Part One: Why do I get the feeling that something went wrong here?

Chapter One: Ouch.

Wait! Okay, before we start this fabulous story--

Violeta: Which would be when, again?

Me: Shut up, Vi. I'm about to introduce you!

Violeta:-grumbles-

Me: Anyhow, as I was saying, before we start off my fabulous new story—

Violeta: You're story? Ha! You just wrote down my story on a piece of paper and put your name on it!

Me: Moving on. Anyhow, as I was saying this story is much too long and complicated for me to work on, seeing as I've two other stories in process at the moment. So, to lighten the load, I am hereby handing over this story to you, Vi.

Violeta: W-what? Are you flipping serious?

Me: -nods- But don't get too carried away, now! I'll be coming back to check on you!

Violeta: Yeah, yeah. But can you believe it? She's letting me call the shots now! Thought she'd never let me out of the dark crevasses of her mind!

Me: No need to tell the general public about that….

Violeta: I mean, I thought I'd never get out of there—

Me: Vi! Enough! You have a story to write, and this A/N is getting way too long. So, I'm leaving to go work on The Girl in the Other Room now. Be good.

Violeta: Yes, Mother.

Me: Don't forget to do the declaimer! I'm too young to get sued!

Violeta: I'll put it at the end. Are we done yet, Caris?

Me: I suppose…Well, I've said all I can say! Later people! –vanishes-

Violeta: Finally. I thought we'd never get rid of her……

And now, on with the freaking story…….

Have you ever lain awake at night, staring straight up at your ceiling, not able to sleep? Ever felt like there was enough energy in your body to power all of New York city, and possibly L.A.? Well, that was how I felt late that Saturday night. I was trying, and failing, to go to sleep. I'd tried counting sheep, clearing my mind, drinking warm milk, ect. Nothing seemed to work. My very molecules seemed to running at high speed. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt so hyper and skittish.

I turned over in bed to look at my clock. I groaned. It was two a.m. Two in the flipping morning. I sat up, curling myself into a small ball. I put my head in my hands, massaging my temples. There was no way I was getting any sleep. Not tonight.

I climbed out of bed, shivering. It was early December, and it was just below forty degrees where I lived. In fact, the weather reports suggested a snow storm might be coming our way next week. Now, I didn't usually trust the weather reports, but my mentor, Lucy, had backed them up. "It's gonna be a killer," she had said, lifting her nose to the wind.

Ignoring the cold I stripped down to my bare essentials, quickly rummaging through my closet for something to wear. Since I was so restless, I decided a quick walk down the street might settle my nerves. I reached in and grabbed a pair of jeans and a long sleeved shirt. Fumbling in the dark I put my clothes on. I then slipped my cardigan over my shirt and stuffed my cell phone in one of my back pockets. You know, just in case I was attacked by rabid dogs or something.

"Meow?" I glanced down at my kitty-cat, Black Demon. He was staring up at me intently, his deep green eyes seeming to stare into my soul.

"I'm just going out for a quick walk, 'kay? I'll be back before you know it, Blackie." My cat protested loudly as I walked past him and out of my bedroom, but he might as well have been trying to wrestle a troll. My two sisters, Abigail and Brianna, were the only other two people on this floor of the house, and you'd need a foghorn to wake them up. When they were gone, they were gone baby.

I crept down the stairs of my house, tiptoeing past my parents bedrooms. They were lighter sleepers, and though I knew they couldn't hear Blackie howling upstairs, I was still on guard. My mother had the uncanny ability to awake just when I was planning on slipping out of the house. But, surprisingly, she didn't stir as I opened and closed the door to my house. Maybe that should've been my first clue that something was wrong.

As soon as I was free I skipped down the front steps leading up to my house. I breathed in the scent of pine trees and shivered. Normally I didn't like the cold, but tonight it felt refreshing. Like I was burning up on the inside and the air was cooling me down.

This will be henceforth known as clue number two.

I swung my arms back and forth, moving at an easy pace down the street. I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling like I could run a marathon. God, I felt like I could run past a few state borders! I moved faster, feeling the wind on my cheeks. The moon was full and shining down upon me, its gentle light a comfort.

Soon I just couldn't help it; I ran. I starting running, and couldn't stop. I felt like I was going to explode into the night and beyond. I was pumping my arms by my sides, my breath coming out in short gasps that I could see. I no longer felt cold. In fact, I was practically sweating. It seemed like there were burning coals in the pits of my stomach, burning their way through my skin.

Strike three and you're out.

Not that there was really anything I could have done at this point. The energy was already running through me, faster than ever. I was seeing a rainbow's worth of colors, and I could hear the wind roaring in my ears. My body felt weightless, and the burning feeling was spreading to every part of me. By the time I realized what was happening, it was far too late. My connections with my world were dropping, growing fainter and fainter as the burning feeling spread. New connections to an unknown destination were being made, and I could feel myself being pulled and stretched, twisted in different directions. I tried to scream, but there was no air in my lungs. I didn't even have the power to stop running. My legs just kept moving with a mind of their own, until they were transparent, until there was nothing left of them, until there was hardly anything left of me…

It was around then that I fell through the portal.

*

Okay, so I guess I owe everyone here an explanation.

My name is Violeta Parker. I'm fourteen years old, live with my parents and sisters, go to school….Basically I'm your average teenager. You wouldn't be able to pick me out of a line-up, I'm so unnoticeable. Well, except for one tiny detail.

I'm a witch.

Now, I know that the first thing you're going to say is: "A witch? You mean, like, Samantha or Sabrina?" And the first thing I will say in response is: "No, more like women you heard about when you read about the Salem witch trials. You know, the ones that enjoy cursing people for all of eternity?" I mean, really. We live in the 21st century for crying out loud! Can't a girl we a witch and not carry around a caldron?

Apparently not.

But, anyway, I'm getting off topic. You see, the point is, that I'm not strictly normal. Now, don't get the idea that I run around on a broomstick, cursing everyone from here to Salisbury. I just happen to have a few talents. One of them being Portaling.

Now, what's Portaling, you ask? Well, basically it's a witch's way of traveling through the different dimensions, time periods, and Otherworlds. Not every witch is a Portaler. Only certain witches, the kind that are more in touch with the Earth and nature, have the knack for Portaling. I just happen to be one of them.

Portaling isn't easy. You can't just snap your fingers and pop up in 1958. No, to Portal you need to build up the magick in your system and release in a controlled state, your destination clear in your mind. If you don't control your magick you could Portal virtually anywhere. And when I say anywhere, I mean anywhere. A lose cannon Portaler is a witch's worst nightmare. With no idea where you are or where you're going, things could easily get messy.

So, now do you see why I'm totally screwed?

*

There's no way to describe Portaling. It's like being hot and cold all at once. It's like have no weight with the world pressing down upon your shoulders. You feel excited and at the same time so scared you think you might wet yourself. This was basically my experience.

Finally, after what seemed like hours but was probably only a minute, I landed. Seeing as how I haven't Portaled anywhere in four months my landing was a bit off. And when I say a bit, I mean I slammed into a wall and then landed on the ground, staring up at a ceiling.

Oh, crap, I thought, moaning. I hadn't had a Portal land this bumpy since the time I tried to land on top of my roof, twenty years in the past. I rolled over, mentally checking my body for abnormalities. After a moment I determined that nothing was broken or sprained, just badly bruised. I slowly picked myself up, trying to determine where I was.

Well, I'm defiantly in this dimension, I thought, noting how normal and human the room seemed. It looked abandoned, as though it hadn't been used for years. This was good. This meant that I wouldn't be attracting anyone's attention and would be able to figure out where I was in peace.

I slowly stood, glancing around the room for something that would tell me what year it was. I wonder if I'm in one of the Otherworlds, I thought, glancing around. More than likely I had just jumped back a few months, maybe a few years, and would be able to call up Lucy for help getting back. She'd Portal over to me and we'd be on our merry way by sunrise.

Creak. I whipped around. Something had defiantly made a noise, and whatever it was was too heavy to be a mouse. I peered into the gloom, wishing I'd eaten more carrots in my early childhood. Night vision would really come in handy at moments like these.

"Hello?" I called out, trying to make my voice firm. "Anyone there?" The gloom didn't respond. A normal person might've just passed of the creak as the old house groaning. But I wasn't normal. Right now all of my witch senses were on hyper alert. I opened my hands so my palms were facing outward. I felt the energy and magick that had been building up inside of me all night race into my arms, singing in my veins. Come on out, punk, I thought. I dare you.

Creak. There it was again! This time I knew for sure I wasn't imagining things. I lowered my body so that my weight was distributed evenly, my arms extended. I pulled my lips back over my teeth and sniffed the air. Something was defiantly there, waiting in the shadows. Something human. No, wait, not human. Something else….something feathery?

I was just about to call out into the gloom again when a girl around my age in holey jeans and a plain T-shirt stepped out of the shadows. I gasped and backpedaled despite myself. She was just so…fierce-looking. Everything thing about her gave off the general vibe: stay away from me unless you live near a hospital. She had sensibly short dirty-blond hair. She was lean and muscular, her hands clenched into fists. I instantly knew that if it came down to a fist fight that she would win, no doubt about it. I would just have to pray that I had enough tricks up my sleeves to get away.

"Who are you?" the girl asked, her voice so low and gravely it sounded like a growl.

"Um, a figment of your imagination?" For a moment the girl's lips twitched, but then all signs of humor were gone.

"I mean it," she said, taking a step forward. "Who are you? Why are you here?" I gulped. How the heck was I supposed to explain to this girl that I was a Portaling witch who'd lost her way?

"I…um, I…" I started backing up again. My eyes flicked to the window on my right. I was just about to try and make a jump for it when a tall dark-haired boy appeared at the fierce girl's side.

"I think you'd better answer her question," he said. I shivered. His voice was like ice.

"Yeah, you don't want to make Max angry." Out of the shadows yet another boy came. My god, how many of them where there?

"I, uh, think it's a little late for that," I said, gulping. The newest boy was pale as moonlight with strawberry-blonde hair and light blue eyes. These three scared me, but all of them seemed familiar somehow. Where have I heard the name Max before?

Well, as much as I would have liked to contemplate this, my time was running out, and her numbers were increasing. For, just as I thought this, another girl stepped out of the shadows. She was younger that the other three, but just as tough-looking. I had no doubt that she could also kick my butt into next Tuesday without even batting an eye. I needed to get out of there. Fast.

"Listen, Max, I would really love to stay and chat, but I really do have to—" Suddenly a look of horror crossed my face. "Holy crap, what the heck is that?!" For a split second the kids turned and I used that to make a break for the door. I ran so fast I almost left my stomach by the window.

"Get her!" Max yelled. My heart pounding I slammed the door shut on them, turning to run down the hall. I ran blindly, my breath coming out in gasps. It was soon clear to me that these kids were also insanely fast. I had a head start, though, and I used that advantage as much as possible.

"Gazzy! Angel! Stop her!" Suddenly two more kids popped out in front of me. Seriously, were these guys coming out of the wallpaper or something?

No time to think about that. Instead I flung up my arms, summing my magick. It raced down my arms and pooled in my palms and fingertips. I felt the air around and in front of me, and quickly sent a large blast of it careening at the two smaller children. The two shocked kids stumbled and that was all the opportunity I needed. I pushed past them and flew down the corridor.

Come on, come on! Where's the freaking exit? I continued running as the confused sounds of angry street-kids sounded behind me. There! I just about wept with joy when I saw the stairway.

And, the sad thing is, I would have made it, too. I started down the stairway, a head start to my advantage, but, being the klutz I am, tripped on the first step. I fell, face forward, down an entire flight of stairs. Looking back on it, I suppose I'm lucky that I didn't break my neck, but all I could think right then was, Oh, crap, this hurts! I bounced down what must have been fifteen steps, landing in a heap at the bottom.

"Ahhh," I moaned. I was seeing spots and my legs were too wobbly to move. I curled up in a ball, trying to remember my name when the lead street-kid, Max, suddenly appeared before me. She wasn't even breathing hard, despite the energy I knew it must have taken to run down the stairs that fast. She was sneering at me, her lips pulled over her teeth. In seconds her friends caught up, surrounding me. I managed to pull myself into a sitting position as the street-kids closed in.

"Now," the girl said, "you're going to answer my questions. Who are you? Who sent you?" She leaned in closer, which as it turned out, was a big mistake.

I threw up my hands, letting my magick course through them, through the air. I could feel the particles beneath my fingertips buzzing, every one of them alive. I quickly brought them together, solidifying the air in front of me. Within milliseconds I had a miniature shield wrapped around me, separating me from the street-kids. Obviously Max hadn't realized this yet since she didn't even flinch when my hands came up. To her there would only be a slight shimmer in the air.

"I said who sent you?" she repeated. I didn't answer. Instead, keeping my hands up, I rose to my feet. All of the street-kids watched me, none of them suspecting a thing. They obviously though my open hands were a symbol of surrender. They were wrong. When a witch, especially a Portal witch, put up her hands, you are in for hell. When we put up our hands it isn't to signal for surrender; it's a signal of war.

"Stand back," I said, trying to look braver than I felt. The younger, light-haired boy snickered.

"Or what?" the older, darker boy said. I shrugged.

"Fine then. Try and fight me." The oldest girl, Max, burst out laughing. My eyes narrowed and the air around me buzzed with energy.

"F-fight y-y-you?" she asked in between giggles. "Are you kidding me? I could fight you in my sleep!" This made me madder. The air around me was practically sparkling with magick now. It would take an SUV for the street-kids to get past my anger-fueled shield now.

"Well, if you're too much of a buttercup to, I understand. I mean, you wouldn't want to break a nail, now would you?" This comment stopped all laughter. Apparently this Max girl was very sensitive about her femininity and didn't want anyone telling her what she could and couldn't do. Good. The more I distracted her and her friends the easer it would be to try and summon up another Portal.

"Alright," Max said, cracking her knuckles. "you asked for it." She was about to take a step forward when the small, blond girl by her side tugged on her sleeve.

"Max, don't!" Max turned to face the small girl.

"What is it Angel?" Angel turned to stare worriedly up at Max.

"Something's not right. I don't think you should fight her." Max scoffed.

"Angel, honey, please. I could fight this girl with my wings tied behind my back." I blinked, momentarily confused by this statement, until Max charged at me. She swung her fist right at my shield.

Perfect.

I watched as her fist crashed into my solidified air. I watched her face turn from mocking to horrified in seconds. I grinned.

"Oh, freak!" Max yelled, cradling her hand to her chest. Angel shook her head.

"You really should listen to me more, Max."

"Yeah, listen to Blondie more, Max," I said. Max looked like she was about to explode with fury. I could feel the magick in my system heating up my veins. It was only a matter of time before another Portal opened up. I just had to distract them for a few more minutes.

"You know, you think you're so tough," I continued. "You're really not. My grandma faces deadlier appoints at the supermarket." As lame as this come-back was it still seemed to heat up Max's blood.

"Shut up! Now answer the question! Who are you?" I felt like it was 100 degrees. I was sweating and breathing hard, feeling the pull of a new Portal in my core.

"I'm whoever I feel like being!" At this Max launched herself at me, banging her fists and feet at my shield to no apparent avail. My magick was strong and I was confident that it would hold.

"Max, stop!" the dark-haired boy yelled, grabbing Max's shoulders. "You're just goading her on." I blinked and suddenly the world was a thousand colors. God, I was so close. All I had to do was keep them busy for another thirty seconds. Then I would let go of my air magick and Portal back home. I could almost hear the wind roaring in my ears.

"Max…" Angel warned. For some reason I had the feeling that she understood what was happening. Almost like she could read my mind. God, where had I heard that before?! As I struggled to remember as the heat in my body grew toward its breaking point. I had only seconds now.

So I made a very big mistake. I let down my shields.

"So long, sweetheart," I whispered, feeling the roar of the wind, the pulse of my heart. My problem was that I was a second off. One crucial second off.

Before my brain could register what was happening Max's fist swung and hit my cheek. I never had time to shield. I was out cold before I hit the floor.

Violeta: Dun dun dun! I just love cliffhangers.

Me: Huh, not bad.

Violeta: Caris! What're you doing here?

Me: Well, I was having some writers block on my other stories, so I thought I'd come check in on you.

Violeta: And…you love it, right?

Me: Eh, it's okay.

Violeta: What?! Are you kidding me? This is genius! A masterpiece!

Me: Like I said, it's okay. Now, Vi, what are we forgetting?

Violeta: Huh?

Me: The disclaimer! I told you to put in the disclaimer!

Violeta: Oh, right! I was just getting to that…

Me: Sure you were.

Disclaimer: We don't own Max Ride.

Claimer: We own Violeta, and anything of relating to Portaling or Portal witches.

Violeta: There, it's done.

Me: Finally.

Violeta/Me: And don't forget! R&R people.

Violeta: Yes, or I will use my scary magick on you. –raises arms-

Me: Vi! –smacks arms-

Violeta: Fine…