Into the unknown
Once upon a time there was a little boy who liked to hear about wonderlands story's, they could be action ones, horror ones, adventurous were his favorites, but sometimes even romantic ones. As long as they were about unheard Worlds full of fantasies for him to dream about.
He liked the mystery and diversity in them so much that he even tried to live one of his own.
One where he could just open a door and off he went to explore a new World, where creatures he never saw in real life lived, but most of all, existed.
"Alexander Maxwell come back here!" I hear my mother call me but I just keep on running with my arms open, a smile on my face while felling the grass underneath my feet and going towards the Forest outside my Grandparent's house.
I always love it when we come here, Grandpa's story's are the best and Grandma's cooking is out off this world. But what I love the most is the space and Nature surrounding the house, it's just... well... as Grandma says this place has magic. You either love it or hate it.
My case love, Mom hates it.
Grandpa once told me it was because she got lost in this same woods I'm running towards, only to be found almost a day later in an abandoned tree house crying and scared.
She was ten years old, same as me right now, that's why she's so overprotective of me. No matter how many times I tell her that I know my way around she just gets super mad and ground's me. I don't understand why, when all I want is to find that same tree house.
You see, in the story my Grandpa told me, the only reason she got lost in the first place was because she heard a voice that lead her twords the house. She sworn there was someone up there and when she climbed there was no one. Just a simple abandoned tree house that no one knew who it belonged to.
When she tried to come back down she got scared of heights and couldn't climb down. She tried to scream for her parent's or anyone else to help her, but no one came. As it got dark, her fear of never coming home only got worse.
Since I heard about this I just had to go and look for the place. Besides I was also curious to know who was the voice that my mom heard. But the mystery's the house could have is what makes me run.
...
"Mother are you sure you want to sell this place?"
" Yes Alex... I know it's hard for you to understand but I just never really liked it here."
"Unlike me. Can I just take one last look around before we start packing Grandparent's things?"
"Sure."
Grandpa, Grandma, I'm inside your house. It's still the same as the last time I came here. In the kitchen the white walls with brown cabinets, the oven where so many delicious recipes were prepared, the table where we sited while waiting for them and conversations were traded, it has a few bruises but it's still standing. Just like you left it.
I really don't get why mother wants to sell your home, not when with just one look you can tell how happy you were while living here, where her parent's life story lies.
Maybe over the years I just have grown too much attached to this place and now that both of you are gone it's hard letting go.
"Mom! I'm going to catch some air in the back yard."
"Ok. Don't take too long, we have a lot to do."
I open the door that leads to the yard and the wind greets me. The view of the woods always makes me smile. "Guess a quick run is in order for old times sake."
I climb down the steps of the porch and sit on the last one to take my shoes off. Felling the grass one last time.
Getting up I inhale the fresh air and off I go.
How many years has it been since I last did this? I wonder... But I also don't care. I just want to enjoy the freedom of running in this Forest while remembering my young adventurous spirit.
Ok now I'm acting like an idiot. I'm not that old! I'm a 23 year old blond hair with chocolate like color eyes, 6' 1" feet, not to over board of a body physique, healthy young men.
"Alexander"
I stop in my tracks when I hear my name. It can't be my mother's voice, I'm too far from the house, but it's definitely the voice of a woman.
"Come" the wind whispers in my ear.
"Who is this?"
"Come" it says again.
"Whe..." I take a look at my surroundings, trees and mores trees until... "It can't be" once again I freeze when right there in front of me is the one place I have searched for all the time we came to visit.
The abandoned tree house.
"No way..." I must have dreamed of finding this goddamn place like five thousand times. How it would be like, what would be inside, who built it and why. But above all, the stories of those who lived in it.
I'm stunned but my curiosity takes the best of me so I start walking twords the house. From the little description that I managed to get from my mom about this place: branches of plants embedded in the wood of the house, simple with a window and door in the front, flowers of various colors growing from the vineyards.
Exactly what I'm seeing. "Well no doubt this is the place."
A mystical and calm sensation is what it conveys to me. I don't know how or exactly when I climbed up, next thing I know and without second thoughts my hand is already in the doorknob twisting it to open when the wind whispers again.
"Are you sure?" I can almost feel someone behind me but when I turn around to see, there's no one there.
"I know you're here, show yourself!"
"But I am not... there"
A gentle breeze caresses my face and makes me face the front door again. "I'm in here"
My mind shuts down, failing to process what's happening. A million questions coming instead. Like, who does this beautiful and daring voice belongs to. What does it mean by here? Inside the house? How? Am I somehow dreaming?
"You are a curious one"
"I... Whe... How...?"
Something from inside the house starts to shine. "Light?"
"Yes... Do you wish to come?"
"Come? To where exactly?"
"You ask to much"
"Of course!"
"Are you scared?"
No. It's not fear for me, but... I look in the direction of my Grandparent's house and think about my mother. This is the place that got her so many fears and nightmares. Even if this is not making any logical sense... all I want to do is go to where this voice wants to take me.
"She will be fine"
I face the door "How do you know what I'm thinking?"
No reply. Of course.
"Fine... Yes I am sure I want to go." I say while taking a breath, my hand already on it's way to the doorknob again.
"Once you open that door be prepared, there is no turning back"
And again I stop. I can feel this was a warning. Probably the only one I will get.
But this is what I always wanted. Dreamed about. A chance to live my own adventure, to go into the unknown and, it seems, in another World. As crazy as this is all being.
Mom... I'm sorry.
Without further uncertainty and hesitation I open the door and enter the house, only to be immersed in the light that previously shone.
I can't see a thing, but I feel the warmth and somehow be relaxed by this light.
I hear the door behind me getting closed. Well here goes nothing.
"Welcome to the Fantasy World... Human"
