Chapter 2

It’s strange, having something so familiar change, in such a short period of time. I have had this problem, with many things. I am quite sure that other people have had it, too. It is scary, at the very least. It was terrifying for me, and even worse for my friend. My friend was aghast, horrified, and alarmed.

My friend? Well, his name is Mason. In fact, he’s in 7th grade. He happens to be deaf, unfortunately, but he has learned to use sign language. Mason is quite talkative, if you get to know him. Most people avoid him, for whatever reason. Then again, he did kind of have this glare, perhaps a poisonous look. Sinister, maybe. Many people mistake him for a full grown man. Nevertheless, he is quite kind and loves learning new things.

So what was that dream you had again? Joe communicated through sign language.

It was weird. There was this mirror, out of all things, and it had lots of pretty scenery. Mason replied, again in sign language.

So... what happened?

Nothing much, I just stuck my hand through the mirror and it burned me.

Oh. So why do you think it’s so important? Joe “said”, looking a little disappointed.

I just feel that it is.

I heard that dreams mean nothing whatsoever, Joe replied tauntingly.

Doubt it.

I know that it’s true. My grandpa told me.

Anyway, I think I can remember something else that happened, Mason communicated, trying to break up the quarrel.

Joe tilted his head to the side, looking interested, or at least trying to be.

Mason took a breath and started moving his hands.

When I took my hand back out, it disappeared. I put my other hand where my hand used to be, and I touched something invisible. I think I must’ve touched my hand. Maybe some sort of invisible ink was on me. I put my leg in and I could feel my foot touching something that felt like a sponge. I think it was the ground. The image in the mirror disappeared, it was replaced by a silvery liquid. I put one arm in, then the other. I took a breath and hesitantly put my head in. I looked around then I pulled my other leg through. I was inside the mirror! There was this long aisle with trees lining it… I was hearing a rustling sound. What? I was confused, because my ears haven’t worked since birth. I felt really weird, like I discovered a 5th sense. Actually, I did! It just felt really odd. I think there was something else, but I can’t remember.

Woah, Joe communicated. That was deep.

Mason nodded his head slowly and looked down at his lunch box containing his food. There  was an apple, a fruit snack, and a sandwich. The apple looked oddly familiar, but Mason couldn’t put his finger on it. He shrugged and took a bite. He nibbled at the apple for awhile.

Mason suddenly shot up from his seat. Joe peered at him with a questioning look, just in time to see him run off to the bathroom. Mason looked into the mirror, just to see himself.

What on earth possessed you? Mason asked himself with great disapproval.

You left you friend alone and wondering what happened, and he is probably worried. Go back there and tell him you just had to pee!

But Mason didn’t have to urinate, or extrude any foul matter of that sort. He just stood there, looking at his reflection. Mason tried to move but his legs stayed. Mason was stuck. He felt he was going into the trance again; the only way I could describe this feeling was like going underwater. He held his breath and closed his eyes, certain he was going to plunge beneath water. And mason was right.

When he opened his eyes, there was a long hallway, but filled up with water. Mason swam through the hallway, with some strange force pushing him forward. He almost didn’t have to move, and he flowed forward. He let the current, no, it wasn’t really a current, push and pull his body. This was a very soothing motion, far from stomach churning, like some people might think.

He looked side to side, watching strange things pass him. Pianos, trees, dining-room tables. Wigs, tape, clocks, shoes. There was cows, pigs, flowers and frogs. Fire extinguishers, lunchboxes, rubberducks. Helmets, trophies, tissues, cards and plates. CDs, rugs, picture frames. Many more things passed by, some Mason didn’t know the name of. Such weird items that he was sure no one knew of. People started passing by.

A little creepy, Mason thought.

Politicians, teachers, kings, Larry Bird, dictators, army men, and plumbers were some of the people who passed him.

Mason could see a door at the end of the hallway, and the current nudged him forward. He uncomfortably moved toward the door, eyes down as all of the water people stared at him with glazed eyes. He put his hand on the doorknob and suddenly, it gave him a shock. Electric shock. Unfortunately, he was surrounded in water and the electricity quickly traveled through, killing all of the people who were currently watching Mason. A chill ran up his spine, maybe from the doorknob’s electricity, which he was holding onto, or just seeing so many people get killed in an instant.

The current was pushing harder and harder to make Mason open the door. He had to let go of the doorknob, or else his hand might break in half from the pressure. Mason was having trouble moving, as the current has pushed him up against the door. He was suffering horribly. He made a noise as a cry for help, but the current was pushing him against the door so hard he couldn’t speak. Mason was sure he was going to die. He managed to scream out a few bubbles, but they floated upwards slowly, not helping his situation. Mason watched the bubbles pop!, as they reached the top of the hallway. Mason could not speak, think, or move.