• They used to always tell us that when we died, there were only two places we could go: Heaven and Hell. In all actuality, our dreams are actually an alternate earth. What we wish to be, is. What we strive for, is ours. Our every whim is fulfilled. To the awake, it is our Heaven. To the dreamers, it is our Utopia. But for every Heaven, there is a Hell. For every Utopia, there is a Dystopia. Half of our alternate earth is our Paradise, but the other half is our Dystopia. Our every fear is realized and enhanced. Our dreams backfire against us to become our worst Nightmares.


    Chapter one: Pteri

    Huff, Huff.
    An orange blur whizzed by the trees, trying to use the dark as a cover.
    Whzzzzz!
    Another blur, purple in color, was not too far behind the orange tinted blur. “You can’t run forever!” A tired voice screamed out.
    “I can sure try!” The blur screamed back, rushing up the trees through the canopy and into the air. The light blinded the blur, which was actually a woman. Her flaming red hair was cut short and cropped around her face accenting her red eyes and pointed ears. Her skin was a sunset orange color, covered by a red tank top and black shorts. The woman fell back into the tree tops, covering her eyes from the bright light. As her eyes came refocused, she saw a purplish figure looming over her.
    “You just never listen do you, Pteri? The last thing we need is for you to get lost.” Staring down at her was her Guardian, Amis. His hair was cut short to the scalp, completely out of the way of his blue glasses. Strangely enough, his blue eyes held amusement.
    “You know Amis; one of these days I will find a way to out maneuver you. Now help me up.” Amis sighed and held out his hand reluctantly. Pteri took his hand and was hauled up quickly.
    This was the daily routine for Pteri and Amis. Pteri would get tired of her daily assignments and try to run away from them. Soon after that Amis would find out, catch up, and force her to go back to her duties. One could call Amis a guardian, but he was more a father figure. His official occupation was Guardian. He made sure that she didn’t stray to far from her responsibilities as Queen Pteri of the Faeries.
    “Come now, Pteri. The sooner we get you back to your palace, the sooner you can go home.” Amis gripped her arm tight and started dragging her the long way home. He lectured her on the importance of her position, her duties, and more things that Pteri tuned out. When they had gotten to her room, he was still blabbering on.
    “Look, Amis, I love you dearly. But please get to the point of this lecture.” Pteri crawled under the covers and snuggled against her stuffed moose.
    “Pteri, one of these days I just hope that you understand what you have been chosen to do.” He went on for several more minutes of his long monologue. When he paused to ask her a question, Pteri was fast asleep and out of this world. Amis sighed and tucked her in. For someone who was so high and mighty, she never took advantage of it. She was a good Queen, albeit childish. He kissed her forehead and walked out of her room to join her in the other world.

    *~*

    Pteri awoke to the blaring of her alarm clock. She couldn’t stand the stupid thing. For certain alarms, she had to do different things. Since today was a Friends theme, she had to go to work. As she dragged herself around to get ready, the previous night’s dream came together. She’s always had a variant of that dream. She could remember her dreams as far back as when she was an infant. Strange for a human being, but it was what it was. Pteri never had a nightmare in her life, let alone a slightly gone bad dream.
    “Pteri, what’s for breakfast?” Yelled one of her siblings, and by the high masculine voice it was her younger brother.
    “Who ate the last of my Honey Nut Chex?” Screamed her older sister.
    As usual, she ignored them. She calmly walked down the stairs, said “Good Morning!”, and went out the door. She was going to help out in her Church’s office and the last thing she needed was a bad start to the morning. Pteri pulled out her iPod touch and relaxed to the hard and fast beats of Christian Rock. As she walked across the parking lot, she said hello to the dragonflies and the birds. As she was about to open the door, a hand rested itself on her shoulder. She really wished she hadn’t worn a tube top, even if it was a cute orange one.
    “Hey, Pteri, where have you been lately?” Pteri knew that voice anywhere. It was her second “father” Chad Amis. He was wearing his normal T-Shirt and jean shorts. He had an adorable little kid aura around him, even if he was forty-something. “And what in the world are you wearing?”
    “I’ve been around, just not here. I’m wearing what is known to some as a tube top, orange in color. They just happen to go great with my black pants with orange graffiti on it. Is there anything wrong with them?” Pteri knew he wouldn’t say anything about them. He hardly ever did say anything, except that she always looked beautiful.
    “No, there’s nothing wrong with them. You always look beautiful.” So predictable, she thought to herself.
    “Alright,” She opened the door and held it open for him. He pulled the door out of her reach and motioned for her to walk in, “but why are you here? You told me that you didn’t have to do anything for the rest of the week. What’s the deal? Come to spy on me?”
    If African-Americans could blush, he would be blushing really hard. Eventually he stammered out, “N-no, I just came here to see if Alicia had the things I asked her to order.”
    “Oh.” Pteri was slightly joyful. The last thing she needed was more boy drama. “Ok, I’ll check for you.” She walked into the office and smiled at her boss. Alicia was a down to earth woman, but she was kind of mean sometimes. Take what she said when Chad and Pteri walked in:
    “Hi, Chad! You’re a little late. You’re things were hauled off to the dump this morning.”
    “Yea, yea. Where’s my stuff?” He looked around and saw a box with his name on it. “Funny.” He grabbed the box and pointed to Pteri and the Door. She got his message and waited for him to leave.
    “Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that head of his. But that was kind of mean Alicia.” She waved away Alicia’s response and walked out the door.
    Chad was waiting for her outside. “Pteri, we need to talk.”
    Pteri wondered what was up. Chad sounded more serious with her than he’s ever been, except when she’s asking for advice. “What’s up?”
    He covered her mouth. “Not here. Not safe. I don’t know who’s a conspirator.”
    Pteri pulled away from his hand. “Who’s a conspirator? Have you gone cuckoo for coco puffs?”
    “Will you just be quiet? First off, I want you to call me Chad here, but in the other world call me Amis.” He pulled her towards his car and smiled innocently when they got there. “One last thing before I have to go: No matter what they say, you are not a mistake. You are meant to be the Queen of Faeries. Don’t ever forget it.” He drove away and left her standing there.
    “Huh?”
    Pteri was more confused than ever, but she went along with whatever that man was talking about. Who wouldn’t want to be a queen? She went back to work and finished her daily tasks of answering the phone and doing paperwork. When she finished, she waved goodbye to Alicia and made her way home. On the way home, she got a phone call. It was a weird number, but she always answered her phone.
    “Dígame.” Pteri answered.
    “Is this Pteri Johnson?” An unfamiliar male voice asked.
    “I haven’t changed my name in awhile. Who is this?” Pteri never got really concerned about a phone call, but she got a vibe that said something was up.
    “Ah yes, Pteri. It’s so nice to finally be able to talk to you. I am Jarvis. Do you know who I am?” Pteri thought this man was extremely insane, along with Chad. Who in their right mind would tell her who he was and then ask if she knew who he was.
    “I believe you are Jarvis.” She joked.
    “You are always a jokester. In this world I am Jarvis Demetri Ross, a lawyer in Ross and Willis.” He chuckled to himself for a moment. “My partner is Juliet Willis. She is your parents’ lawyer.”
    Pteri had never heard of any Juliet Willis, but she knew her parents kept a shady dealing when it came to major things. She sighed. “What is with you people and saying, ‘this world’? It’s earth. America. Norfolk, Virginia. Another thing: why in the world would I know who you are when you have no association with me, my family, or my friends?” She hoped that the so-called Jarvis heard the annoyance in her voice.
    “I only say ‘this world’ because there are two worlds, you silly child. Most people never realize it. Only those who had been born in the other world know about it. Some humans have figured it out, but in most cases it’s because someone told them. I am Jarvis, the head of your Royal Guard. I would have been your Guardian if Amis hadn’t shown up. Anyway, I am coming to pick you up. Make sure you are at the corner when I do. I’ll answer your other question then.”
    Pteri was so confused, but she did as she was told. She rushed home and got her iPhone, a pencil, and some paper. She sat at the corner of her street, listening to music and drawing little faeries.