CHAPTER 1
HALL PASS
Tick…Tock…Tick…Tock… The clunking felt as if it pounded deeper into my eardrums with each turn of the cogs. Deciding to steal a glance at the clock my dreams of class ending soon have ceased to exist, as I realize less than 30 minutes have passed since class started. Releasing a long sigh grabbing the desk in front of me, I push myself to my feet as I lazily amble up to the teacher.
(Ezra): “Mr.William, may I go to the library to replace my book.”
(Mr.William): “Ah, Ezra, of course, let me write you a hall pass real quick.”
(Ezra): “Thank you, Mr.William!”
Seconds later Mr.William extended his hand, within it was a square pink piece of paper reading Hall pass, it had his signature and time in the bottom left corner so that security at a glance could tell if the student should have already been expected back or not. On my way to the exit of the classroom, I lightly tap on my friend’s desk letting him know he should come as well. Occasionally our teacher decides to not have lessons. instead, he allows us to do our homework we have been given that week. During those days, our small clique gets passes to go to the library where we lounge around for the entirety of the class. After arriving at the library I began looking for a book to read while waiting for others to start showing up. My favorite genre is fantasy, normally you can’t go wrong with a good story about elves and magic. With that in mind, it was decided to head over to that section, it did not take long before I noticed a book stuffed into the corner of the shelf. Lifting it off the shelf caused a small amount of dust to spread through the air causing my eyes to become slightly itchy.
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Taking a peek at the cover of the book impressed me at first glance. It had lovely artwork of a lagoon wrapped within a beautiful forest inhabited by mermaids who were happily playing together, some even braiding each others hair. Sitting down at an empty table I dove into the elements contained within this work that had such a lovely cover. Quickly it was shown that the writing was eloquent. Page after page sinking deeper into the rhythm of the story, plot thickening at every corner. At some point my hands began to feel cold and sweaty, my eyes losing focus as if zooming in and out causing me to finally awaken from my almost hypnotic state I was in while reading. Pulling my head back there was still no one from my friend group in sight.
Where could they be? Normally we are trampling over each other for a chance to get a hall pass, the teacher could not give a shit less if we stayed or not as well. Looking up at the clock it seems class ends in the next 10 minutes, feeling a little disappointed at no one showing up I decided to walk up to the desk to check out the book. Oddly enough no faculty was in sight…let alone any other students. It was quite strange, each movement I made was vivid as if the only thing in existence. Thinking to myself I would just call out to the security in the hallway I poked my head out into what was supposed to be the hallway. What I saw made my skin stand at attention, I could not believe my eyes. Taking a few steps forward the crack of twigs mixed with the rustle of leaves came from beneath my shoes as illuminating rays of light shot down around me through huge gapes of shade. The invigorating smell of pine mixed with air fresher then I have ever inhaled flew throughout my body. In the distance songs of birds played, the whole experience was surreal. Looking around there was nothing but foliage as far as the eye could see. My legs began feeling like noodles as I felt a cold sweat wiggle it’s way down my back, turning around expecting to see a door leading back to the library left me feeling as if my heart was going to jump out of my chest.
I had no clue where I was, how I arrived here, and of course, no means to return.