"Desert (chapter one)" by Natalie Beth Myers

Natasha opened her eyes slowly. All she could see was her fluffy white pillow. She buried her face in her pillow, letting sleep take over. She suddenly realized the blanket wasn’t over her. It wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t warm either. Without looking, she groped around for it. Her hand never brushed against it. She turned her head to see around for the blanket. Natasha gasped in horror and shock. Her brown eyes were wide with fright, begging that this was just a dream. She wasn’t in her white room. Her younger sister who she shared a room with was no longer there either. Instead, she was in a black void, only a few colors swirling around. My dream! she thought in distress.

Natasha sat up slowly, pinching herself. She didn’t wake up. She tugged at her hair violently, hoping the pain would wake her up. After twelve seconds of pain and horror, she groped for the side of the bed. Her dark-shinned hand reached the side of it, feeling nothing underneath.

She lunged to see what was underneath her, only to find the swirling void. Natasha was sitting on a platform with absolutely nothing underneath her, terrified and alone. She pulled her legs to her chest, remember what had happened to the night. Where am I? she thought, What is happening.

She tried to remember everything that had happened to her. She went to the day before. Natasha tried to remember everything:

“Wake, Tasha!” her nine-year-old sister said, shaking her, “If you don’t, you’ll miss the bus and be late for school.”

Natasha, a normal fourteen year old girl, sat up in bed, blinking. “What time is it?” she asked, “It feels like I just fell asleep a few seconds ago.”

Her sister Janny shrugged. Natasha got out of bed, her dark brown feet touching the soft carpet. Janny had already left. Natasha changed out of her clothes she slept in, (not pajamas) a light green tee-shirt with brown trousers, changing into her uniform. Her uniform, a hideous dark blue shirt with skirt, was old and ragged.

Natasha was an African American with long black hair and dark brown eyes. She was kind and sweet, helping her sister in school and homework. Natasha was also quiet and shy, always doing as she was told and never picking any fights or enter arguments.

She walked down stairs, looking around. Her home was small, but large enough to fit three people and a few guests. Natasha lived alone with her mother and sister. Her parents had gotten a divorce about a year ago, and they were still trying to get enough money to live comfortably.

Natasha walked into the kitchen, pouring herself some cereal, and then sitting down at the table. Janny was almost finished with her cereal, chewing loud like usual. Their dog Porthos, (they were huge Star Trek Enterprise fans) an adorable miniature beagle, sat down next to her chair, giving her large innocent brown eyes. Scratching behind his ears, she continued eating.

Their mother hurried into the kitchen. “Are you two almost done eating?” she asked. Their mother was a middle aged woman with curly black hair. She had a sweet smile, but Natasha hardly saw it. Her mother was still getting over her father leaving them. She missed him terribly.

“I just started,” Natasha said.

“Did you sleep in again, Tasha?” she asked, sounding distressed.

Janny said, “She didn’t sleep well again. I know. I heard her mumbling in her sleep. She kept on saying ‘the void, the void.’ What were you talking about?”

“Nothing,” Natasha said quickly, “It is just a dream.”

They heard a long car horn outside. Their mother said, “Quickly! Hurry out! You lunches are next to the door. See ya two later.”

Natasha, forgetting her cereal, raced for the door. She grabbed her lunch and shoes, running to the bus. She entered, hearing a few sneers and chuckles. She usually got that, but would talk to her schoolmates warmly.

Natasha heard someone call, “Tasha! Over here!”

Natasha hurried towards her friend Sally. Sally, like most of the kids at her school, was white. She had a beautiful smile, short but dazzling blonde hair cropping her face. Her blue eyes always had a sparkle that would brighten Natasha’s darkest day.

“Sleep well?” Sally asked, “Did you see the void again?”

“Yep,” she said, putting on her tennis shoes.

Sally looked concerned, “What happened?”

“The usual,” Natasha said, “Absolutely nothing.”

Her friend sat back as the bus started to move. “Maybe these dreams mean something,” she said, looking back at Natasha, “What if they are telling you something.”

“Like what?” Natasha said, “These are just dreams, Sal. They aren’t supposed to mean anything.”

Sally looked worried, “They might. You never know.”

Natasha desperately tried to remember, only remembered that the whole school day was a big blur. Everything happened so fast. She zipped through her classes, stopping a few fights with her gentle words, (she could do that) and then getting back on the bus going home. She can remember flashes of eating dinner, getting ready for bed, and then getting in bed.

The next thing that comes next is waking up in the void. Natasha sighed. She stood up, looking around. Nothing was in sight other than swirls of colors. Natasha suddenly broke into to tears. What would happen to her? Where is she and where would she go if anywhere?

She didn’t know how long she stood there crying. Time didn’t matter in a place like this.

She held herself, looking around again. Natasha suddenly saw something open up. It was a small opening, and Natasha couldn’t make distance in a place like this. For what seemed to take ages and only a couple of seconds, the opening was there. A massive gate way. Natasha gasped. It was a gateway to another world.