I stand here at the edge of the mountain. Two choices lay ahead of me. Go back down the way I came, take the easy path and turn away from the chosen task, or jump and hope that those who convinced me to trust them are correct.

There is a very good chance that jumping will lead to my death. Will I take the risk? Do I trust the strangers that appeared out of the blue to tell me about a destiny I never wanted? That part is the hardest to believe.

Even as I stand here now, I remember the stories that my parents told me growing up. They believe every child must learn about the fairy tales of their world. These are stories that I took to heart when I was younger and, in all honesty, are part of the reason I am standing here now, at the top of this mountain. My mind is whirring with all the revelations that are now clear. Apparently, if I believe what they are telling me, I am the descendant of one of the story’s leading ladies.

In my back, right pocket is a folded map that I came into possession of mere moments after my parents revealed their little secret. This map is not of any place that I can recognize, not completely. The only part of the map that is clear is this mountain on which I stand. Taking the map out of my pocket once more, I study it. I need to understand what I am getting into. There next to the mountain in a space that didn’t exist before are the words ‘leap of faith’. My next choice is an obvious one. I need to take a leap of faith off this mountain. Either I will die or I will be sucked into this supposed magical realm from which I was born.

I must admit, I am struggling to believe any of this. After all, the last I checked I’m entirely human. I bleed and cry and feel just like a normal person. I display no abnormal powers, or fishy tails or anything that signals any of the information I am currently trying to digest. I steel myself. My brain is a jumble of nerves and questions, consuming me to the point of madness. Admitting to myself that obtaining the answers far outweighs the chances of being lied to is the only thing currently allowing me to stand here.

I know that it is now or never. I am facing a short window of time to take an action before terror overtakes me. Taking a deep breath, I propel myself off the edge of the mountain. Air whipping by, curling my hair and caressing my skin. I feel it moving past me as I hurtle towards the ground. My mind is trying to convince me that I am dying, but then it stops. There before me, a quick flash of light and everything around me changes.

It takes everything I have inside of me not to scream as I fall through the sky and land on soft white sand. Golden sun rays beat down upon my new red hair as I look around and try to understand where I am. This is different. Why have I changed so quickly? I feel water lapping at my feet as my eyes adjust to my new surroundings. This is my world, my destiny.