Gemageia: The Eight Isles

This isn’t what you expect it to be, the story of my life in this world. I wasn’t born here, to this mystical place. I was brought here by a force much greater than you and me. I was brought here by the Great Elders. Why? You might have heard of us, but my friends and I... we are the Mystics, sent here to save the islands.... to save Gemageia.

Thursday, for the most part, had went by as normal. Just your typical day of any Junior in high school. Nothing had happened that could hint on the events that would unravel my destiny.

"Minami, Knox! You're on track cleaning!" Our disciplinarian shouted, pointing his pen in my face.

Of course, the one time I get in trouble, I'm assigned the worst task in the entire school. Well, besides cleaning the restrooms.

Luckily, I'm with Rae Knox, my best friend of 6 years.

Rae is a smart, pretty red head with striking hazel eyes that always seem to be glaring. She has a tendency to wear her black zip up hoodie and black ripped jeans, which compliment her slightly tanned skin and rough exterior. Despite her tendency to be rude, she's always had my back, and I, hers.

I guess since I introduced Rae, I should introduce myself too. I'm Hana Minami, a 16 year old half Korean half Japanese daughter of the owners of MinaLee Technology, a multi-billion dollar company devoted to bringing the future to us, the people. I, unlike Rae, have no features that would set me apart from a crowd, with my shoulder length black hair, dark brown eyes, and pale skin.

"Come on, Hana. Let's get this over with." Rae grumbled, pulling me from my seat, dragging me out of the office.

I caught up with her quick pace, breaking free from her grip on my wrist, "We just had to step in, didn't we?" I sighed, tucking some of my hair behind my ear.

Rae shook her head, "We did the right thing. Those idiots deserved it."

The reason Rae and I had detention was nothing to gasp at, in fact I'd like to think it was admirable.

You see, our town has a very messed up system, one that sorts people into two groups, those who have money and the others. Rae and I had encountered a common theme in our school, someone with money bullying someone without it. This time, Rae had stepped in to stop the situation, and in a very unfortunate coincidence, the disciplinarian appeared, only seeing Ray with her hands up, me besides her, near a cowering student.

It's safe to say that we got blamed.

Rae and I stopped by the Janitor's closet to get some trash bags and gloves, and we were on our way, opening the double door to be greeted by the sun shining brightly on our faces.

The track was littered with trash, although not as bad as some popular hangouts around the town, this was still where some people come to drink beer, although I have no idea why.

Under the beaming rays of the sun, Rae and I began slowly picking up the trash, getting about a quarter of it done before we were interrupted.

"Hana?" Someone asked from behind us, causing me to jump up and drop my bag.

Standing a few feet away from me was Carter Lancaster. Someone I had met a few different times at my parent's dinner parties.

"Carter..? What are you doing here?" I asked, flashing a smile at him and picking up my trash bag.

"I got him in trouble," The boy besides him laughed, swinging his arm around Carter's shoulder, causing him to shift uncomfortably, "Because I am such a great friend."

The boy and Carter looked to be opposites. They both had brown hair, but Carter's was a lighter shade, while the other's was a dark, choclate brown that went well with his brown eyes, the total opposite of Carter's lightning blue ones, that were always behind his glasses.

The two boys were even wearing different clothing, the boy sporting a bright orange shirt that peaked out his black hoodie, a plethora of leather bracelets that showed because of his rolled up sleeves, light washed ripped jeans, and black vans.

Carter was wearing a brown button down, a blue watch, and grey jeans. Simple, but appropriate.

"Hana, this is Leo Romaro, my.... best friend." Carter grimaced at the title, but Leo only grinned brighter.

"N-Nice to meet you, Leo." I greeted, bowing my head and reaching out my hand for him to shake.

Leo laughed, and Rae sighed from besides me, "Han, you don't need to be so formal," she pushed down my hand and stuck her hand out for a high five, "The name's Rae. Rae Knox."

Leo grinned and high fived her, "So I've heard from all the whispers."

Rae rolled her eyes, promptly turning around and continuing to pick up garbage.

"Sorry," I apologized, feeling a bit guilty about Rae, "She just doesn't like people who spread rumors, is all." Leo shrugged.

We all continued to pick up garbage, getting to the furthest point from the school, where the garbage had most accumulated.

We had all made small talk, nothing big, the entire time. Most of it was Leo, who rambled on about random topics to keep from the awkward silence, with the rest of us occasionally stepping in.

Leo was right in the middle of his sentence when the sun was blocked by a cloud, a soft wind sweeping up the leaves and wrappers besides us.

There was a sound carried by the wind, a soft chiming, like two bells were being gently hit together, much like the wind chimes I would hear during the summer months. In sync, the four of us dropped our bags.

To this day, I have no idea what happened. It was as if a force had grabbed hold of the four of us, because we all stepped forward, almost as one being. I spared a glance towards Rae, and she seemed just as confused but entranced as I felt. We all continued forwards, being pulled by this invisible force, going further and further into the forest, and getting further and further away from the track.

The feeling lasted but a minute before we all stopped in a circular clearing, surrounding a tree. As I stared at the tree, a shape began to shape itself unto the bark.

One panel, another, three hinges were placed, and finally, the knob.

Attached to the tree was a door. A door to, seemingly, no where.

"Did you guys-" Leo whispered.

"Yeah. That door just appeared." Rae muttered in disbelief.

"But it's a tree!" I whisper shouted, waving my hands in the air.

"This makes no sense." Carter deadpanned.

We all stood there, whispering to each other about the experience, before Leo spoke loudly, "I'm going to open it."

"Wha-" I tried to speak, but was quickly interrupted by Rae.

"Are you stupid?"

Leo shrugged, "Well, it doesn't matter. If it leads to nowhere, it won't do any harm."

Rae opened her mouth to argue, but Carter got there first, "Leo's right. We may as well let him satisfy his curiosity."

Rae just shook her head, but said nothing else. With no one speaking up, Leo strutted to the door, pulling it open in a dramatic fashion.

Behind the door, I have no idea what lied. An abyss of both color and nothing, a space that was both empty of life, but thriving with energy. Somewhere that wasn't allowed to go past the door, not allowed to come into our world.

And much like the force that had pulled us to it, we all began walking through the door and disappearing into nothing. Leo was the first, followed by Rae and Carter.

I was the last to unwillingly enter the abyss, and before I lost all if my senses, I swear I heard the door slam shut behind me.

And then there was nothing. Nothing except the foreboding feeling that lingered in me even in unconsciousness.