Chapter 1: Refuge
"Mina, the water feels great!"
Andi exclaimed in her excitement to discover a waterhole as they ventured deep into the woods for berries.
"What am I going to do with you??"
Mina's heart swelled with adoration and love for her sister as she watched Andi's joyful expression. Among the tree covers, she stripped down to her lingerie. She dove into the waters where Andi was.
"Why did you swim so far out here?"
Mina looked to Andi, puzzled, for answers.
"I found a cave over here! Come check it out!"
Andi ushered her as she dove underwater towards the cave's opening, hoping her sister would follow closely. Without hesitation, Mina followed Andi inside the cave. The cool water enveloped them as they swam further into the cave, their laughter echoing off the stone walls around them.
The dim light filtering through the water illuminated the mysterious surroundings, adding to the sense of adventure. Mina felt disturbed, although grateful for her sister's spontaneous nature, leading them both into this unforgettable experience. But she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the pit of her stomach.
"Andi, let's swim back. I have a bad feeling about this."
She looked around them to find what had caused this unsettling feeling in hopes of dispelling her worries and enjoying this rare occasion with Andi, believing she was only being paranoid. But the feeling of unease persisted.
"Andi, I am serious. Let's head back, and we can come back some other time with gear and proper equipment," she suggested, hoping Andi would agree.
Except there had been no response from her sister for quite some time. Growing increasingly anxious, she called out Andi's name once more, but still no answer came. Panic began to rise within her as she realised Andi was nowhere to be seen, and the feeling of unease intensified.
Mina realised too late that Andi had disappeared without a trace. Below her feet was a current, strong wind blowing in from who knows where; she was taken under the water's surface. The forces of the water were too powerful for her to fight against. Mina could only withhold her breath for as long as possible.
"Mina! Mina! Mina! Wake up!"
Mina's eyes shot open, her heart racing as she tried to catch her breath. She was hoping it was just a nightmare, but the fear lingered, making her reach out for Andi, grateful to find her still by her side.
"What happened?"
"I am not sure. But I fear we are far from home. Maybe we can't ever go home again."
It was hard to believe what had happened, as scientifically impossible as it seemed. The two of them had been transported to a different dimension. The world around them was unfamiliar, with strange creatures and landscapes unlike anything they had ever seen before.
"We're fucked."
The sisters chuckled and agreed that they were in for one hell of an adventure.
In the midst of making the best of what happened, they heard a loud roar in the distance. It was then that they realised they were not alone. The roar was getting closer. Mina felt her heart race with fear as she grabbed Andi's arm, and they both ran to find a narrow path, desperately searching for a place to hide.
"Arrgh!"
Mina stumbled over something; she fell and landed on the ground, feeling a sharp pain shoot through her ankle. Andi immediately crouched down to help her up, whispering,
"We need to keep moving."