you know?” “Yeah, okay. Just between you and me,” Ev replied. “Between you and me,” Lexi agreed. She kissed him again, lightly, just for good measure. Then they headed back inside her family’s lakehouse.

Alex was sitting in her apartment, trying to write the book she’d been working on for the past year or so. She was a slow writer; she liked to take time explore her story before actually writing it. She was coming up blank on what to write next, so she let her mind wander. Her eyes went to the degree hanging up on her wall from her college, L'Université Américaine de Paris (The American University of Paris). She remembered when she’d first arrived at l’université. She remembered the Eiffel Tower in the background, the landmark of Paris. She could see the white marble walls, the high arches, the tall towers—wait, that wasn’t what her college looked like…

What was that odd vision? Allie wondered. Perhaps she was having hallucinations because of her nervousness. Yes, that was it. “Alexandrine,” her mother said, interrupting Allie’s thoughts. “Are you ready to go inside?” Allie stared at the large main building of her new boarding school. She would live there for four years among other nobles, studying to be the future leaders of their respectable kingdoms. She herself was a princess and had to study not only to be a good leader, but to be a good wife and mother to her future husband and heirs to the throne. However, she would mostly be studying the qualities required for the latter. And so here she was, at the Academy for Royalty and Nobility. She would have to live with a roomate in a large dorm; this was to encourage students to get to know one another and form friendships that may help forge future alliances between kingdoms and important noble houses. This school would be good for her, her mother had said. It would help her come out of her shell after the tragic incident that had left her family shell-shocked and had resulted in her self-isolation from the rest of the world. Allie felt she would never be ready for this, for rejoining the world, not after what had happened three years ago. But she figured she would be forced to at some point. Why not try to make some new friends and learn important life skills while she was at it? “I think I’m ready,” Allie said by way of reply to her mother’s earlier question. She took a deep breath and headed toward the doors of the school.

Alex sat at the little table on the small balcony of her apartment. She and Evander were eating dinner together, watching the rest of Paris go by. Most people in France wouldn’t be eating dinner until 7 or 8 o’clock. But Alex and Evander, even after living in Paris for six years, were still on an American meal schedule. It was around 6 o’clock, and many Parisians were on their way home from work or shopping to get ingredients for dinner. Alex had gone out to buy food a little while after her last “vision,” as she’d decided to call them. She wasn’t exactly sure what the daydreams were, or what they could possibly mean. Was she going crazy? Should she tell Evander about them, or would that only cause unnecessary worry? She felt fine, not as if she were going insane at all. “You okay?” Evander asked her, startling her out of her reverie. “You look a million miles away.” “Maybe I am,” Alex replied. “Perhaps I’m in Australia right now, wondering if I can actually pet koalas.” “Is that where your new book takes place? Australia?” “Mon Dieu, no. I don’t know a thing about Australia except that I probably shouldn’t pet koalas, no matter how fluffy and adorable they are.” “Speaking of fluffy and adorable…” Evander trailed off as Alex’s cat, Mr. Snuggles, jumped up onto the middle of the table. “Snuggles, get off the table! You’re getting your paws in my cheese puffs! I worked hard on those!” Evander scooped up the little golden Tabby and set him in his lap. Mr. Snuggles meowed and eyed the food on the table. Alex had made steak frites (steak and fries) and gougères (cheese puffs). Mr. Snuggles was currently eyeing the steak hungrily. “Don’t even think about it,” Alex warned him. “I already fed you, less than an hour ago.” “Aw, come on. He can have a little bit.” Evander picked up a piece of steak off his plate and gave it to Mr. Snuggles. “Don’t feed him from the table! He’s gonna get used to it!” “How else are we supposed to keep our close relationship? It is a bond built on food and cuddles,” Evander said, nuzzling the cat with his cheek. Alex laughed at him. “Whatever. Just don’t make a habit out of it.” Evander gave a mock salute and grabbed another cheese puff. Suddenly, they heard a low, loud rumbling off in the distance. Mr. Snuggles yowled and sprinted back inside. “Sounds like a storm’s coming,” Evander commented, taking a bite of his cheese puff. “Wanna go watch it when it comes around?” Alex asked. Watching rainstorms was one of her favorite things to do. There was something about the sound of the rain and thunder and the quick flashes of lightning that she found soothing. Evander sighed. “Fine. But if I get soaking wet, I’m blaming you.”

About an hour later, the two on them were lying on the roof of Alex’s apartment building, watching as rain drizzled lightly from the sky; it wasn’t a downpour, as Alex had expected. “It’s a miracle we haven’t been electrocuted yet,” Evander said. “You know there’s only like a one in a thousand chance of being struck by lightning, right?” “Still. I think we should count ourselves lucky.” The two of them lay there together, Evander’s head on Alex’s chest, watching the storm. Alex couldn’t help being lulled by its beauty. The way the lightning lit up the sky, the way the dark clouds clumped together, the way the rain dripped off the leaves of the trees in the forest…

Drina lay watching the storm, her dragon’s head resting on her chest. “What an odd vision,” she muttered, half to herself and half to Mr. Snuggles. “Do you think it’s prophetic? Should I look into it?” Mr. Snuggles grumbled softly. “I’m gonna look into it.” Drina got up, stretched, and walked back into her little cottage. She got out a cup and walked over to the large cauldron of water resting over the fire, left over from her supper. She spooned a bit of the water into the cup and went over to her cupboard, pulling out a few herbs: rosemary, thyme, and moonflower petals. She sprinkled them into the cup, then went to pull out her spellbook. The book was written in the Ancient Language, which few could read. Among those few were witches, though Drina liked to think of herself more as a healer. When people thought of witches, they thought of spells and potions and dark magik. Drina simply used herbs to perform tasks, such as healing or glimpsing into the future, which she was attempting now. She began to mix her concoction and read from her spellbook. “Donnez-moi un aperçu de l'avenir. Donnez-moi un aperçu du sens de cette vision.” When she’d finished reading, she stopped mixing and let the water settle a bit. Then, she blew lightly on its surface. Only those who were knowledgeable in natural magiks could read the meaning of the floating debris in that cup. Luckily for Drina, she was one of the best practitioners of natural magiks known. “Looks like there’s change coming,” Drina said, partially for the benefit of Mr. Snuggles, who had his head poking through Drina’s cottage window. “Something big. Something that will change our lives as we know it.”

I will not walk this earth without you, My dearest companion and friend. You will be with me Until the very end.

There is nowhere I would want to go, There is nowhere I’d rather be Than sitting here enjoying time Just us: you and me.

Your stories are my only comfort In this complicated world. They take me to a different place Where I can be a new kind of girl.

You are my only true friend, And you know me better than most; For you hold all of my secrets, And you never like the boast.

You fill me up when I am empty; Your stories inspire my own. You make me feel whole and complete, Even when my heart is like stone.

Your stories are my greatest treasure; They shine and sparkle like gold. I am filled with stories, too, Most of them untold.

You help to spark my wildest dreams; You help me to escape. When it is dark and all is lost, You take me to a better place.

I will not walk this earth without you; You are my truest friend. There is nowhere I would rather be Than with you until the end.

She stood facing the battle field, staring down a massive army, her sword in her hand. She was perched on the back of her dragon, scales glowing saffron and crimson and gold and silver. Her black hair blew in the wind, brushing her cheek. At her side, the sword in her hand glowed scarlet red and fiery orange in the light of the rising sun.

She knew this battle would be hard, and that it would cost her greatly. But did the cost matter when you had nothing left to lose? When everything and everyone you loved was gone? When all you had were the clothes on your back, the sword at your side, and the dragon fighting alongside you?

Of course she cared about her dragon, but they both knew this would be their last battle. They had met not so long ago, and had forged an unbreakable bond throughout this war, but their time had come. This would be the end, their final battle, and the last moments they had together in this world. Perhaps they would be together in the next world, and perhaps she would be reunited with everyone she had lost to this war, but there was no guarantee of that. She didn’t even know if anything awaited her on the other side. If there was a life beyond this one, it probably wouldn’t be pretty considering all she had done in this war, all the people she’d killed, the monster this long fight had turned her into.

But she had hope. Hope that whoever survived would see a better world, a new world. Hope that those left would rebuild and thrive. Hope that in this battle, she would take as many to the depths of the afterlife with her as she could. Hope. That was what had kept her going all this time. That was what had sparked this revolution. That was what would keep the survivors going. Hope.

She knew this would be a long and hard battle. She knew many lives would be lost. But she knew that either way, she would fight until the bitter end, fight so that others could keep fighting, fight for a better world for those who would come after her. Maybe they would remember her name, her sacrifice. Maybe they would help create her legacy.

Whatever came next, it would be a nightmare, but she would face it on two feet, a sword in her hand, her black hair billowing out behind her, on the back of her mighty dragon. Yes, she would go down fighting. And it would be a glorious death. They would not soon forget her name.

As she plunged into battle, she carried that feeling in her heart, the great idea that had started this whole revolution, the spark that had fanned into a flame. The feeling that could move mountains and change minds. That feeling rang through her heart, rang true in the depths of her soul. That one word.

Hope.

Spring I am new. The world is new. The sky, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the grass: They’re all new. Everything is new. The world has awakened after so long in the dark. And I can’t wait to explore it all.

The spring breeze blows my honey blonde curls across my cheeks. My green eyes roam the world for the first time, taking in this new world. My rose gold wings can unfurl and stretch for the first time. They long to spread and fly. I can hear the birdsong and the laughing waters of a stream nearby. I smell the strong scent of the newly-blooming flowers. I want to see it all, everything this new world has to offer. I am Cerealia.

Summer I am adventurous. The world is a bit older now, but still so new. The air has grown hotter and the days longer. This means more time to explore and play and adventure. As I have explored the world, I have seen so many new things I’d never seen before. And as the world changed from a new spring flower to a hot summer breeze, I have changed with it.

My honey curls have turned a strawberry blonde, and my once-green eyes are now blue as the sky above. My wings have become a fiery gold to match the summer sun. I have already seen many things, but there’s still so much more this world has to offer. I want to explore every inch of this world, and because the days have grown longer, I’ll have plenty of time to do it. I am Aelia.

Autumn I am curious. The world is knowledgeable know; it knows many things, as do I. But there is still so much to learn. The time for exploring is over. I haven’t seen everything, but I have seen a lot. Now is the time for learning. Learning how the world works, learning what it has to offer, learning everything I can.

This world has changed again, from earthen browns and forest greens and flowery pastels to fiery reds, bright oranges, and golden yellows. As the world has changed again, more drastically this time, I have changed with it. My hair has turned a fiery auburn like the trees’ red leaves. My eyes have turned a mahogany brown to match the bark of the trees that has become more visible as they shed their leaves. My wings are now a copper orange, like a metallic version of the orange leaves of the trees. I can’t wait to learn everything I can from this changed world of bright, fiery colors. I am Sienna.

Winter I am bitter. The world is bitter and cold, yet wiser, too. It has seen many seasons and learned many things, and its newfound knowledge has turned it bitter. It has become icy and cold, a world full of whites and blues and grays and blacks. The animals have gone into hibernation, and everything is silent, as if the world was holding its breath, waiting for the newness of spring to return.

I have changed again to match the world’s new mood and tone. My beautifully colored hair has turned to a shiny, pitch black. My eyes are now the cold, hard silvery blue of the ice. My wings are white as the freshly fallen snow, tipped in silver. I am cold and bitter but wiser, just as the world is now. Perhaps I will thaw again when the spring comes. I am Diamond.

Spring I am new. The world is new. The sky, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the grass: They’re all new. Everything is new. The world has awakened after so long in the dark. And once again, I can’t wait to explore it all.

For the world is new with each passing season in its own way, and each season has something to offer. You just have to find a new way at seeing the world. Explore each season with new eyes, a fresh mind, and an open heart, as I am doing now. I am Ailani.

There was a moment of silence. It was calm; I couldn’t hear, couldn’t see, couldn’t think. Then my ears started ringing with the aftermath of… what? What had just happened? I wasn’t sure. I looked up. My vision was blurry and there was some kind of liquid flowing into my eyes. It was thick and sticky and blocked my view. I wiped it out of my eyes and looked around. People ran everywhere like chickens with their heads cut off. Their mouths were open in surprise and delight as they ran and shouted to one another in delight. Some people grabbed onto one another as they ran, holding each other tight and shrieking joyfully to one another. There was red coloring everywhere. It stained the clothes of those around me like confetti in a celebration, flew through the air like party ribbons, and soaked the ground in bright puddles. The ringing in my ears started to fade. I wiped more liquid out of my eyes. As my hearing started to return, I could hear the excited shrieks of those around me. I spotted someone I knew. Who was it? I couldn’t remember. They screamed something at me in delight. I raised my head and smiled back, wiping more liquid out of my eyes. It looked like the pretty red paint flying through the air. Then I was jerked upright. Someone had grabbed me from behind. Was this an excited embrace like I’d seen some of the others around me doing? Whoever it was began dragging me away from the familiar person. Was it one of my friends of family? I couldn’t think straight. My maybe-friend tried running toward me, maybe to join in the embrace, but whoever was holding me was pulling me too quickly. I laughed at the familiar person and called to them to catch up. Just then, whoever had me shoved me toward a box. Was it like one of those magic boxes where people disappeared and reappeared somewhere else? What a fun surprise. The person who had dragged me closed the big door. There was a window on it. Well that was odd. How would the trick work if people could see inside? The person I knew slammed on the window and screamed in delight. Maybe they knew how the trick worked. I laughed at them and asked them how the magic trick worked. They just stared in surprise. I wiped more red paint out of my eyes and looked down at my hand. And that’s when it hit me. As my brain cleared and I looked around outside the box, I realized what was happening. The people running around weren’t screaming with excitement, but fear and horror. The people grabbing each other weren’t hugging. They were being kidnapped. I looked at the familiar person pressed against the outside of my box. They stared at me with fear and sadness in their eyes. I recognized them. My love. The one person in the world who cared about me. This box wasn’t a magic trick; it was a prison carrier. I was being taken away with the others getting kidnapped. To where, I had no idea. I wiped more red out of my eyes and stared at my stained hands. They weren’t soaked in red paint. They were covered in blood. I pressed my hand against the window, leaving a bloody handprint. Then, just like the people running around outside my prison, I screamed.