The Inkworld
Meggie, Mo, Dustfinger, Elinor, Farid, Basta, Capricorn. I brushed my fingers over the cover of Inkheart, my favorite book in the world. I wished so badly I could be part of their story, to know them, to live like them. I wanted to be able to read things out of books, or become part of the story. Of course, I knew it wasn't as fun as it sounded, in fact I knew it was horrible, but I was drawn to the unmistakable call for adventure.
Opening the book I tried to let the words flow off my tongue, as sweet as honey and pure as an ice cold spring. I tried to make it effortless, like Mo, or Meggie. I tried to taste each word and paint the air with their hidden beauty and magic. But I tried in vain. The words turned to ash in my mouth as I stumbled over words, turned as foul as a polluted river. I could hear the straining in them, all I could taste was the sourness of disappointment, all I could see was the bright white inviting page covered in big, dark, juicy words blurring as tears of frustration came to my eyes. I wanted to go to another world, the world where Meggie and Mo and Dustfinger and Gwin and Farid and Elinor and Basta and Capricorn lived NOW!!
I shut the book and sniffled, wiping away the burning tears with the back of my hand. My head connected with my fluffy pillow as I laid down, silently sobbing. I wanted to be there so much. My heart ached longingly for the place where the words of an authors pen and the voice of a man brought two villains to life. The two best villains I've ever yet known in books. Capricorn and Basta. Basta was my favorite, he was so... evil, but he did have his faults, which made him very believable. My heart ached even more , with a sigh I rolled over and opened Inkheart to the beginning. Even if it gave me so much pain, reading a book always made me feel better, unless it was some stupid school book. I hated assigned books, they never gave you a sense of freedom, of going there any time you could, it was all stiff and unreal.
My tears subsided and my breathing became regular as I fell into Inkheart's spell. The story of how a young girl named Meggie and her bookbinder (book doctor) father, Mo, face the kind of adventure that only happens in books.
I was so inthralled I didn't even see the shadows surrounding me growing darker, dampening the color of the flowers, or feel that it was growing steadily colder and I was no longer on my soft bed, and hear the whisper of wind, or smell the clear air, until a burst of flames as bright as day light up the sky and a laugh followed it.
I looked up and right in front of me was a man breathing fire. The harsh orange glow lit up his ragged face and clearly showed three long scars carved in his face. I heard the book drop with a soft thunk. That man was Dustfinger! I was sure of it!