“Bart! Hey Bart! Wake up, we don't have much time.”

Someone was kicking me in the ribs and it hurt like hell. I curled up to avoid the blows.

“Why are you curling up like that? Get up. We need to hurry. I only have a little bit of time to explain everything.”

The voice sounded familiar. I opened my eyes and low and behold, my tormentor revealed himself to be my older brother PJ. He was standing overtop of me and still dressed in the tanktop and jeans I’d seen him wearing the night before.

“Any particular reason you’re practicing a lowkick to my fucking ribs. And just so you know there is no right answer. I’m only trying to determine how hard I need to punch you in the stomach to feel like we're even,” I said.

“Whatever I don’t care just sit up and listen to me or I’ll kick you.”

“I’ll gnaw your leg off.”

“Bart, I'm serious.”

I glared at my older brother. He glared right back. “Fine.” I said in a huff.

I wiped the crust out of my eyes, and pushed myself from the ground into a crossed legged sitting position. Pj was a lot of things, but serious? The word didn’t belong so close to his name.

“So what do you–Wait,” I yelled out. “What happened? The party? The timer? God’s voice? What’s going on?”

My memories of the night before came flooding back all at once. The last thing I remembered was the timer counting down to the end of the world and the voice everyone at the end of the world party presumed to be God, saying something about a ‘selection.’ Everything after that was a little hazy.

“Stay calm Bart. I’ll explain everything.”

“Uh-huh. Yeah. I’m listening.”

I was only half listening as my eyes were distracted by the surroundings. We were outside on a field of freshly cut green grass with nothing around in every direction except an empty blue sky. It was beautiful but eerie. There was no sun in the sky, no curve in the horizon, and no sound except for my own breathing. We were somewhere new, somewhere unknown.

I pushed myself up to stand. PJ was droning on about God knows what but I ignored him and took off running. In which direction was impossible to tell. Everything looked the same no matter where you looked.

“What the hell Bart! Where are you running to?”

I could hear him chasing after me and yelling curses with my name attached. It all looked so real, but I could never imagine a place like it existing in the real world. By the time I stopped running I was out of breath. PJ was too.

“Why’d you take off running,” he shouted. He was leaned over on his hands and knees, taking long deep breaths.

“I wanted to check if I was dreaming. Usually when I’m dreaming the person always catches me. You didn’t catch up to me. Are we dead? We can’t be dead. No way God sent the two of us to heaven and no one else.”

“We're in some type of limbo, and I need to explain to you some things before you’re allowed to leave.”

“What things?”

Pj didn't answer immediately. He reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out an interlocking golden chain with a large circular object attached on one end and a bearing ball on the other. The chain was about the length of an arm and as thick as a thumb.

“Is that real gold,” I asked. It looked real from where I stood. But also, I'd never been the owner of anything gold beside knockoff rings, so I wasn’t too sure.

“Take it. It’s yours.” PJ handed the chain over to me. It was heavier than it looked and glimmered almost like a mirage when I looked at it. “That’s your timepiece,” he said. “If you flip the lid open you’ll see a clock ticking and a compass to show you where to go.”

I did as he instructed and inside was a simple roman numeral clock with directional symbols around the edges. The time read midnight exactly down to the second

“What’s it for?”

“To keep the time and to know the direction, obviously. You’ll need it where you're going, so don’t lose it.”

“Tell time for what? And directions to go where? You’re speaking in riddles P.”

“It might sound crazy, but you go to a place once called paradise. There you will awaken the Fairy Queen, eliminate corruption, and revive a dying world. The Queen will help you–and all the others selected–the best she can against corruption. To do this she has offered you the gifts of Paradi. I will show you how to use them so watch closely.”

PJ lifted his right hand up to chest level and said, “[Platform].”

In the instant after he spoke, a floating seafoam green square appeared between us. The square was about two feet long and two feet wide, and as thin as a sheet of paper.

I flinched away from it, nearly stumbling over my feet as I did so. It defied all laws. No phenomena I’d ever heard of could explain a platform appearing out of thin air. I was bearing witness to a miracle.

“This is Platform; one of the four basic omens that will aid you in fighting against corruption. It can be used to climb or hold or however else you deem fit to use it. Try it out. Say [Platform] and one will appear.”

“I’m not doing anything PJ until you tell me what the hell is going on,” I said. My fists were clenched tight, trembling in anger but also in confusion at the absurdity of the situation. “Mom? Dad? Grandma? Cecil? Thomas? Uncle Ben? Did all of them come to this place when the countdown hit zero? Are they one of the selected ones you mentioned?”

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

PJ lowered his outstretched arm and the platform in between us disappeared from existence, leaving as quickly as it came. I was shocked to see it go. The idea of magic and the impossible was something I–and likely every young child who ever lived–always dreamed of, but to see it happen right in front of me was like a revelation. It meant there was something new to discover. It meant that everything I’d ever known would have no bearing on my future. The thought of that alone was exciting but also disheartening.

“I’m not sure if they were selected if I’m honest Bart,” He said solemnly. “All I know is that I need to prepare you for what comes next. The world as you know it is over, so listen to me. Say [platform]. Please.”

His words came out so desperate so strained I was hard pressed to believe it was my brother speaking. I’d known PJ my entire life, fourteen years and some change. Not once had I ever seen him act so down. It was a sobering thought to think that my brother, the odd goof ball that he was, had decided to take a situation so seriously.

“Pl-Platform,” I mumbled, feeling quite silly as I did so. It seemed irrational to think that the solid square I’d seen moments ago was going to appear. My worries proved well founded. Nothing appeared like it did for PJ. “Platform,” I said a little louder. Nothing appeared. I repeated the word over and over, and when the hovering platform still didn’t show itself, I looked at PJ in frustration.

“The Queen's gifts aren’t mere words. They are powerful omens. Come let me show you.”

He walked over to me and grabbed a hold of my wrist. “Close your eyes,” he said. I gave him an eyebrow raise to which he responded, “Just trust me.” I closed my eyes as he asked, trusting–against my better judgment–that what PJ said was truthful.

I half expected him to kick me again, but instead he said, “Focus on my forefinger as I move it along your skin and follow my instructions clearly.”

“What?”

“Just do it.”

I focused on his finger and noticed it was the perfect temperature of warmth. It was like a shower right before it turned scalding. He was stamping his finger down lightly on my wrist and slowly started to make his way up my arm, tracking along my veins.

“Take a deep breath.” I took one. “Exhale.” I did. We continued up my veins with me breathing on command and followed suit on the opposite arm. When the second arm was completed PJ came behind me and began massaging my temples. “Don’t think about anything. Lose yourself in your breathing. Hear only the sound of my voice.”

“Good,” He continued. “Now I want you to call attention to the muscles in your hand. Wiggle your fingers. Clench and unclench. Feel every muscle in your hand move.”

I squeezed my hand so tight I thought my nails might pierce my skin. Fortunately that did not happen, but the palm of my hand did feel like it was on fire.

“My palm almost feels like it’s burning,” I said without opening my eyes.

“That's good. It’s time. You can open your eyes now.” He stopped massaging my temples and backed away from me. I could hear his voice receding as he spoke. “Rub your thumb in circles on your palm and say,” [Platform].”

“[Platform],” I said. Right in front of me the seafoam green square appeared just as it had for PJ. My square was a little smaller though, and the color was more transparent rather than solid like his. “It worked,” I whispered.

I walked over to touch it. The surface was as hard as granite and strong too. When I leaned on the edge of the platform it didn’t fall out from under me. It supported all of my weight.

“Your control will get better over time with practice and meditation. You'll need to be a quick learner too. Corruption is everywhere and you can’t hide from it. The last three omens are more difficult to control so I’ll just tell you the words associated with your language for now. They are–”

“You’re not my brother, are you,” I cut-in. Pj paused and tilted his head to the side in confusion. He looked as he always had. A short afro, and light brown skin that got darker in the summer; my virtual twin beside the effects of age. But somehow I knew the man across from me wasn't my brother.

“I thought something was off when you called me Bart, I mean you’ve never called me Bart, but I thought maybe all this craziness went to your head. I no longer think that’s the case. Where the fuck is my brother? Did you hurt him? What about my family?”

PJ didn't appear to be caught off guard by my accusation. If anything he had an expression of sadness like a disappointed parent might have.

“Were you the voice in everyone's head on earth,” I pressed further. “Did you start all this?”

“I’m sorry Bartleby, truly I am. I didn’t mean to scare you, but my instructions called for it. The selected are the most important part of our mission. Without the selected we have no chance to break my mother free. I meant you no harm. Mother thought it would make you feel more comfortable before the transfer took place if you were able to see the face of a loved one.”

I reeled back in shock, and backed away from PJ–If that was still his name–to create space between us. The not-PJ put his hands up in surrender, offering no attempt to close the gap.

“More comfortable! More comfortable! You’re wearing the face of my brother as a costume! Where is he? This can’t be right. They can’t all be gone,” I choked out. Tears were threatening to well up, but I held them down. I’d never cried in front of another person, and I wasn't going to start in front of a stranger. Especially one of unknown origins.

“As much as I would like to explain what is happening to you, I can't. This pocket dimension is deteriorating. Paradi is calling you,” Not-PJ said.

I removed the glare I had pinned on Not-PJ to look around and was shocked to see the change in environment. The once blue skies became cloudy and the green grass turned a slight tinge of yellow.

“We have even less time than I thought,” Not-PJ said as he looked at the clouds change.“The last three basic omens are: Blast, Shield, and Ethereal. All have their uses and if you grow strong enough they will allow you to protect yourself from corrupted beasts and the opposition that roam Paradi. I recommend you learn these four omens as best you can. And If you're able to learn more, all the better. Omens in addition to artifacts should suffice in your mission.”

Not-Pj snapped his fingers and a long black leather jacket with a fur interior appeared on my body.

“I’m sorry what has happened to your world, but this was always going to happen,” He continued. “Meditate, train, and carry out your mission. Only then will you be rewarded for your sacrifice.”

The clouds were turning a dark black and the previously silent plain was now struck with sounds of lightning and thunder. Wind rushed through the air like I was standing in the makings of a hurricane.

“Whoever you are, can you just answer me one question? Did anyone in my family get selected?”

Not-PJ gave me a pitying look and suddenly I was struck by a wave of dizziness. I collapsed on the ground, my head pounding.

“Good luck Bartleby. When all else fails follow the fairy dust. It will lead you to safety.”

After that I blacked out.