Wynterhaven

My name is Diedre, and somehow, I ended up inside this giant glass sphere.

I don’t remember getting here. I don’t remember the last thing that happened. I’m sixteen, a junior in high school, and none of this looks even remotely familiar. I press my palms against the curved surface, trying to find a seam or a crack or anything that could help me get out.

Nothing. Just cold, smooth glass.

Panic starts creeping up my throat, but I try to keep it together. Screaming is the only idea I have.

“Help! I’m stuck in here! Hello? Can anyone hear me?”

I yell until my voice goes raw — five minutes straight — but no one answers. No footsteps. No shadows. No reaction at all. Maybe the sphere is soundproof. Maybe no one is around. Maybe both.

Either way, I’m alone.

I sit back, hugging my knees, trying to breathe through the panic. I don’t know what else to do except wait.

Suddenly everything went dark.

The sphere jerks, and I feel myself moving — like I’m on a conveyor belt. I hear voices, but they’re muffled and too far away to understand. A man talking to someone else. Machinery humming. Metal clanking.

Then the sphere stops.

Light floods in, bright enough to make me squint. So… it wasn’t soundproof after all. Great.

I don’t freak out this time. I’m too busy staring at the scenery around me — a place I’ve never seen before. It’s beautiful and surreal, like something out of a fantasy movie. Not home. Definitely not anywhere I’ve ever been.

A worker shouts, “Watch out!”

A massive hammer swings down and slams into the top of the sphere. The glass shatters instantly. I flinch but stay still until the pieces settle.

Carefully, I stepped out.

The man with the hammer looks me over. “State your name and how you got here.”

“My name is Diedre,” I say. “And how did I get here? Your guess is better than mine. I don’t remember anything.”

He studies me for a second, then nods. “Alright, Diedre. Step to the side. Someone will come to get you situated. Oh — and welcome to Wynterhaven.”

“Okay… thank you?” I say, I’m not sure if I should be relieved or terrified.

I stay where he tells me, even though every part of me wants to wander around and figure out what this place is.

A little while later, a tall guy with short silver hair and icy blue eyes walks in. He’s wearing a cape — like, an actual cape — so I’m guessing this is the Mr. Malachi they mentioned.

He approaches with this curious look. “Welcome to Wynterhaven, Miss. I hear you’re new here — and that you arrived inside a glass sphere? Interesting… indeed.”

I don’t know what to say, so I just nodded. “Thank you.”

“Come with me,” he says. “I’ll help get you settled.”

We leave the factory, and the world outside looks unreal — breathtaking buildings, glowing lanterns, strange creatures, everything straight out of a fantasy movie. I can’t stop staring.

We climb into a horse-drawn carriage and ride deeper into the city. Villagers pass by — some human, some not. Fairies. Pirates. Ogres. Commoners. A whole mix of everything.

Malachi gestures to the right. “Markets, herbs, musical entertainment, and more.”

Then to the left. “Library, shops, city hall, community garden.”

It’s overwhelming, but in a good way.

“Tomorrow morning,” he says, “I’ll come get you. We’ll get you the essentials — and new clothes.”

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” I ask.

He gives me a gentle but honest look. “They’re dirty. And you’ll want to dress like part of the community here.”

I glance down at myself and feel my face heat up.

The tour ends at a cozy-looking house. “You’ll be staying here,” he says. “You have a roommate — her name is Ravyn. You’ll like her. She already knows you’re arriving.”

He helps me get down from the carriage. “Go on now. It’s nearly sunset. Ravyn will take you into town in the morning. Goodnight, Ms. Diedre.”

“Goodnight,” I say as he rides off.

Inside, I barely take two steps before I hear a cheerful voice.

“Hi there! Welcome, roommate. I’m Ravyn. And you are?”

“Diedre,” I say, smiling a little. “Nice to meet you.”

As I set my belongings down, she leans in like she’s about to share a secret. “This city has secrets. Big ones. Only a few people — including city hall — know them. And they’re not telling.”

That gets my attention immediately. “Really? That sounds like an adventure.”

“Maybe,” she says with a shrug. “But don’t quote me on that.”

We talk until the sky outside turns dark, getting to know each other until exhaustion hits us both. We say goodnight and head to our rooms.

Tomorrow… everything changes.