The sky was a bruised purple, and the air smelled of ash. Alex stood alone in a wasteland that stretched forever.
"Where am I?" he whispered. The silence was his only answer.
The world felt heavy with danger. He turned in a circle, finding nothing but gray dust until his eyes landed on a leather-bound book lying in the dirt. Curiosity overcame his fear. He knelt, picking it up.
"A book? Out here?"
As the cover creaked open, the ground trembled. From the shadows, a monstrous creature lunged. It was a mass of scales and teeth, knocking Alex to the ground before he could even scream.
"No! Help!" he yelled as the monster's jaws snapped toward his face.
"Help!"
Alex bolted upright in bed, gasping for air. His room was bathed in soft morning light. He took a shaky breath, realizing his sheets were soaked with sweat.
"Just a dream," he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Just a bad dream."
He went through the motions of his morning—brushing his teeth, cooking a simple breakfast, and standing under the spray of a warm shower. The steam helped wash away the lingering terror of the purple sky. After dressing in his uniform, he headed for school.
At the gates, his best friend waved him down. "Hey, Alex! What's up?"
"I'm okay," Alex lied, his heart still racing. "Just had a crazy dream last night."
"A dream? Tell me about it in class."
But as they sat at their desks, the teacher walked in before Alex could explain. The day dragged on. To Alex, the lessons felt like a blur of boring lectures. He couldn't stop thinking about the book and the monster.