Chapter 1
The Rubber Ducky

It all started on the morning of the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox . . . Easter. I, as a young 15 year old,  was running around the house searching for Easter eggs trying to get all of them before my sisters could find any. I was taking each room one at a time being sure not to miss a single egg. Finally I arrived at the spare bedroom. Until today, I'd never actually entered the spare bedroom. It was way too creepy. With its multicoloured carpet and pastel green bed sheets, blank white walls and no window, it looked really repulsive. However, if there were Easter eggs in there, nothing was going to stop me from getting a hold of them. I pushed open the door and stepped in. There didn't appear to be any Easter eggs in that room but I decided to look under the bed, just in case.  Leaning over and carefully lifting the bed's slip, I coughed as a large dust cloud emerged from under it. I didn't see any eggs but I did notice a dusty little rubber ducky near the far wall. It was a fading shade of yellow with beady little eyes and a little tail that stuck up in behind. I looked at the duck and could've sworn that it winked at me. I wanted - no - I needed that duck. I stretched my arm out as far as it would go but the bed was too wide for me to reach it. I muttered a few swear words and pushed myself under the bed. A musty smell entered my nostrils and I coughed again. The floor was damp and I wondered if my mom ever came in here either. I turned my head to look at the duck. It looked innocent enough but something about it's eyes was bothering me. I brought up my arm and placed a finger over them. The instant I touched it I felt a little surge of excitement pass through my body. I ignored it though, figuring it was just my imagination running away with me which it has a tendency to do. I was starting to feel light headed so I decided it was time to get out of there. I reached for the duck and the moment I grabbed it there was a brassy crackling noise that sounded like an angry bowl of Rice Crispies. I didn't even have time to realize what was taking place before I collapsed, then blacked out.
 When I woke up I found myself in an unfamiliar place. There were buildings far and wide but the place appeared to be deserted. There were no signs of power, and weeds had taken over the walls of buildings and the pavement. The air was cold and I shivered. Not only were there no signs of humans, but not a bird sang or cat meowed.

I stood up and checked myself over. No bruises, I felt fine and I still had the duck too. In search of an explanation, I headed over toward a building that had a sign on the door frame which read: Information.
 I was glad to at least see English. I pushed aside some ivy and stepped inside. No one was behind the desk or in the offices. There was an elevator so I decided to check all the levels. There had to be someone somewhere. Upon noticing, however, that there where seventy-two floors, I decided not to continue with that idea.
Disappointed, I left the building to search elsewhere. After checking twelve other structures I gave up. This place was lonely and quiet, and I was beginning to feel homesick. The only noises to be heard were my own. I could almost make out the sound of my blood circulating through my body.