I was sitting on a plush pillow that felt like it was full of the softest goose feathers. I was resting in a room that seemed to jump at me from all sides, as if the walls were bulging. I felt like a wealthy ruler! Servants would come in through the many doors asking if I needed anything. Yes, I ordered some things here and there: a steak, glass of wine, escargot, and a few other tasty looking tidbits (I am known for trying new things). As quick as I could order them, they arrived. I would taste one thing, then another. All of the food was heavenly! But then, what would you expect? I know you would expect me to not be hungry after hearing the news of my mission, but I hadn't eaten since breakfast yesterday and I wasn't about to be startled out of delectable looking food.

            When I ate my fill, I lay back and reviewed what had just happened. My life had just drastically changed in less than an hour. Why me? If I took this mission, I probably wasn't going to survive. I would never see Faith again. I would go to this planet Dashed and never come back. I would be marooned on a planet full of aliens.

            I sighed. This was pretty hard-core compared to my morning walks. And I used to think there was nothing better!

            To make a short 48 hours short, er, I mean shorter, several beagles came in and explained long technical details that I needed to know. I really tried to understand, I really did, but not one thing would stay in my head! It was completely useless trying to tell me this stuff. It was another language, I swear.

            Finally, the dreaded day came. That meaning that I had accepted the mission. I felt like inside me, there was no room for choice, except yes. I was panicking inside and hopefully looking calm on the outside. I was patiently sitting on the goose feather pillow, which now did not seem so soft. Any minute now, a servant beagle was going to come in and tell me where to go and I would then be on my way to this other planet. I walked in front of the large mirror that was in my room and saw a nervous creature. I practiced looking composed.

            Then, the moment came. Someone knocked at the door and it was opened. A pretty young beagle creature came in and said, "It is time."

            I took a deep breath and choked. I guess I had a lot to learn about being heroic. I walked with what I hoped looked like dignity. I smiled feebly at the messenger. Then I walked past her.

            Behind the opening of the door was a long hallway with no doors. I had no idea where to go. No one told me where to turn. I thought it over and decided to go left. I trotted with suspicion. I knew something was going to jump out at me any moment. And this time, I was going to be ready.

Still I kept on, but nothing appeared. Then at last, I saw a door. One door at the end of the never-ending corridor. As soon as I got to the entry, it opened on its own. Following it was the most spectacular sight I have ever seen in all my years.

~

A spaceship! A towering ship flew a good 40 feet above me. I couldn't believe it! Had the beagle creatures built this? Was I expected to fly in it? I stood gawking at the magnificent aircraft and then noticed the beagles running around with paper and pens, yelling out instructions in a language I couldn't understand. A whistling sound pierced the air and I saw that the spacecraft was taking off!

"Wait! Wait! Aren't I supposed to be on there? You forgot me! Stop!"

The beagles stared at me like I was a fifty year old man in a high school classroom. They didn't move. The ship didn't seem to notice me though. An opening appeared in the middle of the ceiling and the ship took off.

I sighed. "Great. I get pulled underwater, almost drowning to add, get captured by a bunch of freaky sea dogs, find out I have to go save some world I've never heard of, get lost in a immeasurable hallway, get myself completely humiliated, and the ship I'm supposed to get on takes off. This is turning out to be one hell of a day."

The beagles continued to stare at me. Finally, one of them came forward and looked me up and down. He then spoke.

"You are the Promised One?"

"That's what they call me. May I ask why my ride left me here?"

The creature looked at me quizzically, not seeming to understand.

"You know, that ship right there. The shuttle that just took off. Why did it leave without me?"

The creature burst out laughing.

"Promised one! You sure are humorous!"

I glared at him. "How is that?"

"That's a funny thing, you leaving here on an aircraft!"

"Is it now?"

"Oh, yes indeed!"

"What is going on? How else am I supposed to get to the stupid planet?!"

"I think you should go talk to Gabriel about that."

I narrowed my eyes. "Why?"

"He's the one who knows. I, however, do not."

"I don't know where to find him."

"Here. I will give you a guide."

Another beagle walked up to me and gestured me to follow him. I followed, but I kept looking back at the scientist who was now talking to a group of the aliens. He seemed to be trying to stop from laughing as he murmured to them. What was this about?

"Please pay attention, Promised One," said the messenger as I bonked my head into an overhanging lamp. "We don't want you to arrive in Dalshep a mess of blood of bruises."

Wow, they really did care for my well being.

I continued to follow the beagle down long corridors. We twisted and turned in every direction. I thought the hall would never end. In a way, I didn't want it to. My stomach developed butterflies as soon as the light started to fade.

"Um, sir?" I asked the courier.

"Yes?"

"Why is it so dark down here?"

"The transporter is sensitive to light."

"The transporter? What does that mean?"

"You will be transported to Dalshep, an hour trip."

"An hour? That's all alien technology can bring up? What happened to the instantaneous transportation?" I said, half joking.

The envoy looked at me with surprise. "Not to be rude, Promised One, but I am a first-rate researcher and in all my years of studying your planet I have never found a machine that can do something so high-tech so fast, let alone transport!" He swiveled around and began to walk faster.

I hurried to catch up with him. I really didn't mean it that way. "Wait! Slow down! I didn't mean it that way! It's just in all those science fiction movies they can transport things . . . " I was out of breath. I panted. "Wait!"

I couldn't hear any more footsteps. I cocked my head to listen. Nothing. I couldn't hear the messenger's footsteps or even breathing. The butterflies were going mad in my belly. I began to breathe faster.

"Hello?"

I remembered hearing somewhere that when you are lost, you stay put. So I sat down on the cold hard floor of the pitch-black passage. It began to snow. WHAT?! SNOW?! I looked up and little cold pieces that I couldn't see drifted on my face. I stuck my tongue out to catch some. It was snow all right. But how?

All of a sudden, the lights came on, and I found I was no longer in a hallway but I was outdoors. Snow was all around me. There weren't even any trees. It was very peaceful but a little frightening. I lay back and closed my eyes.  I could figure…this…out…later…I drifted asleep.