text: Would you like to hear something odd? Something crazy? I knew you would. It wasn't exactly the best time in my life. I mean, when you live in your car and have to travel from place to place, you're not exactly in the greatest of situations. This all happened around last year. I was on one of those creepy abandoned forest roads. The kinds that are just left to be reclaimed by nature. It was so dark. The only light for a hundred miles was the ones from my car. An old, beat up Ford Probe that my folks gave me a long time ago. You know that feeling when your surroundings are so dark that you think something's going to jump out and do god-knows-what? It's amplified by a million when you're on those roads at night. I was on my way a local town so I could stay there for awhile. God, I was so tired. There wasn't a rest stop for about 50 miles. What was I gonna do, just pull over and sleep on the side of the road? Hell no. I knew I had to drive no matter what. "Just keep your chin up, Heather." I kept telling myself. Eventually I did get out of the car for a cigarette. A lot of people attribute a big change in their lives to one small event. This was mine. I lit my cigarette and started smoking. It was so cold outside. The car wasn't that much better since the heater was broken. I put it up to my mouth to take another inhale, and that's when I saw it. Lights They were coming from deeper in the woods. There was just something about those damn white lights. They danced around like fairies, and there were about five of them. I felt a pull in my body, and I tossed my cigarette aside to walk into the forest. I can't explain how I was so entranced by them, and to this day it still puzzles me. Once I got close enough, I still couldn't make out exactly what the lights were. Before I could get even an inch closer, my vision faded, and I fell unconscious. When I woke up, my body was in a rough position. Like I was dragged, or carried, or something. I felt a certain coolness in the air. It wasn't deeply cold anymore. I picked myself off the ground to see where I was. I definitely wasn't in the forest anymore. The sky was filled with grey clouds, and the land was more open. It was dotted with twisted, leafless trees, and there was fog everywhere. There was no time for shock, but I wanted to scream. Was I kidnapped? Drugged? Something worse? I tossed those thoughts aside to find civilization. There was something in the distance I began running to. A large black silhouette that looked like some sort of town. So many questions were running through my head, but I was in a foreign place, so the best thing to do wasn't just stay there and maybe get killed. I needed to find people. I only caught brief glimpses of the things in this strange valley. Skulls on the ground, rocks in the formation of crosses, and scarecrows that I hoped weren't real. I stopped to catch my breath outside of what looked like a large, walled off city. Finally, I made it. Once I approached the gates, hoping to get answers, a barrage of small bats flew at my face. My hands waved around like a crazy person in a moment of straight up freaking out. "Don't mind them. They're just not used to others." My head was pointed at the ground, and I wanted to keep it there. That voice was smooth, but also frightening at the same time. "You need not be afraid, dear. Look up." I decided not to fight myself and just look up. There was a man. He was about six feet tall and very slender. His face was pale white, and he wore a black vest and a cartoonishly tall top hat. "There. Now what's your name?" he said. "He-Heather sir." I shakily replied. "Heheathersir? What a strange name!" he joked. "I am Edgar." I let out a light chuckle. His appearance and voice freaked me out, but I was starting to feel more calm. "You must be a new arrival, yes? Come with me through the gates!" I wanted to say no, since I had no clue what he was talking about, but my nervousness kept me quiet. Damn social anxiety. He pushed his hand on the gates to make them open, and the sight I was greeted to was just... woah. The first thing I saw were the moonlit streets, and then the buildings. This place was like a gothic 19th century London! And in the center... a huge cathedral. Holy hell, this thing was BIG. All of this on a cool, windy, moonlit night. There were people walking around. They all had pale white skin and black clothing. They were all... goth. "Welcome, to the Midnight Kingdom!" Edgar exclaimed. It was so surreal. I had to keep my jaw from dropping at the sight of all this. "Ed-Edgar?" I said, still shaky. "What exactly is the Midnight whatnow?" "The Midnight Kingdom, my dear." he replied. "It's alright. New arrivals usually have many questions. This is a haven for all of those who have embraced the dark style of life. When they are cast out for their different minds, they can come here. A new life, and a place where they can truly be with their own kind." I couldn't believe it, and yet it was all so real. I was definitely no 'new arrival'. In fact, I must've stuck out like a sore thumb with my blonde hair and red blouse. We continued walking through the streets. Edgar stayed slightly in front of me with his tall cane. I could barely say anything since my brain was still processing all this new information. "Where-where exactly is this place?" I asked. "The Midnight Kingdom exists in a hidden place, far from modern civilization." Edgar replied. "It is so hidden, in fact, that no one can ever find it by accident!" Isn't irony great? He led me to some town hall-like building. I gotta say, all this gothic architecture was so stunning. Though, there may have been a bit too many gargoyle statues and bats flying around, in my opinion. Once we were inside, we walked over to a young woman who was organizing books. "This is Solanine. The mistress of planning, and the one who takes care of all events in the kingdom." Edgar said. He introduced her to me, and I couldn't take my eyes off of her. That long, belted black dress with the sequined black roses cascading down her legs. And those black bangs above her bright blue eyes... she was really something. "It's a pleasure." she said, shaking my hand. It was almost as if she knew I was entranced. Her smile was tight-lipped, but so beautiful. "Well, there's no use in delaying things. Sola! Are we ready for the community meeting?" Edgar exclaimed. "Ready as a black cat, Edgar." she replied. Edgar rang an ancient-looking bell, and within minutes the residents marched into the building. I took my seat next to Solanine, and Edgar began to speak to the room. "It was many moons ago that our home was established. You all who have embrace a life of dark nature have come here seeking refuge, and have never looked back from the place where the sun never rises. For it is in the Midnight Kingdom that we never age." "You guys are immortal?!" I whispered to Solanine. A place where only goths lived was believable to me, but immortality? Absolutely nuts. She didn't answer. I suppose it was because she was focusing on the speech, so I dropped it for the time being. Once the speech was over, everyone stood up and walked out. I decided to come up to the stage to ask Edgar about the 'never aging' thing. "Heather my dear, why are you still in those clothes?" he asked, before I could even speak. "The Midnight Kingdom is home only to those who embrace the dark aesthetic. If you do not adhere to that rule, then you must leave." He walked out before I could muster a reply. I nearly panicked. I didn't want to go back to living in my car. Sure, I wasn't goth, but I still needed a place to stay. I left the building after pacing around for god knows how long. The streets were empty. I guess it was night time. Really confusing since the sun never rises in this place. I started my search for black clothes. It sounded easy enough. Just find some clothes someone hanged up to dry, or maybe a Hot Topic or something. I was really kidding myself with this. I searched the streets, the alleyways, the trash cans, and came up with nothing. After lots of searching, I sat down by a sidewalk to think. "Having some trouble, darling?" a voice said. It was Solanine, thank goodness. "This may seem kinda weird, but I need a change of clothes." I said. "Not at all weird, my dear. That word has no meaning here." she replied, chuckling. I laughed a bit too. There was just something so calming about her that put me at ease. "I've got the perfect outfit for you at my home. Let's go there, shall we?" She led me to her house. It was a quaint little dark brick cottage near the giant cathedral. Her living room was decorated to the brim with candles, and her fireplace mantle was lined with skulls. "It's exciting when newcomers arrive. This place has been so dull lately." she said in an almost sing-songy voice. She walked into the kitchen to get something while I sat on the couch. "What do you mean by dull? I'd think it'd be more exciting to live here." I replied. "Lately most of the residents haven't been too receptive. It's like half of them are happy, and the other half doesn't care." she said. "So it's a joy division?" I jokingly asked. She giggled a bit while walking back with a bottle and two glasses in hand. She began to pour two glasses and handed one to me. "Wait, I thought you were going to give me clothes." I said. "They're drying outside, dear. Patience." she said with a tight-lipped smile while sitting on the couch with me. I took a sip of the wine to be polite. Not gonna lie, it was some pretty damn good wine. After getting through two glasses of the stuff, I gained the courage to tell the truth. "Sola, I came here by accident, and I only need the clothes so I can stay." I blurted out. "I figured as such, darling. No need to worry. Your secret is safe with me!" she said gleefully. "You're so... nice... and nice.. and so, so pretty..." I slurred, obviously drunk. My body began to fall off the couch, but Sola swooped in the hold me back up. We said nothing. She held me by the hips, and we looked into each others eyes. It felt so fast, but also so slow. Before I knew it, our lips were locked together. I woke up the next morning hung over. Morning? Night? I have no idea. Whatever happened after that kiss, I really have no memory of it. "Need a change of clothes?" Sola joked while walking into the room. "Like you wouldn't believe." I replied. We both laughed, and I put on my new outfit. It was a black tunic with white stripes and a belt in the middle, a short black skirt, and white satin gloves. I was strangely starting to feel more at home at this point. Maybe the Midnight Kingdom really was where I belonged. After all, in just one night more stuff happened than the last five years of my life, which was mostly just driving from place to place. "Solanine..." "Yes darling?" "I think I want to stay here in the Midnight Kingdom." "Oh that's splendid, dear!" she exclaimed while running over to hug me. I really felt like everything was going to be alright. "Oops, I almost forgot something. You had a question at the community meeting last night, didn't you?" she said. "Yeah, it was about your im-" "Yes darling, the immortality..." she said with an open-mouthed smile. Her smile was so dazzling. The bright red lipstick only highlighted how amazing it was. It even drew my eyes to her... fangs. "Do you like them?" she said, without giving me a chance to say anything. I couldn't. It started to all make sense now... After what felt like minutes of staring, she finally spoke again.