CHAPTER 1: FORSAKEN

I suddenly woke up from my deep slumber when I hear my mom shouting from downstairs.

"Elina! Wake up! You might be late from your first day!" She shouted. I got up and yawn along with rubbing my eyes as I took a glimpse at my clock above the side table. It's still 6:00 a. m in the morning, my class begins at 8:00 a. m., why is mom rushing me?

I frowned and begin to lay down again when all of the sudden, mom open my room's door as she entered.

"Here's your uni--" She didn't continue her phrase when she saw me still laying on my bed. "What are you still doing?! You're supposed to be getting ready!" She exclaimed and forced me to get up.

"But it's still six, mom. My class will start at eight." I whine, but then she still didn't give up and slapped my shoulder really hard.

"Oww! That hurts." I bleated. "Fine, mom." I rolled my eyes as I get up from bed. "So early--" Mom just cut me off.

"Stop complaining! You shouldn't be late on your first day of school!" She exclaimed. Then she placed my uniform besides me. "After getting ready, come downstairs and eat breakfast." She ejaculate and slammed the door shut as she went outside.

I breath and stood up. I arranged my bed, then I went inside the bathroom to take a bath. Afterwards, I changed into my uniform. I took my brush and went infront the mirror while I am combing my hair. While I was staring at my reflection, a faint stream of indistinct light behind the mirror caught my eye.

"What is that?" I murmured. The bewildering light intrigued me. I moved the mirror away and discovered a stout door with a partly chipped, worn out pattern on the sides. But there's something that's being engraved on the doorknob that even caught my attention. A cactus plant. My eyes widened when I realized something.

"Wait, the key." I uttered and hurriedly took the key out of the drawer. I gaze at the key while taking a step towards the door. This must be it, the keyhole. I put the key inside the hole and tried to unlocked the door. When I finally undo the lock, the old door creak as it open. As I touched the doorknob, it feels rough and cold on my hands. I bide for a moment as I breath out of excitement. I took a glance at the clock, it still 6:45, I won't be late for this. I looked back at the door again and attempt to open it. I pulled the knob and it made a creak sound. I slowly open it and saw a bright light. I entered the door and it lead me to bizarre place.

Where am I?

It is a place with empty life. The land was flat and barren. I perceived some lizards were moving hurriedly across the golden sand. I can hear crows in their horrible voices. They were making this loud, raspy sound. Also, everything in here smells burned and blasted.

"Hellooo!! Is anyone here?" I shouted, assuming that there's someone would answer me. But, there's no one. What is this place, anyway? I try to roamed around until I can find some answers. But while I was sauntering, I felt the heat of the sun, rubbing my skin. I search for a spot to shelter from the scorching sun. I walked without minding the heat, then in the distance, I saw a tree. A tree with no leaves, standing alone like a post in the middle of nowhere.

"I can take a break on that tree." I was talking to myself, like crazy. I trudge towards there. As I approached the tree, I sat down, exhausted. I lean at the trees trunk. I looked down on its shadow on the ground. I was thinking, why does the door lead me here? As I looked up the sky, I can see the bright light of the sun, watching birds spending their time flying. I wish I had wings.

"Wait a minute." I said as I stood up immediately when a realization just hit me. "This place has no people, no trees except this one, no houses, there's a sand everywhere, a crow--" I paused for a while when I finally discern that this place is a "Desert! This place is a desert!" I said it out loud. "Uuh--" I sat back. This is so demented.

There must be something out here. It's just that, I'm perplexed why does a door usher me to a desert. It seems that a secret door with a secret place, I don't know. And I don't think that this is the only place, there has to be more hidden in here and I want to figure it out.

I get up and roamed around. I walked without hurrying and looking for some clue. Even though it is so hot, I still continue to wander. I feel a slight itch in the back of my throat, I've undoubtedly experiencing the feeling of thirst. It distracted me, and now I'm urging to find something to drink. But, where can I find a water in this place?

I halted and try to think of something, then an idea comes to my mind. "A cactus." I speak. "A cactus plant store water in their stems. That's it! There must be cactus here, somewhere." I contentedly say. Oneself started to search for it. I strode across the sand while my hands is covering above my forehead to protect my face from the heat of the sun. As I am striding, I perceived a large, green plant, with thick and leafless stems covered in prickly spines. And there's a lot of it. "Cactus!" I shouted and move closer to it. When I get closer, I just look at it, doubting to drink. I remember something on my seventh grade, I read about cactus plant. It says..

"Typically, cactus plant is not a safe substitute for portable water. Drinking cactus water especially on an empty stomach, can cause severe diarrhea and vomiting, leading to more dehydration."

"I can only take a sip it if it's a--" I forgot the name of that specific cactus. I tried to processed it in my brain. "I quite remember there's a word fish on it." I mumbled as I think of it thoroughly. "Fish-fish cook--" I shook my head. I thought of it again, until I finally remembered the right name. It was Fishhook Barrel Cactus. It has a water that can be use for emergency situation. I hunt for it in the bunch of these large cactuses. Minutes searching, I noticed a barrel shaped body with long hooked spines. "This is it." But again, I was wondering how can I drink water from this? It's too sharpy.

Gladly that I have a thick towel inside my uniform's pocket. I can't remember how it got here tho. I started to touch the plant, then I noticed that the central core is a bit stingy, so I tried to avoid it. I wrapped my towel to the cactus as I raised it above my mouth and squished it, wringing it out to extract the water. After I took a sip of water from the plant, I put it unto the sand. I feel better and safe after drinking.

I started to stroll again then I stopped when I sight a rock not too far away from where I was standing. It is white, laying alone the sand of desert. I tread directly to it. When I look at it closely, there were words being inscribed on it. However, I cannot read it clearly because the other letters were covered with sand. I get rid of the sand by blowing it away. After that, I looked through the written words. I was filled with curiosity as I have completely pronounced it.

"Forsaken"