Daniel's Thoughts

**Daniel's POV**

At first, all I saw was darkness, a vast bubble of nothingness. I felt myself being raised by some supernatural force. Almost like I was...floating.

I fume as I realise this was all Emilie's fault!

I make an attempt to move my limbs. I pull against the force, my eyes clenched in frustration, but it is no use. My efforts are in vain. I go still, waiting to be swept away.

"Daniel?" I hear a faint voice call out to me and I recognise it to be Emilie's instantly. I know that annoying voice from anywhere.

"Daniel? Where are you? I'm scared!"

"Over here," I say weakly, feeling my energy getting sapped away by each utterance.

"Daniel-"

"You foolish mortals!"

A loud voice booms in the hollowness of the void, and an echo ripples past my ear. Mr Clark, the book club instructor comes to view. The weariness in his eyes just moments ago is filled with anger, and...sadness? I search for Emilie, but she is nowhere in sight.

Mr Clark sighs then snaps his fingers, and we're immediately pummeled onto what feels like a solid grassy ground and I watch as the darkness begins to evaporate, revealing a bustling city miles away and blue skies. I take a fistful of the grass and examine it. Every inch is the same, and the grass looks too perfect.

"Where are we? Where is Emilie?!" I ask, quickly getting up to survey the place. Everything from the grass to the trees looked like they were made in a computer.

He doesn't answer, instead, he snaps his fingers and suddenly a terrified Emilie appears next to my feet. She gets up quickly, looking a bit disoriented and dishevelled. It was kind of cute.

I did not just say that in my head, did I? I have a bad feeling about this place.

"Daniel!" Emilie rushes over to me and wraps her arms around my waist, pulling me close. "I thought I lost you!"

Something compels me to hug her back, but I am able to resist this time. I gently push her away, my gaze falling on Mr Clark.

"Where are we?" I ask again, firmly this time.

"You are not in a position to ask questions, boy." He says in wavering annoyance and begins to walk away.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?!" I yell as I go after him, dragging a dazed Emilie along with me.

He doesn't stop for us and continues to move until a vehicle comes to view.

"I was getting transport," he says sarcastically. He brings out a key and unlocks the fancy-looking car. "Get in."

"And how can we trust you?" Emilie who seems to be her normal self now, speaks up defensively. "All you've done is hurl insults at us."

"I don't have time for this. The council has summoned you and we can not afford to be late." he snaps back. "Now, get in."

"Council? What council- AH!" I'm stopped midway when I'm found raised above the ground. Emilie lets out a squeal and I turn to see her floating beside me.

"Just get in the car."

In a speed of flash Emilie and I find ourselves seated on the car seats with our seat belts on, Mr Clark already in the driver's seat. I'm about to protest when he stops me.

"Don't even think about it."

He drives in silence, and I use the opportunity to gawk at the city that comes to view. The city is bustling with people, all of them rushing to meet up on time, and there's even traffic. But to my surprise, there is no smoke coming from the cars. In fact, there is no smoke at all. The skies are very...blue.

As if reading my mind, Mr Clark replies with a cool tone.

"There is no pollution in Artemis thanks to advancement in technology. And what you mortals call, magic."

"Artemis." I hear Emillie mutter under her breathe, her face scrunched up in thought. I felt an overwhelming need to crease those wrinkles down with a kiss.

What was happening to me?!

"We're here." Is all he says before he steps out of the car.

Our seat belts unbuckle themselves and Emilie and I make our way out. I look up and see a giant castle, bright red just like that odd book from the library. It had a Victorian-era design, making it stand out in the midst of modern buildings.

At this point, nothing surprised me.

Mr Clark made his way into the castle, and we followed silently. I looked around as we moved, absorbing every intricate detail of this place into memory. We walked passed a bunch of women dressed in maid uniforms, whistling as they cleaned.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘦. 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘥𝘴. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦.

We come face to face with a massive door and Mr Clark gives two sharp knocks on it. The door gives a loud groan before it opens, revealing 2 men and 3 women in crisp red suits gathered around a menacingly white table. I stare at them cooly.

"Maximus, you can lose the get-up now that you're home." One of the women speaks, her eyes focused on Mr Clark.

Before our eyes, a small wind bristles around Mr Clark, and he transforms into a young man with bright blue eyes, but his face masks that of one who has seen many things for many years. I hear Emilie gasp beside me, drawing the attention of the 'Council' to us.

"These are the children that opened the gate?" A man from the five of them stands up and points to us. I stop myself from retorting back at the comment of us being children.

"Yes, Augustus. I apologise again for not safeguarding the gate-"

"No need to apologise, Maximus." Augustus silences him with a raised hand. "For you have saved us."

Mr Clark, or rather, Maximus cocks his head in confusion. Emilie mutters something under her breath that I can't quite catch. I stare straight at Augustus, but it is a woman's voice that grabs for our attention.

"You have disturbed the balance between this realm and Earth."

She rises and walks towards us, her heels making a 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬-𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 sound that echos across the walls.

"Mere mortals cannot escape unscathed from this realm."

"Are you going to kill us?" Emilie says quietly. She suddenly looks very pale and I feel my heart tighten.

"Nobody ever said you were going to die. You just might not go back 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯."