Through the Archway

Chapter Six - Part Three

Evelyn

Evelyn stood and stared at her reflection in the mirror, contemplating her strength. She was small, even for her young age, with a petite frame that was unable to bear excess weight. Her eyes were bloodshot and tired. Evelyn saw a child staring back at her. What if Thomas tells someone about the archways? What if he tells my father? Will I be able to fight them off, run away?

Evelyn knew her powers were strong, advanced beyond normal standards, but she also knew she wasn't strong enough to fight anyone. Physically, she was weak and the confrontation with Thomas had rattled her. She sighed, turning away from her reflection, and left the room without another glance.

* * *

Evelyn slipped through the trees, barely making a sound. She had been to the clearing so often in the past month that she could find it simply by memory. The woods grew silent and still as she traveled deeper within its embrace.

Evelyn stopped suddenly and listened. Her ears were met with the sound of running water. The clearing was not far ahead. She relaxed as she entered the hidden place where it had all started.

It was silent here, ageless in time. Birds chirped high above, but their music was somehow hollow and devoid of life. Tall evergreens encircled the open space. Standing on either side of a small stream were two trees; one gold, the other silver. Their delicate limbs rose and intertwined, as if holding hands.

Evelyn inhaled deeply, breathing in the air that was somehow different in this place- old. She remembered when she first came here. It had been a month before, when she'd been going for a walk. It was the best way to think, therefore, she had spent many evenings wandering the forest.

She had let her feet take her where they would, confident enough in her memory that she would recall the way back with perfect clarity. She thought of her mother, and wondered what her life would have been like if she were still alive. She had cried and wiped the tears away as they came, thinking herself foolish.

Suddenly, Evelyn had found herself in a place she had never before seen; a clearing encircled in trees. In the center there had been an archway formed of divided trees and between their branches, alight and twinkling, there had been stars, although sunlight slanted through the branches above.

A thought had entered her mind then, in a voice strange and distant, I'm meant to be here, I was meant to find this. Only I can bridge the divide. She had dismissed it and gazed tansfixed at the world between the branches. Suddenly, the stars went out; a shadow fell over their light, and there was nothing but darkness.

And then the darkness itself had faded away, and birds that she did not know were absent began singing again.

Evelyn had returned as often as she could, trying again and again to make the images reappear. She searched frantically through the online database, and found almost no mention of archways. Only I can bridge the divide. She had used her powers, draining herself of energy, and found no success. It was tiring work, and nothing came of it.

Until a week ago.

Evelyn had been leaning against an old oak, writing past failures in her journal when she heard footsteps coming from the archway. There was no one in sight. She wound the strap carefully around the cover, and walked towards the archway. She raised her hand, palm facing outward.

Energy coursed through her veins, and she knew in her heart that something was about to happen. White light emanated from her palm, filling the space between branches. Her skin felt cold, and she shivered.

A girl appeared on the other side, and Evelyn's green eyes were met with amber ones. I know you, she thought.

"I see you!" she cried in relief and joy. The image disappeared. "No, come back!" she yelled. She concentrated on what she had seen - the girl - and used her energy to make the gateway open again. There had been nothing and she had screamed, kicking a tree in frustration.

Evelyn stood before the trees now, her confrontation with Thomas still playing in her mind. She smiled. Thomas would not be successful. She reached out for the tree of silver, her fingers brushing against bark as cool as metal. Golden and silver leaves swayed above, beckoning to her. An idea came to her, so suddenly it nearly knocked her off her feet. Her smile widened.

"Only I can bridge the divide," she whispered.