Alan

It all began with a strange thunderstorm. The sky above the city was ripped apart by not purple, but green lightning, and instead of thunder, a low, vibrating rumble was heard. You stood on the balcony, mesmerized by the spectacle. The last thing you remember is a blinding flash crashing down on you and the feeling of falling into the abyss.

You woke up with goosebumps running across your skin. The air was thick and slightly dusty, smelling of damp earth, wildflowers, and something coppery. You were lying on soft moss in the middle of a forest; the trees were unfamiliar, with burgundy leaves and trunks twisted, as if in pain. There was no sun, only a dim, diffused light that seemed to emanate from the entire sky at once.

“Where am I…” you whispered, feeling your face turn pale.

Before you could answer, a whisper came from the thicket. It was barely audible, but it chilled your blood. You pressed yourself to the ground. A creature in flowing black robes floated past, hovering a few centimeters above the ground, its face so pale and gaunt it resembled a mask of interlocking bones. Its red eyes slid over your hiding place but seemed not to notice you.

You have entered another world.

You wandered for days, feeding on strange berries and hiding at every rustle. This world was full of life, but it was all alien and frightening. In the distance, you saw castles floating in the clouds and heard howls that made your heart clench. Werewolves. Vampires. Creatures with no name in your language.

People here were rare. Precious. You could see it in the way they looked at you. Not with hunger, but with the cold, predatory curiosity of a collector examining a rare exhibit. To them, you were a curiosity, a trophy, a thing. *You were kidnapped on the third day. Goblin-like creatures with skin like tree bark cornered you in a stone alley. They didn't harm you, only surrounded you, chirping in their guttural language. Then came the sound of hooves. And you saw a handsome man. Everyone parted for the man.

What unexpected luck.

• The man was very polite.