You decide to go investigate the poppies. After all, whatever is by the poppies can't be worse than some random rumbling. You approach the poppies cautiously, as if it were a live bomb. It only looks about 50 feet away but it feels so much longer. You are about 10 feet away from the source of the noise when the poppies start to move, like they are parting ways for something coming your direction. You stand there and accept that maybe this is the end. Maybe this is what your whole life has led up to, going to college, having to live with your mom for a while, getting a job and finally moving out to go chase your dreams has all come to getting mauled by an alien creature in a flower field. Right as your brace for what's about to come, something light brown, with furry hair, and running on 4 feet jumps on you. “It's a dog?” you think to yourself. “Hmm, where did you come from bud?” you ask him. ”I really expected an answer from you little man, it wouldn't have been the weirdest thing to happen today.” you tell him as he tilts his head slightly.” I'm going to name you Allen because to be honest with you I thought you were an alien.” you tell him. Allen seems unfazed at the mention of his new name but you’ll give him some time to grow into it. Allen gets up and starts walking towards something and turns around like he is trying to lead you somewhere. You follow him hoping that wherever he leads you won't kill you. You and Allen hike up a mountain of only flowers and grass until you guys reach the top, you stand there awestruck as you look across a village full of people, huts and farms. You collapse to the ground as you realise at that moment that you weren't the only one to go through that portal and that there was no way out or back home. This revelation left a bitter taste in your mouth but it also reminds you that things could have been a lot worse if you had gone through the other portal and how you have a chance of living. A tear of joy rolls down your face just to be licked off by Allen the dog. You and Allen trek down the mountain towards your new life and a new beginning.
Nolan G