Reiko (pt. 1)

I had been trying to meditate in my bedroom after a long, stressful school day. It was something our math teacher tried after lunch.

Inhale, Exhale, Now imagine, a peaceful place...

When I open my eyes again I find myself sitting on a colorful red mushroom. Adding to the strangeness, there is a peculiar frog staring back at me. What is going on? I now find myself sitting criss-cross applesauce on this mushroom, starting a purple frog with an orange tongue. I stand up, first things first, I need to get down from this mushroom that stood at around 100 foot high. Hmm. I close my eyes and imagine myself trying to get down the mushroom. How should it all play out?

When I reopen my eyes I’m somehow standing at the base of the mushroom forest. “Huh?” I murmur, staring back at the top of the mushroom where I had been on only moments ago and shrug. At least I was able to get down safely.

I’ll worry about the rest later. Now, where in the world am I? Am I even still on Earth? I look around trying to get a hint on where I might be. I can see the sun setting far off in the west. That’s good. Maybe I’m still on Earth if the sun still sets in the west. But, if the sun is setting, I need to find a shelter. Who knows what lurks in this swampland after dark?

As I begin to walk away from the mushroom I let out a gasp as a slimy creature lands on my head. I bring a shaky hand to whatever is on my head and cringed a little bit. It’s just the frog from the mushroom. I’m not used to the reptile-y feel of the creature.

At home, in Illinois, United States my mom and I don’t own pets, much less, frogs. As I gently bring the frog into my eyesight I ask meekly, “Are you lost too?” In response, I get a croak. I guess that’s to be expected. I look up and sigh. It’s too early for me to get childishly scared. I’m 14! I need to be brave. Especially now. Otherwise, I’ll never been able to face my life back at home...bullies and what-not

As I walk further through the swamp, I spot an almost peaceful seeming glow coming from somewhere in the distance. My logic kicks in. Where there’s light, there’s usually living things. Maybe I can find help there! I begin to sprint towards the glow, following the frog. Now in the night, I’m grateful for having the slimy, yet cute-ish reptile. The stripes lining it’s back and legs appeared to let off a glow that lights the path in the dark.

Suspense builds in me as I get closer. As I arrive at what I hope will be a civilization, I stop short. There are huge drawbridge trolls, like the kind you’d find in fairytale books, walking around. This is most certainly NOT a human civilization. This is something completely different! A bad different.

I think a troll noticed me though because when I turn around to think about what to do next, there is a troll already blocking me. It’s huge nostrils blow a rotting stink into my face and I can see a very human looking skull wedged in it’s back tooth as it opens its mouth to eat me. Just when I think I’ve met my end, a strange-looking human swoops in on a vine delays the troll with a bow-n-arrow. She wears a badge on her black cloak that says, ‘Professional Troll Hunter of Magusia.’

“Run!” the girl yells at me. I comply and begin heading back towards the protection of forest. Another girl appears out of nowhere and begins running next to me.

“Not the swamps. That’s too dangerous!” I listen to her and follow.

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