The Book Travelers

                                The Book Travelers
         Sarah always believed in the fairy tales in her favorite book, Stekaria. She always imagined going on huge adventures for this strange world where she could be the heroine. She wanted a chance to have her own fairy tale.
         One day, to her surprise, she got her wish of an adventure.

         The clock struck two in the morning as Sarah lay, lightly breathing, asleep in her bed. A slight jingle sounded around the room as a lone figure appeared wearing a gypsy skirt with bells jingling at the bottom. The lone woman, with pale ivory skin and long curly black hair lightly jingled across the room. Arriving by Sarah’s bed she softly nudged the sleeping teenager.
         After a minute Sarah rolled over and, a little irritated, looked up to see who’d wakened her. When she saw the strange woman Sarah was so shocked that she pushed herself back and hit her head on the baseboard.
“Ouch.” She yelped rubbing the back of her head.
         The woman rolled her eyes, “I’m not here to hurt you. I need your help. Please pay attention.” She said in a voice that shimmered, “Stekaria is in grave danger. You are the only one who can save our kingdom from the evil wizard who threatens to destroy it.”
         Staring wide eyed Sarah asked, “Who are you?! Stekaria isn’t real! Leave me alone or I’ll scream!” She blurted out. No matter what she could always find her voice.
         “Will you just Listen and don’t scream you’ll wake the others.” The lady said. Sarah was about to point out that that was the reason for screaming but the woman put a hand over her mouth before she could.
         “You know who I am and most importantly you believe in Stekaria. I know you do…and I know all.”
         Suddenly it clicked in her mind. Sarah knew who this woman was; she flicked on the light by her bed and gasped. It was the Seer of Stekaria.
         The woman smiled, “Remember this when you wake.”
         “What? Wait!” The next thing she knew she fell asleep.
         
         Waking up the next morning Sarah stretched, grabbed her jeans, flip flops and tank top and lumbered into the bathroom. Looking into the mirror she saw the usual sight. Her red, curly hair was a mess and across her freckled face was a print, a print of something.
         “Okay….what did I sleep on?” She asked herself.
         Shrugging when she no longer cared what it was Sarah began getting dressed. She reached down for her clothes and that’s when she noticed what she had slept on.
         “Oh…oh no.” On her wrist was a bracelet made out of blue topaz.
         Running out of her bathroom, remembering everything, she fell to her knees by her bookcase and pulled out her favorite book, flipping through the pages she confirmed her suspicions. On her wrist was the seer’s bracelet of luck.
         Sarah gulped, “I think, I’ve gotta call my friends.”

         “So wait….you’re telling me that we’ve gotta save some made up place all because you had a whack dream about a corny seer?” Brian asked.
         “It wasn’t a whack dream!”
                “It so was!” He retorted.
                Bethany sighed and rolled her blues eyes. Pushing up her glasses she kicked her boyfriend, Brian, in the shin. Then she went to sit back down on the bed.
              “Down boy….no need for her to try and shove your foot in you mouth…again.”
              “That was you Beth.” Gary said sitting on Sarah’s desk.
              Standing up completely irritated Sarah said, “Look, Brain deads’, if I can prove to you this is real will you come with me?”
                Brian scoffed, “No.”
              Gary got up and kicked him. Standing to his feet Brian punched him in the arm. The two began to smack each other and really get into it.
                “You wanna go?!” Gary challenged.
              “Maybe!” Brian said.
              They threw themselves at each other with teenage battle cries falling to the ground. Did I mention they’re brothers?
              “Guys!!!” Sarah screamed pulling her guy, Gary, off Brian.
              “Sorry Sarah….I’ll go with you though.”
              “Great, Klutzo Gary will help.” Brian said. Bethany giggled.
              “Shut up Brian.” Sarah said, “Now all of you watch and be quiet so I can open the door.”
              Bethany laughed, “You need to concentrate to—“
            “Shut it Beth!” Sarah Interrupted.
              Concentrating on what she was doing, and ignoring her best friends glares, Sarah closed her eyes and faced the door.
            “Standeta!” She said.
            Opening her eyes Sarah turned around and faced her unbeliever friends.
            “On the other side of this door is the world of my imagination, the world. I’ve always wanted to see. Guys do you believe?!”
              Bethany and Brian raised their eyebrows, simultaneously shaking their heads.  Gary was the only one nodding. Sarah loved her enthusiastic, nerdy boyfriend.
          “Whatever…you’ll see. You’ll all see!”
          “Just stop being bonkers and open the freaking door Sarah.” Bethany said, “And next time don’t call us over here at ten a.m. It’s too early!”
          “Beth…Shut up!” Sarah said.
          Bethany stood up, “you wanna go?!”
          “Yo! Gary, we’re gonna see a cat fight! Again!” Brian said sudden glee all over his face; His brown eyes alight with excitement. This look was overturned with dread as both girls, true besties, turned on him.
          “Why does your boyfriend have to be such a dork…and pig?” Sarah asked.
          “I…I don’t know. I mean Brian, Really? A cat fight against Besties?” Bethany said disapprovingly.
          “Really Brian, How could you?” Gary threw in.
          “Shut up Gary!” They all said.
          “Now open the door already. We’re such a sidetracked group. I’m getting nervous. I want to know if you’re not crazy.” Bethany said tightening her waist length blonde hair into its holder. She was obviously finally awake.
          “Okay.”
          Reaching for the knob Sarah’s heart quickened, she truly believed that on the other side of that door was her adventure. She grabbed the knob, turned it open and with a deep breath slowly opened the door. On the other side of it was a lush green forest with noises all over that in a burst filled her room. Light cascaded through the trees and to her floor.
In complete awe Sarah put her hand on the doorway and went to take a slow step out. Stekaria was real.