First World

by Jaymin Eve

  He smiled. “Your words are just as confusing to me. Dreamland?”

  Oh, right.

  “Sorry, that’s my really original name for this world I dream about. The inhabitants speak with your accent so ...” I trailed off.

  Something close to worry – disbelief maybe – crossed his features. “You dreamed of home? How is that possible on Earth? It’s a dead zone.”

  I shrugged. Dead zone?

  “You should have gone to ‘dreamland’ many years ago, Aribella. It has other names, but once again I find myself with too many stories and not enough time.”

  “Why ...?” I looked around. “Why am I still here then?”

  “Could someone speak in English? Just for five minutes.” Annoyance replaced Lucy’s usual cynicism.

  “We need to get Aribella back now; the countdown is on for both of these worlds. And it is too dangerous to be roaming New York.” He sighed. “The reason you’ve been here for extra years is ... I don’t have the power ... and I lost contact.”

  Lucy glanced at each of us in turn.

  “I’m really hoping when you say Aribella needs to go to dreamland, you mean Lucy and Aribella, and you just forgot about me.” She turned to me. “He just forgot me, right, Aribella? Crap. Sorry ...” She grinned. “It’s a catchy name.”

  I shook my head and sighed. “I’m not leaving without Lucy, no matter how annoying she is.”

  Quarn had paced a few steps away toward the alley entrance. He spoke over his shoulder. “You cannot go, Lucy Laurell; this is no place for an Earthling. You must stay here.”

  Did he just say –? Hell. NO.

  “I’m going to ignore that. Implying I’m some type of alien ... well, it’s just rude.”

  “Are you kidding me? Don’t ignore it.” Lucy interrupted me to glare at Quarn. “What do you mean: Earthling?” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Is Abby an alien?”

  I groaned. It was time for the conspiracy theories.

  “I knew it.” She was triumphant. “There is no way someone gets to be as gorgeous as Abigail and then is also tall. On top of that her lips are full and perfect and naturally red without one ounce of lipstick. Come on, it’s not natural.”

  “You’re not natural,” I retorted weakly.

  Lucy was always harping on about how unusual my lips were. I was just happy they matched the blood-red of my hair and not the black.

  Lucy glared. “Oh, I’m sorry, Extraterrestrial. Where’s your other skin? Green not your color?”

  Quarn interrupted. “Sorry to cut this short. As amusing as the pair of you are, we need to move before the Gangers regroup. I’m good, but even I have my limits.” He was standing near the entrance to the alley, scoping it out.

  “I’m. Going. Nowhere. Without. Lucy.” I had to spell it out.

  He looked between us for a second before nodding. “It does not matter. I don’t have the power to send one of you there, let alone both of you.”

  “How do we get more power?” Lucy looked around eagerly. “I’m ready – we digging for coal ... oil?”

  I laughed. Fossil fuels. We’d have more chance of finding a magic wand.

  He shook his head. “Nothing on Earth. The dead zone is more encompassing than we’d ever anticipated. I’d need a storage amulet, which is rare; a sacred stone, even rarer; and, as a last resort, a power on the other side to assist.”

  I smiled in delight. “Quarn, this may just be your lucky day.”

  Moving to the wall, I retrieved my pack before reaching in to unearth the stone. Cupping it with care, I held it out in front of me.

  “Is this a sacred stone?”

  It was impossible to describe his expression. A sense of reverence fell over him. He stepped forward, laying a hand lightly, respectfully, on its blue surface.

  “No, this isn’t, Aribella. This is something much more than that – it’s one of the royal pair, the most important stones in our world. Your lanina – mother – sent it with you ... I thought it was lost.” He whispered the last part.

  I interrupted. “Mother? You know my family?” Panic laced my tone.

  He nodded. “Your mother, Lallielle, is one of my oldest friends.”

  I shuddered, trying to fill my compressed lungs with air. “Does she have long dark hair? Green eyes a little lighter than mine?”

  He nodded again.

  I smiled; I’d guessed right for once.

  “She was in my dream. She told me about the stone and then it just appeared. Could she have anything to do with this?” I was overtaken by an uncontrollable urgency.

  He shook his head. “I don’t know. Which is not a comfortable place for me. I would have said not possible, but with the dream-spanning Lalli must have found a way.” A thoughtful look crossed his features. “The stone has power. It may have decided that it would come to you.”

  He was reiterating my previous feelings: this stone was powerful. Still, I had not been very comfortable with its sudden appearance. In my world the very things you either want or need do not just appear before you. But there hadn’t been time to question it.

  “Do you know a way to get there? Abby needs to meet her family.” Lucy’s blue eyes were huge.

  Quarn held a hand out for the stone. At the last second before it left my hands, I realized I didn’t want to part with it. Despite my hesitation, I released it. We were out of time; I was surprised the Gangers weren’t back already.

  “I do not know if this will work. My aim is to open a doorway, long enough for two energies to cross. Then it will close. No one will be able to follow and you will not be able to return.”

  I grabbed his arm and, yes, may have stomped my foot like a child.

  “Why only two? How many ways do I have to tell you? I’m not leaving without Lucy.”

  He stepped away, dispelling my hand. “No, Aribella, it is I who cannot leave.” His demeanor changed. “There’s something I can’t ... won’t leave yet. The time-frame has been accelerated.”

  He seemed oddly vulnerable in that moment; the normal piercing of his blue eyes were dulled. I would have pried further, but a sense of panic consumed me.

  “How will we survive without you? We have no idea what we’re doing.”

  “You’re stronger than you think, Aribella. Don’t doubt your instincts; I have seen them serve you well on these streets. The same skills are required when you step through the door.”

  Lucy grabbed my arm. “Abby’s been there before, Quarn.” She tugged on my arm. “You haven’t told him about the forest incident.”

  Oh, right. There might be some significance or wisdom he could impart.

  “The day after we met, I came back to this alley to find you. This crazy pain, like knives carving into my skull, struck, and when I opened my eyes I was in the ‘royal forest’...” I trailed the last word. “Does that mean anything to you?”

  Quarn gripped my other arm, pulling me closer. Lucy wasn’t budging, so her tiny frame flew through the air as she was dragged along.

  “What happened there? Did you meet anyone?”

  He was intense, waiting in great anticipation for my answer.

  “Well, there were two people there. Someone named Lucas, who I didn’t meet, and Brace. He ... uh ... crashed into me in the forest.”

  Confusion crossed his features. “I don’t understand, Aribella. Of all the people that could have drawn you there, people far more important, why was it Brace?”

  “I don’t know.” My words were quiet. “But Brace and Lallielle are the two from my dreams.”

  Quarn shook his head. “There must be a connection there. Something I do not know.” He looked uneasy. “You need to tread cautiously with Brace. I know his father, but that family has always struck me as odd ... unnatural.”

  “Probably Brace’s sexy hotness. From Abby’s description, that’s unnatural.” Lucy turned to look at me. “Kind of like Abby’s hotness.”

  “Luce, shut your trap.”

  She saluted me. “Yes,
your majesty.”

  Quarn shook his head. “How did you know, Lucy, the sexy-hotness of Brace is always the first thing on my mind.” He said this in a complete deadpan voice.

  I spluttered out my laughter. Quarn’s sense of humor was always unexpected.

  Lucy nodded, as if she was not surprised.

  “And Lucas is the Emperor’s son. He is the last of his line. That might be important information for you,” Quarn finished on a more serious note.

  I looked at Lucy. “We are so screwed.”

  She nodded.

  I felt a great sadness. Examining Quarn’s weathered features, I sighed. “Will I see you again?”

  “I don’t think your time in New York is finished, miqueriona.” He nodded respectfully.

  It was so old-fashioned, I couldn’t help but smile.

  Cradling the stone in his hands, Quarn stepped away, and within seconds his lips were moving, the words quietly spoken. All I knew: he wasn’t speaking English.

  A shimmer like a thousand fireflies descending in sync to form a veil set the alley wall alight. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

  Quarn shook his head, his lips moving even faster, the intensity building.

  It started slowly this time, like a whirly-wind building up strength.

  The misty glow fell over the alley again, and this time it stuck. I stared in fascination at the beauty of the shining wall.

  “It’s just like those old Christmas trees covered in fairy lights,” Lucy whispered in awe.

  I nodded, captivated, unwilling to move.

  Quarn moved closer, disturbing my love-fest. “Safe journey, little ones. Find Lallielle. She will help you to embrace your destiny.”

  He zipped the stone into my pack and, stepping around, faced me. His blue eyes were surprisingly gentle, his stern features softened, as he leaned down and laid a kiss on my forehead. Tears pricked my eyes, but with a deep breath I kept them at bay.

  “Keep the stone safe and secret, Aribella. It will seem peaceful there, especially compared to New York, but don’t be deceived; these worlds are more parallel than you think.”

  “Well, that’s comforting. Thank you,” Lucy interjected, hands on her hips in impatience.

  He smiled. “You two look after each other. It’s rare, in all of the worlds, to have someone you trust.”

  Right ... all of the worlds ... of course.

  He nudged me forward, toward the shimmering wall. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed Lucy’s hand. But I didn’t have to worry about her backing out. She was out in front, dragging me through. I closed my eyes at the moment of crossing.

  I wasn’t sure what to expect, a tingle, some type of whooshing sound, but it was calm, like stepping through an opaque mirror. One step and we were on the other side.

  Chapter 5

  I sucked in a few deep breaths. Wafts of cool, fresh air drifted lazily through my lungs. It was intoxicatingly clean, no soot, smoke or pollution. I wondered how I had missed this the last time I was here.

  “Oh, my god, Abbs, are you breathing? Tell me you’re breathing.” Lucy was next to me, eyes closed, face raised. “Un-freaking-believable.”

  I shook my head. “I keep waiting to wake up and find I’ve been in a coma for the past week.”

  Lucy’s quick grin should have been my indication, but she was too fast, reaching over to punch me – solid hit to my bicep.

  “Ouch! What the hell was that for?” I growled at her while rubbing my arm.

  “I was just reassuring you. You don’t feel pain in dreams, or coma-dreams.”

  “Oh, right. And you know this how?” I rubbed harder. Where was she hiding those muscles? “You just wanted to punch me.”

  She shrugged.

  I shook my head before taking a moment to examine my surroundings. I should be freaking out. I knew it, but instead I felt this great sense of relief. There must be elevated oxygen levels here.

  “So, are we going with alternate universe? Another planet?” Lucy’s voice was calm. Deceptively calm.

  “I have no fracking idea. I’m still trying to get my head around the fact I’m standing in dreamland.”

  “Did you just say ‘fracking’?” She shook her head.

  I shrugged. “I’m trying to clean up my potty mouth. You know, meet your mother, get mouth washed out with soap.”

  “And you think ... fracking ... is the way?” She threw me a look of dismay. “That’s terrible. Just stick with swearing.”

  I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped. “Are you kidding? It’s the best. There are at least three different curses in one.”

  She disregarded this with a wave of her hand. I knew how she felt – arguing with a crazy person could get tiring.

  “So this is your dreamland, Abbs? It’s very ... green.” She looked around.

  I laughed louder. Lucy must have been expecting her dream land – shoe stores.

  “It’s so wild and ancient looking.” She craned her neck. Her blond ponytail ruffled in the light breeze. “These trees are out-of-control tall; I think the clouds are floating through their branches.” She dragged in large deep breaths. “And this air – ah-ma-zing.”

  I nodded. “God, yes, especially compared to the crap we were breathing in New York.”

  Dust lived in New York air, like some type of symbiotic relationship. Of course, I never really noticed until right then just how bad it was.

  “Does it feel like home? I can’t believe your mother is here ... somewhere. Think about it, Abbs, you’re not from New York – maybe even Earth.” Her face fell.

  I nudged her gently to break the mood. “So I’m an alien from the jungle.” I paused, looking around at our surroundings. “Though, technically, here – you’re the alien.”

  Lucy’s expression lifted. “Word.” She nodded. “Let’s pick a direction and get this show on the road.”

  Through the towering treetops, glimpses of the sky shone through. White fluffy clouds dotted around the dark blue-ish purple. Yes, you heard right. Purple. Shaking my head, I tore my eyes from the skyline to stare at Lucy.

  “Can we take a minute to address a few things?” I held a finger up. “One – it was afternoon and freezing in New York. Here – ” I squinted into the sun. “I’m guessing mid-morning and hot, hot, hot.”

  I lifted the hem of my shirt, trying to rediscover the cool breeze. The heat was different to any I’d felt: heavy and damp. Drops of moisture already beaded my forehead. I raised a second finger.

  “And two – the sky is freaking purple.”

  Lucy shook her head at me. “Purple – seriously, Abby? Have I taught you nothing? It’s indigo.” She sighed. “I might have to get out my color chart again.”

  I shook my head. “Purple – indigo – maroon. The important part – the sky should be blue.” I took a deep breath. “And I live in constant fear of having to sit through ‘what color suits Abby?’ again.” I raised my voice in a high-pitched imitation of Lucy.

  She proceeded to both flip me off and stick her snooty nose in the air. “One day my skills will serve us well. You just wait and see. And I got nothing with the sky. I’m just going to pretend it’s normal.”

  I looked around. We were standing in the centre of a jungle that was denser than I remembered from my last visit to crazy town. I couldn’t determine any path through the vegetation. From our compound stash, I’d packed a few energy bars and three bottles of water, but that wouldn’t last long. We needed to find shelter first, followed closely by food.

  “Is that a slight pathway through there?” Lucy pointed out a small gap between what could have been two bright green ferns.

  That was my guess, anyways, because nothing back home really compared.

  I shrugged. “There doesn’t seem to be a path anywhere. We’ll have to push our way through and see what’s on the other side.”

  I moved first, the foliage hugging close on either side. Once we were past the initial large bushy plant, a type of path widened
enough for us to move more freely.

  “How old do you think this forest is?” Lucy swatted away at some small flying bugs as she followed. “These trees are as tall as skyscrapers.”

  I looked up again; the trees were massive and intimidating. I felt like a dwarf walking amongst the giants. And the noise – life echoed throughout – a chorus of insects, birds chirping and sporadic rustling throughout the undergrowth. There was nothing stagnant here.

  “This entire forest looks ancient. Back home, long ago they’d have demolished this for a housing complex or something equally useless. ”

  I shook my head, thinking of how bad the over-development problem had been in the early twenty-first century, throwing Earth’s entire eco-system out of sync. Now New York had thousands of abandoned buildings, but zero food – priorities, people.

  I gestured to nearby flowers, gorgeous orange blooms. “Imagine how pretty New York would be if there were still flowers and trees. This is the way a world should look.”

  Lucy brushed her hands through the leaves as she walked. “Eeeeeek ... eek ... crap! Get it off.” She was jumping up and down now, spider webs trailing along her arm and in her hair.

  Laughing, I helped de-web her. Luckily, there was no sign of the web owner, although Lucy made me spend an additional ten minutes double- and triple-checking her hair.

  Finally she relented, shuddering as she looked around. “You know, at least when there’re less plants there’re less bugs, and that’s fine by me.”

  Lifting my face, letting the sunlight bathe me in its glow for a moment, I shook my head. “Not me – I love plants. When I was younger I’d sneak around the compound burying seeds, but the soil was too dry and leeched of nutrients. Nothing ever grew.”

  Lucy’s eyebrows rose in astonishment. “Are you freaking kidding me? How could I not know that about you?”

  I laughed. “Gardens aren’t exactly your thing, Luce, so I just kept that little quirk to myself.”

  She nodded. “True, I can appreciate the beauty of nature as much as anyone, but I’m more about the clean sheets and walk-in wardrobe.” She paused, pulling at some missed web and leaves in her hair. “Although it’s growing on me. There’s something recharging and peaceful here. It’s hard to describe.”