I opened my eyes to find a dark room with a single spotlight on a rounded table. I was standing up, opposite of a figure in a decorated seat. I was wearing a pair of bulky grey handcuffs that looked like they would be too small to fit my own hands but I couldn’t recall anything past that. A guard to my left announced to the court, “Umbra 2630, please step forward. Without my own doing, I walked into the spotlight.“Selah Oblitus, I presume?” The hidden person spoke. His voice was deep but clear. He spoke with conviction and authority only slurring his words slightly. Without my control once more, I nodded. “It has come to my attention that you have been caught, breaking into our wonderful residence.” His words faded from my ears and the dream shifted. I was climbing through some sort of metal box. Air blew one direction and a mix of blue and red lights flashed in and out. I jerked back to the dark room where the daunting man is still talking. I was somehow seated at the table that was smooth like silk but some kind of reflective metal. I could still only make out the man’s eyes, Glaring Amber, seeming to stare into my soul. While he spoke, he tried to sound sincere but was failing miserably. “I’m afraid we can only mark this as treason.” As he spoke, the building I’m in started to crumble but he gave it no notice. I looked down the table before me to see the face of a young woman with frizzled hair like fire before falling into the abyss. Along any solid surface were pipes and prison cells. All I could make out were grisly screams echoing as I was pulled back to reality, only to hear belligerent knocking as I woke in a cold sweat.

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The five of us gathered, for the only time of day we would do so and ate in silence. My sister tried to liven things up, talking about her school and the musical coming up soon. “…at least you can go to school,” I said harshly, though no one heard it. My father gave me a look, communicating his wants, so I left while Domus was still talking. I only saw her saddened face before I ducked through the stairway frame. I packed my axe, my lunch, my favorite drone, and my prized creation. To avoid running through the dining area, I went down a ladder I set by my window years ago. Getting out of that stuffy house was my favorite part of the day. Please don’t misread, I love my family. The only problem is how to communicate with them. Though I’ve lived with them all my life, they still seem like strangers. I raced to the woods that made my backyard.

I worked on my small pile for an hour or so before my break. I took two pieces of fine wood, bought of course, and set them vertically against a trunk. I took my contraption from its storage and placed it in between them; then placed an identical setup by a different tree and connected them by a thick cord. After flicking the switch, every nonmetal aspect glowed with a rather dull shade of brown. The brown screen rose and enveloped all areas between the planks. With enthusiasm and pride, Along with a bit of struggle, I lobbed a stone at the peculiar portal and it disappeared through the murky wall. I turned to the other door only to see bits of gravel spill up and get carried away in the wind.