-"'It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door,' he used to say. 'You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to.'" - J.R.R. Tolkien

Chapter 1: The Descent

There's an old folk legend that when something in your life is about to change, whether for the better or worse, you can feel it. It can feel like a lead weight in your stomach or an inkling in the back of your mind, an overwhelming sense of dread, or even a sixth sense. I call bullshit. The day my life changed forever started as normal as any other, the monotony that I had come to know and hate was ever-present. There was nothing out of the ordinary that day; no pit in my stomach or an uneasy feeling as the hair rose on the back of my neck. Although, I should be happy that I had no warning. I'm glad that there was no one around to prevent me from helping the woman who would change my fate. Honestly, where would I have ended up without her?

Waking up at the ungodly hour of five in the morning, I rushed through my morning routine so that I could get to work on time. Although I didn't know why I was in such a hurry; on time or not, I knew my boss would still find some reason to belittle me, seeing as it was his favorite pastime. I ran down the stairs, my fingers rushing through my tangled brown locks. I grabbed my keys before bolting outside, only to find my car had a flat; I had no spare. The early morning air was brisk with a low fog, last night's rain having become nothing more than mist. I stood outside, staring at my old beat-up Toyota with dread. With a huff of aggravated breath, I gave in to the inevitable and slid into the driver's seat. I lived a half-hour from the tiny grocery store where I worked and knew I would be cold and wet by the time I got there, since the A/C was broken and always blowing, but there was no other option. The drive had me zoning out and my mind began to wander.

I had moved to the city the day I turned eighteen and never looked back. I lived in foster care for most of my teenage life, bounced from home to home. It hadn't been a hard choice to venture out on my own; I was used to being alone. It was only at times like this that I wished I had family or friends to call on. I was more than a bit of an introvert though, I was perfectly happy to live my life through my books and TV shows. Which ultimately made it hard to find someone who didn't snicker at my geeky ways. Many would find the way I lived unhealthy, and even I'll admit at times it probably is, but when you've suffered life in the dark with very little to live for, sometimes fantasy is better than reality.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I sighed in defeat as I switched off the ignition. Leaving the confines of my rundown car, I lifted my hood over my head and rushed across the lot with my feet beating against the wet pavement, my socks already drenched though my thin canvas shoes. The sky was dark and gloomy with heavy gray clouds covering it like a veil. In the distance, I could see the store's neon sign glowing through the morning fog. The bold letters of "Terry's Stop-N-Go" flickered in and out as I stepped up to the automatic doors, the mechanical whizzing as they opened was a sound I had come to recognize as easily as I did my breathing.

I had worked at the family-owned grocery store for four years, and it didn't feel like I would ever escape. Mike, the store manager, had given me a job when no one else would. I had been a fresh-faced teenager with no experience and no family. I thought he was being kind and taking a chance on me, little did I know he was an asshole who liked his women on the young side. Luckily, I was able to take care of myself. Handling his advances was easy for a girl who grew up in foster care. It was probably the reason he hated me; his fragile male ego couldn't handle being constantly rejected. I shook off the small pebbles of rain that dotted my worn jacket and pulled it off, rushing toward the two empty registers situated at the front of the poorly lit store. I tossed my jacket in the cubby under the register and took my name tag from my pocket, snapping it on my bright red shirt. How I hated the apple red uniformed t-shirt employees were forced to wear.

"I see you're late again, Aurora!" Mike hollered, walking in from the small office on the other side of the store, his cracked lips curled into a hateful smile. "Looks like I'll need to have a chat with Terry."

I glared at him and adjusted my name tag. "You don't need to talk to Mr. Buckman. I'm like two minutes late, Mike. My car wouldn't start; just cool it," I said, typing in my login.

Mike walked closer to my register, his beefy arms folded across his chest. "You need to remember who you're talking to, girl. I'm still your manager. That little addition to your name tag doesn't mean shit to me," he said, pointing to my tag, which read: Aurora, Shift Manager.

I had been promoted by the owner last month, and Mike had been pissed. It came with a ten-cent raise, which I couldn't pass up, but that was the only extra benefit the job offered. It also came with later shifts and more responsibilities.

"Yeah, I got that, Mike. Now, can you move outta my space? Mornings are already shit enough without your attitude," I said. I was in no mood for his advances this morning, not to mention the lingering stench from his cigar hanging around him like a cloud was giving me a migraine.

Mike's jaw tightened and he slammed his hand down on the conveyor belt before he stormed back to the office. I didn't care if he tattled, Mr. Buckman knew I had a temper and it was one of the reasons he loved me as an employee. Like I said, I was never getting outta here. I began my usual start-of-day process, cleaning the registers and restocking the items I could, while still checking out a few early morning customers. It was all so mind-numbingly boring. It wasn't until lunchtime that everything changed. I was wiping down the windows when the door buzzed, alerting me that a customer had arrived. I glanced up, smiling at the short older woman. She was a regular who lived only a block away from me. She padded inside, a flower-covered purse clutched against her chest, her wrinkled face scrunched up with concentration. She had her bubblegum pink hair pulled up in a messy bun. I grinned at her crazy flower child attire and fuzzy purple gemstone-covered slippers. She was an eccentric woman, probably in her late sixties. She never cared what she looked like or if anyone else would either. I loved talking to her, it was one of the only highlights of my day. Since she had moved into the neighborhood three months ago, she had made it her mission to bring me desserts every Saturday after work, and stop by the store daily.

"Hello, Opal. How are you today?" I asked, tossing the gray dish rag into the bucket at my feet.

Opal stopped her trek toward the back of the store, emerald green eyes shooting toward me, and she gripped onto her bag tightly, as the material twisted in her hand an unpleasant plastic squeak met my ears. I grimaced slightly but chose to keep a pleasant expression on my face as she stepped closer to me, her feet scooting across the floor. She looked up into my face and her eyes frantically searched mine. Her short stature always surprised me since at five foot seven I wasn't tall by any means, but when Opal stood directly in front of me, I was forced to look down.

"Today is the day, ya know. Everything could change. When it's finally time to administer the tests, I always get so nervous. Especially this time, I really like you," she giggled, her bag twisting in her grasp.

My brows furrowed, and I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Do you have a test of some sort today, Opal? You're not sick, are you?" I asked, a hint of unease in my voice.

I liked this tiny woman, and I had so few people I cared about. Opal took a piece of my hair, glancing at the dark brown strand with an odd amount of interest.

"Not I, Aurora." She looked up into my eyes, and I wondered what she saw, what she was possibly searching for as her deep green eyes scanned my face. "What do you wish for? If you could ask for something, anything at all, even if it was the most outlandish of requests, what would it be?" she asked.

I found myself caught in her gaze; my body almost felt like it was floating as I took in her words. The world around us faded, and I didn't even think to laugh at how ridiculous that was. It was exactly the way people described it when you danced with, or met, your true love for the first time. The only thing I could see was the tiny old woman in front of me. Her question bounced around in my mind and I focused on her words. What did I wish for? There were so many things I could think of. A family, money, a new job, a way to escape… a way to escape. The mad whirlwind in my mind came to a sudden halt, and all I could see were the many stories I held near and dear to my heart. Faces, names, and worlds flashed before my eyes and Opal's lips curled, a surprised grin splitting her face, and she patted my cheek. "Now that is one I haven't heard before. How very intriguing. I do hope you pass, little human," she said.

I blinked a few times, coming back to reality, and Opal stepped away, glancing around. "Can you tell me where the chocolate sweeties are, dear?" she said, her eyes seemed to glow with excitement.

I placed a hand on my forehead, my head was throbbing as if someone had stabbed me with a hot poker. "Uh, were we just talking about something, Opal?" I said, rubbing my temples.

The brightly dressed old woman wobbled toward me and tapped my elbow. "Chocolate sweeties, dear. You were going to show me where they are located," she said, green eyes gleaming.

I stumbled forward, my whole body felt like jello. Opal led me toward the back, her expression serene. "Um…we have loads of different chocolates. I'm not sure what kind you want, Opal," I said.

Opal paused, releasing my elbow, and glanced toward the front, her serene expression fading. "Oh, well it doesn't matter now. It seems the time has come to see if you are worthy," she said, her gaze locking onto my face.

I held onto the shelf beside us and shook my head, my stomach flip-flopping despite my annoyance and confusion. "Opal, sweety, I am not sure what's up with you today, but I'm exhausted and frankly, I don't have it in me to role play with you," I said, sighing.

Opal chuckled, her perfect white teeth shining in the fluorescent lights. "Oh dear, I don't role-play or… LARP was it? That's your forte. This is very real, and in the next two minutes, you'll see that. I am sorry it must get so violent. But we have to be sure you're worthy of our gifts," she said, her face falling.

My eyes widened, spine straightening as the door buzzed, an alert that Opal was no longer my only customer. Opal took a meaningful step back and waved me toward the front, her eyes downcast. I felt a trickle of fear slide down my spine, and I took a tentative step toward the front. I tried to reassure myself that the small old woman was eccentric and possibly insane and that I had nothing to fear, but there was something about the weight of her presence behind me that kept those thoughts from being of any comfort. As I rounded the corner, a man dressed in tattered black came into view, his face partially covered by a dirty red bandana. I stopped in my tracks, Opal coming up beside me, and felt my heart skip a beat in abject fear. The man lifted a silver 22 caliber gun, pointing it at my head, and rocked from foot to foot, his hand trembling.

"You're gonna empty the registers, bitch, then I want everything from the safe!" he shouted, his voice cracking.

My body was frozen, shock sealing me in place, and although I was shouting at myself on the inside to move, I just couldn't. Opal shifted beside me and the man moved the gun, pointing it at her. The weapon pointed at my only friend had me jerking to life.

"No! No, please. I'll get you what you need. Just point that at me. I am a manager, she is only a customer," I said, very slowly inching in front of Opal.

I couldn't let him kill her, it would be all my fault, simply because I was frozen in fear. She may be a bit crazy, but she was one of the only people I cared about. I raised my hands in the air, inhaling a steadying breath, and took a step forward.

"Watch it, bitch! I will kill you," he yelled.

I stopped, my raised hands trembling. "I am heading for my register. There is only money in one of them today. We aren't very busy on Mondays. The safe is in the office," I said, pointing toward the door across the room.

I just hoped Mike had called the cops and didn't act like a hero. The man pointed his gun toward my register. "Get it open!" He bolted toward the bagging table to snatch a plastic bag while I slowly walked toward my register, typing in my ID. The till popped open, and I felt a presence behind me. My body shook in fear as he pressed the gun into my spine. "Fill the bag; I want every bill," he spat.

I nodded, taking the bag from his hand. I took the money, noticing with a bit of malice that there couldn't be more than five hundred dollars inside. This man would probably walk away with no more than fifteen hundred dollars. The safe had already been mostly emptied yesterday. I felt the gun digging into my back and shoved the bag toward him.

"That's it," I said.

He wrapped his hand around my arm and dragged me toward the office, his fingers gripping so hard I would definitely be bruised tomorrow. "Let me in. I want what's in the safe," he said, motioning towards the office with his hand.

I shook my head, placing a hand on the door and looked at the man's chest, refusing to meet his eyes. "I don't have my key, but the assistant manager is inside; he probably doesn't even know you're here," I whispered, praying Mike knew and had called the cops.

The man turned around, pointing his gun toward Opal, who was on her knees by the registers. I raised my hands again, stepping around him until he pointed the gun at my head. I swallowed deeply, tears burning in my eyes, and stared at the office door.

"Let me get you inside; please. There is no need for violence. You will get your money," I said.

The man snorted, pressing his gun into my temple, his rancid breath fanning across my face. I held back a gag and turned my head as far as I could, the hard steel of his gun felt like it was burning my flesh.

"I will kill you both if you don't get me inside that room," he said.

The bandana shifted, and his rotting teeth drew my gaze. I leaned away, my stomach rolling. I grabbed hold of the doorknob, turning my body and pressing it against the wood. I knocked on the glass, eyes squinting to see through the two-way film. "Mike? I need you to let me in," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

I could just make out a figure sitting at the desk and released a rush of breath when I saw a shadow approaching the window. I took a step away from the door and saw the thief lean against the wall, hiding from view. Mike opened the door and rolled his eyes when he saw my disheveled appearance.

"What's wrong now? Is the dairy case acting up again?" he asked, tone bored.

I couldn't believe it, he didn't know what was going on. What the hell did he do in that office? My eyes widened and I leaned forward, my hands jerking toward the kneeling customer behind me."Uh, no, not the dairy case," I said.

Mike's face paled and the thief stepped up beside me, shoving him into the office. I glanced around, my eyes falling on Opal, and I was shocked to see a smile on her full lips. My fear faltered momentarily, a bubbling of unease and confusion growing. When she noticed my attentive gaze, she nodded toward the office, and I stumbled inside, my head throbbing as if I were being prodded forward.

"The money, now!" the thief hollered.

I found Mike leaning into the safe, filling the plastic bag with wrinkled bills. I could see his neck flushed with anger and fear, and I sensed he was going to let his attitude get the better of him. Mike stood, shoving the bag into the man's chest, and I saw him hide something behind his thigh.

"There, now go," Mike said.

I stepped toward the door and held it open. The thief bolted through the door and headed toward the exit, his gun lowered at his side, when I heard a click from behind me. My head shot toward Mike who had a handgun pointed at the retreating thief.

"Drop the money and your gun!" he said, smirking.

I stomped my foot in exasperation, slowly heading to stand between Opal and the two gun-wielding idiots. The thief dropped the plastic bag, and while Mike watched it land on the ground, a few rubber band-bound bundles of money falling from its depths, the thief's gun jerked toward an oblivious Mike. A loud crack sounded through the small office and I covered my mouth with my hands, tears leaking from my tightly squeezed eyes. Mike stood for a few moments, frozen in shock, before he crumbled to the floor with a ribbon of red growing on his shirt and droplets began pooling onto the pale floor. The thief bent down, grabbed the bag, and pointed the gun at me for only a moment before he set his sights on Opal. I dropped onto the ground in front of her, a hand raised.

"Go, just go. Please, I'll do anything… just don't. She's my friend," I begged, pleading for the life of my only friend, even if it ended my own.

The man looked down at me, the stained bandana on his face moving rapidly with each sharp intake of breath. My raised hand trembled as I watched him debate killing the both of us. I saw everything fade away but then with one last glance at Opal his eyes clouded over, and he stumbled from the store with faltered steps. I crawled toward Mike's body, my hand landing in a warm puddle of his blood, and I looked down at my red slicked palm. Opal came up behind me, her hand landing on my shoulder, and I looked up at her, rubbing my palm off on my jeans with a shudder.

"I am sorry, dear, but sometimes death is inevitable." Opal shrugged, a strand of pink hair falling in her eyes, and she brushed it behind her ear. "On the bright side, you have passed our test. You were willing to give your life for me, a woman you barely know. You called me a friend," she said, a bright ethereal smile on her face.

I stood to my feet, taking a step away from the dead body below me. "I…I don't have time for your games right now, Opal. I have to call the cops and Mr. Buckman. I… he's dead, like really dead,' I said, pointing at Mike's body in shock.

Opal looked down at Mike, her foot nudging his leg with a slight wince. "Oh, dear Aurora; I know. His spirit is already traveling to the other side as we speak. Although, I doubt he will be happy about where he's going," she said, brow raised in thought.

I placed my hands on my cheeks, trying to collect my scattered thoughts, before leaning into her personal space as I put a palm on her forehead. "Okay, you are kinda freaking me out now. Like, are you a religious zealot or just a bit cuckoo? I don't know what's up with you, but we seriously have to call 911 now," I said, looking around at the chaos that surrounded me.

I stepped over Mike's lifeless body, fishing my cell phone out of my pocket as I went, when I heard Opal huff in annoyance behind me. The only warning I had to what came next was the jangling of her large and extravagant bracelets as she snapped her fingers and the entire world went white. A light so bright that it penetrated through my fingertips, even as I covered my face, surrounded me. I felt searing pain spread over my entire body as the room shifted around me. The floor gave out beneath me as my stomach rolled in confusion and I screamed in shock, opening my eyes to see nothing but darkness. I twisted in the air, my arms waving wildly as I tried to grab onto something to slow the descent. A light appeared below me and I caught sight of the glass walls now surrounding me and I saw my reflection, my wide hazel eyes full of fear and shock, staring back at me.

What the hell was going on? This sort of thing was impossible. This wasn't a rabbit hole and I certainly wasn't Alice. This is the kind of thing that happens in TV shows, books, and fan-fictions. It always centered around a hero, who overcame everything for the good of the world. I certainly wasn't a heroine.

My stomach twisted violently and I felt the bile begin to rise, desperately trying to control it as I knew if I let go, it would be coming back to hit me in the face. No thank you. I scratched at the empty air as I took in the white glow beneath me. I sucked in a panicked gasp as the walls began to shift inwards, cocooning me in a tight embrace. I screamed, feeling it tear from my throat as the fear began to overtake my senses, and slammed my hands against the glass anywhere I could reach. I could see myself mirrored on multiple surfaces and couldn't help the dark thought that planted itself in my mind; I would be able to see my own death from every angle.

The wall behind me opened suddenly and I found myself tumbling through the opening, landing hard on a stone floor and gasping for air. In the mirror I had seemed to come from, I could see a short beautiful young woman with curly pastel pink hair striding toward me. She wore a floor-length, pale pink dress, with flowers scattered across the skirt.

"Aurora, my dear, you made it unscathed I see. It can be very demanding on a human's body and mind to travel to our realm. Though, you are only in what your kind would call a… " She snapped her fingers repeatedly, pink painted lips pursed as she concentrated, with a bright flash of her green eyes she chuckled, snapping her fingers once more as she pointed at me. "A waiting room, that's it," she said.

I pressed a hand to my sore throat, rubbing at the skin, and glared at the semi-familiar woman. My eyes trailed her perfect skin and features; she was gorgeous. Her beauty was ethereal and unlike anything I had seen before, even on the silver screen. She couldn't have been any older than twenty-five. Her emerald eyes widened as I took a step back, unsure how she knew my name or why she brought me here.

"Oh my, you don't recognize me?" Placing a hand on her flawless cheek, she rubbed at her skin, brows furrowed in obvious confusion. Then as her hand trailed down her neck, her eyes lit up with understanding, lips widening into a bright smile. "Ah, I realize now, you aren't used to seeing my true form!" she said, laughing merrily.

Her laughter was like music, light and tinkling, and more beautiful than any instrument I had ever heard. I found myself leaning toward her rather than continuing my retreat. Reaching out, she took my arm and began pulling me forward and leading me toward a door I had only just noticed the moment her cool skin touched mine.

"It's me silly; Opal," she said, her pink curls bouncing as she giggled.

My head jerked, shifting toward her, and my eyes widened. "How is that possible? You look young; you're young, like super young! My age," I said, stuttering and pointing to her firm, gorgeous body.

Opal held out her other arm and shimmied. "Why thank you; I exfoliate, and it's very much possible if you're one of the fae," she said, placing her hand back onto my arm and continuing to lead me down the pure white corridor.

I pulled her to a stop, snorting out a laugh. I took her shoulder and tilted her around so that I could catch a glimpse of her back. Just as I thought, no wings.

"Yeah, I don't think so. If you're a fairy, where are your wings? I don't know how or why you did all this, or where the real Opal is, but I am done. I hate pranks and I want to go home. I still have to deal with the cops," I said, realizing I had forgotten Mike.

My fingers brushed through my hair roughly and I started to panic. Oh God, I had left a dead man just lying there, all alone, with my bloody handprint on his chest. Would they think I did it? The store didn't have security cameras. 'Opal' placed her hand on my shoulder, gently squeezing to recapture my attention, and I took a breath.

"Calm yourself Aurora, do you really want to go home? Was that what you wished for? To forever be a cashier, alone, with only an old lady as your friend? Or was there more you wanted, an adventure perhaps? In the worlds you thought would forever be out of your reach," she asked.

I looked up into her emerald eyes, my head swimming and my heart beating a crescendo. She took my hand again, pulling me toward the door, her hand grazing the gold knob. She glanced back at me, eyes almost wild. "If I allow you in this room, there is no going back. Your world and past will be forever lost to you. Once you become a friend of the Fae there is no return. We are wrathful beings, and do not take betrayal lightly," she said, a cloud of darkness marring her otherwise beautiful features.

I swallowed down my fear. She was offering me a gift, and if she was being honest about what she was, a gift from one of the fae was rare and not to be taken lightly. For it to be offered to me, a normal girl with no skills or special abilities, well that was just bordering on unbelievable. If I passed that up just to go back to a world of black and white, and possibly prison, I'd have to be a moron. "I don't want to go back. I accept your gift of friendship, Opal," I said.

Opal twisted the shiny gold doorknob and led me into a pitch-black room. My vision strained to adjust to the difference, and I squeezed my eyes shut momentarily. A bright flash of light shooting across my closed lids had me opening my eyes, and I took a heavy step back when I found myself in a room that left me breathless. A shooting star passed in front of me, its firey tail had left a scream of terror building in my throat. It appeared as if I had taken a step into outer space. I was surrounded on every side by enormous planets with their colors, and their depth, unlike anything my mind could have conjured. I could just make out a faintly purple galaxy in the distance and could see what looked like the Milky Way. I opened my arms out beside me, afraid I would lose my balance and fall into nothingness.

"This is just a small part of the universe. There is much you humans do not know, and never will. A whole galaxy of possibilities is out there waiting for someone to explore. That is why your wish intrigued me. I have always wanted to create someone who had an interest in exploring the way you do. An interdimensional traveler, if you will. You wished to be able to visit worlds you thought didn't exist, but I think this will be a huge surprise to you, my dear, that they do," Opal said.

I turned, shocked into forgetting my fear for the moment, and stared at the woman next to me. "They exist? All of them?" I said.

Opal laughed, her curls shaking, and rolled her eyes. "Not all of them. Aurora, your namesake, for example, the Disney one at least, doesn't exist. Sorry. The other stories you so love though, are real. The writers who created them picked up on a sort of wavelength from another dimension. It's what gave them their inspiration. They wrote the stories of real beings," she said.

With shocked excitement, I clapped my hands together and rocked unsteadily, trying to remain still for fear of falling. I was unsure of what was below me and refused to look down. "You're going to let me travel to any dimension I want?" I asked.

Opal glanced around us, taking in the frightening beauty of space. "The gift you earned was the gift of inter-dimensional travel. Where you go will be up to you. I will be giving you the ability to adapt to each new world so that you might survive what you encounter; the rest will be on you. There are only two rules: you may never tell anyone what you truly are, and you may never return home," she said, a firm cold tone to her voice.

I nodded, totally okay with those rules. "So, canon, it's cool to change it?" I said, expression bright with giddy excitement.

Opal laughed, laying her chin on my shoulder. "My dear, this is the real world, 'canon' will not exist, do what you will. The time you arrive will be up to you, go from there," she said, shrugging.

I almost fainted with delight; my options were limitless. All the things I could change, the people I could save, the disasters I could avoid. My heart was suddenly full with a new emotion for me: hope. Turning toward me, Opal hummed in question, taking my shoulders with a gentle tug. "Are you ready to start your new life?" she asked.

I looked down at myself, grimacing at my bloody jeans and bright red shirt. Opal lifted my chin, brushing my hair over one shoulder. "Remember, you will be able to adapt as you wish to whichever dimension you choose. Your gift will take some getting used to, but you'll be fine. It'll be as easy as breathing," she said.

I nodded, my throat dry, and squared my shoulders. "I am ready, as unbelievable as this all is," I said, chuckling in disbelief.

Opal took my face in her hands, gently blowing sweet air in my face. I blinked rapidly, trying to breathe unstifled oxygen, and I gasped, choking on the sickly sweet taste of her breath. She leaned back, her nails biting into my skin, and I felt a rush of sickness. My stomach was dropping as I felt the world sway around me.

"You will always be able to find me if you wish. Now choose the start of your journey and your gifts will take you there," she said, her soft voice somewhere above me.

My mind fumbled, fighting to grasp hold of a single thought, and I saw a flash of something shiny and black, a faded memory crossing my mind. I tried to look ahead of me, to make out what I was leaving behind, but my vision was blurry, and all I could see were burning stars. My body jolted as it landed on the ground, grass prickling at my skin, and I turned my head as I emptied my stomach. The purring of an engine met my ears as I wiped my mouth and maneuvered to squat on my knees, my fingers digging into wet dirt, and my nose wrinkling at the smell of my own sick. I looked around me, finding I was crouching in the brush on the side of a highway. In the distance, I could see a gorgeous sleek black car heading in the opposite direction. My body swayed and I chuckled, darkness taking over my mind.

"That was an Impala," I said, falling into the grass at the side of the road.