Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Arborview - October 4, 6:20 p.m.
Stillness. Everything stood still. When I opened my eyes, I glanced around the room. It was empty, I felt empty. There was nothing wrong with that.
A clear mind and the serene silence dominated me. I stood up and realized my strength, no weakness burdened my body. Where were the ancient texts, the cauldron, and the corpses? Where was my mother and her witchcraft? It was silent - too silent.
I couldn't help it though, I felt so calm and at peace with life. I no longer worried about anything.
All of my thoughts lingered like air then drowned out, fading through my mind like the sea against its shore. They entered and exited, nothing more. Inhale, exhale.
In the distance, I spotted a gate. Through the gate rested a land of forests and flora, lakes and clouds, it was beautiful. How did this get here?
Moving toward it, I noticed the gatekeeper with skeletal hands and a cloak which covered its body. The gatekeeper motioned me to the gate, pointing his scythe at the door.
"Hello?" My voice echoed. No response. I mindlessly moved toward the gate, until a figure wandered out.
A tall, dark figure. He was easily handsome and young, he looked similar to me, but attractive. I stared at him in my dream-like state.
"Get out of here," he guarded the gate's entrance, "it isn't your time yet."
"What do you mean?" I replied.
He circled around me, inspecting me with weary eyes. "You haven't even had the chance to live yet, have you? So why would you give up that opportunity now?"
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
Airy laughter escaped his lips. "Ah, you have no clue where you are, do you? Ines almost killed you, she's much too careless with her poison-based magic."
He grabbed onto my hand and walked me toward the gate. His hand was frigid, our physical contact didn't frighten me as it normally would. "This gate separates death from life," he explained, "Please, don't go through."
My eyes widened when he stated my mother's name. "How do you know her?"
"Who? Ines?" He frowned and looked down at the wooden floorboards, "...I wish I hadn't but it was inevitable. I wish none of the Dark Council had known of me."
You? But who are you? It dawned on me. "Are you the skeleton boy she spoke of? Are you one of the skeletons in her room?"
His eyes drifted off, he seemed melancholic. May be he was. "This isn't the time to speak about insignificant issues. Time and life, as you may know, are interwoven and much like their relationship, you too have limited time to decide whether you will wander through the gate toward death or live."
The doorway appeared enticing though. Perhaps it was more enticing to me as I had never truly experienced the outdoors, nature and its forests. I wanted to.
But more than that, I wanted to live. With so many questions unanswered about my mother, curiosity struck my body again. My heart flittered and my mind poured with questions, suddenly I was no longer a carefree spirit.
"I can see that you have made your choice, Moss. I hope that we never meet again."
"But wait, why can't you answer my questions? I want to, I need to know who you are. Please tell me," I pleaded but already the gatekeeper had faded and so was he.
"Sleep well, Moss. You will waken soon." He walked through the gate and didn't look back. I wanted him to, I wanted to catch a final glimpse of him but as I tried to follow his body to the gate, my knees gave up and I collapsed into a dream.
"What have I done..."
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