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It was a portal to the unknown, beckoning her to step forward and explore the mysteries that lay beyond. The key in her hand, a seemingly ordinary object, had become the catalyst for an extraordinary adventure.
With a mixture of trepidation and awe, Emma stepped through the threshold to leave behind the familiarity of her world. She wanted to welcome the uncertainty, but fear still clamped down on the reality of her mind. To embrace the unknown was to live life to its fullest, without regrets. Now Emma’s heart brimmed with anticipation for the wonders that awaited her on the other side of a world that should not exist.
CHAPTER THREE
Emma stepped tentatively through the shimmering portal, her heart pounding with a mixture of apprehension and excitement. As her feet touched the ground on the other side, she gasped in awe. It was as if she had stepped into a world straight out of a fairy tale, a realm she had never known existed. The air was heavy with the scent of wildflowers, and all around her, vibrant colors danced in the sunlight.
Before her eyes lay a breathtaking landscape. Rolling hills stretched as far as the eye could see, adorned with lush meadows and towering ancient trees. A gentle breeze whispered through the leaves, carrying with it the songs of birds and the distant melody of a babbling brook. But it was not just the natural beauty that captivated Emma. Everywhere she looked, creatures of myth and legend coexisted harmoniously with the people.
As much as she wanted to scream in terror because this could not possibly be real, she wanted to accept this reality because why couldn’t this be real?
A majestic centaur with a flowing mane trotted gracefully alongside a group of humans, engaging them in animated conversation. A Pegasus soared through the sky, its magnificent wings catching the golden rays of the sun. Pixies flitted about, their ethereal wings shimmering in the dappled light, while fairies darted between the flowers, leaving trails of sparkling dust in their wake. Emma's eyes widened as a mischievous satyr peeked out from behind a tree, his eyes twinkling with mirth. Even a towering Minotaur lumbered past, his massive horns gleaming.
Emma's heart swelled with wonder and disbelief. This was a world she had only read about in books, a realm that existed far beyond the limits of her imagination. She felt a tingle in her bones, a sensation that told her she had stumbled upon something extraordinary.
It also told her to wake the fuck up because she either hit her head in the closet or ate some bad food.
Instead, as if guided by an invisible force, she found herself drawn toward a grand meeting. As she approached, the murmurs of voices grew louder, and her anticipation increased. The clearing burst with color and life, filled with an assembly of fantastical beings. There, at the center of it all, stood a figure whose regal bearing demanded attention. Draped in all white, the man turned to Emma, and he was wearing a golden gown with inlaid jewels.
He must be the King.
She quickly hid behind one of the giant trees, in hopes of not being found, but wasn’t fast enough. Their eyes met, and Emma immediately felt a jolt of recognition. It was as if she had known him her entire life, yet never truly understood the connection until now. The King stepped to where she hid behind the tree, his steps accompanied by a chorus of reverence.
She wanted to run back to the sanctuary of the closet space and never open this portal door again. Instead the King managed to walk into her view.
He tilted his head slightly, then asked, “Emma?”
She gasped and her eyes went wide. “How? How do you know my name?”
He stepped closer, and Emma hesitated, unsure what this man, this stranger, was about to do.
With a warm smile, he opened his arms wide, embracing Emma as if she were a long-lost daughter returning home. His voice, deep and resonant, filled the air and carried with it a sense of authority and compassion.
His eyes were endearing as if he recognized her, but how? Then she noticed tears begin to build on the crest of spilling over.
"Welcome, my dear Emma," he said, his voice tinged with a touch of elation. "I have waited for this moment for so long.” He stepped closer and held his hands out for her. “You have finally returned to us."
She glanced down at his palms and then back up to his eyes. “Returned home,” she asked. “No, I just… No.” Emma took a step back with a shake of her head. “This isn’t real. This can’t be real.”
“Emma,” he whispered her name. “My only child, my daughter. It is true. You have returned home.”
She shook her head again, this time, her own tears blurring her vision. “Stop it,” she hissed. “Stop saying that. I’m not your daughter!”
He held firm in his position, hands still outstretched. “You were adopted, were you not?”
“That has nothing to do with this,” she answered.
“Of course, it does,” he argued. “Think back, child. Did you ever make something happen and could not understand the reason why it occurred? Did you dream something, and it came true? Sensed something and followed through to realize you were right?”
“All of those things can be explained.” She ticked off the first finger. “I’m not telekinetic. I can’t make things ‘happen’,” she quoted.
“It’s not tele —”
“I never remember my dreams,” she interrupted… with a lie. She always recalled her dreams. More often than not, they did come true, but he didn’t need to know this. “As for following my instinct, that’s exactly what it is. My instinct. There’s nothing magical about that.”
He smiled, and it was patient, gentle. “Then how about I talk about the key your aunt Matilda left for you to find your way back home?”
Emma’s eyes widened at his words. How could he have known about this? About Matilda, her arrival? Her eyes filled with tears, and she crossed her arms across her chest. “I don’t understand what’s happening,” she admitted.
