DARE

-Noizchild-

I found this on a slow day. The students and staff weren’t doing much around summer school. In fact, they had all just finished their daily assignments and were now cleaning. I decided to wander around the campus and look around. Nothing much, really. No one would even notice that I wasn’t at my post. I should be gone for like thirty minutes, right?

I slipped out to the backway. One quick look around showed everyone hard at work. I couldn’t help but smile.

Perfect.

It was a nice day out today. I took in the birds singing overhead. Did we ever have trees look so green before? I shielded my eyes from the sun through the trees. It felt nice to go out for a little walk. I stretched out my arms and began my little walk. Maybe I could teach a class out here one day. But, would I still have their focus? Ah, who cares? It wouldn’t hurt for us to get out once in a while, would it? Didn’t think so.

Where was I going to go next? The shops? The garden? Student lounge? Or maybe…?

I took a walk down to the fields. Now, the path to get there is marked with stones. It starts out wide and normal. As you go further down, you will feel like walking down a tightrope. What exactly is at the other end? No one has tried to look. Will that change today?

What was that?

I tilted my head as my ears twitched. Is that… My feet seemed to move on their own. Who’s that singing? I looked behind me. When did it look so dull? The soft singing drew my attention back to the path ahead. I slowly began moving again. It felt like I was in a daze. I walked closer and closer down the narrowing path. I stood on my tip-toes to keep my balance. There was nothing to grab onto, so I held out my arms.

Step. Step. Step. Step.

Wait, where was I going?

It didn’t matter. The singing started to get louder around me. My heart pounded against my chest. I had to keep going. What was waiting for me at the other end?

I came up to this giant bubble wall. When I reached out to touch it, I shivered.

“That’s cold!” I shouted. But still, the singing persisted. You want me to go inside? Okay, then. Don’t mind if I do. I walked through without a thought in my head. Brrr! The cold, wet feeling against my skin and clothes. When I looked around, I saw washed out, vibrant rainbow colors around me. I felt like I was floating off of the ground. Where was I now?

My body began floating forwards. Up ahead was a fountain of rainbow-colored water gushing out as fast as possible. Tiny notes floated up to the air like bubbles. I couldn’t help but smile.

So you were the one singing out to me!

The notes from the water began to speed up. In my happy bliss, I began to have more questions.

Why did you call out to me? What is this place?

“Shhh,” the wind whispered over my head. I looked around. I couldn’t see a single person in sight. But that music was so pretty. I couldn’t take that smile off my face.

Yes. I am here. Tell me what you want.

The light started feeling warm around me. I closed my eyes and took it all in. Where was this place? How long had it been hiding here? Who made this place?

“Welcome!” a voice said. I opened my eyes and looked up.

“Huh?” I asked. I looked up and saw the face of a god. I think it was a god. I was too amazed to process what was going on with my brain.

“Welcome to my shrine,” the voice said. A hand reached down towards me. I reached up with open arms.

“Take me,” I said. “Take me to your leader!” A light surrounded me. I broke down singing with the lights around me.

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When I came back, I found myself in for a shock. My jaw dropped.

“What?!” I cried. “It’s night!” Only the sound of crickets greeted me in the darkened field. I couldn’t explain where I was to this day. But, man! It was just… exhilarating!