She felt her body hit a soft surface beneath her. It was not her bed that she left moments before, nor was it the sands of the Amalfi Coast. It was a thick, velvety red carpet. When she had the strength to sit herself up and look around, Audrey could not believe her eyes. She was inside what seemed to be a castle taken straight out of a fairytale: its large, stained-glass windows illuminated the room with various hues, while its towering stone columns gave the room an intimidating feel. Audrey stood up and realized that the room was freezing cold. Shivering, she started to walk around, noticing that, except for the red carpet, the entire space was bare. No tapestries adorned the walls, no furniture stood on display, and no kings and queens appeared inquiring about the new guest in their home.

Audrey continued to walk the length of the carpet, searching for any signs of life, but finding none. One minute, I’m about to live my dream life in Italy, and the next I hear my mother’s voice, my pen starts to glow red, I am thrown into a dark abyss, and now I’m… here… 

“Yes, dearie! You are here, what a WONDERFUL observation,” said a shrilly male voice behind her. 

Audrey whipped around, “Who was that!?” but found no one. Terrified, she started to look around, searching for whoever just spoke. 

“It won’t be THAT easy to find me, dearie,” the disembodied voice said tauntingly. “I am neither here, nor there, yet EVERYWHERE!!” 

“That makes no sense!” Audrey cried.

“NOTHING makes sense here, lovie. That’s the whole REASON you’re here!!” 

“Wait, there’s a reason I’m here?” 

“But of course! Did you ever think, for a moment—when you were admiring the glimmering waters of the Italian coast—that there was a reason you were taken there?” 

“Well, no,” Audrey frowned, “but what person in their right mind would ever think that far when they’re still trying to wrap their head around the whole teleportation scenario!?” Suddenly, Audrey felt an ice-cold hand on her left shoulder, and she whipped around in horror to find a familiar face with sandy blonde hair looking back at her. 

“Brodie!?” 

“Dearie, dearie, you’re trying my patience,” said Brodie, whose voice had changed much since their last encounter. “Relax, why don’t you? Allow me, please, to pull up a chair.” Instantaneously, a tall, mahogany chair was slid under Audrey; she sat facing a long, wooden table. In front of her was a plate of food, but not just any food: macaroni and cheese. 

“Anachronistic for the current setting, I know, but PLEASE, enjoy!” Brodie clapped his hands with glee. Now, if Audrey knew one thing from watching one too many dramas on Netflix, it was to never—under any circumstances—eat food offered by a stranger; no matter how hungry she was or how delectable that mac and cheese looked, she would refuse point blank. Next, she would use her true-crime watching skills and start the interrogation. 

“Enough with the façade, Brodie, if that’s even your real name! I don’t even like mac and cheese, and I know something’s up. So, I need to hear it all and hear it NOW.” Audrey slammed her fist on the table. She knew how to be assertive, and this instance was perfect for showcasing her ability to stand her ground. 

“Ooh, the poor lass is suspicious. What a PITY!” Brodie sighed. “And a TERRIBLE liar, too, I might add,” he winked sarcastically. He had her there, but she would not cave.

“Where am I!?” Audrey screamed. 

Brodie took a deep breath, and then he spoke: “Dearie, it is very simple. You are between dimensions. That pen which you hold in your hands is no ordinary pen. No, it acts as a transport medium, allowing its user to travel to any place in this universe or beyond, simply by writing it down.” 

Audrey blinked: “I’m sorry, what?!” 

“Yes, yes, that’s the natural response I get from everyone. You do know you’re not the only one to behold this power, Audrey?” 

“I’m not?” 

“No! Of course not.That would be ridiculous of me, entrusting the power of the pen to a child, or as your time says, ‘teenager,’” Brodie scoffed. 

Who else could have held this power? Audrey thought. And what am I supposed to do with it? He’s got to be lying, right?

“No, I’m being completely honest!” Brodie exclaimed. “And that second question, lovie, is a question everyone who has used that pen must find out for themselves. And yes, if you haven’t figured it out by now, I am a mind reader!”

Audrey glanced down at the pen; it was such an ordinary thing, yet extraordinarily powerful. She knew it could transport her mentally to a better place, but physically, she could not even begin to fathom that. “I know what I need to do,” Audrey said finally, “Grab me a sheet of paper; I’m going home.”

“LEAVING ALREADY!?” Brodie gasped, putting his hand on his heart. “Dearie, we’ve hardly met! Besides, you can’t go home now, not when I must introduce you to the others.”

“What others?” Audrey asked. 

Brodie whistled and gestured down the far end of the room: “Them.” 

Six shadows emerged from behind the pillars of the room. The pen in Audrey’s hand started to glow a dazzling white. Instantly, Audrey recognized one of the shadows.

 “Mom!?”

TO BE CONTINUED…