Chapter 1: Daydreams

I was tossed across the field, my back collided into a boulder. My body landed with a small thud, and I laid face down on the red and orange pavement. I heard my attacker's footsteps approach me from where I laid. I was just so exhausted I could barely pick my head up to look at him. He stopped in front of me, from what I heard, the only thing I could manage was a strangled cough.

"Get up." I heard his gruff voice say. I couldn't do that, my body refused to regain energy at the moment. My breathing was heavy and coarse, the severe beating I took gave me the inability to move or speak. I was helpless as I laid there.

Suddenly I was turned over on my back, and I found myself gazing at the reddish-purplish sky. Blood leaked from my mouth, I had that awful taste in my mouth. I licked my swollen, busted lips- the least I could do- and saw my attacker's face. He had fiery hair, his eyes sharp and yellow that pierced his hatred through my very soul. His skin was originally tan, though I think it darkened from being burned.

After a cough, I made a weak attempt to inch away from him, although I failed miserably. "Please…" I muttered weakly. "Don't… kill me…" He only stood there with his cold, emotionless eyes gazing into mine. I was scared, weak, taken down, defenseless. He will kill me, and there isn't a smidge I can do about it.

"And you call yourself a wizard," He twisted his mouth to the side and spat. I watched as the saliva seeped through the cracks of the road. "Pathetic." Two of these shadowy creatures came into the picture; both in shredded cloaks and dark armor. One had a dark-skinned boy in red draped over one of its shoulders, while the other had a girl in green locked in one of its arms. They both were unconscious.

Feebly I propped myself to my elbows. From there I tried to stand, my assailant watched me as I did. Finally I made it to my feet, holding myself up with a staff I carried. Next I hear him muttering some kind of incantation, and the ground underneath us began to shake. A crack formed almost instantly between our feet. Next thing I noticed the ground split, it split! It separated me from them, a gap that

might be big enough for me to jump across.

The ground cracked around me too, and then everywhere behind me. The ground shook more and more, then shattered, like pieces of glass from a glass window a hard ball would fly through. Behind me, I saw nothing but lava. And the small square island I stood on slowly began to sink into the sea of flames below.

My horrified eyes darted at the man, who only waved his hand at me as he turned around and walked, and vanished into a portal that formed before him. The two creatures followed. I couldn't believe it. I was left here to die, my companions taken from me- probably to get killed off. And I will die right here.

With a great will to save them-and myself-I risked the jump. My free hand reaching for the ledge as I rose higher and higher from the sinking square I was standing on. And as I was going to fall straight into the lava, I gripped the edge.

Though alas, I dropped my wand.

I watched it as it fell into the lava. I yelled as I watched it melt into the flames below. My eyes shut tightly, and I felt warm liquid escape from the tightly closed eyelids. Unarmed and weakened, helpless, there was no longer any hope for me. It was the end. I am dead. Unable to restrain my emptions any longer, a muffled sob escaped past my lips, before it became more frequent and uncontrollable.

I am hopeless. I will die.

"Milly,"

My breath shuddered, for I had been startled from being snapped out of my absent mind. Though I recovered quickly, and located the owner of that voice. "Yes?" I spoke in a low tone.

It was my Physics teacher, Miss Cote-pronounced as "Coty". She pointed at the problem on the board with a whiteboard marker in her hand. "Come up and do problem 3 for us." I stared at the problem written in blue from the last seat in the front row of the classroom. I was not hesitant to get out of my seat and walk myself over to the teacher to take the marker from her. After a glance at all my classmates I withdrew my eyes from them to the whiteboard as quickly as possible. Even though it is a small class, I find it nerve-racking for all of their attention to be focused on me, as shy as I am. Still, I turned my back on all of them and made my way to the board.

The problem was easy; I am looking for the voltage of an object described on the problem in the worksheet. The equation is: V=IR. The current in the circuit is 3.9 amps, while the motor has an operating resistance of 37 ohms. And all I have to do to get the answer is multiply. It was cake. Just, when I began to write the problem out; my hand begins to shake. I can't write my answer! And I know I would be able to put down the equation and everything regardless of how shy I am, I've done it many times before. Oh why can't I write it down already?!

"Is everything alright, Milly?" Miss Cote asks me.

I turned my head to answer. But before I could let a single breath out of my mouth, a girl from the back of the room speaks out loud. "Obviously she's too afraid she would get it wrong. So why not let me do it instead so you wouldn't have to waste your time?" My eyes made their way to the owner of that voice. Of course, it's the rotten Stephanie Crow.

From where her desk was she strutted her way to the front of the class, her long, russet shiny hair swaying back and forth. Her azure short skirt bouncing with each step she took. Her white T-shirt with a fake yellow flower pinned to the upper right above her breast shined in the brightness of the room. Her black, polished Velcro shoes matched perfectly with the white socks she wore that reached to her knees. Oh how much I envied her. She's the most popular girl in school, she has nice clothes and wonderfully lush hair. And the boys practically slobber over her! As mean and snotty as she is. It makes me so mad and she makes me so sick.

Finally she makes it up here. Her back is towards me. "Allow me," she says to the teacher. When she turned to face me, she snatched the marker out of my grip and stepped right where I was standing, pushing me out of the way. I stumbled to the side and gave her my hardest look, which she ignored completely. With that, I was forced to sit down while she writes the answer to the problem that was given to me to do. I hate her.

My one and only true friend-well only friend period-Ellen supported me with a smile from where she sat, which was right behind me. I am glad she is always there for me, she's the only one I can trust and talk to with ease. As a fifteen year old, I'm not really like that with my parents, the same case for my sisters. But Ellen I know I can trust, also she understands me more.

Finally the period is over, and everyone except for my best friend leaves before me. Ah, well, I'm about to begin my fourth class, Algebra 1, another small and easy class. It is not my worst class, but my best. I love math! I find it pretty easy, like science, kinda. I don't know. I was always told that I seemed academically advanced for my age. Though, I shan't go into that.

And anyway, let me hurry and bring my day at school home now. It was terrible! At lunch, Stephanie purposely spilled milk on the floor, I slipped and fell, and my tray of food found its way onto my shirt. And the butt part of my jeans was now wet with milk. She laughed at me, everyone did-except for my friend of course. I got up and was all gross. Yuck.

Then sixth period came. When I came into the class, I stepped on someone's nasty gum that had to be spitted out moments ago. I sighed and made my way to my seat right there in the front. Here comes wicked Stephanie strutting into the classroom, as usual, and she walks up to my desk.

I looked at her like she was crazy. "Can I help you?"

She flicked her hair behind her before she rested her hands on her hips. "You will, by getting out of my seat."

Rolling my eyes, I argued. "But this is my seat."

Folding her arms over her chest, she smirked. "Not anymore." Next thing I know, she motioned for a tall dark-skinned girl to come over. I grimaced; Bertha Eve. Everyone was afraid of her. I remember how many dudes she fought, and there was this one that was twice her size. She beaten each and every one of them badly. All of the men-and a girl once-that she beat up, all of them either moved out of the state or just transferred to a different school.

When she came over she stared me down. I trembled, and felt smaller that I usually do. She's never hit me or anything. But I'm afraid that it could change sooner than I thought.

Her gruff voice finally says, "Get up." I jumped, though I refused to move. This was my seat, and I'm not moving because Bertha and Stephanie are telling me to. But whatever happens, I hope her large fist doesn't make contact with my face. She stares at me with that hard, intimidating look. Not interested into another stare down with her, I turned my head straight forward, looking at the wall with posters and papers stapled to it.

Soon I heard her said, "Okay." and abruptly my desk was tilted sideways. I fell right out of it, landing face first. I got up and picked up my backpack that fell beside me, Stephanie parked her little funky behind in my seat. Big black Bertha left to go to her's. And I stood there, seat-less.

Anger replaced my astonishment, I spoke my next sentence through my clenched teeth. "And where am I supposed to sit?" I followed the direction of her index finger with my eyes as that will lead to my answer. I winced when I saw my new seat next to Albert, the small, pale, bony kid with those ugly square glasses with the tape in the middle. She was put in that spot yesterday. She changes her seat like this all the time; forcing people out of their seats so she can sit there. And the teacher will say nothing. It's so strange.

Without arguing even further, I made my way to my new seat, not looking at my new neighbor the entire time.

…

Today's nightmare is finally over, and winter vacation officially starts now. And I am very glad that the stress of everyday life as a freshman in high school can finally come to rest for about a week. And that means…I can finally focus entirely on my original novel I hope to publish one day: The Magical Express.

Ellen and I walked from the school grounds and into town. We stopped at an outdoor café; Ellen ordered us drinks while I picked a table for us, and sat down once I did. To be honest it's rather warm this year, too warm to snow that is. To my disappointment, it did not snow one this year, ever. And I was so hoping for a white Christmas too… Even a few delays or cancellations would have been nice too. Unfortunately, none of the above happened.

When she came back with the drinks, I told her everything that happened in my English class. She rolled her eyes. "That's the Wicked Witch of the west for you." I agreed with her, though I highly disbelieve that's a strong enough name for her.

I sighed. "Hopefully she's taking her broomstick with her for the week, and I'll be rid of the curse of her presence."

She smiled in a laughing manner. "Let's hope for the best." I can see how nicely her sandy hair glows in the sun, which is up in a braid. As for her bright emerald eyes, goodness, I wished I had her eyes, instead of dull and silly bluish-grey. She is wearing a pink tank top and a brown skirt with flowery designs on it. She wore rosy flats, which were light pink at the top, also where there was some sort of pattern. Sometimes she would wear her black framed glasses, like today.

We talked for the next few hours about the week vacation, what our plans were, our lives at home, movies, celebrity gossip, a bunch of things. She told me that she was staying at a hotel for a few days and asked if I would like to come, her parents said I was more than welcome to join. I told her I would not be able to make it, simply because I wouldn't feel as comfortable as I would be if it was me and my family. I could imagine how lonely it must be for her, because she has no siblings. And I have two- I wouldn't mind trading places with her for a day.

Then we looked at a menu the café had on the table. Some of the food on there looked really good. The hotdogs and hamburgers especially. My- I hope I'm having one or the other for dinner tonight! I know Ellen doesn't care much for those things, for she is a vegetarian.

Afterwards I checked my watch. It read: 5:57. It must be the right time, for the sky started turning a pinkish-orange. Both of us left the café and separated once we got to the residential area. She lived a street down from me. I entered my house to see dinner on the table already. To my somewhat dissatisfaction, it was neither hotdogs or hamburgers. Instead, I see breakfast food: eggs, bacon, sausages, and toast. The strawberry and grape jams in the center. A gallon of orange juice in the center with the jam, a cup placed next to each of the five plates. Ah, well, what the heck? This still looks yummy, even though my wish for tonight's meal wasn't fulfilled.

My mom turned around from the stove to me with a smile. "Welcome home, sweetie. You're just in time for dinner." then she shouts, "Dinner's ready!" Both my younger sister Alli and my dad came running from the living room and immediately took a seat. I'll bet they're starving too.

I shared a grin with my mom as I took a seat myself. "Dig in," she tells us. "It's breakfast for dinner!"

Already stuffing his mouth, my dad says, "One of my favorites!" and continued eating. My mom and sister giggled, I rolled my eyes. Men.

My older sister, Milla, finally comes down to join us. I can't really stand her too much either, though no one can reach a higher level than Stephanie Crow. Milla is supposedly goth now. She has been ever since her seventh grade. I remember how I first thought of becoming goth, but I knew it wouldn't fit me, so I never did. However I still like the style. It's just that- I don't think I'm worthy of it. Though Milla's moody and ill-tempered personality suits it just fine.

She finally makes it to the table, says nothing to no one, sits down and began picking at her food. We all stared at her for a good moment or so. Dad and Alli went back to their meals quietly, I rolled my eyes and went back to my food. Though mom smiles and tried to make conversation with her.

"What's on your mind, hon?"

She sighed. "Nothing, really." she took a small bite of her scrambled egg.

I was eating my breakfast-dinner like a scavenger. I skipped breakfast this morning, and my lunch did not make it into my mouth. So of course I was hungry. I nearly devoured all of my waffles, I ate all of my bacon, except for some fatty parts. My eggs and toast vanished into my belly almost instantly, and I drunk all of my orange juice in one go, basically. And to top it all off: I let out a big, long belch.

I must have been oblivious to all of the stares I was given, because I've just now noticed them. Even Alli and dad who were way into their food stopped to watch my barbaric consumption. I know I'm with my family, but it was still embarrassing. I was a downright pig. I've skipped breakfast and lunch before without eating like this. To cover it up, I placed a hand near my mouth. "Excuse me."

Since I was done I left for the living room. And as I sat on the couch, I thought of my story. The characters go on an adventure in a crazy, magical world. Full of mysterious creatures, and-and witches! I was always into things such as wizards and magic…Oh, and dragons too. I wonder, is there any such place like that? A world full of magic? Wizards and dragons? I hope so. And if there is; I hope to find it.

I want to find a world like that, and I just know there is a place like that, somewhere. Wherever it is: I will find it. And I will explore every inch and nook there is. I am positive I will receive some kind of magical powers too. So this goes without saying: I want to become a wizard. I want to be the first human from Earth to ever set foot into…it.