Through the Archway

Chapter Twelve - Part Three

"I'm not sure," he said, looking at his feet, "I did something to it about a week ago. It started to glow and I heard voices," he admitted, "I've been trying to get it to work again ever since."

"What did you hear?" Rebekah asked in a whisper. Her eyes were wide.

"A girl told me to stop before I could get anywhere with it."

"Was she short and blonde?"

"I didn't see. There was this energy that blew me back and it stopped glowing," David told her, "Why?"

Rebekah was silent for a minute, her brow furrowed, as though she herself was deciding whether or not to trust him. Finally, she looked up at him.

"Can you keep a secret David?" Rebekah asked.

"Sure I can," David said, shoving his hands in his pockets and rolling back on his heels.

"I'm not joking David, don't tell people about this. I was mountain climbing a week ago, when I noticed an opening on a nearby cliff. I went in, just to see what was in there... and found an archway in a cavern. It was completely isolated from the rest of the kingdom, and I had the feeling that I was supposed to discover it —" Rebekah averted her eyes and moved on before he could ask any questions. "When I tried to activate it, this girl appeared... She looked maybe ten. And I — I saw things. It was really weird."

David didn't respond. He stared at her and then back at the arbor. The chance that they had both happened across the archways at around the same time was absurd. And yet, everything she was describing was almost exactly what he, himself, had experienced. Hadn't he also felt like he was meant to use the arbor? Rebekah bit her lip, deep in thought; she seemed to be contemplating something.

All at once she stepped closer to the archway, so that she was bathed in it's glow.

"What are you doing?" He hissed, his breath came out in a little puff of air before him. It was getting colder, and David shivered. Rebekah's amber eyes were again playful as she stood in the glowing light.

"I'm escaping!" She laughed and her smile broadened, "Want to come?" David didn't get it — a minute ago she had been going on about how dangerous they were.

"Rebekah, no. I don't think that's a good idea." He backed away apprehensively, his feet crunching twigs. What if something goes wrong again? He thought, I could hurt her.

The arbor stood there innocently, yet it somehow commanded power. The force that drew him to it was stronger now, unwilling to let him out of its grasp. He wanted to — he wanted to so badly that there was an ache deep in his gut, that his hands shook with barely repressed excitement. But at the same time, he feared it. He had felt this sensation before, the first time, but it seemed stronger now, more powerful.

"Come on! Help me!" Rebekah held her hand up to the archway. When David didn't follow suit, her smile faded. "David, what's the matter?" David shifted, his neck growing hot around the collar. He rubbed the nape of his neck, not daring to meet Rebekah's eyes.

"I can't control my powers," he admitted.

He expected Rebekah to laugh, or maybe to look at him with pity like so many others did. Once again, he found himself surprised by her actions.

Rebekah smiled and took his hand in hers. A jolt of electricity jumped up David's arm at the touch and traveled to his heart. He felt himself relax.

"I'll help you," she promised, "I can use my powers to help you control yours." They both raised their hands the same time, their others still held together. "Sylvain," Becca whispered, closing her eyes. She bounced nervously on her heels.

David concentrated on Sylvain as well. To his astonishment, the edges of the archway started to glow. Rebekah smiled in satisfaction. For a few seconds nothing else happened. Suddenly, David was no longer looking at the other side of the arbor, but at a forest clearing. It was so clear, so real, that David could hear birds chirping and a brooke bubbling not far off.

Walking through the archway was no different then walking through a door. David stepped through and found himself in the clearing that he had seen. He turned around rapidly to see where he had come from. He saw two small trees with intertwining branches that formed an archway. For a second, he could still see the grove where he had been, moments before. Then the image faded away, leaving nothing but trees behind it.

He took in his new surroundings with astonishment. David knew, without ever having been there, that he was in Sylvain, the woodland kingdom. Tall redwoods and pines touched the sky far above. The ground was littered with pine needles that sent their fresh aroma into the air. Smaller, deciduous trees were bursting in colors of red, yellow, and gold. To his left was a small brook filled with the clearest water David had ever seen.

Rebekah ran up to it and stepped into it triumphantly. She cheered and threw her hands in the air, jumping in the water. David followed her lead, kicking off his shoes and walking in. The cold water rushed over his feet. He smiled and breathed in the cool air, letting the freedom take over.

"What are you doing?" a voice asked.