On her way home from school, Alice was stopped by her greatest Nemesis, Erica. Talk about ending school on a bad note. She pulled Alice by her arm, almost throwing her on the ground. "What the hell did those two want with you today?" Erica demanded. She seemed furious and Alice couldn't really place what was going on. What was happening with the big three?
"Why don't you ask them, aren't you one of the big three? Oh right, you got kicked out," Alice goaded as she released herself from Erica's grip.
"I don't know what you think you are, but you're not special. You just got lucky that night. There's nothing more to it," Erica snapped as she walked away.
"What night? What are you even talking about?" Alice asked, more worried than perplexed.
Erica stopped in shock. She looked sternly at Alice as if unsure what to say. "You're serious. You really can't remember. All this time, I thought you were faking it and I was really mad at what you cost me. I got kicked out because of you and you can't even remember? You don't get to be free, you don't. You think your life is hell now? You have no idea what's coming your way." Erica lashed out before leaving.
Alice was dazed but she regained her composure rather quickly and continued on her way home. She had decided not to think about it until she was home, where the wind blew water across her face and the loud silence of waterfalls, the Niagara Falls! She sat at the edge of a cliff right beside a waterfall. She watched as the birds flew across, free, without fear, without restraint. Sometimes, she wished she could soar the skies too. Someday maybe, maybe she too could be as free as a bird. Someday. But little did she know, that 'someday' wasn't too far away.
***
On her bed later that night, she thought about what had happened that day. It was all so crazy. But then, she remembered what the girls behind her were talking about in class, a dimension to another world. She could already do something quite similar but she was kind of curious as to where it might lead. Most importantly, if she were to get in trouble, she could always find her way back with her matchsticks. And when it was twelve, she got up and picked the materials she needed, a cup and a lit candle. She already had them beside her as she laid on her bed, unable to catch a whiff of sleep as she awaited midnight. And now, it was time. Her ears gleamed with anticipation as she stood in front of her mirror, a cup in one hand and a lit candle in the other, although she could barely see her reflection. But that light soon faded as anything was yet to happen. No shiny doorway, or magic portal. Nothing.
"Am I doing this right?" she switched the positions of the candle and the cup in her hands but nothing changed. "The magic word, maybe? This is a waste of time really. What was I thinking?" She ranted, but then she decided to try something. She took out her matchbox and lit a matchstick. In front of the mirror, she drew her golden circle without trying to go anywhere. She waited a while to see if anything would happen but still nothing. "This is a waste of time really," she said, disappointed and she retired to her bed. But something happened, even though she was on her bed, and nowhere near in front of her mirror, her reflection still appeared on it. And in that moment, towards Alice's direction, its eyes moved!