Write to Survive - Shivran86
Teen Fiction took part of the collaboration with SecretTreasure and Adventure, Write to Survive. Here is one of our two winning entries, Shivran86.
With a jerk, the ride stops. The misty drops which had condensed on your limbs now glide down. The temperature lowers to a chilly degree.
"Are you all dead? Can't shout?"
The riders were all screaming in a rush of adrenaline as the rollercoaster had ascended into a foggy tunnel, but when gravity pulled it down, the roars had died.
"Anyone here?"
You are in the middle of an oasis, apparently alone. The riders behind you and in front of you are all gone, the rollercoaster seats vacant. The colourful bandanas or the pastel skirts seem to have been carried away by the wind.
There's no sign of a carnival.
Your heartbeats race, blood rushing through your veins.
Pictures of a newspaper, almost a year old circle in your mind. The headlines, you still remember, like it was yesterday.
"Mayor's daughter found missing after riding The Otherworldly Rollercoaster."
The girl had intended to enjoy the carnival with her friends. People still don't understand how a teen could go invisible from a ride up in the air.
And then return after a month with no memories of what happened to her on the ride.
The mayor had tried hard to sue the hosts of the carnival and the managers of the ride, but could do nothing. The townspeople were almost infatuated with the otherworldly beauty. And the townspeople included your three friends whose sign is nowhere to be seen at present.
You are pretty sure you have gotten in the magical trap that Miss Magika had ended up a year ago. And that you too will return to earth amnesiac.
You unclasp the leather belt and put your feet on the sand. The particles glimmer under the swirling colours of the obsidian sky. For a moment you almost forget where you are and get lost in the charm of tiny stars and pale yellow clouds swimming against a purple carpet. A cool breeze ruffles your hair, tickling your neck. There's a rocky cliff far away.
"Enjoying the sight?"
You jump at the voice. It's high-pitched and sharply feminine, a clinking edge to the tone. You wonder if they are some opera singer.
Turning back, you find a plump, curvy lady of olive colour dressed in a huge yellow ballroom gown. Her face is glittering in stardust and a little pentacle drawn between her brows.
"I am the Star. Welcome to the realm of the Major Arcana."
You scrunch your nose and frown. "What?"
At the click of her fingers, nineteen more figures form out of thin air.
"We, are the Major Arcana."
You gasp. "Am I really in some other realm? Astral travel?"
She raises her brows. "It's a rollercoaster ride travel, basically." She waves her hand.
The Star goes and stands beside a tall man with shiny, silky hair the colour of onyx. His grey eyes pierce your spirit.
Well, that's what you think you should call yourself here. A spirit.
The man approaches you. "Welcome to our world. And I guess we owe an explanation."
You nod your head slightly, scanning the assembly. "Well, yes. Because last time someone had gone back to earth with no memories and dirt on her clothes."
The man pouts. "Awe, we understand your concerns. But things are at stake. Like, you all are in for trouble."
"You mean?"
"That the Devil is loose and roaming in your earthland with poor intentions."
You have a basic idea about the major arcana cards. Maybe the Devil is keeping up to his name.
"How does that mean harm to us?"
The man rubs his temples. "You see, he is infamous for being a very twisted leader. He can gather the mass to bring chaos. At present we don't know his proper motives. So for the last two years we have appointed some angels down on earth, who help us with the rollercoaster."
"Exactly how?"
"Each year we send one Arcana down on earth to search for the Devil. In their place, a mortal is chosen to come here, usually to act as a temporary Arcana in their absence. The human is chosen randomly by the energies, something we have no hand in."
"Unfortunately," the Star adds.
Just to replace an Arcana? You wonder.
The man wheezes. "I am the High Priestess."
"Eh? Not the Priest?"
He smiles. "It's different here."
You scratch your chin. "So now I will stay like the searcher Arcana till they return?"
"Yes, and so we want you to jump off the cliff and take the temporary form. Don't worry, they shall return in one month's time."
You wave your hands. "Wait wait, I need to do what?"
The Major Arcana look at each other.
"Jump off the cliff? Do you want me to die?"
Silence ensues. You start taking a step back as the High Priestess approaches you.
"You have to jump off, dearie," he says.
Without thinking a second time, you sprint off like a deer. But in vain; it doesn't take much time for him to catch you. He grabs you and lifts you up, taking you towards the cliff and throwing you down in the bubbling stream. Your screams for help die out with the height. The colours of the sky become dull and water seeps into your spirit body.
Slowly, you lose consciousness as you feel some foreign force tugging at your body.
"Ah! The transformation is done!" Star claps her hands in joy.
A sudden force pushes you up to the surface, making you float. You are still in a slumber. The Major Arcana fly down the cliff.
"Let's see how–"
The Star freezes in her spot.
Turning to the High Priestess, she says, "What do we do now?"
"She was supposed to be the Fool but. . ."
He kneels down, touching your body that floats to the shore– dressed in red and scarlet, black chains in your fists.
The Arcana smirk.
"I guess, we have a new member, whom we cannot return."
The Devil.
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