- ~Chapter 1~ -
Strange Happenings
"Come on, you're going to be late for school!"
I groaned and tucked the covers over my head as I heard my mom summoning me from the comfort of my bed.
After a couple moments of silence, I heard her shout, "Ashley Daisy, do you want me to come up there and turn on the lights?"
"NO! I mean, I'm coming!" I shouted back, scrambling out of my bed in haste.
After getting up from the covers, there was no turning back. I walked out my bedroom door and across the hallway, blundering into the walls from tiredness.
Turning on the bright light in the bathroom, I squinted against its glare.
After stumbling with sleepiness to make my bed and get dressed, I was soon down in the kitchen, looking for something to eat.
"Cereal?" Asked my mom, holding up the box of cheerio's.
I glanced at the box for a split second and said, "Sure, why not." I went into the cupboard and grabbed a bowl and spoon. I took the milk out of the fridge and sat down. Mom handed me the cereal. I muttered my thanks and poured it in.
Soon I was running out the door, slinging my backpack over my shoulders. "Bye Mom!" I called, stepping onto the bus. When I was on and the door was closed behind me, I went to my usual spot in the back. Sitting next to the window, I watched the country scenery as the bus started moving.
After a little while of staring out the window, we finally arrived at school. I jumped out after the stream of people leaving the bus, heading towards the main entrance. Pushing my way through the crowd, I got a few grumbles from the people I accidently bumped too hard. I had to mumble "Excuse me" every time I did, which was about fifteen times.
When I was finally walking through the doorway of my math classroom, the bell had just rung. I quickly sat down in my seat. A couple moments later, my name was called. "Here," I responded.
When we started, I only ended up listening to the first few sentences. "Today we're going to learn about organizing data…"
Lost in thought, I didn't listen to the rest.
As I sat in my seat for an hour or so, being bored to death, I wished there was a sleeping school. We'd get to take naps between classes, discuss the best ways to get to sleep, learn how sleep works, and debate on what bed and pillow brands were best. It would be the best; definitely better than boring old school.
When lunch was finally here after long, boring hours of different classes, I quickly selected my food and sat down at a table in the corner. I picked up my sandwich and took a big bite. Being a loner, nobody usually sat by me. Come to think of it, nobody really noticed me much, not even enough to pick on me. The only time I was noticed was when I did something wrong, like when I got caught drawing during one of my classes.
The sandwiches today were better than usual; tuna salad. I quickly demolished my sandwich and started working on the potato chips. I glanced across the room at a boy who was just getting his food. His name was Cory. He was the only other one who even seemed to notice me.
As if my thoughts had summoned him, he walked across the room to my table and sat down. "Hey, Ash. How's it going?" He asked, with a smile.
"Pretty good, but I'm still dying of boredom in classes."
"Heh, same here." He said, smiling wider. After a couple moments of silence and picking through our food, he looked at me with a serious face. "Could you do me a favor?" He asked.
"Sure, what is it?" I asked in confusion at his sudden change of mood.
"I feel a bit awkward saying this, but be careful. I heard there have been quite a few bad happenings around here lately."
"O-okay," I said, feeling even more awkward.
"Oh, and if anything… Strange happens, call me, okay." He said, looking deep into my eyes, as if he were searching them for something.
"What kind of strange are you talking about?"
"Oh, nothing," He said, his smile returning.
I felt a bit baffled by his sudden changes in mood, along with his strange request, but it soon fell to the back of my mind as the rest of the day went by in a blur.
Later that evening, I arrived home on the bus. After waving bye to everyone, I turned to my house. I walked up to the door and slithered inside, tired from my long day. After calling out that I was home and going upstairs to put my backpack in my room, I went out the back door into the yard. I plopped about a couple yards from our maple tree, right on the edge of its shade. This being Arizona, the weather was always warm, even during the school year. So there I was, completely unaware of what would happen next.
As I laid there in the warm sun, the feathery grass tickled my skin, but I didn't mind. I soon fell into a doze, when suddenly I was woken by a loud twig snapping. I lifted my head. The sky was cloudy, the country dead silent. Not even the birds were chirping.
Thinking that was a bit odd, I looked around. Suddenly, I spotted it; a pony, maybe an inch taller than I. Not a pony; a unicorn. It had a horn right up on top of its head. Its coat was jet black with almost a purple kind of shine. Its mane and tail were long and scarlet, with darker streaks throughout them. The eyes were a startling red. And those eyes… Those eyes… Were looking straight at me.
I stood up slowly, and started backing towards the house. The pony's nostrils flared, and it put its head down, scratching its hoof in the dirt.
I kept backing towards the house.
Suddenly, the pony charged.
I ran towards the house.