Chapter 3

IRIS

It’s already dark when I woke up and I can feel my puffed eyes due to crying. I tried to open the lights and couldn’t believe that it still works. I look through dad’s old stuffs that my mom didn’t bother to pack up because it will only remind us of him. His books, his glasses, the bean bags that he set especially for me so that I wouldn't feel lonely when he's working. Oh Did I mention that he was an author? He was known for the pen name Morpheus and had lots of followers and readers online. He was a famous fantasy writer, and the book, entitled Iris, was supposed to be his last piece. But it was incomplete so it was not acknowledged. Dad's account is still alive, but no one can access it. So it had been left, just like that. As if waiting for it's owner to come back. How many readers had been kept waiting? How many readers still remembers him? Do they even know that no author can come back for them.

I sighed and sat down his office chair and ruffled through the papers that was inside the drawers of his office. It was mostly drafts and our coloring pieces. One of the drawers were locked that it draw me to it. It was only a small lock, I’m sure it can be easily broken, right?

Unfortunately, I tried best in opening the lock, but nothing worked.  I studied the lock a little more and realized it has a very unique hole. It was a heart shaped hole, same as to the necklace I’m currently wearing. It was my dad’s birthday present to me. The last present he gave before leaving. I finally able to open the drawer and saw the book we filled with paintings and colors. I never realized how unique the design of the cover is. It's like the covers of some fantasy movie of some sorts.

I opened it and reminisce all the memories my dad and I spent together. He introduced me to drawing my own piece, my own imagination. He showed me all the colors we could see. He showed me what beauty there is in life even just as being a kid. Those were the good days. Those were and will always be the best days of my life. I closed the book as tears fell for the third time. I don’t want to mess the pages with tears.

Tears fell on the hardcover of the book, and as I stare at the cover, I realize something. My necklace fits on the cover.

Curious as to why it matches, I placed the necklace on the cover. I waited for a few minutes and searched all over the book or room. Nothing happened. I took a deep sigh. What was I even doing.

I was surrounded with few minute of silence when I heard the branches of the trees rigidly shaking beside the window. I’m at the second floor so I couldn’t take a peek on who’s playing with it. For a moment, I was engulfed with fear, thinking it might be a burglar, a serial  killer, or a ghost. I wasn’t able to get up. I was too scared to check what was happening and too frozen to leave where I’m currently sitting. I can hear a grunt as I hear the tree shake more. Now I know someone’s climbing the tree. I could not do anything but just watch on what’s about to happen, trembling and tensed.

As the footsteps got louder, so did my heart and I was about to yell when I saw a familiar structure. I squinted my eyes, checking if what I’m seeing is right.

“Are you sure this is legal?”

“Skye?”

“Oh? Noona!” I immediately ran over to help him climb over .

“What are you doing? That was dangerous! “

“Oh about that…”

“How are you so heavy…”I was shocked when I saw Sage following him, panting hard as he fall to the floor.

“What the hell are you doing?!” I gritted my teeth in anger. He immediately stood up and hand me a paper bag.

“Mrs.Jade said you didn’t eat a single food since morning so I specially delivered it for you.”

“ I don’t need it.”

“Rissy, you need to eat.”

I paused as I hear the nickname he used to call me since child.

“Don’t ever call me that again.” I coldly answered as I turn away from him.

“Look, Rissy, I know we had a rough start but—”

“I said don’t call me that!” I yelled that made Skye and Sage flinched in surprise.

“Noona…”

“My name is Iris Grey and no one can ever change that!” After a few seconds, I felt the ground shake indicating of an earthquake. The books on the shelves started to fall and before Skye was hit, I immediately used my body to protect him. I was surprised when I felt someone behind me and shielded me from the falling books. Sage... why are you so hard to hate.

I closed my eyes as I tried so hard to stay still from the shaking of the ground. Why was there no news about earthquakes when this seems to be a big one?!  I don’t know how long the earthquake was and how many books had to fell on us, until, I hear a glass breaking. I looked up and saw the chandelier about to fall on us. I looked around, looking for a place to protect us until I saw the book I was holding a while ago. I was shocked. It was glowing.

Due to shock, it was too late to move and as I know it, the chandelier fell on us.

°°°°°°°°

“Iris, Iris!”

“Noona, wake up!” My eyes slowly opened and saw two pair of concerned eyes  staring at me. Skye heave a big sigh of relief. "Thank God, you're okay! Wait, are you okay? "

I tried sitting down, my head throbbing for an unknown reason. “I should be the one asking you that. Are you okay? What happened?”

“I think you should look around to know that we also cannot answer your question." Said Sage in a concerned voice.

"What do you--" I look around and was shocked to see what surrounds us. Where…where are we?

We are on top of what seems to be a canyon, and in front of us is a jungle. And the weirder part than how the hell did we ended up in here is that all is color yellow. From the trees and grass to every single lining, everything is yellow. Different shades, but only yellow.

“Where are we? How did we get here?” I asked Sage.

“ I literally have no idea.”

“Are we dead?” Skye tearily asked me. I held every part of me and tried to hear my own breathing.

“I don’t think so. Hey let me slap you. ” I tried slapping Skye.

"Did it hurt? "

"You think? " Of course, it was a weird question when I already saw him wincing in pain.

"Pfft... " I glared at Sage who was trying his best to stifle a laugh.

"You want to be next? "I asked which he only answered with a shook of the head.

“Then how—” We all stood silent as we hear countless footsteps that seems to be leading to us. Few seconds later, humans all dressed in yellow surrounded us with spears in hands. Even their hairs are yellow! I guess we should be happy that their skins was the same as us because I can’t imagine seeing people having yellow skins. That would freak me out.

“Who are you, and how did you cross our border? “Ask which what seems to be their leader, which was a girl with a short hair and fitted dress, good enough to be like a game character.

Sage stood in front of me and Sky, seemingly trying to protect us. “We don’t know how we came here.”

“Liars. Which hue are you from? And why are you wearing different colors of shirt? Are you a prisoner escapee ?”I don’t understand what they were trying to say so I was left no choice but to ask my concerns.

“We are humans. What are you?” They all gasped in shock.

“One more lie and red will gush through your skins.”

“Look for yourself and see what lie there is to what we have said” I boldly stated with courage and confidence as I step in front and tried to walk closer to them. “Iris, what are you doing?” Sage said as he held my arm. I could only coldly look at him and shrugged his hands from my arms and walk towards the yellow people.

"Bold, are you? "Their leader walked forward and stared right into my eyes. I don’t know what we were doing but I only go with flow and never took my eyes from her. I don't know if it's just me, but the longer I stare at her eyes, I can see it glow yellow. Moments later, her eyebrows suddenly rose. In surprise, maybe? Because as she step backwards, she acted like she couldn’t believe what she was saying either.

“They’re humans. I can see no assigned colors in their eyes. “

“Where are we?” I finally asked the question that's been bothering us si ce the beginning. She looked at me with hesitation but she  stood with authority and heave a sigh.

“A parallel world where colors come from. Welcome to the Realm of Hue. Now, my turn, how did you get here? ”  

End of Chapter