The moment I slapped my bare knees into the water I knew something was wrong. Frantically I surfaced and coughed up the nighttime colored water "What is this doing here?!" I shrieked.
Clumsily I stomped out of the water and shivered. The other side looked miles away and was lit up with glowing orange and red lanterns. Sleepily a boat with glowing yellow windows came over. I beat on my head "I'm dreaming! I'm dreaming!" Instantly I caught sight of my hands, I could see the murky waters through them.
"Ack!" I screamed "It's just a bad dream; I must have hit my head climbing over the rocks or something!"
The boat lurched to a halt in front of me and the doors flung open. Creatures of all types escaped the doors. Instantly I screamed again and ran off to a dark corner and crouched, burying my face in my water slapped knees. "It's just a dream." I mumbled to myself. "Just a dream, go away."
The gentle crunch of grass snapped me out of my moping. Quickly I jolted my head up to see the boy standing there. "Get away from me!" I shrieked.
He pulls out a small red glossy tablet, it looked like candy "here you have to eat something from this world or you'll disappear.
I shot out my hands "NO!" instantly my hands went right through him.
The boy gently shoved the candy through my locked lips "Don't worry it won't turn you into a pig. Now chew and swallow."
Trying to fight my urge to spit it out I stubbornly swallowed the piece of candy. It had a sweet and bitter taste to it. The transparency of my skin began to disappear. "See you're okay, see for yourself." He holds up his hand and gingerly I follow gently pressing my fingertips against his palm. He smiles and gently curls his fingers over mine.
I smiled back even though my face was burning and my cheeks were probably scarlet. It seems that after the fake train station and the red bridge my memories become leaves in the wind. He reminds me of the boy but something tells me he isn't him.
The boy helps me to my feet "come on." Slowly we walk through the restaurant strip. He holds my hand making my face feel warmer and warmer and get hotter and hotter with every step. "Now when we get to the bridge you can't even breathe. The smallest breath you make and the spell will be broken and everyone will see you."
Sooner than I hoped we came to the red bridge. The moment we were about to step onto the bridge I took a deep breath. Holding your breath is pretty easy but not when you're crossing the world's longest bridge.
Out of nowhere a small green frog wearing a blue kimono runs up and jumps in our face. "Master Haku!" As fast as I can I slap my hand to my mouth catching my breath. The frog doesn't notice "Where've you been Master Haku?"
The boy, Haku, gives him a sharp look. The frog backs off and lets us pass by. Still holding my mouth afraid to breath we cross over the bridge and he leads me off into a side garden. "You did very well Chihiro." He gave me a curt smile "Now go down the stairs till you find Kamaji the boiler man, you have to get a job or you'll never be able to go home. Understand Chihiro."
"Wait how did you know my name is Chihiro?"
He smiled "I've known you for a long time Chihiro; I couldn't ever forget you no matter how hard I tried." He stands and walks to the rice paper door sliding off his shoes and disappearing inside.