by Rue Volley
Theodore raised his voice, “Listen, be careful! It cannot be cracked!”
“Sorry,” they both said in unison.
“What is this for?” I asked.
Kai, Josh, and Sam started for the woods, mirror in tow. Theodore looked to me.
“Mirrors are just a fascinating thing, little one. You see, Johnathan will give his memories to it and we will break it, to dispose of them.”
“Oh,” I muttered.
Johnathan squeezed my hand again. “Don't worry Rue, Theodore assured me it is safe to do.”
“Yea… safe, well, mirrors have not been the luckiest things for us.”
He grinned and put his arm around me, kissing me on top of the head. “Come on… let’s get this done okay?”
I looked up trying to grin, but it probably looked more like I just ate spinach.
He laughed. “That was a new look for you.”
We started to follow… when I really wanted to run the other way.
Theodore stopped. “Oh my, I almost forgot! Johnathan, your gear is in the car. Get changed and catch up Okay?”
I looked at Theodore. “What gear?” He grinned. “Well, I just think it would be best if he put his warrior gear on. Just a little extra insurance.”
I stopped walking. “You can do this, RIGHT?”
He reached back and grabbed my hand, pulling me along. “Of course I can. Don't you worry.”
We walked to a clearing where Josh and Kai had laid the mirror down in the dirt and leaves, dead center. I walked up to it and stared down at it, watching the reflection of the clouds pass overhead. I thought I saw a rabbit forming above me in the reflection and I turned my head toward the sky to see it firsthand. It wasn't there. I looked back to the mirror and nothing but clouds stared back at me… no funny animal shapes.
I turned to Josh. “Theodore has done this before, right?” I asked with a nervous tone. Josh looked at me.
“Well… not exactly, but I'm sure it will work.”
“Oh crap… not exactly?”
Josh stepped toward me. “Listen, Theodore has been around much longer than any of us. I trust in what he says he can do.”
“I don't want any guessing here… I mean it!” I said.
Sam put her hand on my arm. “Rue, you don't have to be here… I could take you home if you like.”
I grimaced. “Umm, yeah, that's not going to happen.”
She smiled at me and pushed my hair behind my ear. “You need to calm down, okay?”
I looked into her eyes and knew she was right. This was going to be a big enough mess, without me freakin out on top of it. “K,” I whispered.
Johnathan came flashing up, full on leather gear. “Okay… so… what do I do?”
Theodore turned to see him all strapped up. “Oh… such a shame.” Theodore grinned at him. “Well, Okay Johnathan, you need to lie on the mirror.”
Johnathan headed towards the mirror and I stopped him. I looked up into his eyes, just to give him one more ‘you don't have to do this’ look, but he smiled and kissed me. We heard a throat clear and he backed away from me, heading towards the mirror.
Theodore walked up next to him. “Just lay down on your back... be mindful of stepping on it… we don't need any cracks.” Johnathan gently sat down and slid back; he laid his body straight and turned his head to me.
I grinned, had to right? Truth was, I was probably the most nervous person there.
Theodore took a white stone and started to scratch symbols in the earth all around the mirror. He placed his hands out in front of him and started to chant. Josh stood there with his arms crossed, feet apart, relaxed. Kai leaned in and said something to Sam and she swatted at him. Me, well I was messing with my hands… I didn't like anything about this... nothing.
“Now Johnathan, I need you to center yourself. While you do, think deeply of your mom, dad, and sister… get them clear in your mind, Okay?”
Johnathan closed his eyes and I could see traces of red start to swirl on his skin. His breathing slowed.
Theodore had his eyes closed too. “Good… good Johnathan… keep yourself centered…”
Theodore raised his hands and started to chant again, light flowing from his hands towards Johnathan's head. It wrapped itself around him, like a snake coils its prey. He exhaled and his breath was white, like the temperature had dropped around him. I took a step forward to see better, and Josh came to my side. Theodore continued to chant, his words flowing like a song, the light from his hands growing brighter. The entire time Johnathan lay still, on top of the mirror.
Suddenly Johnathan arched his back and cried out. Theodore opened his eyes and continued to chant in Latin. Johnathan thrashed on top of the mirror, groaning and grabbing at its edges. He cried out his mother’s name. I lunged forward, but Josh caught me by my arm and stopped me.
“Johnathan!” I cried out.
The wind suddenly picked up in the clearing and dirt and leaves started to fly all around us. Johnathan slammed the back of his head against the mirror and the crack it caused echoed in our ears. Theodore cried out to Sam, telling her to bind him. As she flashed forward, light erupted from the mirror and knocked her and Theodore away from him. Theodore hit a tree behind him and rolled to the side. Sam slid across the dirt and hit a large rock sticking out of the ground. She stood up slowly, putting her hand on the back of her head. She held her hand out in front of her and I could see the blood dripping from her fingers. She fell to her knees and slumped to the side.
I looked at Josh in panic. “What do we do?” I screamed. We both fixed our gaze on Johnathan, who was still screaming and kicking wildly on top of the mirror.
“We have to get him off that mirror Rue!” Josh yelled at me. I nodded, ready and willing to do whatever I had to do.
We both started to flash towards Johnathan and the light started to pulsate from under him. He screamed louder than I think I've ever heard anyone scream before. It knocked Josh and me to the ground.
I had fallen on my face, it knocked the wind out of me, but I knew I had to move. I raised my head and watched as Johnathan started to sink into the mirror. I scrambled to my feet and lunged forward. I reached through the light and grabbed his hand. The pull on him was so strong it pulled him from me almost immediately.
Josh had staggered to his feet and saw me reaching into the mirror. “No...! RUE!”
I rolled into the mirror and disappeared through it. Josh's voice still echoing in my ears.
All sound was gone. It was pitch black. My ears felt like they needed to pop... a high pitch ringing started in my head. I reached for my ears with both hands, but felt so much resistance I could barely touch them. I opened my eyes and realized that I was under water. I saw bubbles trailing upward and started to kick my feet, pushing with all of my strength, to reach the surface. I broke through and gulped for air. I looked around to see if I could spot Johnathan, but nothing… no one in sight. I started to swim towards the shoreline. My feet finally felt ground underneath me and I stood the best I could and walked ashore.
I stood there, teeth chattering and goose bumps forming on my arms. I was breathing hard from the effort it took to swim and my breath puffed out white, in front of me. I looked around and it looked like Red Woods but brown and dead plant life littered it all around me. I looked overhead and the sky was overcast, the trees without leaves. I took a step away from the water and I felt all the liquid on me start to move downward. I looked at my arm and could see it drying up, like a fast motion camera on a desert floor. I looked down at my feet and could see the water trailing in the ground from me, rejoining the body of water. I reached up and my hair was dry, so were my clothes.
I tried to center myself but nothing. I could see nothing but blackness in my mind. I opened my eyes when I heard a whispering up ahead. “Johnathan?” I called out, but my voice sounded like it was recorded backwards. “Huh,” I said with a grin, knowing it would sound the same either way. I've been around Josh too much.
I heard the whisper again and started to follow. I came to a clearing and stepped out into it, hoping to find some sun, flowers... anything living, but still it was cold and lifeless all around me.
I stood there, quietly waiting for the whispering to lead me on and I felt a tug on my dress. I looked down and a small girl was looking up at me. She had black hair and dark eyes, so small. I leaned down to her and she grinned at me. She started to walk and I followed, looking down at her periodically as she led me on. She always looked up at me, at the same time and we grinned at each other. I had no idea why I trusted her, but I did, so I let her keep going.
We stepped out into a field of grass, I wanted to see it all lush and green, but it was yellow and brown from lack of water and light. She led me through it, the dry grass scratching at my legs. I stopped to rub them and I felt her let go of my hand. When I stood up, I could see a house at the bottom of the hill, light glowing in the windows. I scanned the field, but could not see her and started to walk towards the house in hope I would find her, or anyone here.
I reached the door and before I could open the door, it opened to me. I hesitated before I stepped through, hoping I wouldn't find something crazy waiting on the other side. The house from the outside looked small, but when I stepped in, the room was huge, stretching out before me. I squinted my eyes to see that yards away from me a fire roared in a horseshoe circle. At its center a white stone slab with someone laying on it, dressed in white. I started to run towards it, my heartbeat speeding up. I could only hope that by some miracle it would be Johnathan lying there.
The fire was shooting up pretty high, but when I approached it, it started to lower itself to a low glow. I could see him, arms folded over his chest, motionless. It was Johnathan. I stumbled towards him and leaned in, I placed my hands on his face. His skin was cold and his chest was still. Tears started to well up into my eyes, before I even had time to consider that he may be dead. I fell on top of him with my upper body and cried out his name. It echoed on forever.
“My child, there is no need to feel such sorrow.”
I lifted my head and looked behind me. My Mother stood before me, with the small girl at her side.
“Mom?” I said.
She laughed. “No… no, I have only one child and she stands here next to me.” Grace reached down and picked her up, putting her on her side. I looked at the little girl and tilted my head. The little girl did the same.
“Is her name Rue, by any chance?” I asked her.
Grace smiled. “Why yes it is. What a good guesser you are.” The little girl giggled and Grace smiled at her. “Rue has told me that you came to visit through the lake… Is this true?”
I straightened up, blinking a few times. I could not believe that I was talking to my mother and she did not know whom I was. I decided my best bet was to play along.
“Yes… you see Johnathan here, he fell before me and I followed him. I came to take him back with me, to our home.”
Grace looked at me and at Johnathan.
“You love this boy, do you not?”
I turned back to him and grabbed his hand. “I do, I do love him and I have to bring him back with me, can you help us?”
Grace placed her daughter on the floor and walked slowly towards me.
“This place you have found yourself in does not let us go very easily. It barely has any life and it needs life to survive.”
I looked up at her angelic face, I wanted to throw my arms around her so badly and tell her that I loved her, but she didn't know me.
“What do I have to do?” I asked.
She walked from me and turned to her little girl.
“First we get William, then we go to the tree.”
I straightened up. “William?” I asked, with a confused look on my face.
“Yes… you have your love, and I have mine.” She grinned and they both started to walk away from me.
I followed, looking back at Johnathan every few steps. The further I got, the higher the flames became, until we reached the door and the fire was raging, as it was when I stepped into this room.
We stepped outside and the grass was green, waving in the wind. I looked to Grace. “This was all dead when I came.”
She smiled. “Of course it was, it is feeding on you and your beloved now. I am afraid that William, Rue, and I have nothing left to offer it. We have been here a very long time.”
“When did you arrive here? I mean all of you.”
She turned to me. “Oh… I could not say exactly. I'm afraid my memory is not what it used to be. I know that Rue met William and I at the water’s edge and led us to the house. We then traveled to the tree together, once we reached the tree… Well, I don't quite remember that part, but I remember when we left we were at peace, happy, and we have been here together ever since.”
“This tree, is it big and white by any chance?”
The little girl turned to me and smiled. Grace took her hand and started to walk.
“Why yes it is, beautiful really.”
I stopped walking. “I don't want to go,” I said.
They both stopped and turned to me. “Why would you not?” Grace asked.
“I… I just, I want to go back to Johnathan. He's hurt and I think I can help him.”
“Don't be silly, we will pick some fruit from the tree and feed it to him. He will be good as new by nightfall.”
“Pick some fruit? No door right?”
The little girl looked at me and grinned, but Grace responded right away. “What door?
My dear, you must have been in that freezing water too long.” She looked down at the little girl. “I think she needs food… you agree?” The little girl nodded and they started to walk again.
I followed, I had no choice, when I looked behind me the house was gone and without them I could not find my way back to him.
We came to the top of a hill and looked down. There it was, the old tree full of fruit and green leaves. I could smell its sweetness in the air. Birds flew over us and I watched their shadows race across the grass towards it. I heard Grace call out and looked ahead to see a man coming towards us. It was William. He jogged up to Grace and kissed her, holding her hands in his. He leaned down and scooped the little girl up into his arms, kissing her on the cheek. His eyes went to me.
“Who do we have here, my love?”
Grace smiled and waved a hand at me. “Seems we have a visitor William, she needs some food from the tree for her love, seems he is still asleep in the house.”
“Ahhh, well, welcome. I am William Volley, this is Grace, my wife and our little one, Rue.”
“Oh William, I have already introduced us.” Grace smiled at him and he put his hand on the side of her face. She closed her eyes and grinned. “And your name would be?” he asked me innocently enough.
I stood there frozen. What do I say? “Ummm, my name is Chel. Like a sea shell, only with a c and one l,” I said. I shocked myself with that one.
“Like a sea shell,” the little girl said, with a smile on her face.
I looked down at her and she winked at me. I was kind of taken back by it.
“Well ‘Chel’ with a c and one l. I will collect some fruit for all of us and bring it to the house.”
He put his arm around Grace's waist and whispered into her ear, she laughed and tapped him on the chest. “Okay, my love,” she said to him.
She turned to me. “Seems William insists that I take you back to the house and prepare for a meal, he doesn't like to have the two of us out doing things he can easily do himself.”
I smiled at him and he smiled back. I could not believe that I was with my parents, I really couldn't.
William headed towards the tree and we turned and started to head back. I was relieved. I really did not want to go near that tree again… ever.
We made it back to the house and when we stepped inside it looked smaller, a small wooden table sat in the middle and a fire burned brightly in the fireplace. I looked
around with a confused look on my face.
“Where is Johnathan?” I asked.
“Oh… no worries, he sleeps in my room. William will feed him soon enough.”
“But when I came in here the room looked different,” I said.
Grace turned to me. “I'm afraid that I do not know what you mean Chel.”
“There was a long stone path that led to a ring of fire; Johnathan was lying in the middle of it!”
Grace walked to a door and opened it. She waved a hand at me to look in. I peeked into the room and Johnathan lay on her bed, covered with a beautiful crimson comforter. I stared in disbelief.
“Oh, I am sorry… I thought…”
She placed her hand on my arm, “You have had a most trying day, we will eat and you will feel better, I promise.”
Grace closed the door and I turned to see that Rue, (weird enough right) was sitting in the chair by the fireplace, with a book in her hands. I stared at her and Grace noticed.
“She loves to read. I swear she reads one book and picks another one right up.”
I grinned. “Yea, I know what you mean.”
“Oh, are you a lover of books too?” She asked me.
“You could say that I guess. I have this library at home that I.” I stopped. Flashes of memory came into my mind.
“What is a Library?” Grace asked, snapping me out of my stupor.
“Oh… well, it's a place that stores many books, all kinds, anything you would ever want to read.”
I looked at Rue and she lowered her book and had a look of interest on her face.
“You know, she loves to be read too. Why don't you sit down and read with her, while I get, dinner ready?”
I fidgeted with my hands and looked at little Rue sitting in the chair. She smiled at me, exposing her tiny little teeth. I smiled back, raising my eyebrows.
“Okay… yea, I guess,” I answered.
I walked to her and she slipped off the chair. She had to flip onto her stomach and shimmy her way off, because her feet didn't touch the floor. I smiled. Is this what I looked like when I was a little girl? Too cute, swear to god.