Here's the first chapter, as promised. The rules will be up in the next chapter, since that's when the action will start as well. Enjoy!
Slowly squirming upright in bed, I rubbed my scrambled head. I had never in my life had such a strange dream before; it was like all my senses had decided to dance… Charleston, or something. Whatever a Charleston was…
A groan escaped my throat, and I swung my legs down to the floor, relishing in how hard and chilly it was. It was a solid counterpoint for the mess my mind currently was, like a pinch of salt or a needle in the arm. I sat still like that for a long while, breathing calmly.
Then, gradually, I stood up, stretched and went over to the bathroom, while my mind – in the background - pondered what on Earth that had all been about. It was nothing but idle thought, but the memory was strong enough to provide for the activity. Why had those two been on stage? And... Why do I feel like this isn't my room?
Fifteen minutes later, I stood fully dressed with my hand on the doorknob, sighing a bit. Today was, I'd recalled with sudden clarity only half a minute before, my last day of sleeping in this room. My mum had laid plans, great plans, for me to take a journey through the world. It was traditional, of course, but it was still disheartening and not least frightening to have that prospect hanging over me.
I let my eyes scan the room one last time. There was the bed, which I hadn't made this morning; the bright magenta and (I had started to realise) horrid bedclothes were strewn messily about. There was the television, which was quite a luxury for me to have up here to myself, with a NES console lying in front of it. A jolt of thought wondered why it was a NES and not a 'Whee'. The next one wondered what a 'Whee' was, and why I'd thought of that.
Shaking my head, I took in the cluttered work desk and the carpet, drew my breath, and turned the handle, descending to the ground floor while muttering a very quiet goodbye to the place.
My mother was there – once again, I had to struggle with a stray thought; this one said that there was a foreign, taller woman where Mum ought to be – and she brightened considerably at the sight of me, standing up from her place at the table and rushing over to hug me.
"Happy tenth birthday, honey," she told my shoulders, while I was being wrapped tightly in her embrace, as well as in a mighty scent of aloe perfume.
"... Thanks, Mum," I responded eventually. I found myself choking a bit as my lips parted; the thought of leaving mother behind had chosen that moment to announce itself to me with a bang.
"Now…" she said, her own lip quivering and her eyes practically forced open, and pulled away to take a grip on my shoulders. "Are you ready? I've packed your backpack and all..."
I didn't know what to do if not nod, so that was what I did. She seemed calmed by this, if not entirely content, and stood up fully, turning back. Looking up at her, I frowned slightly but nonetheless went to take my seat at the breakfast table.
She picked up my green rucksack, closed it and lifted it up, then picked up a small plastic-wrapped double sandwich beside it.
"You know..." her voice came, wobbly with emotion, and I immediately sat up to attention. "All children leave home someday... The telly said so." She sounded unusually morose, standing with her back to me. "I just... never really realised, you know?"
I cautiously avoided commenting on the fact that she was the one who had planned it all since yesteryear, then berated myself for even thinking about it in the first place. She turned, and I took care to nod once her now moist eyes came into view.
"... Be strong, honey. I'll take care of your room for you..."
She moved forward, and handed me my knapsack and what I realised was my breakfast, wrapped in foil. Carefully, she regarded me with chestnut eyes.
"Professor Oak told me to send you over as soon as possible. I... I hope you'll come by again before you leave?"
She was on the verge of tears, so I hastily accepted the items, and gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile, even though I felt no stronger myself. "'ll do that, Mum," I managed, and went over to embrace her one more time.
Then, I turned, and headed out the door: To my surprise, I suddenly found excitement breaking into the chaos that, right now, was my mind.