Through the Archway

Chapter Twelve - Part Three

"So..." David grinned. "This is my mother's garden." He gestured around him with his hand. "My mother dedicated it to my aunt. She died the day I was born."

"I'm sorry. How old was she?"

"My aunt? ... sixteen, I think. My mother never speaks about it. Those are all apple trees, in an orchard... and over there are an assortment of flowers that I can't name."

"That must've been horrible. Not having siblings can get lonesome. Night Gladiolus, Primrose, and Ipomoea."

David laughed, "Yeah, there's no way I'll remember that. Funny what you said about siblings, as most of my days include a moment where I imagine my brother doesn't exist. Usually the best part of my day."

"They're all moon flowers, look," Rebekah pointed to them, smiling, "They bloom under the moon. He can't be that bad."

They sat on the boulder that Mark had been perched on a week ago. "Like you don't hate him."

"I..."

"You can't even say it," David grinned, "I was honestly surprised in your choice, you know. I mean..." David chuckled, "Considering we are 'meant for each other' and all. Taylor's not going to be happy."

"You really think you're that great, don't you?" Rebekah asked.

"I don't understand the question," David said, making her laugh again. "So, what is mountain climbing like?" David asked, finding himself referring back to Taylor's list of 'good conversation topics'.

"Oh, it's absolutely amazing. And terrifying. Both, at the same time." She tucked her hair behind her ear as she spoke, "It's just you and your thoughts. There's no one you can rely on, and no one to tell you what to do." She gazed off with a dreamy look in her eyes. "When you reach the top, and the sun shines on every part of the world, you're just... free. It's beautiful." So he'd been wrong — she really hadn't changed after all.

"It sounds really..." David had no idea what to say, "different," he kicked a rock away and shoved his hands back in his pockets.

"What do you do for fun?" Rebekah asked.

"Avoid my brother," David said. Rebekah rolled her eyes. "I'm joking," he added quickly. "I'll go riding; right now, Mark and I are teaching his little brothers. I'll call friends. If I'm feeling dangerous, I'll scare Thomas with my powers."

Rebekah snorted. "I'm sorry," she said, covering her mouth. David shook his head, laughing.

Rebekah gasped; her face had gone white. David knew what it was before she had spoken. "Is that...?" Rebekah pointed at the arbor, "Is the arbor glowing?" It was indeed glowing with a kind of unnatural, unworldly light. David felt again the pull towards it.

"It's probably just the lantern light," David lied, not wanting to share the secret with someone other than Mark. What if she found out he had been tampering with it and turned him in? It was too late; Rebekah was already running for the arbor.

"Becca, what are you doing?" David called after her, starting up a sprint. "Have you seen one of these before?"

"So you know what I mean then?" Rebekah asked, "It is an archwa — wait, did you just call me Becca?"

David smiled in spite of the situation, "An archway? I'm not sure, it looks like a regular old arbor to me."

"Don't call me that," Rebekah pointed a finger at David menacingly. He decided to move on. He looked at the arbor, studying it. Can I trust her? raced through his mind, I used to. On one hand, she hadn't run screaming to her parents yet. On the other, she could be trying to get more information out of him. There was something about her though, something that told David he could trust her.