Chapter II: Isalith--What the fuck was that?

Well, aren’t you gorgeous? My eyes sparkled as I peered into the portal. It was a mesmerizing purple color. It looked like magic as the energy swirled clockwise. Portals always seemed to be in a state of flow, even though they were stationary. It was like they breathed, like they lived. They fascinated me. And you call me crazy, but sometimes I feel like they’re drawn to me. Like they wanted me around. I don’t know, maybe it’s cause I see them so often. But hey, I’m a friendly person, so I welcomed them.

I inhaled the portal scent deeply. This one smelled weirdly of iron. Hm, interesting.

The light of the portal seeped into the surroundings and lit up the parking garage. My brown skin shone from its light as I lay on my side next to the portal on the stone-cold floor. I’d seen a portal that was thirty feet wide at a construction site on my commute to work. This portal wasn’t nearly as big. Only about ten to twelve feet in width and length, but something about it felt different. Like I was tied to a string, and it was reeling me in like a fish. Ah, doesn't matter too much. Though, you have piqued my interest, little portal.

“Hmmm, so what should I call ya? Do you have any preferences? You’re purple, so maybe something that starts with a P? No, is that lazy? You’re right, that might be lazy. Hmmm, uhhhhh… I got nothing. Man, I’m not usually this bad with names. Help me out here, God.”

I looked up to the sky and waited. It was nearly silent, except for the faint thrum coming from the portal.

“Aha! Genius! Thank you, God! Rosalie. Yes, that seems quite right for you. So, how’s your day been going, Rosalie? Good?”

Crickets.

“Mm? Yeah, that’s good to hear. Well, for me to be honest my days just began. Let’s see, it’s…”

I grabbed my phone out of my hoodie pocket. “It’s only 9:28 AM. Well, to be precise, it’s February 12th at 9:28 AM. Anyways, I–”

My phone rang. I looked down and saw a video call from my friend, Morgan.

“Ah, one second, Rosalie.” I answered the call. “Heyo, what’s up?”

“Hey Isalith… is that concrete? Are you on the ground? Okay, where the fuck are you?”

“A parking garage.” I smiled.

Morgan looked displeased, “Hey, so when are you gonna stop wandering to random places to get killed?”

My laugh echoed throughout the garage. “I’m not going places to die, first of all. I couldn’t sleep, so when I saw there was some light out, I decided to go for a little walk. Secondly–” I tilted my screen and showed Morgan the portal.

“Oh. Of course.”

“Mhm,” I responded while fluffing my afro.

“You know how I feel about those things, Isa.”

I rolled my eyes and said with a grin, “How many times do I have to tell you it’s fine? If I were gonna drop dead from being around the portals, I would’ve already.”

“Okay, well then at least don’t touch it.”

I leaned off the ground. “Huh?” I stood up and stepped to the portal. “Don’t do what?”

“Isa, I’m not playing.”

I tauntingly swung my finger close to the portal. “Ohhh~ I’m so close to touching it. Ahh~ so close.”

“You’re so childish. Just stop. You’re not even funny.”

I’m not gonna touch it. Despite their allure, even I wouldn’t go that far. Have I thought about it? Yes, of course. I’ve even dreamed about it. But, there’s no way I’d be dumb enough to touch a random cosmic energy mass. That doesn’t mean I’ll stop teasing my sweet Morgan though.

My finger, barely five centimeters away from the portal. “Not touching it.”

A tingle turned static as it trailed across my fingertips. The world went still.

“Not… touching… it,” I repeated.

FWOOMMPPP

My body jerked forward and I slammed into the portal. My phone crashed to the ground as I cried out, “Ah!”

I heard Morgan call my name as I slid to the floor. Ugh, what the fuck was that?