Disturbances
Isn't it strange how some stories feel like they were so spontaneous yet so perfectly planned. Isn't it strange when two strangers meet and suddenly feel that they know each other since the beginning of time. Well this is just a beginning of this majestic story of eternal love, written in heavens, of our characters. The challenges, twists, separation, fights and much more that they will have to face is a whole new story filled with magic, power, compassion, devotion and much more.
"A beautiful and peaceful life it was until I fell in love with him that evening. I wish that I didn't meet him for some reason that evening." Thalia said as she sat under a huge tree in a dark misty forest wērig of all the things she had faced, "I should have realized that differences between me and him are so massive that it would take eras to cover them." She said with her voice filled with misery.
An evening of October, 1920:
Thalia just left library and was going towards her home. On her way she stopped at a bakery to buy somethings for herself. There she saw a book that was not even launched in the market. Its title said "Path No One Dares To Set Foot On!". It seemed interesting so she asked the baker about it. He said, " Oh this thing. It just appeared here out of no where this morning.". "Out of no where? Now what do you mean by that? How can this come here without anyone bringing it here?" Thalia asked with shock. "Well no one works here except me and my son and my son is out of town for 2 months and I never read books, only newspapers." Baker said. Thalia said in shock and a little excitement,"Well, sir! If it is of no use for you, can I take it? I...I...I am ready to pay its price." Baker showed no, absolutely no, interest in it and said,"Yeah, yeah. Just take it away, you don't have to pay any price for it. I was going to throw it any ways."
She grabbed her bakery items and that book with unknown and un-explainable compassion that was attracting her towards that book and she left the bakery to go to her home. All the way, she felt that something was special about that book. It was not some ordinary book. Anyways, she quickly went home.
As she reached her home and was about to open the front door, she felt a presence behind her. She suddenly turned around to have a look but no one was there. She opened the door and went inside just as normally as everyday. She kept the bakery items and book on the table near the fireplace and quickly went to take a warm bath. When she came out, she felt something eerie and un-explainable throughout the environment of the house. She searched whole house but found absolutely no speck of anything anomalous. She thought that she must be tired after such a long day at work so she must be feeling strange things. She peacefully sat on the chair table near the fireplace, made herself a nice warm tea and decided to read that book while eating the bakery items she bought. She was about to open that book when suddenly she heard horses running around the town as if it was a war going on outside. She went out hastily but as soon as she opened the front door,everything went quiet and peaceful. She again convinced herself that it might just be her mind creating these strange illusions due to being tired. She again sat on the chair and again, as she tried to read that book, she heard the same noise of many horses running around the town but this time she was convinced that it is just her mind distracting her so she decided to ignore the voices and start reading that book. As she opened the book, all the candles and lanterns went out and Thalia saw visions of something strange yet so familiar in a tenth of a second and everything was fine again. "This is too much to be just illusion of mind. This has never happened before. What is going on?" She said in a very inaudible voice as her heart rushed like a thunder. She quickly closed the book and decided to discuss it with her friends next day at the library and finished her house chores and went to sleep early.
Next morning:
(At the library)
"Hey what happened? You seem a little distracted today Thalia." Asked Lyra, a very good friend of Thalia. "Y...yeah Lyra?" Thalia fumbled as she came out of a deep thinking. "I said, why are you distracted today?" Lyra said in a louder tone. "Have you heard about this new book“Path No One Dares To Set Foot On!”?" Said Thalia. "Well I don't think so. No. There was no book published in the last few months in our town due to shortage of paper." Said Lyra. "Well strange!" Said Thalia as she seemed to think something deeply. "What is bothering you Dear?" Lyra seemed to be seriously concerned about her friend's strange behavior. "N...n... nothing." Thalia said as she felt some unease and ran away from the library to the bakery from where she brought that book. As she reached that bakery, there was a board hanging at its door that said BAKERY CLOSED PERMANENTLY. She felt goosebumps throughout her body. She looked here and there and decided to ask the residents of that area about the bakery.
(knock knock!) "Who is it?" Someone said in a very sweet voice. "Sorry to disturb you. I am Thalia. I wanted to ask about something if you could spare a minute." Thalia said with all due respect. The door opened and a beautiful and kind lady walked out of the door. "How can I help you young lady?" She said very politely. "Well I am really sorry to bother you but I wanted to ask about this bakery. Why is it closed and since when is it closed?" Thalia asked. "Well dear we don't know why was it closed but it has been closed since last year because the son of the baker passed away so he decided to wind up his business from this town and went to his hometown." The lady conveyed the whole story. Thalia's heart skipped a beat when she heard this story and she suddenly said, "This can't be! I came here yesterday and bought bakery items and took a book from the baker.". "Well dear you must have mistook some other bakery for this one. This bakery is close since last year." The lady repeated her words. "B...b...b..." She was too stunned and scared after hearing this story that she rushed towards her home without even thanking the lady.
That night:
Thalia was lying on her bed and the book was on the table near the fireplace where she left it last night. She was processing all the events that happened from last morning till today. Something felt really strange. Many questions rose in her mind. "What is the story of that bakery?","What is that book about?", "Why are all these strange things happening all of a sudden?"etc. etc.
She thought that she should read that book and find out why was it all happening. She immediately got up and went towards the fireplace to read that book, she decided that no matter what visions she has this time and what voices she hear, she IS going to find out what is happening.
She opened the cover of the book and again all the lights went out but she stayed put and started reading first chapter. As she read the first few lines she immediately felt uneasy. Although the lines said nothing strange or special they just started like any normal story would start "One cold evening, a girl was returning from a library. On her way to home, she stopped at a bakery...". She kept on reading with a strange feeling pinching her through each and every word. All the lights were out but still she was able to read the book very clearly. Something was surely strange about that book but she was unable to comprehend what was that something? As she completed the first chapter with the lines, "...and now she is completely unaware of what is coming her way." and turned the page, there was nothing written on the next page. Completely blank! "Well now another strange thing. There are so many pages left in this book and yet only one chapter is written?" She said to herself.
She closed that book and everything went back to normal and she went to sleep.
Her eyes opened early this time. She woke up in middle of a dark and misty forest. "W...where am I?!" Thalia said in shock and disbelief. She looked all around her, rubbed her eyes and tried to wake herself up thinking that this is a dream but nothing changed. She kept standing there in the middle of the forest all alone. Suddenly, she heard rustling of dried leaves and when she turned around, she saw a very bright light coming through the trees as if it was a path to some magical realm. Before she could go near that light, she heard a sound, a doorbell ringing and she suddenly woke up only to realize that she was dreaming all this time. She went out of bed to see who was on the door and saw that Lyra came to take her to library as she was late today. She quickly got ready and left with Lyra. On their way to the library, she remained silent and lost in deep thought. Lyra also didn't say anything.
"I have never seen any dream that felt as real as last night's dream. What is that I am unable to see?" Thalia said to herself in her mind. Walking silently, they reached the library, completed their work there and in evening, when Thalia was about to leave, Lyra stopped her and asked her if she would like to join her for tea. Thalia agreed without any hesitation. They both went to Lyra's home. Lyra made tea and they sat in the garden.
"Thalia, I am seeing that now a days you seem very stressed, distracted and lost in thoughts. Is there something bothering you? You can tell me freely. Trust me." Lyra said.
"Well I do already trust you but it is something that even I can not believe is real and I am actually experiencing it." Thalia said.
"Whatever it is, tell me!" Lyra insisted. "You remember that I was asking about that new book that day?" Thalia. "Yes yes. What about that?" Lyra. "Well since I have brought that book, there have been strange things happening. Like, the bakery where I went to buy some things and found that book, when I went there again I came to know that it is close since last year. Then, whenever I try to read that book, some strange things happen, like, lights go out, I see strange but realistic visions and many more things that I am unable to explain." Thalia tried to explain her situation. "Since when is this all going on?"Lyra showed concern. "From last two days."Thalia answered. "It must be something related to that book since that is the only new thing that has came into your life in the last two days." Lyra tried to reach some conclusion, "What is written in that book?", "Well that book IS actually strange because it has approximately 500 pages but only one chapter is written in it." Thalia said. "But why would be there be 500 pages if they only had to write one chapter?" Lyra was confused. "I don't know, that is what has been pinching me as well. Last night, I also had the strangest dream of my life. Not much happened but what happened, seemed to be strangely and awkwardly real. I saw my self standing amidst a dark and misty forest and there was light coming through the trees as if there was some opening to a magical realm." Thalia said. "Well what can I say about it. It all actually seems so strange." Lyra said. "Exactly. Even I don't know what is going on. How can I understand all this?" Thalia sounded really disturbed. "Don't worry, I know someone who can help you with all these anomalous happenings." Lyra said with confidence. "Really? Who? When? Where?" Thalia said in desperation. "Meet me tomorrow and I will take you to him." Lyra said with compassion towards her friend. They both finished tea and Thalia went home. After freshening up, she thought that she should read that book again to understand what was happening with her. As soon as she opened the book and completed the first chapter once again and turned the page, there was another chapter on the next page! "Th...this...this CAN'T BE POSSIBLE." Thalia said as she dropped the book on the floor as she got scared after seeing a brand new chapter which was definitely not there last time. She quickly ran to Lyra's house. "Lyra! Lyra open the door." Thalia shouted as she banged on the wooden door hastily. Lyra came out in a rush, "What happened dear? Is everything alright?". "No, nothing is fine Lyra. Th...this book has a new chapter!" Thalia said as her breath went out of her control. "Well may be it was there and you missed it." Lyra tried to calm her down. "No, no, no, no Lyra. I am hundred percent sure that it wasn't here last time I read this book." Thalia insisted. "Okay, okay relax. Come inside we'll discuss it." She took Thalia inside.
She brought her a glass of water and tried to calm her down before they could discuss about what happened. As soon as Thalia calmed down, they started discussing. "Now tell me what happened Thalia?" Lyra inquired. "Remember I told you that this book only had one chapter?" said Thalia. "Yes." Lyra. "Well now there is another chapter in it and I have firm belief that it wasn't here last time." Thalia again explained. "Show me the book." Lyra took the book from her hands and started to read it. As she read the book, her eyes kept widening in shock. "This can't be just a coincidence!" Lyra exclaimed as she finished chapter one and two. "What happened? Do you understand anything?" Thalia asked. "Didn't you notice? It is YOUR story Thalia!" Lyra said raising her voice slightly, "my story? How? What do you mean?" Thalia was unable to process what was going on, "See it is written here about a girl who was going home from library and stopped at a bakery in the way and brought a book from the bakery, and all the occurrences that have happened with you till now are mentioned here. Then this second chapter is story of today. It is mentioned that the girl was upset, she went to library with her friend then went to drink tea, till now; that she was sitting with her friend upset." Lyra tried to explain the situation."How is this possible?" Thalia was in shock, "I don't know but it is definitely something unusual and may be ground breaking. Meet me tomorrow, we will go and meet Orion." Lyra, "Who is Orion?" Thalia asked. "Well you will know soon. Right now you need to take rest. If you would like then I would ask you to stay here and not at your home, alone." Lyra said. "No I am completely okay by myself, don't bother I will be here tomorrow at 9 am." Thalia refused her proposal and left for home.
On her way to home, she was lost in deep thought. She was thinking about all things that have happened and were happening and could possibly happen, suddenly wind started blowing really fast and she saw a bright light again just like the one in her dream. She felt unsaid and strange attraction towards that light. She started walking towards that light mindlessly. She drew near and nearer to it until she was completely surrounded by that light and she fainted as soon as the light enveloped her.
Next Morning:
Next day, Lyra was waiting outside Thalia's house but she didn't come. Lyra was upset that why would Thalia do it? Why would she plan to go to Orion's house and then disappear? Lyra thought that she must be scared due to what had happened so she decided to go to Orion's house by herself and tell him everything that happened with Thalia.
On the other hand, Thalia woke up. She felt so dizzy after waking up and she started looking here and there to acknowledge that where is she? As she was looking around, an enchanted voice started to be audible from all around and it said," Welcome to the enchanted forest Thalia. We are so glad to have you here." Thalia got upset and surprised and asked," W... who is it? What do you want? What is happening with me?!" She almost started crying."Don't worry dear, everything is fine. You are away from all the tensions and disturbances of the world. Relax." , the enchanted voice calmed her down. "But why am I here? Do you want something from me? Who are you?" Thalia calmed down a little bit. "I am Eryndor and I brought you here so that you can see this magical world residing under your world." that voice replied. "But why did you decide to show Me all this?" Thalia asked. "Honestly I don't know what I felt about you but you seemed to be different, ambitious, curious, adventurous etc. out of everyone. So I felt that you deserve to know about this magical realm. So, welcome!" the voice said calmly. "Really? Well if that is the case then I am very thankful to you." Thalia replied with a thankful gesture. "No issues at all. Would you like to start exploring our enchanted forest?" asked Eryndor. "But won't you come in-front?" Thalia asked. "I will but I want to see you and understand you first. So, if you like, you can start exploring or if you feel tired then I can show you the place where you can stay throughout your visit here." Eryndor asked her. "I feel a little dizzy and tired so I would like to rest first." Thalia said. "Okay. This way please."the voice said as a path started to glow with beautiful candles (as it was always night in the enchanted forest) and Thalia started to follow that path to reach a beautiful little house surrounded by magical light and filled with magical things. She went inside and found a beautiful and comfortable bed and she immediately laid down to sleep as she was so tired.
"She's a beautiful soul. Ain't she?" Eryndor asked his guardian friends, "Yes of course she is. But we don't get why did you bring her here?" one of the guardians asked, "Well I don't know for sure, but there is something in her which I have never seen and I have brought her here so that I can find out what is it in her that I love and praise so much." Eryndor, "But sir, even if you find that out, you can't be with her, she is a human and you are a spirit, a guardian of this enchanted forest. This is impossible!" said a guardian spirit. "Don't say that! I know that we are different but we will be one one day." Eryndor said with utter surety. Everyone went silent.
Meanwhile, suddenly, Thalia was standing in front of Lyra. "(in expression of surprise) Huhhhhhh!! Is it you Thalia?" Lyra asked. "Yes! It's me! Is it all real? Where are we?" Thalia asked. "We are at Orion's house. I went to your house to pick you up but you weren't there so I thought that I should come here and talk to Orion about your situation." Lyra explained. "That is right but you won't believe me that I was in an enchanted forest right now and all of a sudden I am here. I don't understand what's happening." Thalia was talking to Lyra when Orion heard all this and said, "Well I do." he came in front of Thalia and Lyra, "You are both here and there." he said. "But that's impossible! How can I be here and there at the same time?" Thalia exclaimed." Well supposedly, what I have been able to exclude from all the events till now, you travel between these two worlds, these two realities, when you sleep and dream." said Orion. "I am sorry but I don't get the gist of all this." Thalia was confused. "Look, whenever you sleep here and dream, you teleport to that realm and whenever you sleep there and dream, you teleport to this realm." Orion tried to explain. "Oh I remember, where's that book Lyra?" Thalia said as she realized something suddenly. "That book!! It is at my home. You left it there last night when you left for home." Lyra, "We have to get it, we might get a clue from it." Thalia shared her idea.They both agreed and went to Lyra's house. They started searching the entire house but hey didn't find a trace of that book.
"Well that's strange! Where IS that book?" exclaimed Thalia."I don't know it was right here on the table when I left for Orion's house." Lyra explained, "Well then where is it now?" Orion asked, "I don't know." Lyra was very afraid and confused. "Okay okay ease the situation down. Where could that book possibly go?" Orion said. "I don't know it was already a strange book so it might have disappeared strangely." Thalia ,"So why are you looking for it? It told the events that happened with you, not the events that are going to happen." Orion asked Thalia, "Yes that's true but I am thinking that what if the two realms that I am switching between, have different timelines and that book can tell us what has happened in one realm before we even get to experience that." Thalia shared her thoughts, "Well I think that makes sense." Orion agreed her. Then there was a few moments of silence and all three of them were thinking and processing all the information they have gathered till now.
"I think you should go to sleep and see if you wake up there and explore what is happening and why is it all happening. Meanwhile I and Lyra will go to the library to read old texts to see if something like this has happened before." Orion directed and suggested Thalia. "I agree this could help us." both Thalia and Lyra agreed. Thalia went to sleep and as soon as she slept, Orion and Lyra left for library. They all were unaware of what was going to happen next.
