“We’re in between.”
Aidan tried to speak but no sound was made.
“We’re almost there.” The voice said.
There was a tingling all over his body, it felt like he was being pulled from all sides, figures danced before his eyes and nothing seemed to stay still. Then it was all over. He stood in a dark hallway with Sonia. The walls seemed lifetimes away and the only thing visible was a door, a simple, brown door.
“All you have to do is open it.” Sonia whispered.
Aidan grabbed the cold metal knob on the door and turned it. On the other side was a beautifully decorated room. Tapestries were draped on the walls and a sparkling chandelier hung from the ceiling above them. The doors at the end of the corridor swung open as they approached, revealing a whimsical town. The houses were of every shape and size, some long rectangles and some stout spheres. The people milling about were as dissimilar to each other as their houses, some had oddly colored hair or skin and others were as plain as a plot of dirt. Together Sonia and Aidan walked down the main street. Shops on either side of the street were opening, some sold bread or groceries, but some sold more thrilling things, like mermaid scales and pet dragons. Everything was new and exciting, how was he supposed to take it all in?
“What are we going to do?” Aidan asked excitedly.
“We should visit Olaf first, he has some supplies for us. His shop is right up there.” Sonia pointed to a cylindrically shaped building.
Inside they found a stocky man with an overly large nose. He greeted them with a large smile. “Sonia! To what do I owe this pleasant visit?”
“I’m here to pick up the supplies you had for me and Aidan.”
“What supplies?” Olaf scratched his head thoughtfully.
“Remember? The supplies you put together for us?” Sonia tried to jog his memory.
“I’m not following you.” Olaf said.
Sonia sighed. From the door behind the counter emerged a tall thin boy with shaggy red hair. “Hello, Sonia. Here for the supplies, I suppose?”
“Yes, Milo.” Sonia was relieved that someone had remembered the supplies.
Milo turned back into the room behind the counter and began rummaging around. Aidan looked around him, the store seemed to be suspended between the past and the future. The wood paneling and old-fashioned barrels of sugar and flour suggested 19th Century America, but the sleek telephone and high tech computer on the counter shouted futuristic spaceship. The whole place seemed to be a collection of contradictions. Soon Milo emerged with two black backpacks. Milo handed one to Sonia and one to Aidan.
“Inside you’ll find enough food to feed the two of you for three days, a first aid kit, a flashlight for each of you, three star candles and a change of clothes for both of you. I packed an extra bag just in case, well, um, just in case you wanted to, um…” Milo stuttered.
“Would you like to come with us, Milo?” Sonia asked.
“Yes.” He answered quickly. “I mean, sure, if it’s okay with you.”
“Of course it is, Milo.” Sonia laughed. “Now, lets get going.”
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