Gathering all of your courage with a deep breath, you run toward the ledge...
Your body plunges into the darkness. Adrenaline grips you, followed by joy as you fly toward the blinking red light; it looks like you just might make it…
but only for a moment.
Without so much as even grazing anything solid, gravity takes over, and you fall into the depths.
~*~
Wind rushes through your hair and over your body, ruffling your clothes violently as you fall deeper and deeper.
You begin to wonder how you will survive this.
POOF
You smash into some soft, foamy material – crashing through layer after layer until finally, you are slowed to a stop.
Breathing proves difficult as you claw and pry your way back to the surface of – well – whatever this strange material is. It feels almost like chopped pool-noodles, with just a touch of slimy moisture causing it to stink like sweaty socks and processed cheese.
After a long climb, you finally break the surface. Although the foam is gross, you are grateful that it broke your fall.
Down the outer edge you skim, landing almost perfectly atop a smooth metallic floor.
"It took you long enough!" echoes a voice.
You look around quite frantically.
Just then, a boy emerges from behind the pile of foam. He looks about nine years old, and has an authoritative, adventurous smirk on his dirt-smudged face. His blue eyes are big and bright; while his short blonde curly hair is wild, and looks as though it hasn’t been combed in at least three of his nine years of existence.
Long enough – you wonder – what is he talking about?
"What I'm talking about," the boy answers abruptly, "is that I knew you were coming… I was just a little fuzzy about the when."
Wait a minute – did he just read your thoughts?
"Let me start again," he says, approaching you. "The name's Landon," he extends his hand, and grabs yours in a firmer than normal handshake. "What's yours?"
Stuttering and still unsure, you state your name.
"Awesome, that’s a great name!" Landon exclaims. "That used to be my name too!"
An awkward moment of silence passes; you have no idea what to say.
"Until I figured I should probably have a much better name…" he continues, "that's when I changed it to Landon." With a deep gaze, almost piercing, he awaits your response.
Amused, confused, and slightly annoyed, you contemplate what you might say next....
