Chapter 3
Ashley Smallwood stood in the middle of the narrow path. It stretched as far as she could see, until it met the cyan sky at the horizon. Either side of her were vivid green shrubbery and foliage; it felt like Ashley's own wonderland - she couldn't decide where to look first. Near a Mulberry bush on her right, she heard a rustling sound and then a shaking of leaves was seen. Ashley crept closer to the bush - unaware of what she was doing. A large sandy coloured paw emerged first, followed by a feline, slender figure of a cheetah. The animal stared at Ashley as she took in every detail of its magnificent features. Its golden eyes, glossy fur, sleek figure and finally a dark patch around its eye. Ashley's hand was just inches from stroking the cheetah when another rustling was heard. Her head turned quickly to the left - her hand retreating. A grey paw appeared from the olive leaved tree. The paw was followed by a huge grey and white wolf, its eyes gleamed a dazzling brown. The wolf was muscular - Ashley noticed - as well as its other beautiful features. The cheetah and the wolf began squaring up to each other, carefully stalking each others every move - they ignored Ashley completely and kept their gazes on one another. The grey wolf's paw slowly lifted, its sharp claw could easily pierce through the skin of the cheetah. As the paw was about to strike, Ashley stepped in between the two of them and screamed 'no!' There was no sound that came out of her mouth, it felt to her impossible to say anything but the voice in her head yelled it. Ashley braced herself, closing her eyes tightly - waiting for the pain of the enormous claw piercing her delicate, porcelain skin, but there was nothing. No pain. Instead, she opened her eyes slowly and looked at the animals at either side of her. They had lowered their heads slightly, as if to surrender and began retreating back to their bushes. As the final rustling of the leaves on the bushes stopped, Ashley looked around at her 'wonderland' once more. Nothing had changed, except for one thing. Where the long path had once met the horizon there was a blinding white light that made her squint slightly. Ashley couldn't help staring at the light even though it hurt her eyes and then, timidly, she began walking towards it - unable to control her own feet. Suddenly, the silence ceased and a light, airy voice was heard.
"Asha," the voice whispered, "Asha." The voice was like a whisper in the wind and it made Ashley walk a little faster. The light was just inches away from her reach when suddenly...
"Ahhh," Ashley gasped as she sat bolt-upright in her bed. She was still panting when she looked around her room - trying to make out shapes in the dark. She ran a hand through her hair and glanced at her alarm clock, the bright red glow from the numbers on it read 3:32am. Ashley laid back down again - her breathing now regular - thinking about the dream she just had. What could this mean? Why did I dream this? Ashley thought before slowly drifting back to unconsciousness.
"I'm telling you Erin it called me!" Ashley insisted as she paced through the school halls with Erin, "it was totally going Asha or Ash or something. Seriously, it was one of the weirdest and most wonderful things I've ever seen!"
"Mmm - hmm. Ashley, first of all it was just a dream, secondly you're names not 'Asha' and thirdly there is no such place as this wonderland of yours," Erin replied, adjusting her Math book and moving a few strands of dark hair out of her jade green eyes. Ashley - dressed in acid wash skinny jeans, a long line vest top and striking black heels - bit her lip slightly, pondering what her friend had just said.
She sighed, "I suppose you're right, I mean what was I hoping to happen? I would walk through a magic wardrobe and find Narnia? Or have a fairy godmother?"
The two girls chuckled as they passed more students in the hallway. "Okay then, change of subject, have you done that homework for Miss Powell? It took me ages an-" Ashley wasn't look where she was going and as she spoke she tripped. She felt as if she was plummeting to earth from space, like a spacecraft that became wildly out of control. Ashley wasn't sure why she felt that way. Suddenly, she felt a strong, warm pair of hands around her - supporting her and holding her close. Her eyes moved to the face of the person that caught her, only to see Darren. Ashley took in everything about him as she took in every feature of his perfect face. The way the light reflected off of his shiny, dark hair, the way she couldn't really tell where his irises ended and his pupils started and the way his perfect lips curled into a smile. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Careful there," Darren helped Ashley up as she brushed herself off, "Ashley right?"
Ashley looked down in embarrassment.
"Yeah," she managed to lift her head up, "thanks, so...um...you still need a tour guide? I mean because I would show you around if you wanted to, it's up to you really - what are you laughing at?"
Darren chuckled, "you're cute when you ramble, y'know that? And yes, I would like you to show me around but...not tonight. I'll call you."
"Oh, okay."
The two students exchanged phone numbers in the hall when they were interrupted.
"Ahem," Erin interjected, "Ashley, we have to go to class now. Bye Darren."
Erin pulled Ashley away - dragging her slightly - as she waved to Darren.
"Oh my gosh Erin! I have a date...almost," Ashley squealed.
"Yeah, that's great Ash," Erin faked excitement for her friend, she felt something strange about Darren. At first she thought it was because he was good-looking but now it was sort of an unusual aura that came off of him.
The girls entered into their Math class chatting nonchalantly. Their teacher - Miss Powell - was not too bothered about students misbehaving; her class was loved by most students because of her relaxed attitude to learning. Ashley and Erin took their seats as the teacher wrote the class starter on the board and headed to her laptop on her pine wood desk. The starter was easy, the girls finished quickly and began talking quietly again.
"So, I heard another one of those mystery students is in our class. She's like, kind of weird and people think she's from a foreign country or something," Erin clued Ashley in.
"Canada actually, it's not really that far so I wouldn't class myself as being foreign," a chime - like voice sounded near the entrance of the classroom, correcting Erin. All of the class turned their focus away from their books and to the girl that entered the room. She had a small frame, a slender physique, maroon hair that fell on her shoulders and down her back. Carefully, moving a few strands of auburn hair from her chocolate brown eyes she flashed a dazzling smile - showing her teeth. The girl was dressed in boot cut jeans, a baggy sleeved green v-neck top, matching green wedge sandals and an unusual bracelet with some sort of crest that Ashley couldn't make out.
"Dude!" Levi - one of the most stereotypical surfers in the whole of America - called out in the muted silence. The girl just giggled and made her way to the seat beside Ashley.
"Class, let us continue our lesson. This is Jinx everyone," Miss Powell smiled at the, now seated, girl next to Ashley, "so, class, let's not make a fuss and Ashley, since you're sat next to her, why don't you tell her about the school, our lessons and what - not."
"Yes Miss," Ashley nodded. "So you're Ashley, I like that name," Jinx began a quiet conversation in her sweet voice.
"Thanks, I guess its okay but I love your name - it's so exotic. So Jinx, what do you want to know?"
"Well, I know quite a lot about Edwardsburg - my grandfather used to live here. So, what's good here?" "You," Levi interrupted, winking at Jinx.
Ashley scoffed, "get lost Levi," then she turned back to Jinx, "ignore him - he hits on every girl here. But I guess the mall is good here and the food court in there's cool."
Jinx smiled. The girls both turned back to Miss Powell and tried to get on with the rest of the lesson.
"So I'll see you tomorrow then Jinx?" Ashley asked - standing in the middle of the, nearly empty, car park. For the whole of the day Jinx had stayed with Ashley and Erin, they had formed a close bond and Ashley felt like she'd know Jinx for a long time. Erin on the other hand, was not too fond of Jinx, which Ashley had noticed but Erin had just pretended like it was no big deal.
"Yeah of course. Bye Ashley, bye Erin," Jinx waved at the girls as she made her exit.
"Okay, now Jinx is gone can you tell me what's wrong Erin?" Ashley turned to face her friend and looked directly into her green eyes.
"Nothing...nothing's wrong Ashley you're imagining it," Erin harshly turned away.
"Okay then, fine," Ashley went along with Erin's game. The truth was that Ashley could sense that she wasn't happy but Erin, being as stubborn as she was, would never tell her. The girls began strolling along the path which lead to their houses when Erin felt a burning sensation in her left hand. She looked down and began furiously scratching at it. "Ouch!" Erin cried, squinting in pain.
"What's wrong? Are you alright?" Ashley stopped and tried to examine Erin's arm but it was abruptly pulled it away from her grasp, "Erin I'm only going to look at it."
"No, no I'm okay."
"Alright but let your mom check it out then."
Erin nodded as she glanced at her hand. Against her dark, olive skin was a blue mark that represented a water symbol. It glowed slightly and also pulsated from the scratching. Erin knew exactly what was going on. Oh no, she thought, its happening.
