Author: Roy Huff
Date: 2013-02-05 08:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Fantasy; Young Adult; Science Fiction; Adventure; Paranormal
Description: Owen Sage is the emblematic college freshman at Easton Falls University. With all the worries about his first year in college, he was not prepared for what would happen next. His way of life was flipped upside down when he mysteriously crossed into another dimension, into the beautiful land of Everville. His excitement was abruptly halted when he discovered that there was a darkness forged against both the natural world, which he knew well, and the new land which he discovered, Everville. He must devise a plan to save both worlds while joining forces with the race of Fron and The Keepers, whom

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Everville

The First Pillar

Copyright

Everville Chapter 1

Beginnings

Everville Chapter 2

Orientation

Everville Chapter 3

Back Again

Everville Chapter 4

Awake!

Everville Chapter 5

The Other In Between.

Everville Chapter 6

Battle Lines.

Everville Chapter 7

Revelations

Everville Chapter 8

The Keeper

Everville Chapter 9

The Feast

Everville Chapter 10

Registration

Everville Chapter 11

The Echo Club

Everville Chapter 12

Time and Again

Everville Chapter 13

The First Day

Everville Chapter 14

The Meeting.

Everville Chapter 15

The Makings of a Keeper

Everville Chapter 16

The Gallery

Everville Chapter 17

Land of the Giants

Everville Chapter 18

Practice Makes Perfect

Everville Chapter 19

Understanding

Everville Chapter 20

The Tunnels

Everville Chapter 21

Eating Out

Everville Chapter 22

Lessons

Everville Chapter 23

The Valley of Darkness

Everville Chapter 24

The Friends We Keep.

Everville Chapter 25

The Ascent

Everville Chapter 26

The Vote

Everville Chapter 27

The Roundabout Part I

Everville Chapter 28

The Dark Forest.

Everville Chapter 29

The First Pillar

Everville Chapter 30

The Roundabout Part 2

Everville Chapter 31

The Hamptons

Everville Chapter 32

The Café

Everville Chapter 33

Training.

Everville Chapter 34

Owen’s Journey Part I

Everville Chapter 35

Owen’s Journey Part 2

Everville Chapter 36

Consequences.

EVERVILLE

THE FIRST PILLAR

Roy Huff

COPYRIGHT

This book is fiction. Any resemblance to real names, events, persons, or organizations is purely coincidental.

Edited by Telemachus Press.

Additional contributing editors including Sean P. Endress, Brian Driver and Liberty Huff.

Cover by Damonza.com

Formatting by awesomebooklayout.com.

Published February 2013 by Roy Huff. All rights reserved.

Visit Roy Huff on the World Wide Web at
www.owensage.com &

www.goodreads.com/evervillefans

This book is dedicated to my good friend, Tony Miloni.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 1

BEGINNINGS

Feeling a bit queasy, I decided to stop by the school clinic just to make sure I wasn’t coming down with something. Whatever it was that was making me feel this way prevented me from walking any more than half my usual brisk pace. I pondered whether I was depressed for some unknown reason, or whether I was genuinely ill. Hesitantly, I walked through the grassy corridor to get to the main entryway. As I was standing in front of the oversized door, I noticed how the large gold entrance looked out of place. Just as I touched the cold metallic handle, I began to feel faint.

There was no line at the front desk. I quickly scribbled my name on the sign-in sheet and was hurriedly whisked away into the examination room. After being asked a series of questions, the doctor said he wanted to check a couple of things and needed a blood sample. I wasn’t afraid of needles, but I frequently became light-headed whenever I had my blood drawn. I think sometimes I just forget to breathe.

Moments later, I felt my consciousness slipping away. It was as if I were falling asleep in the air, with the wind at my back and facing up at the sky.

I awoke in near free fall. The smell of wet earth, vines, and something I could not quite place was palpable. I seemed to be in some sort of narrow earthen passageway, a tunnel of sorts that seemed to go on forever. Was I dreaming or perhaps dead? I felt as if I were blind. Deep blackness surrounded me. There was not even a flicker of light. I must have been falling for what seemed like twenty minutes. Finally, the passageway slowly opened. I could see the darkness giving way to a murky brown. Gradually, lighter shades began to appear. Eventually, I was able to make out shapes and colors. They seemed to be going by so fast. Then all of a sudden, I struck the ground with a smack!

I landed in what appeared to be a massive pile of leaves, but upon closer inspection, it became clear the pile was not made up of leaves at all. It was definitely organic, but from what, I was not sure. Slowly, I began to get my balance. My knees were weak and trembling, but I managed to stand up at the edge of the pile and slowly walk away.

A few feet in the distance, there was a small stool and a wooden crate. On top of the crate, there was a bowl filled with some kind of fruit I didn’t recognize. Next to the bowl, there was a small note. “Breakfast,” was all it said. I hardly recognized the odd markings on the bowl or the unusual shape of the crate. I may have paid more attention if I weren’t so hungry. My stomach was growling more than usual for having only skipped one meal. It must have been all the energy I expended falling down the tunnel. Whatever it was, I could wait no longer.

I picked up a piece of fruit and slowly sank my teeth in. The fruit was wet, sweet, and had a texture similar to a pear. The taste was unique but with hints of apple, grape, and watermelon. Greedily, I ate one after another. Before I knew it, I had devoured the entire bowl. My appetite being satiated, I took a moment to look at my surroundings. The room was nothing special. The ground was made of hard-packed dirt, and the walls were made of earth. It was as if a giant mole had dug a series of passageways. I took a few steps and looked ahead into a large opening. The room was connected to a colossal passageway. In the entrance of the passageway, there was a wooden sign. The sign simply said, “Welcome to Everville.”

Looking at the torches hanging on the walls, I slowly walked through the passageway. The flickering light was surprisingly bright. The top of the ceiling was about the height of a ten-story building and about as wide as half a football field.

As I walked, I began to hear the sound of shuffling and scurrying. In the corner of my eye, I noticed several figures walking in and out of the shadows. Then a tall slender figure began to emerge.

“Good. You’re here.”

“Where is here?” I asked.

“Here is Everville. We are somewhere between here and there, sometime between yesterday and another day. There will be time for questions later. Right now, we have a lot of work to do. Come into the workshop.”

The passageway seemed to go on forever. I walked through a series of massive cave-like earthen catacombs. We came upon his workshop. The sign on the door said, ‘The Keeper’s Workshop.’ The door creaked as we entered.

I looked up and gazed upon the endless books that surrounded me. They were displayed in shelves that were built into the walls on both the left and right sides of the room. The shelves were vertically stacked as far as the eye could see. Each manuscript was categorized and labeled in a surprisingly efficient manner. On the wall directly in front of me, there were unusual-looking objects of all shapes and sizes overflowing in all sorts of crates and boxes. At the bottom was a large desk that sat in front of a mysterious-looking door.

We hurriedly walked towards the desk. The Keeper reached up and grabbed a rectangular shaped object from one of the crates. He pointed at some characters that appeared on the screen of the object and said, “See. It’s all wrong!” I tried to make out what was on the screen, but the characters were unrecognizable. It was like some sort of ancient language I had never seen before. I asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Everything is wrong. I don’t know if we can fix it.”

“Fix what?”

“Fix everything. Everything is out of balance. It is going to take a concerted effort to bring back balance to Everville.”

The next thing I knew, I was back in the examination room. I awoke to the smell of a strong odor the doctor had used to wake me up after I had passed out. It took me a second to get reoriented. I thought to myself whether or not what I had experienced was real. It seemed like forever, but only a few seconds had passed.

I was left to ponder about the possibility. Was I really that sick, or was there really a place called Everville?

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 2

ORIENTATION

I was staring at the letter for what seemed like twenty minutes. ‘Freshman Orientation’ was all my brain could process. I couldn’t shake the experience I had the day before. The doctor had explained that I had a touch of food poisoning, but the memory seemed too real to be just a hallucination. Besides, I’ve had food poisoning before and it never affected me like this. Was that even possible? I have heard about people seeing things that weren’t there when they were really sick, but I wasn’t sure if food poisoning qualified. Still, for the time being I thought it best to try and forget about the whole thing. I didn’t want people thinking I had gone completely nuts after just one week away from home.

Freshman Orientation

Dear Owen Sage:

Easton Falls University welcomes you Thursday, August 2nd to the 87th annual freshman orientation. We hope to assist you in your transition here; we want it to be as smooth as possible. To that end, we offer freshman orientation at the location listed below. While not mandatory, attendance at freshman orientation offers several benefits. First, you will have preferential registration over non-attendees. In addition, you will receive guidance from a vast field of counselors and experts ready to assist you in planning your program schedule and in techniques for becoming a successful first-year student. Finally, representatives from a variety of campus clubs will be offering information and membership applications. Please come join us, and help make your transition to Easton Falls University an easy one.

Sincerely,

Dean of Undergraduate Student Affairs

George Swifthouse, Ph.D.

I had always been the type of person who attended orientations. It wasn’t that I was eager to impress, it’s just that I thought I would miss something important. This time, however, my experience in the school clinic must have shaken something deep inside my core. I almost decided not to go, but I needed priority registration to make sure I got all my classes. More importantly, I wanted to meet up with a couple friends whom I hadn’t seen over the summer.

I put the letter down and looked out the window. My dorm had one of the better views. Easton Falls was one of those New England schools with massive walkways, gigantic trees, and impressive gothic architecture. That was one of the reasons I was so drawn to the school. My fondness for the school had rubbed off on a couple of my friends, much to the dismay of their parents who had their hearts set on their alma mater.

From my window, I could see the main entrance to the school and the historic oak tree. The tree towered over the students who passed nearby and blocked just enough of the sunlight to shade the administrative building. The shaded sidewalks in the view of the stone statues depicting the school founders from atop the admin building added an unmistakable mystical quality as one walked through campus center. Gazing across the walkway, I began to feel a little more like myself.

I had been reading a lot about dreams after my incident. I was starting to convince myself that my experience in the examination room was some kind of lucid dream. I had read a book on lucid dreaming by an expert at Stanford University who explained how events from one’s everyday life could slip into the dream state. It was the brain’s way of recording information that had been experienced the prior day. In a lucid dream, the dreamer becomes aware of the dream and starts to shape the dream in the way they want it to unfold. Perhaps the magical quality of the campus architecture had seeped into my brain. When I passed out, I must have fallen into the dream state and my brain was incorporating what I had seen into the dream. At that moment, I decided that I would think of something much more interesting to do in the dream if it happens again.

Enough with speculation, I thought. I needed to rest my brain. A long nap might help do the job, so I closed the window and sprawled out across my small dorm room bed as best I could. It didn’t take long before I had fallen into a deep sleep. I was starting to repeat my experience and seemed to be aware of that, or at least I thought. I must be dreaming!

“OWEN! Wake up!”

Startled, I jumped up. I half expected to see The Keeper or someone else from Everville, but it was just my good friend Dante.

“Come on, man; we don’t have all day! We’re going to be late for orientation if we don’t hurry. Besides, they have pizza. If we’re not at least a little early, we’re only going to be left with the scraps.”

I glanced at the alarm clock and realized I had forgotten to set the alarm and had slept through the whole day. It was already tomorrow!

Dante was even more uptight than I was. I’m always punctual, but he likes to arrive an extra ten minutes early just to scope out the scene. I was a little irritated that I had overslept, but I figured my body needed it anyway so it was probably a good thing.

It took me all of two minutes to get ready. Then, we headed over to meet up with my other best friend Anika.

Anika was smart, funny, and very cute. She had a knack for always knowing the right thing to say and didn’t take crap from anyone. All three of us had been friends since grade school. Dante and I fit together very well, but to those who didn’t know her, Anika seemed out of place. Dante and I both had been crazy about her during different periods in our childhood. I’m sure Anika knew, but we never had the gumption to talk about it. Besides, we had a good thing going and we didn’t want to screw with it. Dante’s mom used to call us the Rat Pack.

Dante and I had pretty uneventful childhoods. We both grew up with our moms who had been divorced since before we could remember. When we were little, our moms would take turns baby-sitting us. It was like we were brothers or they were sisters or something. I think we both worked pretty hard at school to make our moms proud.

Anika came later. We met her in fourth grade. Her parents were divorced too. Shortly after her parents divorced, her mom died. That’s when she moved to our neighborhood and came to our school. She was really quiet at school that year, but we spent that whole summer hanging out together. After that, it was impossible to separate us. Ever since then, we did everything together.

“Hey guys! Give me a sec.”

Anika grabbed her purse and a couple of other things, and we headed off to freshman orientation.

I looked at Anika’s purse as we walked out of dorm and realized it had the same markings that were on the bowl of fruit I had eaten during my experience in Everville. Some of the pieces started coming together, or so I thought. Content to forget the whole thing, I gazed across the walkway at the large mass of students gathering around campus center.

Dante and I briskly walked over the tables to check off our name, pick up our nametags, and grab a slice.

“Mmmm. Pepperoni, mushroom, and extra cheese!”

If there was one thing Dante could not resist, it was pepperoni, mushroom, and extra cheese pizza. Neither could I, for that matter.  Dante and I scarfed down a couple of slices before we heard one of the administrators making her way through the front and begin to speak.

The next hour seemed to pass by so quickly. I could hear what was going, but my head seemed to be in a different place. Dante and Anika spoke to me on occasion, but I didn’t notice anything they said. My mind was fixated on the symbols that I saw on the fruit bowl. My subconscious started to put together some of the pieces of the puzzle I didn’t immediately recognize. The markings on the bowl of fruit and Anika’s purse were also on the screen of the device that The Keeper was reading in his workshop. My mind wasn’t even thinking about whether Everville was real or not. It seemed only to be trying to decode the meaning of the symbols.

Eleven thirty at night seemed to arrive sooner than usual. My mind still seemed to be in a fog, and I was fighting to keep my eyes open, but it was a losing battle. Before I knew it, my eyes were sealed shut.

“Oh. You’re back. It’s about time!”

I knew precisely where I was. The Keeper’s Workshop left an impression that was impossible to forget, and it was just as it was before.

I remember thinking about trying to take control of my dream the next time I thought I was dreaming. Well, it didn’t seem to be working.  I tried everything. Flying didn’t seem to work. Thinking really hard about all my favorite foods didn’t seem to make them magically appear, and I couldn’t seem to disappear either!

“What are you doing? We don’t have time for any of that silliness. I told you; we have a lot of work to do!”

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 3

BACK AGAIN

I took a deep breath. I realized I was either completely nuts or there was a huge part of the world I simply didn’t know about. I stopped believing in fairy tales and magic when I was six years old, so if I was going to believe any of this was real, it was going to take some convincing. For now, I decided just to see where this Keeper was going to take me.

As I passed through The Keeper’s doorway, The Keeper guided me to a smaller room hidden from view. As I approached it, it breathed an unmistakable odor of age, and seemed darker, more mysterious. The room was much larger than it seemed from the outside. Scrolls and papers were haphazardly strewn across an infinitely long table next to an oversized bed. The room was surprisingly large even for someone of The Keeper’s impressive stature. The Keeper quickly shuffled through the first half of an old stack of papers precariously placed on the corner of the table. Eventually, he found what he was looking for and gestured for me to take a look.

“This is where the breach occurred,” said The Keeper as I looked at his lanky finger, which pointed to a few odd-looking characters that I didn’t understand.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“Well, it means we have less time than I anticipated.”

“Less time for what?”

“Less time to repair the breach and restore balance to Everville, of course!”

“What exactly is out of balance?” I asked hesitantly.

“Why, everything!”

Not seeming to be making any progress figuring out what was out of balance, I decided to change my line of questioning.

“Well, how do we fix it? How do we restore balance to Everville?”

“We have to repair the breach!”

“How do we do that?”

“We will have time for details later. What we need to do now is get everything in place and prepare for the event.”

The event, I assumed, was something to do with repairing the breach. At least, that is what I suspected.

“What can I do?”

“You have to bring everyone together and then make sure you are ready. I’ll bring the learner device.”

“What’s the learner device?”

“So many questions!”

A short, interesting-looking creature approached and handed The Keeper a small button. The Keeper pressed the button, and it began to unfold into a small strange-looking rectangular box with a handprint on the top.

“Give me your hand.”

I gave The Keeper my hand, and he placed it on the device.

Within less than a second my mind was transported to someplace else. Some people say that just before you die your entire life flashes before your eyes. This must be what that feels like, except I didn’t recognize any of what was flashing before me. It also seemed I was experiencing the mind of the universe itself. Within seconds, I began to understand what The Keeper had been talking about. The event, the breach, Everville being out of balance, the strange markings I had seen at different places, and so much more all began to make sense. Suddenly, I began to sense something else. I started to understand the seriousness of what The Keeper had been talking about and why The Keeper had been so anxious.

All at once, the power of the device became clear to me. I was being imprinted with all the information about what was going on, including all the thoughts and memories of the people connected to The Keeper. I could access their memories at will like some kind of computer, but it was more than that. I was actually reliving the experiences and understanding all of the emotions and important aspects of the memories as if I were there in that moment in time.

The longer I was connected to the device, the more I understood. The Keeper was old, really old! I saw so many experiences and so many people he knew. It was truly overwhelming. I felt like I was gasping for air, and I began to go into shock. Just then, I was filled with a sense of urgency and determination. I saw everything and everyone at once. I knew that this was more than just a dream or a hallucination. The Keeper and everyone helping him were holding the fate of our world and other worlds in their hands. An ongoing struggle between The Keeper and some other force began to slowly emerge. There was no question that The Keeper represented a benevolent force for good, and the struggle against The Keeper was decidedly darker.

The Keeper’s helper removed my hand and took the device, but the thoughts still lingered in my mind. It seemed I was still able to access all the information that the device had allowed me to see.

“Good! Now we can begin the preparation.”

A group of twenty helpers appeared to step out of a wall within the hidden room inside The Keeper’s Workshop. The learner device had provided me with specific details of all the people who worked with The Keeper. I knew these twenty helpers were a race of creatures known as The Fron.

The Fron were small and not very agile, but they were friendly and clever. They were short, thick, and hairless. The Fron had tiny little eyes and very large ears that gave them an exceptional sense of hearing.

Sako, the leader of The Fron, stepped forward and approached The Keeper.

“Keeper, Them are intruding on all fronts.”

“Yes! All fronts,” said Sako’s assistant.

The Fron called Sako’s assistant Toe. While certainly friendly, Toe was not as clever as the rest of the Fron, but he made up for it with his charm. Toe was not quite middle aged for a Fron, which would be something like tens of thousands of years in our perception. He once had a family with two small children, but Them had made his family disappear in a major conflict that had occurred some time ago. One of Them had tricked Toe into sending his family into The Other In Between, a place where those not forgotten go when they have no time or place.

“Sako, how many have we lost to The Other In Between?”

“It’s bad, Keeper! We have lost another 15 percent of the population.”

Them, on the other hand, had been growing in number for quite some time.

The Keeper and the Fron are protectors of Everville. Them reside in The Other Place, The Other In Between. There is a constant struggle between the two worlds. The breach The Keeper mentioned earlier, created the losses to The Other In Between that Them had somehow managed to inflict on Everville. If allowed to grow much larger, the breach would mean serious problems for all times and all places.

My alarm was so loud and shrill that I always got startled and jumped up when it went off. The knowledge from the device seemed to fade. I could still recall some of it, but only what I had specifically pondered while in Everville. I needed more time in Everville to fully understand how and why I kept being pulled into Everville. Why did I need to help repair the breach?

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 4

AWAKE!

I slid to the edge of the bed with the full intention of standing up. Pressing my feet firmly on the floor I slowly began to rise. After making it about halfway up, my knees buckled and I found myself gently falling back towards the bed. I felt weighed down with the events that transpired in the dream. It was certainly a lot for my brain to process. Hesitantly, I tried a second time to stand, this time with more success. I slowly walked towards the window, opened it halfway and inhaled the fresh morning air. I felt compelled to tell the world about what happened, but I also knew this was not the best course of action. In the world as we know it, the imprint from the learner device only seemed to provide me with enhanced intuition. Fortunately though, I did keep all the other memories from each visit to Everville.

There was a knock at the door.

I walked to the door half-dressed and barely awake. Anika and Dante looked amazingly energetic especially for 7:30 in the morning.

“What’s with you Owen?” Anika said, looking at me with a funny gaze. “College hasn’t even started yet and you’re already having trouble waking up!”

Of course, the trips to Everville seemed to be robbing me of my sleep. I didn’t quite feel like explaining the dreams I had been having…not yet, anyway.

“Owen, we’ve been looking at which clubs we’re going to join.”

“Clubs?”

“Yeah! I’ve always heard in order to make the most out of college you need to be actively involved with extracurricular activities.”

Of course, Dante’s idea of extracurricular activities was the chess club or perhaps some type of community service.

“What did you have in mind?”

“Well, I grabbed some of the pamphlets from the orientation and a couple of them seemed interesting. I was thinking about the Art Club and the Echo Club.”

I took the brochures from Dante’s hand and quickly scanned the pages. The Art Club looked interesting. It was not your typical high school fare for sure. Actually, it seemed a little too urban-cool for Dante’s taste. It was, however, something Anika would be interested in. Then, I began reading the brochure on the Echo Club. After reading the brochure, I still didn’t quite get what it was all about.

What’s this?

“Oh, that just seemed intriguing to me for some reason,” Anika said with a smile.

“I don’t quite know what it is either, but I guess we’re going to find out. They’re having a meeting in an hour and we’re going!”

“It’s kind of early for a meeting, don’t you think?”

“I guess so. Let’s grab some coffee on the way. There’s this fantastic little café by campus center, close to where the club is having the meeting.”

Coffee sounded fantastic to me right then.

“Okay. Let me grab my stuff.”

We walked the large mostly empty corridors of the dorm and outside to the open expanse of the campus. I began to feel energized by the blue sky and warm sun as it beamed down on my skin. A cool breeze and abundant shade helped take the edge off a typically hot August day. We approached the café Anika had mentioned, and she was right. Easton Falls Café was chiseled into the stone wall above the entrance. It was rather impressive. It had an antique charm combined with a very polished feel. There were glass tables with a unique configuration. Wooden engravings covered the walls and other very interesting décor. There were a few college students sipping on coffee who seemed unusually pensive, especially for a week before classes. I also noticed that an older gentleman appeared to be looking at me. He seemed familiar somehow and turned away as he noticed my gaze.

“What can I get for you?” the barista said with a certain charm.

“I’ll take a white chocolate mocha.”

“And you, Miss?”

Anika stayed silent for a few seconds.

“I’ll take the house special.”

“Fantastic!”

I looked at the chalkboard and began reading the different drink specials. The house special was apparently some type of latte with a secret house syrup. I’ve never heard of a secret house syrup in a café. It seemed to add an extra air of mystery to an already intriguing little place.

We took our coffee and headed off to the meeting. We arrived after a short walk. The combination of the coffee and walk had left me refreshed and energized.

“Welcome to the 87th year of the Echo Club!”

Eighty-seventh, I thought to myself for a second. That’s the same age as the university! That’s pretty good for a club. I was even more interested now.

“For all of those new faces here today, we’re going to give you a chance to find out what we’re all about at the meet-and-greet this Friday.”

“That sounds interesting,” I said to Dante and Anika.

“Yeah! It sounds like fun!”

“Well, I guess we have nothing else to do,” Dante said unenthusiastically.

The president of the echo club continued to speak. Numerous names and congratulations flowed off his tongue. Once again, I found myself slipping into a half daze missing just about everything he was saying. After about half an hour, I still had no idea what the club was about or if this was something I would ultimately be interested in.

“Refreshments are in the back and feel free to introduce yourself to others in the room.”

Dante rushed to the food table. It was a fun sight to see. Dante always acted like it was a competition to get to the food first.

All of the food looked appetizing. There was quite a selection for a club meeting. It seemed too extravagant for such an informal setting. There was some typical food that one would expect, but also some international dishes that I didn’t quite recognize. The food looked unusually appetizing. Just then, I noticed it – the same fruit I had seen in my first visit to Everville!

I was starting to feel like there was a connection between the club, the university, Everville, and all of us. I still wasn’t ready to share my suspicions with Dante and Anika, but my curiosity was in overdrive and my attention was fully engaged.

After the meeting, we walked out and headed back to the café. Dante suggested we attend the Art Club meeting later in the evening. It was being held in the town center not too far from the university around six p.m.  The club was situated near a cluster of art galleries that populated downtown. The number of galleries was more than one would expect for a town that size.

As I continued to walk, I noticed my pace slowed. I felt myself being pulled away. I immediately found myself back with The Keeper.

I thought for a second that this time it was different. I didn’t even need to be asleep to be taken away. I began to feel a sense of urgency to this visit. The Keeper gazed down in my direction with a worried look.

“You need to be careful. Them have made many inroads in your world.”

The Keeper took out the device. As I placed my hand on the cool, smooth surface of the learner device, I could see the vast expanse of The Other In Between.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 5

THE OTHER IN BETWEEN.

The sky was a dull dark grey. There was no sun, but a faint light directly below the horizon gave the sky enough illumination to make the land visible. The Other In Between was forever locked between half day and half night.

I saw a gathering place in a great wilderness. The multitude of souls seemed infinite. In every direction one could see, the souls spread out over a seemingly barren wasteland. They were crowded together shoulder to shoulder and appeared motionless at first glance, making no progress in their movement. Looking closer, however, I could see an almost imperceptible motion.  I noticed that it came as the masses adjusted to the new arrivals that continually appeared. The longer I looked, the clearer it became that the arrivals were appearing at a faster pace.

There was no life in their faces. The eyes of the horde lacked any signs of emotion, but the masses somehow seemed to exude an unmistakable sense of sorrow. The sight made me sick to my stomach. I could smell the stench of despair even though the masses themselves seemed completely unaware.

My perspective of the hoard began to shift. I could see the edge of the wilderness. As new arrivals appeared, the wilderness itself expanded. It was getting bigger, and the longer I looked the faster it grew.

I could see a barrier around that vast wasteland. It seemed like an impenetrable void. Beyond the void, I could see eight separate lands surrounding the wasteland. The wasteland was the center of a nine-part world each separated by a void. Surrounding the nine-part world was another void that stretched as far as I could see.

Then my consciousness was drawn to one of the souls in the void. It was Nissa, the wife of Toe. Her face was expressionless like the rest of the masses. She gazed ahead with a blank stare completely oblivious to her plight and the others around her.

The learner device then took me to a different time and place. It was the home of Toe and Nissa in the land of the Fron. They lived on a rolling hillside covered in green grass and white flower-like plants with patches of various colors strewn across the hills. I could see deep purple, vibrant orange, crisp pastel colored pinks and lavenders with a smell I cannot adequately describe. It was the most unique and pleasant aroma I had ever experienced. It was light, but evoked powerful and positive emotions. I felt a sense of optimism and hope.

I saw hundreds of what looked like strange little butterflies. The insects were translucent and shimmering little creatures with spherical wings that reminded me of soap bubbles gently changing in shape and color as they were blown by the wind. They hovered around the patches of color between the green and white across the hillside.

I watched one of the insects fly until it reached the hillside cottage where Toe and Nissa lived. At first glance the house seemed unremarkable: textured brick walls with a thatched brown roof. As the insect creature flew into the cottage, I noticed the inside walls were mostly earthen structures with quaint windows and handcrafted furniture.

I then heard the voices of young children playing, quickly getting louder.  Two young children entered and began playing some sort of game as they chased after each other around one of the small tables in the center of the main room. They were laughing and cheerful.

I could see Nissa in the kitchen making several different dishes that all looked extremely appetizing. She gazed at the children and smiled as she continued preparing dinner.

Without warning, the mood changed. The wind suddenly began to howl. I could hear the rustling of leaves on the tree branches on the side of the hill below the cottage. The two children and Nissa began to slowly disappear.

Within a matter of seconds, the wind had stopped and the cottage was empty. Toe’s wife and children were now in The Other In Between.

A great distance separated each of them. There was no confusion on their faces. There was nothing at all. The instant they arrived in The Other In Between, all emotion and sense of self had been taken away. They were no longer individuals living in a happy home. They were now part of a collective mass, a hopeless, emotionless, mindless, oblivious horde that populated the barren wasteland in the center of The Other In Between.

I could see Toe’s face. He was in another time and place in the presence of Them. Them allowed Toe to see what had happened. Instantly, Toe realized he had been tricked. The expression on his face evoked a feeling of terror, sorrow, and dread. I could feel his emotion and the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

His dread quickly turned to hate. I could feel the anger and hatred in his eyes. Toe’s eyes seemed to grow and expand beyond what seemed physically possible. His hairless head wrinkled up, and the skin on his face turned a deep purple. He opened his mouth and made a sound that I will never forget. It was something between a yell and a growl. The sound was sharp, sad, angry, and full of rage. It penetrated the vast expanse and echoed for what felt like minutes.

He stumbled and fell to the floor. He looked drained. Every last bit of strength seemed to drain from his body as all he had ever known and loved had been taken from him.

The Keeper immediately felt Toe’s loss across the vast expanse. He gazed through his portal wall and saw what one of Them had done to Toe’s family.

The Keeper yanked Toe from Them and brought him into his workshop. Them did not care. They all felt a sense of delight in his pain. The member of Them that tricked Toe grinned with a sense of pleasure and satisfaction in his achievement, and I could sense a blackness, a void with a shapeless pair of eyes staring back at me.

I thought to myself about what Them had tricked Toe into doing that enabled Them to send his family to The Other In Between. Why was Toe even talking to Them in the first place?

The Keeper took my hand off the learner device. I understood the sorrow and pain of Toe. I also felt the sadness and despair that engulfed the wasteland of The Other In Between.

“Them are very cunning and deceitful,” said The Keeper.

“Them will find ways of controlling those in your world that are susceptible to their ideas. You cannot allow yourself to be influenced by Them. You must be very careful.”

The burden of this knowledge seemed too much for me to bear. The Keeper sensed my emotion.

“You are stronger than you think. You have a strength that stretches between there and here and now and then. All of Everville is behind you and the number of allies in your world is more than you know.”

Those words gave me some solace. Still, my heart felt heavy and I was gravely concerned about my possible success. I still was not even clear on what I needed to do or why I was so important. What did I have to offer to defend Everville or the world as I knew it? I felt completely overwhelmed.

Instantly, I was back with Anika and Dante. Like each of my other trips to Everville, no time had passed while I was gone.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 6

BATTLE LINES.

Battle lines were drawn. The forces of both sides rushed together with an overwhelming howl. The galloping of the horses made the ground tremble with the force of a thousand earthquakes. The deafening roar of the stampede grew louder and louder as the distance between both sides grew smaller and smaller. The menacing sky grimaced as the inevitable clash approached. The generals of both sides rushed ahead of their massive armies. They eagerly drew their swords in anticipation of the fight. As the swords were lifted, the battle cry of the meeting armies drowned out even the sound of the stampeding horses.

Anika spoke and drew my attention away from the movie being played on the storefront window television.

For a moment, I imagined being in the middle of the fictitious battle. Perhaps this was what awaited me at the conclusion of this journey I now found myself on. I found solace in the notion that it might be possible to fight a battle without actually fighting, or at least I hoped that was the case. If Everville is somewhere else in the unknown time and space, maybe there could be a way to mitigate the damage being done by Them by making use of that knowledge.

I continued to walk as Anika and Dante carried on a conversation to which I was completely oblivious. I shifted my thoughts to the handcrafted streets that surrounded us. With each step I took, I gazed at the brick-like appearance of the sidewalk. I noticed the chiseled features of each grey stone. Each stone was clearly meticulously carved and placed carefully in the ground. The stones seemed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding buildings.

Slowly, we came upon the grouping of buildings that housed the Art Club. Artwork gleamed out of nearly every window from galleries located in the first and second floors of the building. Every type of artwork imaginable seemed to be shouting at me. Before my senses could finish processing the eclectic mix of art that surrounded us, a figure standing in a doorway captured my attention.

“Are you here for the Art Club meeting?”

“Yes,” said Anika.

“Please, come on in. I’m Drusilla and this is Zee.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Anika, and this is Dante and Owen.”

Drusilla leaned against the doorway. She wore an elegant dark purple dress that complemented her perfect figure. It was sexy but subtle. She clearly had a fashion sense that equaled Anika’s and the body to boot.

I had to turn my eyes before she noticed I was staring. Dante didn’t bother; he had a childish grin on his face that gave him away. Drusilla was clearly enjoying the attention. Strangely, Zee seemed to enjoy it even more.

“Come on in. We have tons of food and drinks,” said Zee.

We sat down in the back next to the refreshments, or rather, Dante sat down in the back and we sat next to him.  After a few seconds, I started to collect myself. I looked around the room and was rather impressed with the artwork hanging on the walls. This gallery seemed a bit different than most of the others close by. The paintings were all portraits. They looked as if they were from all different time periods. They were so exact in their representations that it was hard to distinguish the paintings from photographs.

“Thanks for noticing,” Zee said as he saw me looking around the gallery focused on each painting.

“These portraits are of all of the past Art Club presidents. I’m sure you recognize that one over there.”

I glanced over in the direction he was pointing and looked at the painting. It was the spitting image of Zee. It was exact in every detail. Whoever painted it was clearly gifted and meticulous in his approach.

“Who painted these?”

“Professor Samil, or Professor S. as I like to call him, painted the most recent ones. His father and grandfather painted the others when they were professors here. Professor S. is the professor of art history. His class is wonderful; you should take it if you have the chance. He’s standing over there next to your friend Dante.”

I recognized Professor Samil from the campus café. I couldn’t help but feel a little spooked by his appearance. His clothes were rather worn and seemed outdated by over a century. He had facial hair growing in varying lengths and a grey beard that reached his stomach.

Dante, fixating on the assortment of cheeses and dips, was oblivious to everyone around him.

“Oh my god, these dips are the best I’ve ever tasted in my life!”

They certainly did look appetizing. I dipped a celery stick into one of the dark colored dips and took a bite.

“Wow!” was all I could say after I took a sample of the dip.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Same here. I think I saw you at the campus cafe.”

“Yes. I believe so. Can’t keep me away from my morning Joe.”

His voice sounded even older than he looked. It was low and scratchy; it sounded as if it had been sitting on a shelf for decades then dusted off just to speak to me. There was something about him that intrigued me, but I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing. He had a foreboding presence, though that could just be his poor fashion sense.  Zee approached the front of the room.

“Thanks again for coming everyone. I think you will all find that the benefits of the Art Club are second to none. We are one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs on campus and boast an alumni list that has more politicians and Fortune 500 CEO’s than any other. There is certainly more to do here than just learn about art. I think you will find the connections at this club can be a stepping-stone to fame, fortune, and power to all of you that desire it.”

That certainly caught my attention! Anika glanced over, appearing to read my mind. Even Dante managed to look up at me after having his face firmly focused on the food table since we arrived.

The room erupted.

“YEAH!” was the collective scream across the room. Clearly everyone else had a better understanding of this club than any of us.

“We will be holding our annual Roundabout on the first of the month. For those of you who are new, you would be advised to meet with one of our other members to get more details. The annual Roundabout is a cherished tradition and is very competitive! The winners and two guests will get to spend a weekend at the Hamptons courtesy of Professor S. We will talk more about the specifics at the first official meeting to all members next week.”

“Holy crap!” I thought to myself. I definitely want to know more about this Roundabout.

“After this week, the battle lines will be drawn. Choose your teams carefully.”

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 7

REVELATIONS

I wasn’t sure what to make of what just happened. I felt honored and excited about the opportunity. Of course, I had no idea what the Roundabout was, but regardless of whether or not we could even win, the Art Club exceeded my expectations!

Anika looked at me and said, “That was odd.”

“Really? In what way?” I asked.

“I don’t know, but I just got kind of a funny feeling from that place.”

“Yeah. Me too, but it seems like a great opportunity. What do you think, Dante?”

“I think it’s awesome and I can’t believe how good the food was!”

“The food was unbelievable. It had a magic all its own.”

“So I’ve been meaning to talk to you guys about something.”

“Yeah? What about?”

“Well, you know. It’s about my experience and I keep having these dreams.”

Anika looked at me pensively and asked me, “Are you okay?”

I told them everything I knew. After listening to me ramble for about 20 minutes Anika looked at me and said, “Oh my god!”

Then, Dante started telling me about how he knew someone that I could talk to.

“I have this uncle. He kind of knows a lot about weird things. He used to talk all the time about ghosts, magic, aliens, and stuff. Listen, just talk to him for ten minutes. Tell him what you told us. Maybe he’ll have some answers. If not, you just wasted ten minutes. He lives close by, so I can give him a call, and you can talk to him about it tonight.”

“Sure. Why not? I suppose it’s as good a place to start as any.”

“Great!”

An hour later, we were at Dante’s Uncle Jack’s home sitting on the couch.

“So tell me about this experience of yours.”

Half an hour passed before I finished. I had now told the whole story twice in the same day. I certainly hoped I had done the right thing. I mean, I didn’t want everyone I’d ever known thinking I was a total nut job.

“Well, Owen, I want to tell you about something I heard quite some time ago. When I was about your age, I heard some rumors about something similar. Some classmates of mine in high school were talking about how one of their friends was having these visions and dreams. I didn’t get all the details, but I did hear about how certain people, places, and things were conduits for good or bad from the other side or from worlds outside our own. Some people knew about these people, places, and things. They were able to take advantage of this and even visit these other worlds.

“I can tell you this; not everything is as simple as it seems. Even science can only tell you so much. Thousands of years ago, people would call what we have today magic. Maybe certain things have unknown properties that somehow allow energy or thoughts to travel from one place to the next.

“Ok. This is what we’re going to do. Don’t tell anyone else about this the next time you have one of those visions until you’ve got this thing sorted out. In the meantime, I’m going to see if I can contact those old classmates I was telling you about.”

Anika looked at me and said, “You know this is really cool!”

“Yeah! This is fantastic! Maybe you’re some kind of superhero or something!”

“I don’t know about that,” I said to Dante.

“The Keeper didn’t say anything about superpowers and it seems like we’re in some kind of trouble that needs to be fixed.”

“Well, Anika and I will be your sidekicks! Just let us know when we can help!”

“Thanks Dante. It’s nice to know I’m not alone in this.”

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 8

THE KEEPER

The Keeper slouched over his desk. His thoughts visibly weighed him down. Alone in his office, his body spoke the real worry he was reluctant to show in the company of others. Intense dread and uncertainty clouded his emotions. He could hardly focus on finding a solution to the problem that vexed Everville.

He frantically searched his shelves in the hopes of a solution. For now, it continued to evade him. His only hope was to try what had worked in the past, but the problem had never been this bad and victory was by no means certain. Them have never gained this much power and there had never been so many lost souls in The Other In Between.

The Keeper, like all other Keepers, had once been a Fron. A Fron with a pure heart and patience could sometimes manage to glimpse a small piece of truth that eluded most everyone else. The universe’s secrets are so vast that even a small amount of true understanding transforms forever the soul of the Fron that possesses it. This is what had happened to the Keeper.

It’s very unusual for someone to posses both the strength and pureness of heart to comprehend one of the seven pillars of truth contained in the universe. These are the pillars that lay the foundation for understanding how time, space, and free will work.

The Keeper was happy when he lived as a young Fron. His spirit was infectious. Whenever other Fron were around him, they would always end up feeling happy and content. If they were especially sad or upset, The Keeper could always change their mood for the better. It was this happy optimism that would one day provide the perseverance needed to help lead him to the revelation about one of the seven pillars of truth and his transformation into The Keeper.

The Fron, like other species in Everville, did not experience time as those of Earth did. They were able to live outside time and experienced a seemingly infinite existence. They did not age after middle age and they didn’t die under normal circumstances. They did sometimes, however, move on to other types of existence.

Bitterness, jealousy, hatred, and many other negative emotions existed, but were not very common with the Fron. For the most part, they were a happy species. Their focus was on family and friendship.

Unlike the Fron, The Keepers bore great responsibility. They were entrusted with maintaining balance in the universe and preventing Them from destroying the natural order of things.

The Keeper had now lived longer as a Keeper than as a Fron. His understanding of the universe was great, but he only knew two of the seven pillars. Most Keepers only knew one. It was rumored that one Keeper might know three, but no one was certain. The Keeper did not try to learn all seven pillars. He instead, tried to understand why and how Them behave the way they do. If he understood this, he thought he would make a better Keeper.

Them had tried many times to gain control of Everville through various methods. Each time was different. Whatever method they were employing this time seemed to be working. Even The Keeper was noticeably rattled, and this vexed him greatly.

The Keeper thought back to his days as a Fron when he was called Carwyn. He could see his childhood home in his mind like it was yesterday. The inside walls cast shadows longer than what seemed possible.  He loved that about his house. The cedar beams ran through the center of the roof and accentuated the medium brown matte finish that had slowly melted away throughout the years. The dining room was a massive space that was very common in the homes of most Fron. This was where they would host large celebrations. The Fron celebrated nearly every occasion and made very good use of the dining facilities.

The Keeper could still smell the aroma escaping from the earthen stove that was built into the partially underground wall. That was the secret to the flavor of the Fron’s baked goods. Every kind of food imaginable and unimaginable was cooked in that stove. He could smell the oak, hints of butter, and subtle sweetness that permeated every ounce of food he had eaten while growing up in that home.

The land of the Fron was typically in perfect balance. Nature, the sky, the ground, the plants, and all inhabitants were usually free of pain, worry, and stress. Sometimes, however, cracks would appear when Everville was out of balance. Darkness from The Other In Between would slip through causing temporary imbalances that would result in a sudden gust of wind, a brief rainstorm, a rockslide, a downed tree, or a minor injury to one of its inhabitants. Usually, the cracks were small and temporary. They provided a reminder to the Fron to remain vigilant and appreciate the life that was available to them.

The Keeper thought back further to the first memory of his pet marmook Dagda, a small furry creature that was a common household pet of the Fron. Dagda scurried into Carwyn’s arms. He picked up the creature gently and ran his small hands through the soft wispy auburn fur. Dagda purred and licked Carwyn’s face.

He had rescued Dagda when he was strolling in the woods. Dagda had an injured leg from a fallen branch. The creature still felt a nagging pain from the injury even after it had fully healed. Carwyn could sense the pain. He felt sorry for the marmook and wished badly that he could give his new pet some relief. The young Fron’s parents were happy to see him take an interest in the injured animal. Kindness and empathy were traits held in high regard among the Fron. They were happy to see their son exhibit such virtues.

He thought back further to the moment he saw the injured marmook. There had been a piercing howl that quickly spread through the Deep Woods. It was a sound The Keeper would never forget. The chilling air made his hairless arms uncomfortably cold. Daylight seemed to vanish and Carwyn began to sense that something was wrong. Sounds started coming from the ground beginning as a slow deep rumble and gradually getting louder and louder until the sound was almost deafening.

He decided to turn back.  The cold howling wind, the rumbling ground, and the darkness grew more pronounced. He picked up his pace. A third of the way back through the Deep Woods, he saw a glimmer out of the corner of his eye.  Then, he heard a sound. A slight whimper and a rustling of the leaves gave away the position of Dagda. It was trapped underneath a large branch. Carwyn approached Dagda, and he reached down to free the injured creature; it was visibly shaken and trembling.  It looked up at Carwyn as if to ask for help. Carwyn obliged. A sudden large gust of wind blew violently. Dagda winced then hid his eyes with his tiny little hand.

At that moment, the ground gave way. Carwyn and Dagda were dropped into a massive hole that opened up beneath them. Underground tunnels were visible for quite some length before they disappeared in the darkness. Here, it was quiet. They had fallen from the land of the Fron above, one of the eight lands around the center of Everville, into the center of Everville, below ground.

For now, the young Fron decided to leave the Deep Woods and take Dagda with him. They returned to the collapsed entrance. After a tremendous amount of digging through the collapsed ground, they made their way to the surface.

When he arrived home, his parents were greatly relieved. The intrusion of The Other In Between was felt in every corner of Everville. It had been the largest incursion experienced in quite some time. Small injuries and strange happenings were occurring all over the village. Even after some wait, the uneasiness persisted. Carwyn’s parents decided to do what Frons do best: celebrate the return of Carwyn and the rescue of Dagda. An injured creature in Everville represented a serious breach, but the rescue of the injured creature was equally significant.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 9

THE FEAST

Carwyn’s parents were busy preparing for a massive feast. Half the village was sure to visit in a couple of hours. Dozens of wine bottles were neatly stacked in handcrafted crates with intricate markings that were placed in the communal brook that kept them cool. The oven was full of huge quantities of breads and pies. Large pots of stews, vegetables, fruit, and other dishes decorated the expansive tables that occupied the dining room. The aromas permeated every inch of the home. Carwyn savored the smells of preparing for feasts almost as much as eating at them.Carwyn could not help but steal a taste of at least one of the dishes. He dipped a piece of warm bread in one of the stews on the table. The flavor was savory and delicious. The moist dipped bread melted in his mouth. He devoured every morsel. For a moment, he was able to forget about what had happened.

Villagers slowly began to trickle into the home. Each of them brought special dishes, wines, and other delicious-looking treats. Within a short time, the dining room was packed. The noise level continued to rise. Carwyn enjoyed listening to the joy, laughter, and stories that always accompanied these celebrations.

The villagers began eating and drinking. Food quickly disappeared from the dishes as the feast continued. More pots of food were brought to the tables before the dishes became completely bare. This continued throughout the evening. Carwyn ate with the villagers and enjoyed their company, savoring every dish and piece of food. The food in Everville had a magical quality that made one feel at peace. At the same time, it seemed to heighten the senses and bring total clarity.

When the food finally disappeared, crates of wine were lifted to the main dining table. The villagers began to finish off the bottles of wine at the same brisk pace they had eaten the food.  As the night progressed a couple of the Fron started humming an old hymn. Soon, everyone joined along.

“We are Fron joyful in dusk and dawn,

Our smiles will never be withdrawn,

When the ancient darkness rises,

There will be no compromises,

We make it right, with darkness flight,

Land restored, the earth chastises.”

The singing continued for quite some time before settling down. A few of the Fron at one of the smaller tables began discussing the incursion.

“This is the largest breach we’ve seen in a great while. Them are on the move and we should discuss this with The Keepers.”

That was the first time young Carwyn had heard of The Keepers. He listened intently, almost to the point of intrusion, as a select few villagers continued their discussions.

“We will be victorious once again over Them, but we must act swiftly. If we wait much longer, we may begin losing Fron to the Other In Between,” said the apparent leader of the table.

Carwyn did not like the sound of that and wanted to stay up listening to stories of the villagers and the dangers of Them and The Other In Between, but it was late, and the night was beginning to get the best of him. Despite resisting, he found himself standing up and slowly pushing the chair back under the table, all the while listening to every last word he could hear. His eyes began to force themselves shut, and Carwyn had to fight just to keep his eyelids from drooping closed.

“I see someone’s had a long night,” Carwyn’s father said lovingly while walking him to the bedroom.

Carwyn slipped into bed and pulled the soft covers up to his neck and tightly over his shoulders. His strong sense of hearing allowed him to notice the unusual activity occurring just outside his window. In spite of the villager’s penchant for celebration, all was not well in Everville and Carwyn knew it. The air was cold. It cut and howled louder than Carwyn had heard during his entire young life. Something was stirring, and it had deeply affected every square inch of Everville from the Babbling Brook to the Deep Woods and beyond. Carwyn’s fatigue got the best of him and he drifted into a deep slumber.

Carwyn’s father watched him fall asleep. He thought about his son’s future and the future of Everville and the Fron. He knew the recent incursion by Them was more serious than the villagers had been letting on. It would be up to The Keepers to find a solution to what was happening.

Carwyn’s father went back to the dining room. A group of the other villages were still discussing what could be done to stop further damage to Everville. They decided to meet with the Keepers. They would go just after dawn.

A group of villagers entered the Workshop of the Keepers. The Keepers were well aware of the situation and had already begun taking measures to shore up the defenses of Everville.

Everville was suspended in time and space between worlds, but it was possible to influence the land and the inhabitants with enough effort and forethought. It took a great deal of time and concerted effort by Them. It also required the cooperation of a usually unsuspecting Fron.

The Keepers told the group of villagers that the situation was severe, but that they felt certain they could put a stop to the breach and restore balance to Everville in a short time. The Keepers knew, however, that it was going to require a great sacrifice, and they needed to make preparations.

The villagers left the workshop and returned to their homes. Carwyn’s father had been peering out the window for quite some time. He could see some of the villagers as they returned. The villagers seemed at ease, which helped to console his thoughts, though not completely.

The Keeper’s thoughts refocused on the current breach and on what would be needed of Owen in order to stop Them. He knew that, as great as the challenge to Everville was when the Keeper was a young Fron, the situation now was much more dire and would require much more from Owen. Owen could not do it alone, and even with help, the outcome was far from certain.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 10

REGISTRATION

So Owen, have you picked all your classes for registration? I’ve got mine decided with a couple of backups.”

Anika looked at me intently as if to put her mind at ease regarding my recent episodes.

“Well, I’ve decided on my core classes, but I’m still thinking about my elective.”

Anika could see the change in my face caused by the recent happenings. I was usually very upbeat and optimistic. Still, Anika was even more so.

We walked across the hall to Dante’s room. As we walked in, the room breathed an air of tidiness. It was spotless. Every book was in place. Not one piece of trash could be seen.

“Hey guys! I was just thinking about which club we should join.”

“Did you pick out all your classes for registration?” I said to Dante.

He smiled and said, “Yep. I did that weeks ago, with triple backups!”

“Wow! Well, we’re headed over to Easton Falls Café. Wanna come?” Anika asked.

“Sure. Hold on a sec.”

Dante grabbed his bag, and off we went.

As we walked through the hallway down the stairs and out the doors, I started thinking that I hadn’t given much thought to what college was supposed to feel like. I had been so preoccupied by my recent experiences that the whole college life thing had seemed to fall by the wayside while I had most of my attention focused on trying to make sense of things. For the moment, the change in routine had only added to the sense of instability and concern I was feeling. It had completely replaced the excitement I had just a week ago.

I began thinking about growing up and the last time I had felt such an abrupt change in life. It was sixth grade. Dante, Anika, and I were inseparable at that point. I remember the first week of school we were still adjusting to the new surroundings. Lockers, different teachers for each class, and all the rest seemed both exciting and overwhelming. Then it happened!

“Hey look! It’s the three stooges.”

It was Brad and some of his popular friends. Over the summer he had beefed up. His newfound strength had clearly gone to his head. It seemed to have emptied out some of his intelligence along with it. He had grown by what must have been six inches. His friends looked at us waiting to see how we would respond. They smirked with an eager anticipation. The expression on their faces made it clear they were enjoying themselves.

For a moment, time seemed to slow down. Being a relatively responsible person, I actually tried to think about the consequences of my actions. My mind was consciously and subconsciously analyzing every possible scenario for the best possible outcome. Most of them did not end well. The only favorable one was if we continued to ignore them and they left us alone; or perhaps if a teacher walked by providing us an opportunity to avoid an incident. Of course, there was no teacher to be found.

Anika started to walk around them and we followed.

“Where are you going, dummy?”

We ignored them and continued to walk. They followed us and then blocked our way as we turned the corner. At that moment, I couldn’t help but wonder how some people could be so incredibly stupid. We hadn’t done anything to those clowns, but they seemed to be intent on causing trouble. We tried one last time to maneuver around them.

Brad shoved me in the shoulder, then he kicked me impossibly hard, right between the legs. A shooting pain spread instantly all over. Every square inch of my body was in agony. The trauma almost made me forget to breathe. My legs trembled. My knees buckled. Then, I fell to the floor.

Brad’s friends started laughing.

“What’s a matter, little girl?”

He turned to Dante, then sucker punched him. You could almost see the air being expelled from his lungs as he passed out.

Anika would have no more of it. Before I could make sense of what was happening, she had punched Brad square in the face. Blood started to trickle from his lower lip. He grew infuriated. His face turned beet red and the intense anger on his face was unmistakable.

I slowly began to stand up.  As I did, I lost my footing. I fell back headfirst. My head hit the ground with a dull thud. Everything went black, and I was out cold.

I woke up in the hospital with my mother standing over me. Dante and Anika were there as well. I had suffered a concussion and the doctor said I needed to stay in the hospital overnight just to make sure everything was ok.

My mother said everything was going to be fine and they were just taking precautions. She was a very strong woman and was doing her best to make me feel better.

Anika stood up and approached the hospital bed. She looked genuinely concerned and put her warm hand on my right arm. I was glad she was there.

“How’s your head? Does it hurt?”

“It’s a little sore, but it’s not too bad.”

She looked relieved.

“They’re going to give you some ice cream,” Dante said with a smile.

I asked my mother if they could bring a little extra so we could all share. Half an hour later, we were all eating it together. The hospital only had neapolitan, but that was just fine. I normally didn’t like the way the flavors melted together as I wasn’t the biggest fan of chocolate, but at that moment, it was the best ice cream I had tasted in quite a while. It was cold and sweet, and that seemed enough.

I was out of the hospital the next day, but I got to stay home from school for the rest of the week. Dante brought my assignments every day to make sure I didn’t fall behind, and Anika came by to make sure I was okay. That week was the happiest week I could remember. I had a mother who loved me and two wonderful friends who truly cared.

The rest of the year seemed rather uneventful. We all managed to adjust to the routine of middle school with no major problems, and Brad never bothered us again.

Thinking back to those events gave me great comfort. Regardless of what was happening to me, I had two friends I knew I could count on. Whatever I was going to have to face, I knew they would be there for me no matter what.

When we finally arrived at the Easton Falls Café, I ordered my drink and sat down sipping on my coffee. I took my time drinking my perfectly hot white chocolate mocha. I enjoyed the way the paper cup allowed the hot liquid to keep my hands warm. Anika had another house special. She looked at me intently.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking about a lot of things. I guess I should go ahead and pick my classes before all the good ones fill up.”

I looked at my computer and selected the classes I needed. Then I decided to pick the art history course for my elective. It seemed interesting, and it fulfilled another one of my core requirements.

“So, what did you pick for your elective?”

“Well I just signed up for art history.”

“Cool! So did Dante and I. Looks like we’ll have at least one class together.”

My mind started to wander as I continued sipping my coffee. I thought back to Professor Samil, the Art Club, and how he appeared somewhat ragged and unkempt. He seemed like an interesting character, and there was something about him that made me a little curious.

For whatever reason, the thought of Professor Samil drew my mind back to Everville. I started to think long and hard about what might be expected of me and how I was going to be able to stop something that I didn’t fully understand, not to mention that I was just an 18-year-old college freshman. How was someone like me going to be able to stop an unknown force that was destroying a whole world? It didn’t seem possible. The Keeper seemed to have a lot of faith in me, but I wasn’t sure why. As far I was concerned, he could’ve picked any other stranger on the street and have been just as well off. In the back of my mind, though, I knew there must be a reason. Perhaps Dante’s uncle and his friends could provide us with some answers.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 11

THE ECHO CLUB

Dante’s uncle had called one of his old buddies from high school, Avery, and explained to him the situation. I had accepted the fact that this was actually happening, but I was a little concerned that this person might not have the answers that I was looking for.

Avery had a distinctive charm. His face had the typical wear from middle age, but there was a certain quality about him that made me feel comfortable. He looked honest, kind, and wise. When he began to speak, I felt it even more so. Perhaps he did know something about Everville.

“There was a time in the not too distant past when many of us were faced with a similar challenge,” Avery said.

“Back then; a few of us began to experience unusual happenings, fainting spells, visions, dreams, and the like. For a time, it became clear that something or someone was testing us. Our choices were immediately being felt beyond what one would expect with the typical choice and consequence.

“Founders of the Echo Club have known since its inception that this connection exists, and it extends beyond just the choices we make. Objects, places, people, and events seem to be inextricably linked to other things. It is not always apparent, and the effects are not always felt. It comes and goes like a brief gust of wind, but when it does appear, it can be very powerful. It’s in those times that one must stay true to oneself and not second-guess the choices that one makes. If they do, the consequences can be severe.

“Sometimes, though, the effects are not as pronounced. One may not be aware of the impact of one’s choices, but they can have a cumulative effect. Over time, those choices can make a clear difference for good or bad. That’s why one must always be on guard. If one is not careful, it’s possible to lose oneself.

“The Echo Club was founded by a few people who recognized those connections. Most members who join the club do so to gain a little self-control, to learn how to calm one’s thoughts before making a choice. To a select few, though, it’s much more. Through cooperation and practice, it is possible to quiet the distractions and temptations that exist around us. It can also be a way to hone in on specific places, objects, and people that share a greater connection and impact.

“I should warn you, though, that even good intentions could lead to unintended consequences. As you gain more awareness and control, you should not lose focus of your end goal. Otherwise, it can lead to overconfidence and even corruption. Membership and participation in the Echo Club should not be taken lightly. Power corrupts, and you should recognize the great responsibility that comes with wielding such power. That’s why it’s important to stay connected with those close to you who share your principle values. They can help ground you and stay focused, even from a great distance.”

It became very clear to me that I needed to know more about this. If I were going to have a fighting chance against Them and The Other In Between, I would need to understand how to control these connections that Avery spoke of. This was also the first real piece of evidence I found to support the recent events, and it was also the first piece of hope in fighting this unknown force.

I wanted to jump in right away and start learning as much as I could, but I didn’t want to speak for Anika and Dante without discussing things with them first. I had a feeling, though, that they were thinking the same thing.

After talking it over for a while, we all agreed that joining the Echo Club made a lot of sense. Avery put us on the list so we could see for ourselves if everything he told us were indeed true.

We walked out the door and started walking back to the dorms. It was unusually cold for August, and the periodic gusts of wind did not help the situation. The overcast sky blocked the moonlight and made the already under-lit streets even darker. All of this talk of Everville and The Other In Between was starting to get to me. The sense of fear and uncertainty slowly crept over me. Before long, it was hard to breathe. A feeling of dread had completely taken over.

Instantly, I was transported into The Keeper’s Workshop. For Anika and Dante, time stood still. The Keeper had sensed my emotions and brought me to Everville.

I looked up and noticed the familiar scene: massive bookshelves that seemed to stretch into infinity, filled with every type of book imaginable. There were thousands upon thousands of them, dusty and old with thick wrinkly covers. Despite a certain similarity, each book seemed to have its own charm with a unique title that appeared hand written in slightly faded gold leaf.

The bookshelves represented a mass storehouse of knowledge. This very thought started to put my mind a little more at ease. The Keeper also exuded an air of wisdom that was unmistakable. Every word, every sentence, every thought seemed to have meaning and importance. He surrounded himself with knowledge and seemed intent on making sure he was aware of everything. At this very moment, he knew exactly what I was thinking and feeling. It was obvious.

“Them will try to stop you from restoring balance,” The Keeper said in a deep and stern tone.

“Them have sensed that you stumbled upon a truth that will help you in achieving victory. Them will try to use fear to weaken your resolve and to make you doubt yourself.”

I’ve always believed that truth is found by using logic and reason to sort through the facts and eliminate the contradictions. I guess the question then becomes, what do you do when you don’t have all the facts? That question was bothering me. I’ve always found comfort in believing that one can expect a certain result if they take a specific action.

Growing up with no father and a single mom made me independent and responsible at a younger age than most. It was challenging, but I always had hope that if I worked hard and tried my best, things would eventually work out. I knew life was not that perfectly simple and luck was involved, but it was undeniable that hard work paid dividends and being lazy was not generally a good idea. I also believed that having hope and a general sense of optimism made one more likely to be aware of opportunities and take advantage of those opportunities when they existed. After all, a serial pessimist would have no reason to take a risk if he thought failure was the likely outcome.

What I was facing, however, was something novel. I did not know the facts. I wasn’t sure if I could know all the facts. What I was facing required instinct and faith. Faith and hope may seem the same, but there is a subtle yet important distinction between the two. Hope requires desire founded in evidence; faith does not. In the absence of evidence, I was flying blind. I had to rely on gut instinct alone, which was quite unnerving. The Keeper had sensed my frustration and had brought me to Everville.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 12

TIME AND AGAIN

Owen. You need to understand that while I can show you my thoughts, only you can develop the discipline and wisdom you need to defeat the forces of The Other In Between.”

The Keeper took out the Learner Device, which had now become more familiar to me. As he did, I felt relieved and almost excited to see a glimpse of his thoughts. My hand made contact with its smooth cold surface. I was frozen in place, not able to move a single muscle. I was not scared. I knew what to expect, but it was stronger this time. I wondered if there was a limit to how many times I could do this. I felt my consciousness slipping away and being transported into the mind of The Keeper. I had been transported to the time of The Keeper’s youth when he was a Fron known as Carywn.

Suddenly, I was filled with terror. I knew what The Keeper had felt in the Deep Woods, but I didn’t know the eventual outcome. I could sense the fear in the village, which the Fron were partially able to conceal through their good spirits. There was something else, though. I could feel the darkness creeping into Everville. I felt it most from Dagda. The little creature did not have the sensibilities of the Fron; it was more instinctive and sensitive to small changes.

I could see and feel the rumbling in the Deep Woods. There was something happening within these woods that was disturbing. Then, my mind flashed to The Other In Between and the eight lands that surrounded it. Each of the eight lands was unique and held a special purpose. One of these lands was the Dark Forest. The Dark Forest was not controlled by Them or The Keepers, but there was an evil present. Whatever was happening within the Deep Woods was connected to the Dark Forest. I felt as if an insidious presence were lurking within the Deep Woods, hidden from view but ready to strike.

I knew at that point The Keeper had faced something similar to what I’m facing now. I did not see the solution, but I felt the severity of the problem. It also became clear that the situation regarding the current breach was indeed very grim. Whatever The Keeper had done to stop the breach then might not be enough to stop it now.

What had he done to stop Them? Was the current breach so difficult that he thought even he could not repeat what he did before? What else needed to be done? The thought of this was very troubling. I felt I wasn’t ready to take on this monumental task. I had no idea where to begin! I needed training, discipline, practice, and probably a significant amount of luck. More importantly, I needed my friends, now more than ever.

The learner device released its hold. My mind was back in The Keeper’s Workshop. The Keeper decided it was time for me to meet with some of the villagers.

The Keeper bent down nearly halfway to fit below the entrance of his workshop as we exited. I followed closely behind. He seemed to be walking very quickly, but it was just that his legs were so long that they covered a great distance even when walking at a normal pace. I looked around. I was being watched. I saw many Fron. I saw furry little marmooks scurrying across the floor with great agility. There were other friendly but curious creatures and figures that I did not recognize. In the distance, was a gathering in one of the corridors with dozens of Fron and another Keeper.

This was the first time I had seen another Keeper. For a while, I wasn’t sure if The Keeper I knew was the only one left. We approached the corridor and walked into a large hall that was a common gathering place. The room seemed like a living organism. It expanded when the crowd grew larger, and it shrank when the crowd grew smaller. The walls pulsated in and out imperceptibly, like a pair of breathing lungs. If you didn’t pay close attention, it was easy to miss. The walls extended so far up, disappearing into the darkness, that I wasn’t certain if there was actually a ceiling. Like The Keeper’s Workshop, the large hall possessed spatial properties that allowed it to be much larger from the inside than it appeared from the outside. This, I suppose, was one of the many strange oddities of Everville. Existing somewhere between here and there in space and time allowed for a lot of flexibility.

One by one, each of the Fron introduced themselves to me. They all seemed eager to meet me yet were visibly concerned about the current situation. Eventually, we all sat down at the long wooden table in the center of the large hall. Each of the Fron began telling different stories of how Them had attempted to gain a foothold in Everville. Most of the stories seemed pretty similar. The stories would start with some uncharacteristic event within Everville, such as some type of damage to the land or an injury to one of Everville’s inhabitants. Sometimes, it was strange weather or scary noises that alerted the villagers to something being out of balance. Each time, the weird events would continue and escalate until The Keepers were able to stop the breach, drive out the influence of Them, and return balance back to Everville.

The stories continued for what seemed like hours before the Fron settled down and The Keeper began to speak.

“Them have gained the largest hold on Everville in the past and the future. We will not be able to fully restore balance to Everville, at least, not all at once. We must, however, prevent Them from gaining even more influence and take back as much control as possible. If not, I fear Everville will be lost forever and with it the world!

“Owen Sage must begin his training with the Echo Club. He must learn to control his thoughts and his emotions. The darkness in The Other In Between is spreading quickly. It has nearly engulfed the eight worlds surrounding it and has started to seep into Everville. We don’t have much time. The Fron must stay vigilant and we Keepers must cooperate our efforts.”

The Keeper had sent me back with Anika and Dante. Time had been restored, and I nearly lost my footing. It appeared that I had tripped on a crack in the cobblestone sidewalk. Anika and Dante began to chuckle, but they were none the wiser for what had just happened to me.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 13

THE FIRST DAY

The big day had finally come. Throughout much of high school, I could think of nothing better than starting college. It was a combination of finally being freed from the restrictions of home, school and the desire to really start being the successful person I felt I should be. College was supposed to be a fresh start. Money and friends did not matter. It only mattered how much I applied myself. The burden of Everville had been thrust upon me at the moment I was supposed to shine, but right now I was trying not to think of Everville. I wanted only to think of this moment and the hard work that had led up to this point. I wanted to feel as if I were at the beginning of a bright future with no one able to stop me.

Like clockwork, Anika and Owen appeared at my door at 7:30 sharp. We had gotten used to meeting up and heading to the cafeteria for breakfast. I had gotten so used to it, in fact, that I had already gained a few pounds. I never used to eat breakfast in high school.

“I’m so excited,” Dante said gleefully. Anika was a bit more reserved.

“I guess it’s cool we’re going to have our first college class together,” Anika said with a smile.

“Yeah. I’m really looking forward to Art History. It seems intriguing.”

We ate quicker than usual, scarfing down each bite of food in eager anticipation of our first class. Not that it would make much of a difference. We were already going to be early, so finishing sooner would only prolong the wait.

We emptied our trays, grabbed our bags, and headed out the door.

Once again, I found myself amazed by the architecture of the campus. It really was a marvel to behold. Each brick in the walls of the campus buildings looked meticulously hand carved. The masonry and craftsmanship were impeccable. If there were any faults, I couldn’t find them.

The sun was shining. It was warm, and the gusty cold wind that had arrived unseasonably early left as quickly as it came. This seemed to make me a bit happier, and for the moment it helped me suppress any thought of Them and The Other In Between. All I was thinking about at this instant was my first class.

Students crowded the sidewalks and entranceways making it a little tricky to navigate at times. The first day of each semester was always the busiest. Students usually didn’t start skipping classes until at least a few weeks later, or so I was told. This made the trip to each class slightly longer than normal, but still manageable.

We easily made it to our class with plenty of time to spare. The extra time gave us a chance to scope out the best seats in the auditorium hall. We sat down a little closer than halfway in the center of the room between the podium and the back exit. The seats were unusually nice for such a large lecture hall. Typically the seats were almost identical to those found in a high school classroom and even slightly more worn. This class, however, was apparently a campus favorite and the recipient of some very plush furnishings.

It was a rather large lecture hall, as most entry-level classes are to accommodate the college freshmen. It was really noisy with lots of chatter, almost to the point where my ears were slightly uncomfortable. I could overhear some conversations about the class and how it was highly recommended by numerous people. The auditorium had been designed to have the acoustics amplify the sound near the podium. It also seemed to amplify the noise of the rather rambunctious students, which had finally started to hurt my ears.

Professor Samil walked up to the podium, unnoticed for a brief moment. Whatever the reason for his popularity, it certainly was not for his sense of fashion. This is the third time I had seen the professor, and it was the third time he wore clothes that could have easily caused him to be mistaken for a homeless person.

“Hello, everyone.”

The professor turned the screen on and the lights off. The room quieted down.

“I’m going to dispense with the pleasantries. That’s for your other professors. You should all have your syllabi, and if you don’t you can talk to my TA. For now, let’s jump right in.”

A couple of his aides assisted him in hoisting up an unwieldy piece of artwork upon a mounted display. The large screen projection behind him allowed the entire class to see the painting at what had to be 20 times the actual size.

“Who can tell me who painted this?”

For about ten seconds no one volunteered an answer. Then, one by one, a few people raised their hands.

“Van Gogh.”

“Sorry. No.”

“You, in the red shirt.”

“Da Vinci.”

“Nope. Wrong again.”

One after the other, students offered answers only to be shot down by the professor. Finally, Professor Samil dispensed with the charade.

“Alright, this piece belongs to a large collection by a previously unknown artist in the late 19th century. These pieces were donated by a rather generous benefactor to the university and have just recently been discovered to be unidentified art by none other than one of the founders of this very institution.”

This piqued my interest. By the looks of it, it intrigued a lot of other students as well. I took a closer look at the painting. I must admit that it was quite captivating and drew me in. The painting had lots of deep blues, purples, and blacks. It was not truly modern, but not strictly traditional either. It had a mystical quality, an otherworldly peculiarity.

Professor Samil had a few more pieces staged, displaying four pieces in all.

“Okay, for your first assignment I’m going to have you compare these pieces to the artist of your choice. You can do either a two-page essay or a representative set of sketches in the medium of your choice characterizing the differences and what they mean to you.”

A line started to form around the podium and students began making closer inspections of the paintings. Before long, the entire lecture hall had lined up behind it, waiting to get the chance to more closely inspect each piece.

Anika, Dante, and I finally got the opportunity to inspect each painting. My eyes were drawn to the first piece that was displayed. The colors had a magnetic quality that captivated my eyes. I became fixated on the piece and stood motionless staring at it for an annoyingly long period of time. Finally, Anika grabbed a hold of my wrist and gently pulled me along. The other pieces were interesting, as well, but did not have the same appeal as the first piece.

Briefly, I thought this could be one of the objects spoken of by Avery in the Echo Club. I decided to dismiss the idea for now. I did not want my mind tricking me into wondering if every single object has some special power or influence. For now, I would just appreciate the art. I truly was enjoying this piece. I especially liked the purple, which was my favorite color.

Shortly thereafter, the class ended and we headed off to our own separate classes.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 14

THE MEETING.

I had thoroughly enjoyed my first day of classes, but I was also somewhat relieved. There were no unexpected events and I felt pretty confident that I could handle the material rather easily. So far, at least, college seemed to be much easier than high school. We didn’t spend nearly as much time in class, and most of the courses had little homework. The day was not over, though, as we still had the meeting with the Echo Club.

We came together as we usually did and sat down in the back. There were about 15 or so students who attended the meeting along with the prior club leader, one elder, and Avery.

“Well, I’m glad to see everyone is here.”

Avery, shut the door and said

“Many of you are probably wondering: What exactly is the Echo Club and what do we do? Some of you may already have a few ideas. Let me start off by saying that it is no accident that you are here. You are all special. Something or someone in your past, present, or future has drawn you to this club. That is the way that it’s always been and always will be. You might not know it now, but in the near or distant future your time here will be put to good use.

“We live in a world that is surrounded by distractions. Our job here is to help you navigate those distractions and reach your full potential, but there is more. We want to teach you how to notice things that might otherwise be easily missed. Call it focus, intuition, instinct, or whatever you like; but this is a necessary step to finding yourself and maximizing your future.”

This all made sense but I couldn’t help but wonder if these other members had some sort of destiny or role to play in what I was dealing with.

“Today, we have someone special. I want to introduce you to Cleophas. He is the oldest living member of the Echo Club. I would also venture to say that he is the wisest and most capable person for helping you or anyone else I know.”

Cleophas stood head and shoulders above everyone else in the room. He must have been six-foot-ten. I’ve never seen someone that old so tall. He had to have been in his mid-eighties, but he was a vision of glory. He was strong and cut like a regular gym member of much younger age. He had thick long flowing hair that was mostly white with hints of blonde. His face was chiseled with age, but the creases in his face conveyed strength, wisdom, and optimism as opposed to frailty.

He opened his mouth and began to speak. His voice was deep and projected across the room. It was hard not to be captivated while listening to him. He was an impressive figure and anyone in his presence could not help but notice it.

Cleophas began to tell the story of his life. He explained how he had lived a full and complete one. He told us the tale of his beautiful young bride and his children. He said that early in his life, he was faced with a choice. It was that choice, he said, that led him here today and led him to the Echo Club.

“All of you have been chosen carefully from those who volunteered. I have vigilantly observed the character of each of you and personally selected you. I believe you have the potential to be trusted, but that eventual outcome will be up to you.”

He opened the surprisingly ornate double doors. The wooden doors were lustrous with hints of maroon. They looked to be in excellent condition for being so old. Intricate carvings covered the entire façade. They were thick, sharp, and perhaps the most detailed doors I have ever seen. It was curious that I hadn’t noticed them earlier.

The doors opened to reveal a room that was truly magnificent. While not quite as large as The Keeper’s Workshop, it was still rather spacious. Each wall had its own set of objects. One wall was covered in books, the other statues and figurines. Another wall had shelves filled with what looked like ancient artifacts of some sort. A set of two-story book ladders leaned across the rear and right walls. Two people were standing over a large desk intently observing something that was partially obscured from view. From what I gathered, they appeared to be graduate students. A few rows of seats were arranged in a semi-circle near the front of the room with a large amount of space behind them. Cleophas directed us to sit down.

“Today, I will give you your first lesson.”

After he had been speaking for about five minutes, I finally noticed the two grad students who were standing on either side of the rows of seats. I turned my head to the right. As I did, Cleophas stopped in mid sentence, then he said, “Ahh. Good. Someone finally noticed.”

“You see, the first lesson that you need to learn is to pay attention. Focus is the key.”

He then directed us to do a series of mental techniques. One by one, we went through a series of detailed mental tasks. I listened to his voice and followed his specific instructions. Each exercise lasted about ten minutes, and with each task I got quicker and more accurate at accomplishing each goal.

“This is only the beginning, but it’s a start. You should already have improved your ability to perceive what is around you. We will continue these lessons for some time into the future, and for a few of you, we will learn more advanced techniques as you become ready.

“I must caution you, however, that focus and perception are only half of the battle. The other half is based on what is in your heart and mind. Darkness can cloud your perception. It will cloud both your focus and your judgment. If you give over a portion of your thoughts to dark elements, you may feel strong but it is just an illusion. Darkness can come in many forms, but it is usually very subtle. It can be a creature lurking in the night, but it will usually take the form of choices. Over time those choices can transform kindness into hatred and good into evil. Every day emotions can give way to greed, anger, laziness, arrogance, jealousy, obsessive desire, and even wanting to stuff your face.”

I had to admit that Dante and I are both guilty of that last one, but only on a few occasions.

We walked out together, just as we had come in.

“That was something else!”

“Yes it was, but it was very interesting,” I said to Dante.

I wasn’t sure if I felt ready to take on Them, but I did feel a little more empowered.

I felt I had started the beginning of a long journey. I wasn’t sure how long it would take, but I had decided it was a journey that I had to finish.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 15

THE MAKINGS OF A KEEPER

The Keeper thought back to his youth and the day of the feast. On the following day, the air had grown colder and the sky darker. The wind was fierce. A winter storm loomed just beyond the horizon. The sky was completely overcast. It appeared as if the heavens were ready to burst forth at any moment.

The Keepers were in their chambers. They didn’t want to speak about what was on their minds, but they didn’t have to. They all knew what had to be done, what always had to be done to stop a breach of this magnitude. While they are able to make adjustments in minor incursions, events of this size required something far more powerful. The Keepers can only play a minor role in the eventual outcome. It was out of their hands. It would be up to Carwyn to stop the advance of Them.

Carwyn was drawn back to the Deep Woods. His father saw him leaving, but he also knew that he had to let him go. Carwyn had found Dagda for a reason.

Dagda was reluctant to follow. Carwyn opened the door. The creature looked up at Carwyn and whimpered as he exited. He tried to tug on Carwyn’s leg and drag him back into the house. Carwyn resisted and picked up the trembling marmook carrying him through the doorway.

Carwyn walked apprehensively closer and closer to the Deep Woods. The usual rainbow colors and vibrant hues of the rolling hills had been overtaken by duller greens with hints of brown and gray. After walking for hours, they could finally see the Deep Woods off in the distance. The woods cast a shadow despite the fact that the sky was overcast. The shadow was longer than what would be physically possible even if the sun were shining.

They continued walking slowly towards the woods. The howling of the wind fell completely silent. Carwyn could hear every step as he pressed down onto the grass one foot after the other. It wasn’t long before they reached the entrance of the Deep Woods. As they stepped across the threshold into the woods, the wind began to gust even louder than before. Darkness fell, and the heavens burst forth with an unbelievable amount of snow making it impossible to see anything behind them.

The cold wind was biting. It felt like sandpaper on the back of Carywn’s neck. Luckily, the snow and wind was muted by the tall trees. The cold, however, was not. It buried down deep into their bones. They continued to plod slowly through the woods. Eventually, even the shelter of the trees was unable to prevent the snow from piling up on the ground in massive structures that resembled sand dunes in the desert. Each step became more difficult until the drifting snow prevented them from making any more progress.

Carywn found a spot next to the trunk of a large tree and pushed the snow into a pile clearing a small space for Dagda and himself. They were able to gather enough branches to make a small shelter between the snow and the tree. It would have to serve as their sleeping place for the night. The ground was hard and cold, but Carwyn was exhausted. Within a few minutes, he had fallen into a deep sleep.

All Carwyn saw was blackness. Slowly, he stepped forward. The darkness lifted, and he looked across the vast expanse. The ground slowly faded into the horizon without end. He continued to walk, and as he did the ground expanded. He kept walking, and the ground moved with him. Every step created an equal amount of space in front of him and behind him. He was unable to make any progress. Whether he stepped forward or backward, he kept getting farther away from where he was and where he wanted to go.

The ground shook and opened up. A larger fissure split the ground in two, and out of the fissure a mountain rose into the sky. Forests grew on the mountain, and the mountain became a series of mountains. The mountains pierced the heavens, and thick clouds obscured their peaks. Time sped up as he saw himself trekking across the mountains, through forests, across rivers, and vast expanses. He saw creatures he had never seen and he had a feeling he had never felt before.

Carwyn awoke and felt as though he’d had a long journey. The dream foreshadowed what was to come. He did not know why, but he knew he must complete this journey and that it would be long and difficult. As a happy Fron, Carwyn did not have much experience with difficult tasks. Those were left to the few leaders of the Fron and The Keepers. He felt a strong sense of resolve overtaking him. He became convinced he would find the source of the problem and a solution to fix it.

Snow blanketed the ground of the Deep Woods making it difficult to press forward, but Carwyn and Dagda were determined. They moved slowly, but eventually they arrived at the place where they had met and both fallen into the ground.

After plodding in the snow, walking freely in the underground catacombs was a relief. The walls were lit with something embedded in the dirt. The dirt itself exhibited a luminescent property that sparkled as they walked. Carwyn also noticed that someone was living in the tunnels. The tunnels went on for quite some time, but they stopped when they came to an oddly shaped door.

Sako, the leader of the Fron, opened the door before they even had a chance to knock. He had clearly anticipated their arrival.

“Hello! How are you? Please come in!”

Carwyn and Dagda entered, though somewhat startled from the unexpected invitation.

“I see you’ve stumbled upon the workshops of The Keepers. I’m Sako. The Fron have chosen me as their leader to work with The Keepers and help protect Everville from Them and The Other In Between. These tunnels have special properties that allow The Keepers to have a better sense of things in this time and in that, over here and over there. They have made this their home since the beginning of the first incursion a long time ago, sometime before now.”

Before Sako had a chance to finish his conversation, the ground began shaking violently. Objects starting flying off tables and shelves. An eerie rumbling noise slowly grew stronger and louder with each passing moment.  The walls began to shimmer. Carwyn saw a crack open in the wall. It grew larger and larger until he could see glimpses of mountains and trees, rivers and hills, deserts and oceans. Then, he saw a familiar place from his dream. He stepped forward. The crack in the wall closed behind him.

As he stepped through, he looked around. The desert was endless. Dagda and he were the only living creatures visible for miles. There was not so much as a blade of grass, shrub, or any other plant growing.

Dagda looked at Carwyn and began running around him in circles, jumping up violently as if to get his attention.

Suddenly, two great big hands, larger than both of them, grabbed Carwyn and Dagda pulling them underground beneath the desert sand. The giant’s hands pulled, twisted, and yanked them through the ground for what seemed like a couple of minutes.

Finally they emerged unharmed, less a few minor cuts and bruises. They were in the residence of an honest-to-goodness giant. The home was earthy, smelly, and damp. It was, however, preferable to the brutal conditions above ground on the brutal desert where they arrived.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 16

THE GALLERY

I thought to myself how nice it was not to have been drawn into Everville the second I closed my eyes. I was finally able to get some much-needed rest. I was hoping today would also be rather uneventful, but I wasn’t counting on it.

Dante had gone on and on about how he was looking forward to hearing more about the Roundabout. Today was the day we were finally going to learn what exactly that was.

Dante, Anika, and I sat down in anticipation of the first official meeting of the Art Club. The room was conspicuously large with elegant furnishings. It was also completely packed. Being the most popular club on campus, though, I wasn’t at all surprised. Why shouldn’t it be? It was sleek, stylish, and had perhaps the most popular professor as a senior member, his clothes notwithstanding.

“Before we begin, Professor S. has kindly agreed to give us a private viewing of all of the newly found artwork as well as some additional pieces in his own collection.”

Zee spoke in an aristocratic tone, but he had also been very friendly and charming. That might have come across as disingenuous coming from most people, but he somehow managed to pull it off.

He guided us through a large hallway and into the main gallery.

“Please, take your time to scrutinize the pieces and we’ll begin shortly after the viewing.”

Once again, I was drawn to the same painting I had seen in Art History class. The painting was haunting. I stared deep into the purple-blue fabric. The texture of the canvas began to blur. The longer I stared, the more details I could see that were not visible with just a passing glance. I began to see what looked like representations of Everville. I could see the underground catacombs, the villages of the Fron, The Deep Woods. Then, I could also see other realms that I did not recognize.

“Yes. That’s a nice one.”

“Thinking about something to write about for class?”

Professor Samil had taken my attention away from the painting. When I looked back, the details were gone. I could see the same painting, but the images I had seen when I was focused intently without distractions were nowhere to be found. I wondered to myself if I had actually seen the details or whether my mind was adding the details from my memory. I wasn’t sure which.

“May I also suggest this piece over here?”

My eyes moved slowly to the painting he was pointing out. Instantly, the painting had put me in an almost trancelike state.

There was nothing terribly remarkable about the painting. The longer I stared, though, the more the portrait began to resemble myself. The figure in the painting was wearing a sleek black suit with a delicate red handkerchief that accented the dark color quite nicely. The style was eerily similar to that of the other portraits displayed in the meeting area that I had noticed earlier. It had an extra quality about it, though, that the others were lacking. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it was definitely there.

Slowly, the other members began walking to the meeting room. Eventually, Professor Samil and I were the only two left in the gallery.

“You have a very good eye, Owen. I think the Art Club suits you very well.”

We walked back into the meeting hall, and I sat down next to Anika.

“Now, what you have all been waiting for, this year’s Roundabout will be held on the first of the month. You will be divided into teams of five. You will have until tomorrow to pick your teams where they will be announced at the next meeting. As club leaders, Drusilla and I will pick a member to be on our team. The three senior club members will also each pick a team member, and the rest of you will have to decide which team you want to be a part of. As the winner and team leader of the last Roundabout, I have first pick. The person I select is Owen. Drusilla has second pick as last year’s runner up.”

“The person I select is Dante.”

I was stunned. We had all wanted to be on the same team, but now that was not going to be possible. Well, I suppose we could pick each other as our selected guests if we won. Now that I think about it, that would likely double our chances.

Anika hurriedly walked up to Zee and announced she wanted to join our group. Two other members stepped forward as well. Then three members quickly joined Drusilla and Dante’s group. We were the first groups to have all five members selected. The other teams seemed to be in a bit of disarray.

“For those of you who are unfamiliar with the games, each team leader will explain the rules. You will have four weeks to train, and then we will meet at the estate of Professor S. for the Games. As you already know, the winners and two guests will get to stay for a weekend at the Hamptons. If I do say so myself, it is the most sought-after property in the area. After staying there for a weekend, you won’t want to stay anyplace else! For the two teams that have already chosen our members, we will discuss our strategy. The rest of you can continue discussing amongst yourselves which teams you prefer to join.”

Drusilla took Dante’s hand and gently pulled him towards a room in the back hallway with the other members following closely behind. Zee then motioned for us to follow him across the hall.

“Come. I have won the games two times already, but we will need to train if we are going to win. Drusilla is a formidable opponent.”

Zee took us into a back chamber where we trained for the games. He had one first place plaque and two second place plaques hanging on his wall.

“Those two I lost to Drusilla, but she was kind enough to invite me as one of her guests. This will be our last game, and I am determined to win this.”

It was beginning to seem as if one of our two teams winning was the most likely outcome, but I still wasn’t very certain about much of any of this.

“The Roundabout requires great skill, focus, and desire. It will consist of seven individual games. Each game is designed to test a specific skill. You must improve these skills if you have any hope of winning. The games are performed at seven different locations at Professor S.’s estate. Each location is carefully selected to make it more difficult to win. With enough practice and a little luck, you can overcome these challenges and win the game.

“We will begin training for the first game.”

Zee opened up the closet door. On the inside of the closet door were all sorts of medieval weapons and many different configurations of swords. I could see longswords, daggers, and stilettos. There were clubs, maces, war hammers, and flails.

My heart skipped a beat.

“We’re not going to be practicing with those, are we?”

“No. Those are just antiques. The real prize is in here.”

Zee pulled out a chest in the back of the closet. He opened it and took out several pairs of unique-looking gloves. The brown leather gloves covered the thumb and two middle fingers leaving the pinky and pointer fingers exposed. There were markings on the gloves that I recognized from Everville. This caught my attention, but I still did not know what the markings were or what they meant. The best I could figure was that there was some connection. Perhaps this was one of the objects Cleophas and The Keeper had talked about.

“The gloves will help you train your hands so you won’t need your eyes to focus on the objects in question. There will be many objects you will need to overcome, and you will not know what they all are until the games begin. Oh, and they will be thrown at you in the dark.”

He turned out the lights!

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 17

LAND OF THE GIANTS

Carwyn looked into the eyes of the giant. His size was menacing, but his eyes told a different story. The giant looked intently at both of them. Dagda began to twirl around and around in circles. Dagda opened his mouth, making a friendly gesture that almost resembled a human smile, and then the giant spoke.

“The underground tunnels are the only safety from the desert above, but you will need to find the path through the tunnels and across The Valley of Darkness to get to the Dark Forest. The Valley of Darkness is treacherous, and you will encounter all sorts of creatures. Your eyes will deceive you, so your instincts must serve as your guide.”

Carwyn became convinced he could find his way to the Dark Forest. For the moment, though, he had other ideas.

A loud rumbling noise arrested the attention of Dagda and the giant. It grew louder and louder until the source was unmistakable. For a moment, the giant looked concerned until he realized it was coming from Carwyn’s stomach.

The giant began laughing uncontrollably. It was a deep guttural laughter that one would expect from someone of his stature.

“I will fetch my two brothers.”

The three giants were the only inhabitants in the underground realm below the brutal desert. They crowded into the small home of the giant. It was tight, but they somehow made it work. They hauled in enormous amounts of food, more food than one would think possible for such a small space. For five people, even with three being giants, it even rivaled the feasts of the Fron. Carwyn wondered how they were able to get the food into the underground home since it seemed cut off from Everville or any other place for that matter.

The dishes were common, but the occasion made the food taste extraordinary. Starving for days in woods, underground caverns, and barren deserts can have a way of making the blandest dishes taste like creations of legendary chefs.

Carwyn and the giants ate for hours, partly because they had to be careful not to bump into each other as they used their arms to grab the food and partly because of their insatiable hunger.

The giant told stories while they ate.

The night was long, and eventually their fatigue got the better of them. Carwyn walked to the small sleeping area with some difficulty. The cramped quarters made it very difficult to navigate, but the giants had prepared the area as best they could. It was more comfortable than the snow covered floor of the Deep Woods, but not by much.

Carwyn awoke having no idea what time it was. The lack of sunlight prevented him from making any sort of guess. He noticed the giant was sitting on a small makeshift chair in his small living quarters. He was preparing a hand drawn map on a wilted cloth as well as some trinkets that Carwyn couldn’t clearly make out at this distance. Carywn’s legs made the floor creak as he stood up, arresting the giant’s attention.

“Ah, you’re awake. Well, you’re going to have to get moving if you want to make it in time. The Valley Of Darkness only has a short window of daylight and it will take you some time to get through the tunnels before you arrive. The mountains that surround the valley are so steep they concave over the valley preventing the sun from ever reaching the valley floor. The light that does reach the valley floor is reflected from the sides of the mountain.

“I must warn you, there are all sorts of perverse creatures that reside in the valley floor. A few venture out during the day, but they all come out at night. They hide in the darkness waiting to strike. Some will use your fear against you, others your anger. Some creatures will hunt you with skill and ferocity.

“While they are all dangerous and quite ferocious, the ones you should fear the most are the creatures that will attempt to deceive you and distract you from your mission. You may not recognize them at first since they will likely disguise themselves as one of the mountain dwellers who come down from the mountains to the valley during the day.

“The mountain dwellers are benign, but they are a miserable race. Thousands of years walking The Valley of Darkness during the day have darkened their spirits and removed all joy and hope. On rare occasions they can be helpful, but it takes a rare spirit to convince them.

“Before you arrive at The Valley of Darkness, you will need to navigate the underground tunnels. I have a map, but its reliability cannot be completely trusted since I have drawn it from memory. You see, my memory is not as good as it used to be.”

This made Carwyn a little concerned, but he began to sense that Dagda was familiar with these parts. He had a familiarity with the home of the giants that was more than just good instincts or coincidence. Carwyn thought he was beginning to understand what the villagers meant when they had spoken of a special purpose for finding Dagda. He would need to have faith in the map and Dagda. Dagda would have to guide him in places where the map was not useful.

The kind giant handed him a pouch with some food, a few trinkets, and the map.

“You must hurry and navigate the tunnels in order to reach the valley by the early light. This will allow you enough time to cross before darkness sets.”

Carywn and Dagda carefully walked through the underground exit of the giants’ home and into the opening of the tunnels. A sense of urgency had taken over them.

They walked quickly yet carefully through the narrow pathway until they reached a large opening that split in three directions. Carwyn took out the map and inspected their location. The map was clear. It indicated they should take the pathway on the right.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 18

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Anika and Dante sat down next to me on the table by campus center where I was eating my lunch. On Tuesdays we only had one class, so it was a nice day to relax and enjoy the extra time we had left after lunch.

Anika smiled at me while I was eating my sandwich.

“I can’t wait ‘til the Echo Club meeting today. I mean, that was pretty amazing what we did there last time.”

Dante hardly finished swallowing before he replied to Anika.

“Yeah, I know. It was like I could actually see what he was describing when I had my eyes closed. I wonder what other cool things we are going to learn. Hey! Maybe we can use some of the skills we are learning to have a better chance of winning in the Roundabout.”

“I’m not sure it works that way,” I said somewhat dismissively.

My concern was whether we were going to learn what we needed fast enough in order to be able to help us with the fight against Them. I’m not sure if Dante had fully grasped the difficulty we faced in saving Everville and our world from the forces in The Other In Between. It didn’t seem to have fully sunk in with either of them.

We took our time eating. Afterwards, we strolled leisurely across the campus walkway until we reached the Echo Club entrance.

This time, we all met directly in the back room behind the double doors. Cleophas, with the assistance of the two grad students, had lined up a series of objects and placed them in front of us. The objects were taken from the shelves that were lined up against the walls. I recognized some of them from our last meeting.

“I want each of you to touch, inspect, and see if you can get a sense of what these objects were used for and if they have any special meaning. Take a few minutes and then we will discuss it.”

In front of me was a dusty old handkerchief. There was nothing noticeable about it other than the fact that it was underwhelming and lacked any thing that might peak my interest.

Dante was the lucky one. He had a very magical-looking antique gold amulet. It had all sorts of interesting markings on it. Some of them were similar to what I had seen before when I was in Everville.

Anika had an old pocket watch. It wasn’t as sexy as the amulet, but at least it was a little more interesting than the boring piece of cloth that was in front of me.

Slowly and carefully, I picked up the handkerchief. It didn’t seem that I needed to, but I figured I would go along with the exercise.

Dante was much less patient. He eagerly grabbed at the object trying to figure out its innermost secrets. For a moment it seemed as if he would break it before he had the opportunity.

Anika carefully inspected the pocket watch in front of her. She ran her fingers delicately around the edges of the watch and slowly opened the silver casing, revealing the timepiece inside. It was simple, but elegant. She looked intently at the steel chain attached to the main piece hoping to find some hidden secret.

It was difficult not to watch them as they explored their objects. My handkerchief created little curiosity. Nevertheless, I slowly inspected the cloth starting with the edges on one side. Then I turned it over, carefully looking at the threads that decorated it. It was mostly white with subtle hints of yellow.

I then turned my attention to the texture and feel of the cloth. It was smooth with a cotton feel. Nothing extraordinary stood out. I continued to feel the cloth, one area at a time, to ensure I didn’t overlook some small detail or noticeable deviation. After going over every region of the handkerchief, I concluded that there was nothing apparent in the feel or appearance of the cloth. I had to admit, I was growing rather bored with what seemed like a pointless exercise.

After about ten minutes, Cleophas asked us if we were able to find out any of the secrets that our objects possessed. The room was silent. Apparently, no one had found much of anything.

“Okay, now I want you to inspect your objects again. This time, what I want you to do is close your eyes. Just as a blind person can acquire enhanced senses when they lose their sense of sight, so too can each one of you learn to enhance your perception by willingly muting one or more of your senses.

“Now, with your eyes closed, focus on the texture and feel of the object. Try not to think about its appearance. Just get the image of the object out of your mind and focus instead on what the touch and feel of your object reminds you of.”

I closed my eyes. This time, I pressed the cloth between my thumb and index finger more slowly. I did this from the top of the handkerchief to the bottom. Then I repeated this inch by inch until I had reached the lower right corner of the cloth. Once again, I did not find anything that seemed noticeable or important.

Dante had a lot to work with. The amulet he held was covered in all sorts of markings. The ornate design of the amulet also resulted in numerous grooves that nearly covered the entire object. No matter how hard he tried, though, he couldn’t seem to get the image of the amulet out of his head. The feel of the markings kept bringing to his mind the images that were etched into the amulet.

Cleophas was undaunted by our apparent failure. He possessed a patience that comes with time and wisdom. Our lack of experience and knowledge in these matters were expected.

“Listen. In order to find the connection between your object and its meaning, you must clear your mind of the object. It’s not the object that has the connection, but rather what the object represents.

“Think back to an event where you had a very strong emotional reaction. Now I want you to clearly picture where you were at the time of the event and everything that was around you when you experienced that emotion. Imagine the colors, the sounds, and the aromas.

“Imagine now that you were holding the object you have in front of you when you experienced that emotion. Think of going home after that event and looking at the object. From now on that object should remind you of that emotional event every time you look at it or hold it.

“This time, carefully touch your object, imagining the rush of emotions and memories flooding your body as you think back to the event. Keep repeating this until you get a genuine reaction from the object.”

I thought back to my time in middle school when Brad confronted me. The fear, the anger, and the pain associated with that moment was a perfect event to think of for this exercise. I imagined lying in the hospital bed tightly holding the handkerchief in my hand after I had awoken from being knocked unconscious with Anika next to me.

Suddenly, my body was flooded with powerful emotions. These, though, were not from my memory. They were someone else’s. I could feel the emotions of another person, an older man in his forties. Images of his experience intruded my thoughts. The handkerchief had belonged to a man who was a former member of the Echo Club.

He had known about Everville and had been placed in a similar position where he needed to stop the progress of the darkness from The Other In Between. He was confident and perhaps a little arrogant. He believed that he could easily defeat the forces of Them. The situation he faced was not as serious as the current predicament, but the threat was just as real.

His emotions were from a specific moment where he willed himself from this world to Everville. There was no dream, vision, or memory. He physically transported himself by sheer willpower alone.

He had perfected his ability to perceive the connection between worlds through objects. The objects themselves served only as conduits of energy and power. It was the person perceiving that power who could channel the energy for good or bad. One could magnify or lessen that energy depending on whether it was good or evil. I could also sense that it was the emotions, beliefs, and desire that were the key to utilizing that power. It didn’t matter whether the person’s thoughts were good or evil, only that they had a mastery over them. It did matter, however, as to whether that power would ultimately be successful in achieving the desired outcome.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 19

UNDERSTANDING

Adrenaline pulsed through my veins. My body was invigorated by the sense of clarity achieved with the revelation of the connection between one’s will and the power of certain special objects. I didn’t understand all of the pieces just yet, but they were starting to fall into place like a puzzle just before it starts to get easy to complete.

I was not under any illusion, though, that defeating Them would be an easy task. The words of Cleophas and The Keeper regarding one’s motivations and choices offered a reason for caution and reflection, not to mention the fact that I still did not understand why the breach occurred or how Them were able to make more progress than in past incursions. I needed to know that in order to be able to have some idea of what needed to be done to stop Them. Once I uncovered that, then I should be able to move on to the more important task of figuring out exactly how to accomplish what needed be done.

It was getting rather late, but it felt as if I had just drunk several cups of coffee and glasses of caffeinated soda. I could not focus on school or my practice, but the day’s events had drawn my attention back to Everville.

My thoughts returned to when The Keeper was at the feast as a young Fron. Instantly, I found myself back in Everville. My body was still in my dorm room, but my mind had been transported to The Keeper’s Workshop. It wasn’t clear whether I had willed it or whether The Keeper had taken me back, but he sensed it was time for me to have a better understanding of what I would be up against.

The Keeper opened a door that revealed a large spiral staircase. The Keeper’s Workshop had special properties, and each region of The Keeper’s Workshop had a unique purpose that made it easier to connect with places here and there or times now and again.

We walked up to the top of the staircase and looked out into the vast expanse. At first, there was only blackness. Then, The Keeper used his thoughts to summon a vision of The Other In Between and the realm of the eight worlds that surrounded it.

I realized this was the first time that The Keeper did not use the learner device. He sensed my thoughts.

“We all have our own limitations that we set for ourselves. Those preoccupied with only what is easily apparent sometimes need a little help to bridge the gap between belief and reality.”

The Keeper then showed me the darkness that had nearly taken over the eight realms. They were the dark realms that are not completely controlled by Them, but border The Other In Between. Beyond the eight realms was a vast expanse of time and space, but they were connected to Everville and its corresponding parts.

The incursion had spread across the vast expanse and now began reaching the eight lands of Everville that surrounded its center above ground. These lands were in the domain of Everville, but had a connection to one of the eight border worlds that surrounded The Other In Between. The Deep Woods had a connection to the Dark Forest and each of the other lands in Everville had its own connection to one of the eight border worlds.

If one were to imagine the Earth and the universe as we know it, it would be somewhere in the center of a massive sphere. Everville and The Other In Between were on opposite sides of the outside of that sphere with endless unknown lands separating them. Everville had its center with eight lands above it. The Other In Between was on the other side above the surface with eight much larger worlds surrounding it, but separated from The Other In Between by a vast border expanse.

I understood now what Sako’s assistant Toe meant when he said that Them were intruding on Everville on all fronts. Them had nearly overtaken all of the border worlds and had moved beyond the vast expanse. Them were now intruding upon eight corresponding lands within Everville and the effects were clearly being felt. Them had never intruded upon more than one of the eight lands. This is why the situation was so dire.

This also meant that Them had to have had cooperation between the Fron in each of the corresponding lands as well as help from races in each of the eight border worlds that surrounded The Other In Between.

It was also apparent that the influence of both Everville and The Other In Between would be felt in the earthly realm. The actions we took as humans had a kind of positive feedback for good or for evil. It would enhance or inhibit Them, which would serve to further weaken or strengthen the influence of The Other In Between in the earthly realm.

I could not see Them directly, but their effects could be seen like a vast cloud of billowing darkness and smoke that was flowing through the vast expanse and was seeping into Everville. This cloud of darkness was not visible on earth, but it affected the thoughts and motivations of all humans.

The Keeper pulled me into his mind. I experienced his journey through the Deep Woods and his visit with the giants. He had taken me to the fork in the tunnels underneath the great desert.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 20

THE TUNNELS

Carywn and Dagda followed the map’s direction and took the tunnel on the right. The passageway opened up and was much larger than the tunnel leading up to the fork. The farther they pressed forward the larger the tunnel became.

The walls glistened with the same luminescent properties as the underground catacombs leading to The Keeper’s Workshop. Massive stalactites hung from the ceiling, but they were not made of any material I recognized. They glowed with an eerie light blue and pulsated like giant worms writhing in the soil.

They continued walking until they approached a point where water was trickling from the ceiling. The trickling grew more pronounced until it started to flow like a steady stream. The farther they walked, the wetter the ground became. The slippery wet ground gave way to small puddles that led to a large underground river that split in two directions.

Carwyn walked carefully as the slippery ground made it almost impossible to keep a steady footing. Eventually he stopped and took out the map to inspect it. As he looked at the hand drawn map, he grew more concerned. The river was there, but there was no indication that it split in two or which direction to take. Carwyn was hoping the divide would merge back together farther downstream, but he could not be certain.

Dagda winced and whimpered. Carwyn could hear an unusual sound coming from one of the passageways. The sound quickly grew louder until it was almost deafening. They were nearly knocked down as a large hoard of flying bat-like creatures invaded their space with no apparent regard for their presence.

Carwyn managed to duck down just before the flying creatures reached his position. He was a little shaken by their sudden appearance but managed to take a quick glimpse at one of their faces. The flying creatures did look remarkably like bats with the exception of their features.  They had long pointed noses that curved downward at the tip and were larger than the rest of their heads. The noses were certainly quite peculiar and he wondered what special function beyond smell they might serve.

Carwyn had never seen such hideous creatures throughout his entire life. The small insects and animals in Everville were beautiful and magnificent. At that moment, his heart skipped a beat. It was perhaps the first instance of genuine terror he felt. While he was certainly apprehensive and concerned in the Deep Woods, this was different. He thought that if these seemingly harmless creatures could be so hideous, the dangerous animals the giants warned him about must be truly ferocious. He could not even conceive of the possible horror they might invoke.

His flirtation with terror, however, proved fleeting. Dagda was a truly magnificent marmook, and the marmook were friendly and inspiring animals. Looking at Dagda brought back pleasant memories of his home and the village. He thought of the vibrant meadows, the rolling hills, and how the warm sun greeted him on each and every day. He also found solace in the fact that Dagda represented the goodness and hope of Everville.

Carwyn did not realize it at the time, but his good cheer was also accompanied by great courage. It was just starting to rise to the surface, but it would be greatly apparent at a time when he would need it the most. He was certainly going to need it in The Valley of Darkness.

Dagda drew Carwyn’s attention back to the task at hand by carefully inspecting the sides of the walls on each side of the river. Only a few feet of ground separated the sides of the walls from the precipice of the river on either side, but Dagda seemed more at ease with the route on the left.

He carefully placed one foot in front of the other one step at a time. As they made their way through the tunnel, he held on tightly to any piece of stone he could find protruding out of the side of the wall to help give him some added stability. Slowly, cautiously, and very carefully they made steady progress.

Carwyn stepped forward, losing his grasp on the wall. He nearly lost his balance and wobbled precariously close to the edge of the precipice. The distance from the edge to the river had widened significantly as they had continued along the way. A small stone tumbled over the edge banging the sides of the wall below the footpath and echoing all the way down until it made a small splash into the river giving a sense of just how vast the distance was that separated them from the river below.

Dagda did his best to steady Carwyn’s footing with his small body. Carwyn managed to stop the wobbling and regained his balance.

He stepped one foot forward, and then he slipped.

Dagda watched in horror as Carwyn fell farther and farther towards the river surface until he made contact with the surface and then created a loud splash.

Carwyn plunged deep into the depths of the underground river. The luminescent glow of the walls faded into black as he fell deeper and deeper towards the river bottom.

Dagda dived in after him. Unfazed by the distance, cold, and darkness, he plunged in head-first after his companion. He swam vigorously down deep into the water until finally, his small hands brushed against Carwyn’s side. Dagda pulled with all his might. He bit down into Carwyn’s clothing and grabbed as much of the cloth as possible with his limited strength.

He held his breath as long as he could until finally they reached the surface. Fortunately, the marmook had lots of fat, which made them relatively buoyant even in fresh water.  Dagda held Carwyn up at the surface as they floated down the river. Finally, they were carried toward a large stone that broke the surface. Dagda pulled Carwyn up as much as possible against the stone and fastened his shirt around a small sharp section of the rock.

Suddenly, I found myself back in my dorm room. Dante and Anika had let themselves in and were tapping me on my shoulder. They had broken the connection I had made with Everville.

I would have to wait to discover the fate of The Keeper’s journey as a young Fron.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 21

EATING OUT

Once again, I slept well and eagerly hoped this pattern would continue. I had grown tired of waking up mid-morning and was happy to have a brief respite from extreme fatigue, even if it was just for a couple of days.

It had been a while since I had woken up prior to the arrival of Anika and Dante, and I finally had a moment to collect my thoughts. After replaying some of the events from the other day in my head, I decided it would be a good time to meet up with Anika and Zee and practice for the Roundabout.

Zee and Anika were apparently thinking the same thing as they were already at the Art Club practicing when I arrived.

“Pick up a stick.”

There was hardly time to collect my bearings before Zee lunged at me with his spectacular-looking bo staff. The staff, used for sparring in the Roundabout, was purple and black and covered in a shiny lacquer. It was a good five feet long and a solid two inches in diameter.

Immediately I was put on defense, struggling to fend off blows. A couple of times he was able to make contact with my wrists, which caused a very unpleasant stinging sensation. He continued to attack, one strike after another. Each time I was pushed back closer to the wall until he had me pinned against the corner.

He had caught me completely off guard. My stunned state allowed him to make an undefended attack on my left leg. His bo was about to strike just before Anika blocked him, preventing the staff the opportunity to make contact.

She had maneuvered herself into a position of leverage and was able to use his body weight against him. Anika was equally aggressive and had apparently quickly picked up whatever technique he had taught her in my absence. Her offensive strategy was nearly successful, but Zee eventually was able to regain a superior position. This time, however, we were both on our guard, and he had to contend with both of us.

The sparring continued for a good half hour before we exhausted ourselves. I was completely out of breath. It was clear that Zee and Anika were in much better shape, which meant I was at a distinct disadvantage. This would have to change if we were going to have any chance at defeating Drusilla and her team in the Roundabout.

Zee handed me a bottle of mineral water and I quickly opened it up, gulping it down as quickly as was humanly possible. Sweat ran down my face trickling down my nose and chin. It gradually made its descent to the ground one drop at a time making a dull thud with each impact.

With the exception of my heavy breathing, I sat motionless for several minutes until I was able to quench my parched throat and catch my breath.

Zee had waited long enough and wanted to continue teaching us the remaining games that would be part of the Roundabout. Over the next several hours he instructed us on each of the different parts of the competition. They were all unique in their own way, and he had a room dedicated to each. Some games required agility and strength, while others required significant mental prowess. Each game emphasized its own special skill. He went over some specific strategies for each and explained the training that would be required if we were going to be prepared for each category. I was starting to grasp just how intense and difficult this competition was going to be.

I wondered how Dante was fairing with his own training. He was likely struggling with the same issues I was, since athletics had never been either of our strong suits. I’m sure he had similar concerns, but the winning prize was probably sufficient motivation for him to train as hard as possible.

My days and weeks were starting to get filled up as training with the Echo Club, the Art Club, and the occasional excursions into the nether regions of Everville took up significant blocks of time. While I was still easily able to keep up with my studies, I was left little time for other pursuits.

Zee invited Anika and I to a nice restaurant and informed us that Drusilla and Dante would also be attending. Apparently, it was a rather swanky affair, and I would need to wear a proper suit and tie. I did not mind. I was actually happy to have the opportunity to engage in some of the social aspects of college that I had been neglecting over the past few weeks.

I had a few hours before the dinner reservation and decided to head back to the dorm. Anika was going to meet up with us later at the restaurant, so I walked alone.

My alarm woke me up in what seemed like only a few moments after I had started my nap, but I felt sufficiently rested nonetheless. I looked in my closet and selected the only suit I owned. It did not get much wear as I rarely had the opportunity to attend formal affairs or fancy dinners, but it still looked rather spiffy. The tie always gave me a little difficulty, and it usually took a few tries before the front and back end were in proper alignment.

I looked in the mirror momentarily admiring my appearance and making sure I was properly groomed with my hair correctly in place. For a second, it appeared as if my reflection was out of place and moved on its own. After double-checking my reflection, I walked out of the room and headed for the restaurant.

We met up in the lobby of the restaurant as we waited for our table. Dante and Zee were both wearing suits, but Zee’s was noticeably fancier. It was perfectly fitted and had a sleek narrow lapel. The charcoal grey was accentuated nicely by the pink shirt and maroon tie. Dante and I were both wearing black suits with only blue and white shirts providing any distinction between the two of us.

My eyes were drawn to Anika. I had never seen her dressed so nicely. Although she had worn a lovely dress to the prom, even the prettiest prom dress had a tendency to look unnatural and overly showy. The outfit she was wearing now was certainly not. It was simple, elegant, and sexy.

Drusilla was not to be outdone. She was wearing an eye-catching and form-fitting red satin dress. Dante had clearly taken notice but was trying his best not to stare.

Our table was finally ready, and the host escorted us to our tables. The restaurant’s atmosphere was impressive. The décor was stylish and edgy, and it seemed to have the clientele to match. Looking at the menu, it was clear it had the prices to match as well. It was a good thing Zee was treating us.

“I recommend the escargot,” Zee said. “They are very tasty. If you haven’t had them, I would say they taste like a cross between shrimp and scallops.”

Although the thought of cooked snails did not repulse me as much as I thought it might, I had my eyes set on a nice juicy steak.

“Would you like anything to drink?”

Zee and Drusilla both ordered glasses of wine. Being too young to drink, I ordered a diet soda.

I breathed in the atmosphere and really enjoyed the opportunity to relax for a change. The food arrived promptly, and we engaged in small talk as we ate.

So far, Zee and Drusilla were turning out to be rather friendly, at least it seemed like that on the surface. I was still not sure why Zee and Drusilla and had taken an interest in us, but at the moment it did not seem to matter.

It was a nice dinner, and for a time, I was comfortable. I wasn’t sure how long it could last, but I was enjoying myself.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 22

LESSONS

On the following day, Cleophas and Avery had called in Anika, Dante, and I to learn some additional lessons. It was a sign that we had earned their trust, but it also meant that with that trust came great responsibility.

I wondered exactly how much Cleophas knew about my situation or what I needed to do in order to be successful in stopping Them. I figured Avery had already discussed my situation with Cleophas, but perhaps that was not even necessary since Cleophas had demonstrated intuitive knowledge on everyone else in the Echo Club during the first meeting.

We met in the back room. The grad students readied the book ladders and then started climbing. As they approached the top of the bookshelf they revealed a secret compartment. They pulled out a series of objects. I saw a map, a compass, and a small statue.

“I know that each of you felt a connection to your objects the other day. These objects hold significantly more power. While you must learn to harness the power of ordinary objects, it’s more important that you can control great power when you have access to it. You must learn control and humility. Any person can learn to use brute force, but if you are to be successful in your end goal you must not be a slave to power or emotions.”

The mention of our “end goal” suggested to me that Cleophas probably knew as much about my situation as The Keeper, which was reassuring.

“Most of the members here will not progress much farther than where they are now, but each of you has a greater destiny. Before you move any further, you must learn to control your ability to find and channel the connections that exists between objects and events. Otherwise, it is the power that will control you. Once you do this, we can move on to even more advanced pursuits.”

This made a lot of sense. I had already sensed I was beginning to be able to harness the power of certain objects, but control is what I needed, and quickly.

Anika was given the statue, Dante was handed the map, and I received the compass. The moment I touched the compass, I was nearly knocked to the ground. The flood of the emotions was so intense I couldn’t see or feel anything clearly. I was blinded by intense light and was unable to make out any discernable images. There was intense pressure, like a great wind or water rushing towards me. My hands snapped back as if I had just touched a searing hot stove.

It took a few moments to collect myself. Judging from the expressions on their faces, Anika and Dante must have had similar experiences.

“You see! If you come in contact with great power, you must not be overwhelmed by it. The secret to controlling great power is the same secret that you must apply in your daily life when you are faced with great challenges. You must calm yourself and quiet your mind. Learn to filter the distractions and focus on the key elements that really matter.

“The answer you seek lies in learning to combine the power of reason with the passion of emotion. If you let reason alone control your choices, you lose the power of intuition. If you let emotion control your choices, you will be a slave to every minor tragedy.

“Think of it as the method of combining free will and destiny. Neither truly exists alone. Most people usually accept one or the other. This is why most people are so limited. If you fail to accept the concept of free will, you will never apply yourself. If you accept free will alone, you will never open yourself to the power of providence and might never fully accept the notion of good or evil. Both limitations can be very dangerous things.

“In order to read the connections of objects with great power, you must first learn to ignore them. Then, you must learn to listen quietly to the subtleties they speak. Once you can do that, the clutter of base emotions will no longer overwhelm you.

“As you increase your ability to control objects of great power, you will simultaneously train your heart and mind to hear the soft subtle emotion of objects that have little or no energy. Once you have accomplished this objective, then you will be ready to accomplish your end goal. For now, let’s just focus on not being overpowered by emotion.”

I slowly reached for the compass while simultaneously squinting my eyes and making a funny facial gesture. I think my body was subconsciously apprehensive about being overwhelmed again upon contact.

“No, Owen. Don’t force it. Just calm your mind, and let the emotions flow over you like you are sinking below a violent ocean in a massive storm with fierce waves pounding the surface. As you fall farther down, the waves no longer have control over you and you are able to feel the steady currents that are flowing just beneath the surface.”

My face relaxed, and I slowly let go of the tension. The muscles in my eyelids eased, and I imagined sinking below the surface in a powerful hurricane.

My hand made contact with the compass. Once again, I felt a flood of powerful emotions. The sensation was almost as intense as before, but it quickly quieted down. I tried to follow the advice of Cleophas to ignore everything until something grabbed my attention. It was difficult to steady my mind and stay focused, but the secret was to do as he suggested and just let go. I tried to let the torrent of intense pressure and stimuli flow over me like the surface of the ocean.

Every so often I could sense a memory or feeling pushing over a cloud of other minor emotions. It was starting to come together slowly, but the overall impression was still a bit jumbled. I could grasp a few pieces here and there, but I was still having difficulty making sense of it all.

I gave it a few more tries with no success. Then, suddenly, it started to make a little more sense. The torrent of other noises started to fall away, and an image of what was happening began to come together.

The first emotion I could sense was terror, sheer, utter unadulterated terror. There was also an oppressive evil. I wasn’t sure how they were both connected, only that they were.  I could not sense any memories attached to the emotion, but I had a feeling it was because I had just started to learn to control the connections.

Anika also sensed something else. It was a void, an unknown mysterious void that was absent any thought or feeling. She had not seen The Other In Between and did not recognize what it was, but she could feel the sense of loss from those who had been ensnared by its reach.

Dante felt only pain, not emotional pain but physical pain. He felt a horrible sharp prickly feeling that started on his hand and spread all over his body.

Dante lacked the finesse that Anika and I had applied to sensing the emotions associated with the objects. This had the unfortunate side effect of converting some of the raw emotion into physical pain, and he was knocked momentarily unconscious.

Cleophas gently touched Dante’s shoulder.

As with The Keeper, Cleophas possessed the power to enter one’s mind. He entered the mind of Dante and released him from the confusion and pain that had been brought on by the contact with the map.

“You must learn to take it slow, Dante.”

Cleophas mentally assisted Dante just enough to teach him the process and allow him to sense the emotion that was tied to the object.

Dante could now feel great sadness. It was sadness over the loss of someone to The Other In Between.

For some time, we discussed the emotions and feelings with Cleophas and Avery. I had pieced together what I believed was the likely scenario that was connected to the events of all three objects.

The evil I felt was when Them had tricked Toe into providing them assistance. The terror was what Toe experienced when his actions resulted in his wife Nissa being sucked into The Other In Between. This is what Anika and Dante saw and felt.

“You are correct, Owen. That was the event that was associated with these three objects.”

For the next several hours the grad students brought out additional objects for us to practice our new skill. We continued to examine them and look for connections to some emotion or event. One after the other, we gradually improved our ability to mute the unnecessary noisy emotions and hone in other details that might be important.

I was glad that Anika and Dante finally had the opportunity to see and feel what I had already known. I finally felt that they could now fully appreciate the concern that I had been feeling over the last several weeks.

While I did not want them to be burdened by the same concerns, it was necessary if they were going to have any hope of helping me along the way in my quest of stopping Them from making further gains in the land of Everville and our world.

At that moment, a thought occurred to me. I wondered if I had been subconsciously preventing myself from being drawn into Everville and The Keeper’s thoughts by my desire for normalcy. Despite my willingness to defeat Them, I had let my own desire of having a true college experience prevent me from seeing what I needed to see. Perhaps if I made some mental effort, I could consciously transport my mind to Everville.

I applied the same technique we had just learned. This time, I imagined myself in The Keeper’s thoughts.

“Good. You’re learning.”

I had successfully transported my mind to Everville. I was with The Keeper.

He closed his eyes.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 23

THE VALLEY OF DARKNESS

We returned to the previous moment in The Keeper’s memory.

Dagda had fastened Carwyn as best he could to the stone sticking out of the underground river. A few moments passed, and Carwyn began to regain consciousness. After some initial confusion, he tried to assess the situation and figure out the best course of action.

They had been transported a significant distance downstream. He could see several large rocks a little farther down the river sticking out from the water. The protruding edges of the sides of the walls were close enough to the river surface that they might be able to climb up if they could reach one of them.

Carwyn could also see a tiny sliver of light a little bit farther down. It was the entrance to The Valley of Darkness. He decided to swim to the rocks in order to try and get closer to the edge of one of the tunnel walls.

Carywn put Dagda on his back as he prepared to swim to the next rock. He pushed off and swam in the direction of the stone. The force of the river was too strong, and the powerful current caused the right side of his body to slam hard into the stone, causing a sharp pain.

They slid past the first rock and were pushed farther downstream. Fortunately, Carwyn did his best to ignore the pain and managed to grab onto a large hook-shaped section of the next rock and regained control.

He looked carefully at the flow of the water. He could see the current flowing slightly to the left, so he decided to make a go of it and swim to that side of the wall.

After a few minutes of resting to catch his breath, they swam to the edge. Carwyn was able to grab onto some roots that were sticking out of the tunnel wall and climbed his way up to the surface.

He rested momentarily until the howling wind started blowing into the tunnel from the valley, which was making Carwyn feel uncomfortably cold.  He was soaking wet and shivering uncontrollably, so they started walking until they reached the valley entrance.

As they emerged from the tunnel and the underground river, Carwyn could see large snake-like creatures swimming in the water. One of them appeared to be looking at Carwyn from beneath the surface. The darkness from the tunnel had prevented him from seeing the aquatic creatures before. It was a good thing he had not been able to see them, as it would have likely reduced his willingness to swim to the river’s edge if he had been aware of their presence earlier.

His attention turned to the valley. He could see a stark contrast in the sides of the valley where the sunlight was permanently absent, compared to the small sliver of land that received a few hours of sun each day. The valley was shaped like a pair of curved hands half cupped inward on each side. There was a small band two thirds of the way up on both sides that received direct sunlight and was covered in lush green trees. Just above and below the tree line was an area of grey moss. Beyond that, the valley was completely barren; it was comprised of mostly caves and highly contorted rock formations.

They arrived just as the sunlight had reached the tree line. It would provide enough ambient light to keep the valley visible a few more hours.

Dagda pulled hard on Carwyn’s dripping wet clothing.

“What is it, Dagda?”

Carwyn looked closely but didn’t see anything.

A few seconds later, he thought he heard a momentary sound.

Carwyn looked closer, panning across the valley as he attempted to trace the origin of the sound.

In the distance, he could see a little dust being stirred into the air close to the ground. He could see a few other fainter trails of dust just a little farther back.

His eyes were fixated on the dust trails as he tried to make out what was causing them.

As the trails got closer, black objects started to emerge near the ground within the clouds of smoke until he could finally make out a few features.

They appeared to be some type of animal. He could now see dozens of them. They were moving with tremendous speed in their direction.

Dagda pulled a little harder, then they bolted.

Carwyn ran with the intensity that one would expect from someone who just discovered they were being chased by a pack of ferocious wild animals.

He ran and ran without looking back until his curiosity finally got the best of him.

He quickly glanced back, being careful not to slow down as he did.

The animals had halved their distance and were quickly gaining on them. What had appeared to be a few dozen, now easily looked like hundreds.

As the pack got closer, he could see more features of the animals. They bore a great resemblance to large wild dogs, but they were much larger than typical dogs. Standing on all four legs, they must have been at least six feet tall and perhaps eight feet long. They had dark brown scraggily fur coats; and even from this distance, he could make out their teeth.

More disturbingly, he could see other trails of dust behind the animals all across the valley. The creatures had been alerted to their presence, and it was not clear just exactly how many more of the animals were out there waiting to join the hunt.

They feverishly looked for a place to escape and hide as the animals drew closer and closer. Carwyn looked in vain to find some place for refuge just before his pants got snagged on a rock formation. He desperately tried to remove the pant leg that had gotten stuck in the rock crevasse, but he continued to fumble. As often happens when he got anxious, his hands were simply not willing to cooperate.

Dagda quickly went to work trying to free Carwyn’s leg. The small size and limited strength that normally restricted Dagda’s ability to assist was right now his greatest asset. His fingers were just the right size to unhinge the piece of clothing that had made its home between the two rocks. Within moments, Dagda had succeeded.

They escaped just in time but had lost significant distance between themselves and the animals; it was becoming clear that they were not going to be able to outrun the creatures.

Nevertheless, they ran with even more intensity than before, hoping by some miracle to escape the grasp of terrible-looking animals.

They approached a large rock formation. The first dozen or so of the creatures were less than a few feet away. In another second, the animals would be biting down into their juicy flesh.

Suddenly, several pairs of arms pulled them off to the side. They were taken to a cave by mountain dwellers who then rolled a large stone into place blocking the entrance of the cave.

Carwyn and Dagda looked at each other in disbelief, then looked at the mountain dwellers with facial expressions that conveyed both intense gratitude and exhaustion.

The mountain dwellers did not appear to have the physique necessary to fight off the animals, but they were clearly much more intelligent and were very adept at using it to their advantage. They were about average human height, but skinnier, with long lanky fingers and toes. They were also able to change their skin color to match with the background like some species of animals, if and when they desired to do so. Needless to say, this provided a definite advantage when surrounded by fierce predators.

The mountain dwellers looked at Carwyn with curiosity and skepticism, but Carwyn had been overcome by intense gratitude and reached for the closest mountain dweller he could find to plant a great big squeeze. Dagda followed suit but had to limit his embrace to their lower extremities.

The mountain dwellers looked a little puzzled at their response, a typical reaction from a solemn and pessimistic species.

The inside of the cave was a fortified temporary residence that was used during the brief period of light within the Valley of Darkness. The mountain dwellers would venture from mountains and into the valley each day to look for food in the land of vegetation. They would also look for special stones for tools of various purposes from the rock formations and caves near the valley floor. Caves like these were used to store their goods and to stay hidden from the creatures that inhabited the valley.

Carwyn gazed at Ewan, then peered across the cave that was now his refuge from the ravenous creatures that were banging against the massive stone blocking the entrance. Carwyn and Dagda both wondered how long the stone would prevent the hundreds of wild animals that were waiting for their first opportunity to demolish the stone and rip them to shreds. Fortunately, the stone was more than sufficient and had strength beyond any stone in the earthly realm or even in the land of the Fron. It had protected the mountain dwellers numerous times before and would protect them again today.

Carwyn had squeezed the mountain dweller called Ewan. He spoke with Ewan about his journey and what he had learned regarding Them as well as the darkness seeping into the Deep Woods. Ewan listened intently, but did not give away any of his thoughts through his facial expressions.

“As happens from time to time, the inhabitants of the eight border realms sometimes collude with Them. At the moment, we have no investment in this conflict. Them can be persuasive. Them are determined and relentless. Them will look for a weakness, then exploit it. It may take years or centuries, but once Them find willing alliances they will make their move. We owe our allegiance to no one. I can speak for the rest of us when I say that we are not optimistic about the future. Them have been making slow but steady progress. I don’t look forward to it, but there will likely be a day when we are forced to ally ourselves with Them in order to save our people.”

Carwyn looked disappointed, but he believed given enough time, he could persuade Ewan and the mountain dwellers.

At that moment, I willingly released myself from the mind of The Keeper and his memory of The Valley of Darkness. I had gleaned a great bit of wisdom from The Keeper’s past. I was going to have to find the inhabitants who had been persuaded by Them in the current breach and then convince as many as possible to reconsider. That would be no easy task, for sure.

This bit of revelation also uncovered a few more questions that needed to be answered. What power did Them hold and how were they able to persuade anyone to join their cause? What was their cause? Perhaps if I knew this, I could find a way to defeat Them and convince the inhabitants of the eight border realms to break their alliance with Them. The Keeper was leading me to the answers through his experience with the mountain dwellers and his quest to stop the breach that led him to become The Keeper.

I was still not sure how the time thing worked with Everville or my home. I knew I would find direction in his mind, but I also felt it was time for me to get back. The Keeper understood my thoughts, and I focused on returning back to Easton Falls.

The instant I focused my desire on returning, I was back home.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 24

THE FRIENDS WE KEEP.

Sipping on a white chocolate mocha at just the right temperature always did wonders for my mental status. Drinking it allowed me to clear my thoughts. It helped me refocus on whatever it was that I needed to accomplish. Today was no different.

Prior to class, Zee had brought our team and some outside advisors to the café to discuss strategy. Before Zee began to speak, he looked around just to make sure no one else was there who might overhear our plans. I listened intently as each of the team members and advisors gave their suggestions.

Most of the discussions focused on techniques for both training and method of play. As each technique was discussed, I tried to mentally visualize the techniques in action and imagine myself using them. I took down notes to make sure I would not forget, but it was really pointless as I rarely looked at my notes after writing them down. They tended to collect dust in my top drawer.

A member of our team, Jacob, started discussing a technique that was rather successful at earning points in some of the games. It was, however, somewhat controversial and technically against the rules. From the sound of it, it seemed to be used prolifically in the games, and the judges turned a blind eye.

I didn’t feel comfortable with using a technique that was banned, even if it was widely used. Nevertheless, I listened to Jacob speak as he proclaimed the necessity of its use.

“Listen, nearly all of the most recent games were won by this technique. If we don’t do this, we will likely lose.”

I hadn’t said anything, but I got the distinct impression that Jacob was directing his comments towards Anika and I. Since we were the only two members who hadn’t participated in prior games, it made sense.

“Well, I think we should focus on the techniques that aren’t illegal to improve our skills. I have a problem with cheating, and I think it will prevent us from focusing on improving our game.”

Anika couldn’t have said it any better. She had beaten me to the punch.

“Yeah. I agree. It takes the fun out of winning if you don’t earn it. Besides, I think if we work hard enough we’ll still have a decent shot.”

“Listen, Owen, don’t be naïve. Everybody cheats. That’s how you get ahead in this world. The rich steal from the poor, the politicians steal from the citizens, and winners cheat. Haven’t you learned anything from professional baseball and the Tour de France?”

I didn’t like Jacob’s brand of cynicism, and I was beginning to see that he seemed to be somewhat lacking in character.

“Jacob, not everybody cheats. That seems like a really sad view of the world. People make their own choices and there are plenty of successful people who don’t cheat,” I said intently.

“Maybe so, but I’m going to get mine. If you want to get yours, I suggest you do the same.”

It was really disheartening to hear Jacob speak like that. Zee was noticeably silent. I wondered what he was thinking and suspected he might have used the technique a few times himself.

Jacob suggested we put the matter to a vote.

Zee agreed and said the matter would be settled prior to the start of our next training session.

Drusilla, Dante, and the rest of their team members were having a similar meeting at Drusilla’s house just off campus.

Drusilla sat on the edge of the bed looking intently at Dante. The rest of the team listened as she spoke.

“I’ve used this technique twice. Both times that I’ve used it, I won. It’s up to you, Dante, if you want to use it, but it can be quite effective.”

She smiled.

Dante thought about it and felt a little uncomfortable. He was finding it difficult to think clearly and seemed a little more preoccupied with her smile.

His teammates expressed a willingness to go ahead and use it, but for whatever reason, she was giving Dante the final say on the matter.

After classes I met up with Anika and Dante.

There was clearly some tension between the three of us, and I briefly hesitated before bringing up what was on all our minds.

“So, Dante, have you heard about the banned technique?”

I could see Dante was pondering what to say.

“Yeah. I suppose it is rather widely used, despite being illegal. I’m not sure I can go along with that.”

“That’s good to hear. I feel the same way,” I said, glancing at Anika as I spoke.

“Well, we are competing against each other. I guess if we want to be fair, it’s best if we don’t speak too much about our training.”

“I agree, Dante. If we win, though, I’ll be happy to invite you to come along with us to the Hamptons!”

Anika said what was already understood. I was sure that Dante would reciprocate.

The events of the last few weeks had given me a lot to think about. There were still a lot of details that needed to be filled in, but at least I had some idea of where I was going and what I needed to do. It was time to make some real choices. We were going to bring the matter of the technique to a vote and I knew that we had at least two votes in our favor and two votes against, seeing how the other two members were leaning heavily towards using it. The deciding vote would likely come down to Zee.

I had a feeling of uneasiness. It was not about the Roundabout but of something else nagged at the back of my mind. It reminded me of the feeling The Keeper had when he was a young Fron. I’m not sure how much power Them had in my world, but I knew even my realm was not safe from the forces in The Other In Between.

As I walked towards the Art Club to meet with Zee and the other members of our team, I got the distinct impression that I was being watched. It was not my imagination. From the corner of my eye, people were looking at me. More than that, objects were looking at me. The objects did not have eyes, but their surfaces seemed to convey the feeling that they were merely hiding a hidden camera lens from beneath that was displaying my every move to someone in a far-off land.

I wasn’t sure if it was my practice in the Echo Club or my invitation into The Keeper’s memory, but it was the first time I had gotten such an impression. Somehow I knew, though, it was more than that. The unseasonably cold windy weather had returned. It wasn’t even autumn, but the leaves had already turned colors and started to fall to the ground. Migratory birds were acting as if it were already time to head south for the winter. The breach had consequences, and its effects were starting to be felt here on Earth.

It was time for me to fill in as many of the gaps as possible. I needed to know what we were up against and what needed to be done to stop Them. My decision regarding the Roundabout had already been made up. If Zee voted for the technique, I would have declined regardless of the consequences, especially knowing the connection between decisions made in this world and the power of Them. I wanted to be able to focus my attention on practice. In order to do that, I needed to feel a little more confident in my understanding regarding the motives of Them.

My skills at controlling my mind were improving, and I felt the need to return to Everville. Shortly after thinking about it, I had returned.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 25

THE ASCENT

Ewan seemed more than willing to help them escape but nothing more. He described the other creatures that inhabited the valley and how Carwyn and Dagda needed to get out of it and climb to the mountaintop before darkness fell. They would have only a few hours to do it.

“This cave leads to the beginning of the band of trees. Beyond that, we will have to journey on the surface through the trees before we reach the concave cliffs.”

Carwyn wondered if the creatures would be lying in wait when they resurfaced and if they could make it the rest of the way to the top without being attacked by the animals.

“Beyond the cave exit, the surface gets very rough; we have tools to assist us.”

Carwyn peered at some of the tools visible in the cave. One of the other mountain dwellers noticed Carwyn staring at the tools, as did Ewan. The mountain dweller grabbed the tools and passed them to Ewan.

“This rope bends light and will render you invisible to the creatures. It also possesses the ability to prevent you from making a hard landing. These picks also have a special power that will make them stick to the rocks as you ascend the valley to the mountaintop. It will make it easier for you to climb once you reach the concave cliffs.”

Carwyn and Dagda also saw that there were special spiked shoes with the same metal as the picks. They were definitely going to need them if they were going to be able to climb out of the valley and reach the opening of the mountaintop.

If they were going to make it out before dark, they would have to leave soon. Carwyn pondered the thought of waiting another day in the cave, but he sensed that this was not a good idea. He thought perhaps some of the other valley creatures might be able to make it into the cave at night.

Carwyn decided to leave. Ewan agreed and was willing to guide them out of the valley and to the mountaintop. Beyond that, they would be on their own.

Ewan and the mountain dwellers gathered many tools and placed them in pouches that they hung on straps around their shoulders. They gave Carwyn and Dagda some tools as well. One by one, they lined up behind Ewan and started the journey through the cave that ascended up to the mountaintop below its surface.

Carwyn inspected the cave walls as they continued their journey. As they walked, he saw a series of holes that were used to mine various mineral elements from the cave rocks. A few of the holes were freshly dug and gave off a strange odor. It smelled of ash and metal, but not any metal Carwyn was familiar with.

They continued walking for a couple of hours until the slope of the cave steepened to about a 45-degree angle. A small opening let a beam of light glimmer into the cave tunnel.

Ewan inspected the cave opening and the outside surroundings and then motioned for the rest of the mountain dwellers to follow.

Quickly, they passed through the opening to the forested valley surface. The trees hid them from view of the creatures, and the limited sunlight gave them a much different perspective of the valley floor and the concave surface over them. Above the tree line, they would be visible to the creatures in the valley and would have to climb using the special tools preventing them from falling to the ground below.

The mountain dwellers increased their speed through the small band of forest. Carwyn could see some dwellings off in the distance and suspected it was the home of some of the other valley inhabitants. The trees were rather narrow and highly contorted. There were just enough leaves to keep the ground from being visible from the valley floor, but that gave them little comfort as they continued along their way.

Within only a short time, they had reached the top edge of the forested band of the valley. The mountain dwellers hurriedly tied ropes around their waists and put on the rest of the gear. Carwyn and Dagda stayed next to Ewan as they began their ascent.

The horrendous creatures on the valley floor were now visible, but they had climbed enough of the concave surface to be just out of reach. The ropes that were tied around their waists made them invisible to the creatures, but the rustling and movement of the trees gave away their position. The creatures watched intently and slowly approached the top of the tree line.

Ewan instructed Carwyn and Dagda to stay focused on climbing the concave wall and not to look down. Of course, that’s the first thing Dagda did. He let out a whimper. Carwyn reached over with his free hand to cover Dagda’s mouth. The creatures looked above them searching for any noticeable movement. They stopped dead in their tracks, but only for a brief moment until the creatures looked in the other direction.

Once again, they started climbing. The picks and shoes gave them the remarkable grip that made them appear to defy gravity. They were nearly upside-down. If they didn’t have the protection of the gear and ropes, they would have fallen precariously to the valley floor. Despite the protection of the rope, Carwyn and Dagda could not put the thought completely out of their mind.

They had nearly made it to the opening of the concave valley at the top of the mountain. Dagda let out a sigh of relief as Ewan’s hand reached over to the other side touching the mountaintop. Carwyn looked in the direction of Dagda taking his attention off the pick in front of him. The reliance on the tools’ special properties gave him just enough overconfidence to ease up on his grip.

It was too late. He lost his pick and could not make contact with the surface, and he could not recover. Carwyn fell quickly to the valley floor near the bottom of the tree line. He did not scream. The fall was actually rather peaceful. He felt the resistance of the air on his face as he continued to pick up speed just before reaching the ground. He continued to tumble for several thousand feet then gradually slowed before making impact just as Ewan had promised.

He nearly passed out before realizing he was not going to make a hard landing, but then he noticed the wild animals in the vicinity circling his position.

His hands touched the ground gently, as did the rest of his body. There was no sound. He looked around to see how many of the mutant dog-like creatures surrounded him. He had a few openings, but he was worried about making any movement that would alert the creatures to his presence.

Carwyn paused for a moment until he decided on the best path to begin his ascent. He would have to walk at least a hundred feet through the creatures without alerting them before he could begin the climb. He would have only a limited time to get out of reach once the creatures were alerted to the sound of his pick hitting the surface.

He made his way halfway through the creatures before his feet made a noticeable sound, attracting them. One of the larger animals approached Carwyn, staring in his direction.

It was an unusual sensation. He looked at the creature squarely in the face. The animal looked back as if staring in the mirror, completely unaware of his presence. The creature could sense he was close by, but he did not know exactly where.

The animal began to growl and bark in rapid succession. Carwyn could see the saliva dripping from its tongue and teeth. Each tooth was impressive and magnificent in its own right. The teeth were larger than what Carwyn thought they would be at this distance; it was only a few inches away. He stood motionless. After a few moments, the animal headed off into the other direction.

Carwyn thought for a second, then took off. Being invisible was a definite advantage and gave him just enough lead-time to make it to the target location. He took the pick and dug deep into the rock.

The creatures followed. One strike at a time, Carwyn began his ascent. The animals had reached his location. The creature in the front of the pack lunged forward with its jaws open and made an empty bite that just missed Carwyn by a fraction of an inch. Carwyn took a deep breath, and then he continued his climb.

Many of the mountain dwellers had already climbed out of the valley and onto the top of the mountain on the other side, but Ewan had climbed back down to assist Carwyn.

“We don’t have much time before dark. After that, we will be at the mercy of the flying beasts.”

This was not what Carwyn wanted to hear, but it just gave him more motivation to make it to the top. Dagda was with one of the mountain dwellers near the opening, sneaking a tiny peek out with the bulk of his body on the other side of the mountain.

Ewan and Carwyn ascended the mountain even faster than before. They had no time to spare and no room for error. Just as the last ray of sunlight disappeared from the sliver of forested valley, Carwyn and Ewan climbed out of the valley onto the other side of the mountain. This time, Dagda waited until they were completely clear before letting go with another sigh.

Ewan and Carwyn were exhausted. Ewan would let them stay for the night, but then they would have to make their descent down the mountain to the Dark Forest on their own. Carwyn took out the map that the giant had given them. He studied the map intently as did Dagda. Ewan reached over and pointed with his long, narrow finger.

“You’ll need to make it over this pass. The Dark Forest will be just beyond the pass beyond the hills.”

It was the end of a long day, and Carwyn and Dagda were so tired that they fell asleep without eating. When they awoke, the mountain dwellers made a small meal for them before leaving, then bid them farewell.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 26

THE VOTE

The Keeper pulled me away from his thoughts and returned me to my dorm room at Easton Falls. I was a little disoriented after realizing time had not completely stopped as it had before in my prior mental excursions, and further, that I had little more than an hour left to sleep before dawn.

The alarm woke me up in what felt like only seconds after my head had hit the pillow, but I sucked it up as best I could and tried to focus on the day ahead.

After arriving at the Art Club with Anika, we all took our seats in one of the rooms used for our training. Zee got straight to the point, asking for our votes.

“All right: if you vote to use the technique, raise your hands. Okay. Now, those voting against, raise yours.”

To my surprise, Zee voted with us. He gave me a glance as if to reassure me. Stunned, Jacob stood up nearly knocking the chair to the floor and loudly voiced his vehement opposition.

“This is a mistake. You know Drusilla and the other teams are going use the technique. We are going to lose.”

I didn’t know much about Jacob; I didn’t know at the time that his childhood was much more difficult than any of ours. While Anika, Dante, and I all had a challenging go of it, Jacob had lost both of his parents. He was orphaned at the age of five and lived in foster care until a wealthy family took him in a year before he graduated high school.

Jacob had grown up thinking that life was simply the survival of the fittest. It was understandable after going in and out of foster homes watching the other kids take what they wanted while he was often left with nothing. He had learned from watching the other kids around him that if he needed something, he had to take it. If he had to cheat, steal, lie, or do whatever else it took to get what he wanted, then that’s what he did. He cheated his way through high school and was easily accepted into Easton Falls University once his wealthy benefactors took him in.

That last part to me, though, never made much sense. I was happy for him, I guess, but it still didn’t seem like the sort of thing one would expect. Who takes in a foster kid just before graduation? Whatever their reasons, Jacob didn’t care and felt that this was his opportunity. He wasn’t going to let anything stand in his way, and I couldn’t really blame him. He wanted the prestige that comes with winning the Roundabout, and he liked the brief taste of wealth he had for the last year or so. He wanted that trip to the Hamptons so he could suck up to Professor Samil, and he was intent on doing whatever it took in order to get it.

“The decision’s been put to a vote, so you’re just going to have to deal with it,” said Zee. “Right now, we need to focus on what we are going to have to do to win. That means practice our butts off every waking minute possible.”

The first part of the games would likely be my weakest. It was comprised of three games to test strength, speed, and endurance. The last half focused on concentration, memory, and mental acuity. The finale combined elements of all skills.

We met everyday for the next couple of weeks. Day after day, sunup through sundown, we spent several hours in intense training. Zee had the practice down to a science. He had techniques and methods for every skill. After every session, we were exhausted. Each session left me tired, sweaty, smelly, and sore.

It was more than just physical strength and endurance, though; Zee had us do hours upon hours of mental exercises. I was pretty good in high school and had my own studying routine. This was nothing like that. I thought flash cards were the way to go, but what Zee did exercised mental muscles I never thought I had. He asked us questions and made us do things that forced us to be quick and think on our feet. It was also more than just mental strategy. We practiced physical exercises simultaneously that were designed to bring our physical and mental strengths into harmony. My mind became faster, more creative, and I was able to do things I didn’t know were possible. I felt like my mind had been ripped apart and reconstructed from scratch and turned into a new, improved super brain. Anika and the other team members must have felt the same way.

To be honest, I was very conflicted about Zee. He was much less one-dimensional than my initial first impression had led me to believe. His apparent skill as a senior mentor was also turning out to be rather impressive. Regardless of his thinking or motives, he was clearly doing a good job at helping us prepare for the Roundabout. For the first time, I felt like we could actually win this thing.

“One more thing, each one of you will need to choose your own bo staff. You will need it in the first game and the finale. It’s a personal thing. You need to be comfortable with it, break it in, and make it an extension of yourself. Believe it or not, bo staff making is very competitive on campus. Several places make them, including all the campus clubs and even the campus café.”

“Anika. I think we should ask Cleophas about making us a bo staff.”

“Yeah, I think that’s the obvious choice. I just wonder if he’s into that sorta thing.”

“I guess we’ll find out.”

Before we even walked in the door, Cleophas already knew what we wanted. He had prepared ahead of time, and the staffs were waiting for us. He handed Anika a smooth metallic rod. It was a deep maroon with a shiny finish. It matched her well. It was hollow and light but made the perfect weapon.

She took the staff and held it tightly. When her hands made contact with the metal staff, small symbols etched near the bottom began to shimmer. They were the same markings I had seen before In Everville. It looked like some type of ancient script. The symbols gleamed as if being activated by their owner. Anika handled the bo staff like a seasoned pro. Her longs hours of practice were clearly showing.

Cleophas walked towards the tall bookshelf and reached for one of books. He tilted a book down, which opened a secret door behind the cabinet. Cleophas walked in, and we followed close behind him.

The walls were covered with a vast array of symbols and staffs. Dozens of bo staffs hung on the wall, some metal and a few made from material I couldn’t quite make out. A few wooden staffs stood out to me. Some were twisted and broken; others had odd shapes and interesting features. Cleophas reached for the wooden staff that caught my eye. It was made of walnut, but was harder and lighter than one would expect. It was shorter than Anika’s but thicker at both ends, especially at the top.

He handed me the wooden staff. I hesitated briefly before grabbing it. The staff glistened and gleamed just as Anika’s did when she grabbed hers. Several symbols appeared and etched themselves on the bottom of the staff, wrapping around the rod’s entire circumference.

I felt a connection to the staff unlike anything I’ve felt before. The objects, pictures, and mental connections I had made since my discovery of Everville simply could not compare to this. I knew the moment I grabbed the staff that it was meant to be with me.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 27

THE ROUNDABOUT PART I

The day of the Roundabout had finally come. There was no more training that could prepare us for what we needed to do. It was too late for that. We were going to win or lose based on the time and effort we had already spent. The only thing that could be done now was to stay focused on the task at hand and try not to get distracted by the utter grandiosity of the moment.

Each of the five teams met inside Professor Samil’s Easton Falls estate. The estate was unbelievable. It was impressively large, almost like a palace. I wondered what his estate in the Hamptons was like if this was the smaller one.

The weather could not have been any more perfect. The sunlight cast its brilliant rays on the estate grounds and the hundreds of spectators that crowded the seats surrounding the outside arena. There was an arena with staged seating in each of the additional six rooms on the inside of the estate, but the outside arena was the largest.

The introduction of the games was monumental. I felt like I was at the Olympics. One by one, each of the five teams exited the estate and was paraded onto the outside arena. We met with roaring cheers and applause from the crowd. The sound from the fans was deafening. Nearly everyone in the audience was waving a banner or flag of some kind. The university even had assigned concession workers to walk through the seating areas selling the most delightful selection of food and snacks one could possibly imagine. The smells were heavenly. Delectable aromas filled the air; one could almost taste the different foods being offered.

I felt butterflies in my stomach. How could I not? The thrill was unlike anything I had experienced before. I had never been a big sports enthusiast, but it was difficult not to have a sense of excitement and anticipation when being thrust into the center of it all like this.

My heart raced. I could feel each individual pulsating beat of my heart throbbing in my chest. Boom boom. Boom boom. Boom boom. It was beating so strong and so fast, I almost convinced myself my heart would burst at any moment. Adrenaline ran through my veins and permeated every cell in my body. There would be no more waiting. The time had finally arrived.

The speaker of the games, Professor Samil, stepped up to the podium microphone. He blew into a conch shell announcing the official start of the games.

“As you know, The Roundabout will be divided into two parts. The first half of The Roundabout will consist of three separate games that test strength, endurance, and agility. The second half of the games are designed to test concentration, memory, and mental acuity. Each team will play one match with the remaining four teams for a total of ten matches each game. Each match will last five minutes, with a ten-minute break between each game and two hours between each half of The Roundabout.

“At the end of the second half, the two teams with the highest score will face off in the final competition. The final game will test both physical and mental strength and last 15 minutes. Five judges will individually score each team member and the team as a whole. Those scores will be added up at the end of each game and posted at each arena. In the event of a tie, the team with the highest individual player score of all the games between the two teams will win.

“The team that wins The Roundabout will get a weekend stay at my Hampton’s estate. Each member of the winning team is allowed to take two additional guests and will also be allowed to run as one of the team captains in next year’s games, which is otherwise restricted to former players with senior status.

“The first game will be the battle of the bos and take place inside Arena One in 30 minutes. Players, you have your match list. Take your positions. Spectators, find your seats and enjoy the 87th annual Roundabout.”

With that, the games had begun. Our team had 30 minutes to get to Arena One. We were up first and would face off against Drusilla and Dante’s team.

We decided before the start of the match who we would face off against. Zee chose Drusilla and Jacob wanted Dante.

The whistle sounded. Zee immediately went on the offense with Drusilla. They were equally matched. With every blow Zee made, Drusilla deflected it flawlessly and vice versa. It was almost like watching them dance. They knew each other’s moves and skill from years of practice and competition. It was unlikely they would surprise each other. It seemed they were destined to finish with a perpetual draw.

The interaction with Jacob and Dante provided much more flair. Jacob was aggressive, overly so at times. Dante appeared slightly hesitant but had moments of brilliance. The battle between the two ebbed and flowed like the tides of an ocean. At times, Jacob appeared to be besting Dante. At others, Dante pulled moves that didn’t seem possible, only to allow Jacob to regain his position in short order as a result of Dante’s hesitance and inexperience.

Anika and our other team member faced their opponents, and I faced mine. Anika held her position and wielded her bo smartly, executing blows against her opponent with brilliant execution.

I held my bo staff in my hand and allowed it to be an extension of my own arm. For a wooden staff, it was remarkably solid. I felt a connection to the staff, which gave me great comfort. I readied my position and took my stance. My opponent eagerly came after me, but I successfully deflected his attacks one by one. Strike after strike and blow after blow we engaged each other. I had a formidable challenger, but the strong connection with my bo gave me a slight edge.

The first match was about to draw to a close. It appeared the skill of both our teams would give us both a high score and leave us in a good position for the remainder of the first half.

I twirled the bo staff in my hand one last time to make my final strike. As it rotated from left to right, the symbols on the staff glimmered. I released my tight grip and allowed the staff to take control. It was the staff that was now doing the attacking. I didn’t think about; I just let it happen.

My consciousness started to drift. It almost felt as if I was a passenger in my own body and the bo staff had taken the driver’s seat. It was an excellent driver. We were going to win the match, but my mind would not be present for the victory.

It was time for me to learn what had happened to The Keeper when he was a young Fron and how he stopped the incursion. My bo staff knew it. It would take my place while my mind was elsewhere. My mind had already left and I could see Carwyn at the top of the mountain with the mountain dwellers.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 28

THE DARK FOREST.

There was a long journey ahead for Carwyn and Dagda, and they would have to do it alone. The mountain dwellers would not follow them through the Dark Forest, but they gave them some directions and advice.

“If you make it past the Dark Forest, you will come to The First Pillar. The First Pillar can be seen from here across the mountain pass and beyond the Dark Forest. It stands at the border of the Dark Forest and the vast wasteland that separates it from The Other In Between. The inhabitants of the Dark Forest have joined forces with Them, so you will need to find a way to pass in order to reach the pillar. If you succeed, you will find the answers you seek. It is said that each pillar holds the answer to one of the seven truths in the universe. If you can unlock its secret, you can stop this incursion. At least for now, anyway.”

Carwyn and Dagda left the presence of the mountain dwellers and began their journey. The mountain pass was several miles ahead and separated by treacherous terrain, rivers, and cliffs. The mountain dwellers had given them some gear to make the journey easier, but the real challenge was going to be how to get around the inhabitants of the Dark Forest. The inhabitants had given themselves over to Them. They were possessed with a strength and dark persistence from the evil that resided in The Other In Between.

They pressed on, one step at a time as they always did, slowly progressing until faced with a challenge they needed to resolve. Carwyn thought back to his home in the land of the Fron. It was briefly comforting, but then he recognized he was letting the challenge get to him. He chose to set aside the difficulty of the challenge and tackle it head on. They continued.

Before they could enter the Dark Forest, Carwyn and Dagda would have to make it across the mountain pass. The pass presented a great challenge. It was too far to jump, yet the journey to the bottom of the crevasse and back up the other side would take much too long to complete. They needed to find a way to make it across the pass directly.

They would have to use the special rope of invisibility. If they succeeded, they could move forward. If they failed, they would lie dead at the bottom of the crevasse. They would have to be willing to give up their only assurance of survival if they were going to make it across, so that’s what they decided to do.

Dagda had an idea. Unfortunately, not being able to speak presented a challenge for the pet. If Carwyn tied the rope around Dagda and tossed him over the crevasse, Dagda could fasten the rope to a tree and Carwyn could climb across.

After several minutes of some interesting miscommunication, Carwyn finally realized what Dagda could not say. He did not want to do it, but after thinking about it for a while it made sense. Dagda would be tied to this side of the mountain, and if he fell it would only be a few feet. He would suffer some bruising but would still be alive. It was the only way.

Carwyn took great care to fasten Dagda to the rope and the rope to the tree. The hard part would be for Dagda to regain his balance and prevent himself from falling back down on the other side of the mountain after he landed. Carwyn picked up Dagda in his hand like he was preparing to throw a shot put. He took his stance. With every ounce of strength he had, he hurled Dagda across the crevasse.

Dagda landed with a thud. Fortunately for Dagda, his light weight prevented him from getting too banged up when he fell to the ground. His lack of heft, however, also made the rope more of a drag than it otherwise would have been. As a result, the rope started pulling Dagda towards the edge of the mountainside.

The rope continued to slide. Dagda picked up speed. He was sliding precariously close to the edge of the other side of the mountain and towards the crevasse. The ground scratched his thin legs. Dagda hit the small shrub, closed his eyes, then flailed his hands wildly in the direction of the shrub grasping in the direction of the small plant, hoping to grab something solid.

His small hands managed to latch on to a sturdy branch of the shrub. His movement gradually came to a halt. He stood motionless. Carefully, he pulled himself forward one inch at a time.

Dagda had secured his position. He was ready to assist Carwyn with his cross. The problem, however, was that Carwyn could not see Dagda. Luckily for Carwyn, Dagda was smart enough to tug on the rope. After feeling the rope, Carwyn slowly progressed towards the edge of the mountain slope. He carefully tested the rope’s tension trying to confirm if it was fastened securely. After a few moments of checking, he finally resolved to climb across.

Carwyn made it across without too much effort, and then he unfastened the rope from Dagda, continuing forward beyond the mountain pass. Carwyn thought to himself how helpful Dagda was becoming. It felt serendipitous and gave Carwyn a little more assurance that they would be successful in the journey.

They marched forward walking on the mountaintop for quite some time until the soreness of their feet forced them to take a break. They had progressed several miles and were approaching the Dark Forest, but night was beginning to fall and they would need to make camp before the night completely engulfed them.

They found a small area within a shallow cave that was partially protected by a few small trees. Carwyn took out the coverings from his satchel as well as a few morsels of food that the mountain dwellers had given them. After eating, they went to sleep.

Carwyn was periodically jarred awake by the howling wind. The high elevation made the wind particularly fierce and the air uncomfortably cold, even with the shelter and coverings. The extra time allowed him to ponder how they were going to proceed towards The First Pillar and what they would do if the inhabitants of the Dark Forest confronted them before they were about to make it across. Carwyn could not come to a mental resolution, but the lateness of the night and the need for sleep eventually won out.

They awoke to the sound of a thunderous roar. They looked down the mountainside towards the edge of the Dark Forest and saw thousands of the forest inhabitants fully armored and riding on fierce-looking stallions. The presence of the large army seemed unnecessary, given Carwyn and Dagda represented a mere army of two, if they could even be called an army.

The inhabitants of the Dark Forest pressed forward. Carwyn could see the impressive army was not alone. Them often took the form of dark smoke. One could see the smoke weaving in and out between the horses and the soldiers. The army looked possessed, and so they were. They had given themselves over to Them and allowed Them to take control as needed in order to achieve their ends. It did not seem possible for Carwyn and Dagda to find a way around the army, but they could not go back.

Carwyn thought for a moment, and then he realized that the army was not coming for them. The inhabitants of the Dark Forest were coming for Everville. They were going to have to fight the mountain dwellers before they could attempt to cross the Valley of Darkness and reach the portal through space and time in order to cross the vast expanse. Carwyn wondered if this was the moment that the mountain dwellers would join forces with Them, but he could not let that happen.

It wasn’t quite clear how the army could even make it through the underground tunnels to reach the brutal desert and then break through the portal, but they looked confident, and probably with good reason. If Them were working with someone in Everville or the Land of the Fron, they could have access through the portal and into Everville. Given the size of the army, it was likely they were working with several Fron. Carwyn could not comprehend why any Fron would help Them. No good seemed to come from Them; and the Fron were a kind, generous, and a happy species. It was a puzzle. Nevertheless, here they were faced with a very real army that presented his world with a very real threat.

In spite of the menacing army that was advancing towards them ever so swiftly, they decided to press forward. Ahead of the army, Carwyn saw what appeared to be a sole Fron mounted on a small horse. As they got closer, Carwyn saw that it was indeed a Fron. His name was Quisling.

Quisling called a halt to the progress of the army. He motioned for Carwyn and Dagda to step forward and then met them halfway between their current position and the amassing army of the inhabitants of the Dark Forest. He spoke to the pair.

“It’s time we join forces with Them. It’s the only way.”

“What are you talking about!?!”

Carwyn couldn’t believe that he was really speaking to a Fron that had gone over to the side of Them

“You are young and don’t understand the true dangers that we face. It’s naïve to think that our people can continue this way forever. All we have known is the Land of Everville, The Other In Between, and the lands that surround them. There are, however, other places and other times.

“Love and happiness can only protect us so long. What we need is strength and power. Them can provide us with that power. Without it, the Fron and all the inhabitants of Everville and its surrounding lands will be at the mercy of any race that finds a way through the portal. The Keepers can only do so much to shield Everville from those dangers. Even now, the few Fron that have joined with Them have weakened the divide that separates Everville from other times and places, and Them have succeeded in making a connection to our land. You shouldn’t be afraid of Them. What Them are asking of us is worth giving if it assures our safety and survival.”

It seemed clear to Carwyn that Quisling had made up his mind and had given himself over to Them. Quisling was unlike any Fron Carwyn had previously known. He had no humor, joy, or optimism. If he did, it was unrecognizable. There would be no reasoning with Quisling. Carwyn needed to find a way to stop him and the army of the Dark Forest before they reached the mountain dwellers.

Quisling had hoped Carwyn would join forces and further weaken the existing divide between Everville and The Other In Between, but beyond that, Carwyn and Dagda represented little threat to the Quisling and his Army.

“I suggest you join forces with us. If not, you will be left to the mercy of the Dark Forest. Except for a few, the creatures that inhabit this forest are without mercy.”

Others had tried before to cross the Dark Forest and reach The First Pillar, but only The Keepers had ever succeeded. Quisling knew Carwyn would try to reach the pillar, but he did not consider it a realistic possibility. His arrogance afforded Carwyn and Dagda the opportunity to pursue their objective, but the dangers inherent to the forest were formidable.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 29

THE FIRST PILLAR

Carwyn declined Quisling’s invitation. Quisling was upset but only briefly.

“March on,” Quisling said to the army, motioning them to move forward.

The army resumed their march. Carwyn looked at the soldiers that rode on the backs of the horses. They looked deformed and hideous. He wasn’t sure if that was their normal appearance or if the collusion with Them had modified their form in some way. Regardless, just the sight of them made him sick to his stomach.

The army rode past Carwyn and Dagda, not giving much thought as to whether they were trampling over them, which they nearly did. Galloping horses made the ground tremble and the air echo with their thundering march.

The unkempt army left a stench that lingered long after they moved on, so much so it that made it difficult for Carwyn to focus on how he was going to reach the pillar, but motivated him to do it much more quickly. The Dark Forest was even less inviting. The trees were of such enormity that their tops could be mistaken for mountain peaks and the space between their valleys. The trunks were larger than any he had seen in the Deep Woods and larger than what Carwyn thought possible. The sheer size of the treetops blocked out the sunlight making the forest floor perpetually dark.

The light dimmed with every step closer to the forest threshold. An eerie silence greeted them once they entered. There was no wind, no rustling of the leaves, no birds chirping, just utter silence and blackness. After walking for a while longer, the light was completely extinguished. Dagda squeezed Carwyn’s hand as they stopped momentarily to sort out their position. It was impossible to tell.

The forest itself acted as a single organism. The light from the tops of the trees provided the energy for the forest below without the need for additional sunlight. Light was, however, something that Carwyn and Dagda needed to navigate. Carwyn took out a special candle from his satchel that Ewan had given him and lit it.

The image of the forest floor elicited a feeling of loneliness and despair. It seemed dead and lifeless, though hauntingly beautiful. It was an atmosphere that made one question one’s existence in the universe. It was a feeling unfamiliar to Carwyn during his life as a Fron,  who had not until recently needed to face such questions.

The silence was broken. A faint distant sound gradually grew louder. The sound first resembled a running stream. As it got closer, it was hard to tell whether it was a quiet wind or rustling leaves. The closer its approach the more familiar it became. Carwyn could see movement on the forest floor. The fallen leaves gradually inflated, and the sound got louder.

Dagda recognized the sound of the slithering serpent and pushed Carwyn aside before it had the chance to sink its fangs into him. Carwyn quickly picked up his satchel that was laden with heavy rocks and metals. He pummeled the serpent’s volleyball-sized head over and over again until there was no more movement and Carwyn was assured of his safety. The large snake was actually one of the more timid creatures in the forest. They were going to have to move much quicker if they were to be successful.

The forest floor had nearly been deserted after Quisling gathered the army of the inhabitants. All that was left now were mindless creatures that would take any opportunity to turn Carwyn and Dagda into their next meal. They could now make out faint sounds and lights scattered throughout the forest. Flying beasts hovered over their position. Snakes slithered on the forest floor off in the distance. Creatures were hopping along the massive tree branches, all of them getting closer and closer to Carwyn and Dagda.

They started running as quickly as they could. The heavy satchels they carried did not slow them down nor did the small branches and twigs that scratched and bloodied them as they ran through the forest. They ran and ran until they lost track of just how long they had been running.

Carwyn stumbled, and then Dagda followed. They had reached the precipice of a large pit and began tumbling. The tumble turned into a fall as the ground beneath them disappeared. After falling for what seemed like several minutes, long hair-like protrusions softened their fall as they approached the ground. They had fallen into a large underground root system of the forest trees. Large termites several feet long had hollowed out the roots leaving the hair-like protrusions and the massive pit.

They were given no time to catch their breath before the swarm of large termites was alerted to their position and started moving in their direction. The prolonged fall, lengthy run, and battering of the forest had sapped nearly every ounce of energy they had left. Their muscles were sore and their entire bodies ached. With the small amount of strength that remained, they forced themselves up and started running again.

They could not go on much longer. Carwyn and Dagda were physically and mentally exhausted. With each step, their legs grew heavier, and their lungs gasped for more air. They continued running until they exited the root system through the hillside and approached a ravine. The ravine separated the hillside from the entrance of The First Pillar. It was just large enough to prevent the termites from crossing.

They quickly jumped from the ravine and onto the grounds near the entrance of The First Pillar, then they collapsed in exhaustion. Barely a few seconds passed before they slowly forced themselves to stand up. Unsteady at first, they gradually regained their composure and walked towards the entrance of the pillar. They gazed upwards, taking in its utter enormity and impressive stature. The spires of the pillar stretched into the sky higher than the closest mountain peaks. The façade of the pillar gleamed and shimmered, scaring off any stray flying beast that wandered in a little too close from the Dark Forest.

Carwyn walked into the entrance. Dagda followed but was blocked by an invisible force field that was erected once Carwyn passed through its massive gates. Dagda whimpered. He looked around him, and then looked back at the Dark Forest. He whimpered again. While not protected by the force field, the large ravine separating the pillar and the Dark Forest gave Dagda some comfort, but he was still very unhappy with the situation. He was alone and separated from his friend and his master.

Carwyn walked along a central pathway that led into a great empty hallway chamber within the pillar. He continued along the pathway for several hundred yards. Looking ahead, there was no end. It was cold, empty, and infinite.

A figure appeared in the distance and walked towards Carwyn. The figure first appeared out of focus and the light shining behind the figure made it difficult for Carwyn to see his face. As the figure stepped forward, his large stature cast a shadow over Carwyn allowing him to see a few more features. He did not appear completely solid. His face did not hold a permanent shape and it shimmered like the walls in the catacombs and the façade of the pillar.

“You have entered The First Pillar. What do you seek?”

Carwyn thought for a moment then said, “I want to stop the incursion by Them and bring back harmony to Everville and the Land of the Fron.”

“This is not an easy thing that you ask. Them are great deceivers. The incursion that you speak of was brought about by those in your land who are in collusion with Them. The divide that separates Everville from The Other In Between is in jeopardy because of this. Only a greater good can stop the incursion that was brought on by a great evil. What greater good can you offer?”

“I don’t know, but I am willing to do whatever I have to in order to bring back peace to Everville and stop Them.”

“Quisling’s army is already approaching the portal. There is no time in this world or the land of the Fron to stop the army or the incursion, but there is one way you could defeat Them.”

“Please, tell me!”

“I could send you to The Other In Between. You would need to find enough of the mindless horde and convince them to join your cause. The mere willingness of a few will accomplish your task and break the stronghold created by Them.”

“Please send me. I’ll do it.”

“You must understand that the mindless horde has lost all sense of self. The minds in the horde are blank, lost to The Other In Between. They will not notice you, and over time you may lose your own sense of self. If you succeed, it will not be shorter than tens of thousands of years. Your life as a Fron will be over. If you want to quit or feel that you are losing yourself, you can will yourself back to the pillar anytime. If you quit, however, I will not be able to stop Them or the incursion.  You will be on your own, but you will at least have your life.”

“And if I succeed?”

“Then I will keep my promise.”

He was determined to stop Them. His life as a Fron was the only life he had known, but if it meant he could save his family, his home, and the inhabitants of Everville and the other surrounding lands then that was a sacrifice he was willing to make.

“All right. I’ll do it.”

With those words, he was transported to The Other In Between. His arrival caused a small nearly imperceptible shift in the position of the mindless horde, each body slightly adjusting to his position. Carwyn was being pushed and shoved in every direction. The movement of bodies resembled small ripples in a pond, expanding outward but not changing the pond’s position. They were pointless waves of movement: movement to no end.

He tried to navigate through the bodies of the horde hoping to find someone with a hint of expression on his face. Perhaps someone who was not completely lost to Them and The Other In Between. It looked hopeless, but he had just arrived. He had no intention of giving up.

Time went by dreadfully slow. It was similar to the feeling of waiting in anticipation for something, which seems to make it take longer, only this was much worse. Nevertheless, he persevered.

Hours turned into days, days into weeks, weeks into months, months into years, and years into centuries. It took a terrible toll on Carwyn, but seemed to pass before me in moments. All the while, no progress was made. No hint of success, no glimmer of hope, no reason to continue to exist except for the fact that giving up meant certain defeat.

The resolve that Carwyn possessed was remarkable. In all the time he was in The Other In Between, no member of the horde had ever given him the slightest hint that they possessed any free will or individuality. There was no indication of anything other than the fact that every member of the horde had fully given over to emotionless, passionless despair.

He was just the opposite. After tens of thousands of years, Carwyn had retained a singular focus and determination. It was a trait that was never shaken and never placed in doubt. He never succeeded in swaying any member of the horde, but the pillar was greatly moved.

Carwyn was pulled back from The Other In Between into The First Pillar.

“We have decided that you have indeed provided a greater good. It may not be visible in The Other In Between, but it is real nonetheless.”

Carwyn finally emerged from the pillar. As he did, he was transformed from a short thick hairless Fron into The Keeper he is today. Time had not moved forward in his time as it had in The Other In Between. In mere moments, he had gained several feet in stature, long grey hair grew from his bald head, and lines of wisdom were etched into his face making him look his true age.

I could see the land from a distance. Once The Keeper left The First Pillar, the entrance disappeared. Quisling’s army of inhabitants collapsed into the dark smoke where they marched, and the presence of Them disappeared back into The Other In Between.

The Keeper then showed me his return to Everville and the land of the Fron. From that moment forward, The Keeper would reside in the Workshop of the Keepers in the underground catacombs of Everville, forever protecting its inhabitants as well as distant lands such as Easton Falls.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 30

THE ROUNDABOUT PART 2

I had returned to The Roundabout at the conclusion of the first half. My bo staff had acted in my stead, but Anika and Dante knew something was different about me. While we had won the battle of the bo staffs, we had lost the other two games. Our team had come in third place and we would need to come in a close second in the next half if we were going to make it to the final match.

The vision of The Keeper’s journey and transformation had deeply moved me. It made The Roundabout seem trivial and small. My brief fascination with winning the competition, for a moment, seemed irrelevant by comparison. There was, though, some importance to this seemingly juvenile exercise. The Keeper and Cleophas had hinted at it before. There was a connection between our worlds, and the evil that represented the most recent incursion was even greater than the evil that existed during the time of Carwyn. Winning The Roundabout was not a goal without a purpose. There were answers that needed to be revealed, and I had a feeling that many of those answers would be revealed at the conclusion of the games and in The Hamptons, assuming I was afforded the opportunity of visiting.

The second half of the games was more of my forte. The practice that Zee had required of us also made me even more formidable when it came to battles of the mind.

For now, though, I focused on finishing my lunch. Food always tasted better after expending a lot of energy, and my body was taxed more than one would expect from just a mental journey. I savored every bite as my body recharged itself with much needed fuel.

I sat down the last five minutes of the break doing absolutely nothing. I was hoping to let my mind wander to other things without the unnecessary preoccupation of the stress of The Roundabout or its eventual outcome. I wanted enough mental recuperation in order to be at my best during the second half of the games. I tried to put time out of my mind, as well, but that was a lot easier said than done.

Once again, each team was called to the outside arena. Cheers and applause greeted us as we walked onto the outside grounds. Professor Samil called the scores of each of the teams. Drusilla and Dante’s team were in first place. Our team was behind the second place team by more than 20 points.

The conch shell blew announcing the start to the second half of The Roundabout, and each team went to their designated area. This time, it was our team that got to sit out the first match. It was nice to have a break for a change. It also let me regroup and find out what I had missed.

The first game in the second set required each team member to go into a separate maze. They would be scored on time and completion. If a team member failed to complete the maze within the maximum time allotted, that team member would get zero points.

I watched the first match with eager anticipation. It was a mental game as much as it was a physical one. The players moved in and out, left and right, backwards and forwards, until they felt they were progressing towards the exit. A few players took a little extra time as a result of being sidetracked into the wrong area of the maze. No player got lost, and they all made it successfully to the other side.

Our team had an opportunity to pick up points in this game if we did well. I felt physically and mentally prepared for the challenge. The few moments I had before our turn had worked wonders in putting my mind and ease, and I felt good about our prospects.

Each of us entered our own maze, so we were unable to see the progress of our teammates. That was the most nerve-wracking aspect of the game.

The moment the game began, I moved with utter swiftness. I felt an assuredness I had not felt before. I closed my eyes. As I did, I could see the maze in my mind. One corner after another, I moved through the maze with breathtaking speed. As I ran with my eyes closed, I could see the Dark Forest. The maze became an abstraction of the trees and the forest where the trees resided.

I stepped forward and opened my eyes. I had completed the maze. It was a record time, not just this game but for all games since the very first Roundabout. I had achieved the high score, a perfect score. The crowd erupted at the sight of the first such success in 87 years, and I allowed myself a moment to take it in. If we finished in a tie at the end of the second half, my score would be the tiebreaker.

I was happy I received the high score, but that did not guarantee our win. My first thought was how my other teammates had done. Zee made it out next, and then I waited breathlessly for our other teammates. Each second seemed to last an eternity. Finally, they had all made it out.

I watched the other teams play, but my mind was on the final score. Each team completed the maze, but each of them were slower than we had been. Finally, the last team exited the maze and the score was revealed. We came in first and cut our deficit by more than half. If we did reasonably well in the next two games, we could win this thing.

The final two games required significant focus, the next one being mental mind. Mental mind was a game of thought anticipation. Each team was given a choice of five categories and the other team members had to anticipate the next three words of the team member’s thoughts. The game was easy to practice for if you knew the categories, but they were always obscure and there were always limitations announced at the last minute.

Mental mind lent itself to cheating, as it was very easy to craft a set of canned choices. That was the technique that many of the teams used even though it was technically against the rules. One thing that I learned from our practice was that when the possibility of cheating was set aside, the value from practice was far more significant.

We watched each match. A few used the technique, and others did not. Glimmers of brilliance presented themselves, but they were always from the losing team. The winning teams were canned, professional, and sleek; they were, however, bereft of originality and truth. Our team was called. Each team member was put to the test. Our practice paid off. We did exceptionally well and scored the high score for the game. The final game of part two was about to begin. We were a mere point behind second place.

The next game was positioning. Positioning required the opposite team to place explicit heavy objects in certain target locations in a specific order. The opposing team would then have to remember the location and timing of the placement and then duplicate it. It required speed, strength, and memory.

Object by object, group by group, the game continued. It was simple and straightforward, but it was also a lot more challenging than it sounded. We had the high score for correct positioning but lost a few points on timing due to the heavy objects. Our group finished second and tied for second place overall.

We had done it! A second place tie overall meant that we were one of the two final teams to play in the finale. There was now just one game left to go, and it would be Drusilla’s team against ours.

The finale combined a game of riddles and another bo bout. The riddles would be asked first. Each team member was given a question by the opposing team, pre-approved before the match. We were to be judged based on whether the answer was correct and how long it took to solve the problem. The judges rated the riddles for difficulty, and they made sure everyone received the same level of difficulty for each round in the match.

The riddles were actually quite challenging, and had we not practiced I probably would not have been quick enough to answer in time.

The final riddle was asked, and our team was slightly behind. It would come down to the final bo bout.

The final bo bout was much more challenging because players fight more than one person, unlike the battle of the bo staffs. If a team member was struck more than once by the opponent’s bo, he was removed. One strike lost points and if a player was removed, the team lost triple points.

The beginning of the match sounded, and we stepped forward into the outside arena. Drusilla and Dante raised their bo staffs and within seconds had struck our fifth player, one time each. He was eliminated and we were down in points from the beginning, not to mention that we were now also down a player.

Anika approached Drusilla and swung her bo in the direction of her face. I hadn’t really noticed it before, but there was something about Drusilla that Anika didn’t like, and it was starting to show. Drusilla smirked, and then she easily rotated away from Anika making a swing towards Anika’s leg in the process. She nearly struck Anika but missed by a hair.

Zee joined the fight. Drusilla was being double-teamed but was holding her own against both of them. Joshua and I, however, were outnumbered by they rest of Drusilla’s team. Joshua bore the brunt of the attack, but defended himself well.

Each one of us continued fighting. All of our movements had improved since the battle of the bo staffs. Still, Zee and Drusilla held a slight edge in tactical skill. Zee shifted his position over to their weakest player and managed to land a strike. It was a brilliant maneuver.  Joshua and I quickly shifted our position to help Zee, and we were both able to land a blow. We had eliminated a player and were now even.

With the exit of the second player overall and the first player of Drusilla’s team, the dynamics of the game changed. We seemed to be fighting more as a solid unit than as individual team members. We stepped forward. It seemed everyone had the same idea and reflexes as our bo staffs moved in the same direction.

Then something happened once our bos collided. The symbols written of the sides of each bo began to glimmer. Then I could clearly see images of each member’s face, the symbols, and a land surrounding both Everville and The Other In Between. The collision of the bos revealed that each of the eight lands had their own symbols. Each team member’s bo staff had the symbols of that land.

With each flash, my mind was flooded with more images and apparent memories from the inhabitants of each land. We all had some connection to one of the surrounding lands in Everville. I still wasn’t sure what that connection was, but at least I knew where to start.

After the final of the eight lands surrounding Everville flashed before my mind, I thought I caught an image of all the lands at once. I tried to get the image back, but it disappeared before I had the chance.

Once the image completely disappeared, I felt a jolt of energy pass through my body. Before I even had a chance to think, my body and my bo reacted. I twirled my bo and struck my opponents with surprising ferocity. In seconds, I had eliminated two of their teammates. The timer sounded. We had won The Roundabout.

The crowd erupted into applause. The fans poured onto the arena leaving the benches looking lonely and barren. We floated into the air as the arms of the crowd propelled us above the ground.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 31

THE HAMPTONS

Professor Samil’s Hamptons estate was even more than it was hyped up to be. It was immaculate, breathtaking, and fit for a king. The estate did an amazing job of blending both old and new with seamless finesse. It combined the best of both worlds in more than one respect. Spiral staircases have at all times been considered classic and didn’t always fit with postmodern mansions, but not in this case. It was enormous yet cozy. It was ornate but did not feel overly showy. It was aristocratic yet practical. The architects of this work of art were wise beyond their own understanding, and it showed.

The winners and their guests, were always greeted with dinner upon their evening arrival. Multiple main courses were a necessity. New England shellfish was always a staple. Steak and lobster were both plentiful. Japanese, Nepalese, French, and Egyptian were just a few of the exotic choices available. Burgers and fries were also present, and they were no ordinary burgers and fries. I’m certain that it was the best burger I’d ever had in my entire life. I thought that I’d never experience the savory flavors again, juicy and tender with a sauce that was indescribable. For dessert, there were too many choices to remember.

I’m partial to Japanese as well as burgers and fries. I had both, but skipped dessert. I must say that it was the best meal I ever had the pleasure to enjoy. There was no close second. That alone was worth the visit. I tried my very best not to overindulge, but I didn’t quite follow through on that one. I’m not sure if Cleophas would have approved, but I decided to chance it.

After dinner, we were shown to our rooms. The master bedroom of my parents’ house could have fit into the smallest bathroom on the estate. The Victorian style beds were larger than any I had ever seen. I could drown in the bed sheeting and spread. It was all silk and goose down. The pillows were perfectly sized and felt more comfortable than any pillow I had ever slept on. I’m sure my mother’s back would greatly appreciate one of these!

After getting ready for bed, I pulled the cord on the light leaving the room in darkness. Within moments after my head hit the pillow, I had fallen into a very deep sleep.

Faster and faster I fell into a seemingly endless space. There was no sky, only purple smoke and flashing lightning all around me. My body was tumbling out of control. There seemed to be no pattern or reason for what was happening. My dream was more disturbing than usual, so much so that it immediately woke me, not long after I had fallen asleep.

After waking up from the nightmare, the feeling of being watched was overwhelming, and I felt the compulsion to peel away the curtain. I did so, very carefully and cautiously. Not wanting to be noticed sneaking a glance into the night for fear of reprisal, I made sure no one could see me. I started from the side of the curtain, and then I slowly increased the space between the curtain and the window to see if I could make out any noticeable shapes or features. After finally getting up the courage, I flung open the curtains. Nothing! There was nothing at all unusual. I still had the sense, though, that I was being watched.

For the second time that night, I snuggled up against the remarkably comfortable sheeting and pillows, closed my eyes, and drifted away into the dream world. This time though, there was nothing unusual. I slept well.

I woke up naturally with no alarm clock. The sunrise often was enough to get me out of bed. After pulling back the curtains to give the outside a second look, I could see there was nothing out of the ordinary. There was, however, the beautiful ocean gently meeting the shore next to the estate.

I took my time brushing my teeth, taking a shower, and getting dressed before heading downstairs. Drusilla and Zee were already eating breakfast that had been prepared by some of Professor Samil’s house staff. Of course, Zee had invited Drusilla, and I had invited Dante since they were on the losing team. Professor Samil was also present and watching us drool over another impossibly brilliant meal.

I walked around the large table that was prepared in a buffet style as I decided about what to devour. It all looked good. Belgian waffles lightly browned with powdered sugar, macadamia nuts, and maple sugar as toppings; blueberry pancakes; crab cakes benedict; and a host of other choices were available as well.

We all took our time slowly getting stuffed and chatting about nothing particularly important. It was nice to have a morning where we could look forward to a little bit of relaxation. After we had our fill of breakfast, Professor Samil offered to show us around the estate.

Professor Samil took us to each room. There were so many rooms that I lost count. They all had a special purpose. The last couple of rooms were much more interesting than those before them, however.  He had a room filled with different objects and artifacts. Some of them looked remarkably similar to the ones in the back room at the Echo Club. It gave me an unnerving feeling that I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but it was definitely there.

The last room he showed us was his private art studio. It wasn’t a single room but rather multiple rooms connected into a rather large gallery. He had at least 50 paintings, some of which he had shown us in class. Just then, I noticed it; it was the same painting that had captivated my attention in class.

Instantly the painting completely consumed all of my thought processes, and my surroundings melted away. The details of the painting once again stood out with fantastic clarity. There was a hidden picture in plain sight, much like pictures in an optical illusion; only this picture was a living and moving representation of what was happening in Everville.

It was not as if you could walk into the painting. That was not what this was, but it was a connection, a kind of window. It was a portal where thoughts, energy, darkness, or light could seep in. Given the training at the Echo Club, it seemed this was probably not the only place where that could happen. Potentially any object could find a connection or pathway of influence, but some objects had more influence than others. Whatever the reason, this painting was exceptional in that regard.

After Professor Samil had finished the tour, Zee and Drusilla went off to the shore. Anika, Dante, and I went back to the gallery to look at some of the paintings. It took a while longer, but Anika and Dante finally saw what I had seen and felt what I had felt. I had already discovered that the eight of us were connected to the eight lands surrounding Everville, but it seemed as if Professor Samil had a connection as well.

Then they felt something I had not. Anika and Dante felt energy being pulled from their bodies into Everville. The energy was being drawn to the Land of the Fron and into the residence of Toe. They could see Toe was meeting with The Keeper and some of the other villagers. The villagers were having what looked like a very important and disconcerting conversation about the incursion and the battle brewing on all fronts. Anika and Dante felt the sense of urgency that I had felt for the last few weeks, only more so. They started to feel drained. We had to leave before Anika and Dante were completely exhausted, and we did.

The weekend had been quite refreshing, but there was an eerie feeling that was starting to creep over me. The periodic feelings of being watched, the connection to the painting, and something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on gave me the sense that there was a foreboding presence waiting to strike.

The time had arrived for us to leave. A few hours before we left, the sun became somewhat hidden beneath the clouds. By the time we had all of our bags packed and ready to go, the sun was gone and the sky was completely overcast. As we started to drive together back to the university, the clouds got thicker and the wind picked up in strength.

A powerful nor’easter was brewing off the Carolinas and headed in our direction. It had come rather suddenly and would hit sometime after midnight. We had to hurry if we were going to make it back before the worst of the storm would hit.

We had made it back just in time before torrents of rain turned the campus into a massive pond. We each went to our dorms and patiently waited out the storm for the rest of the night.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 32

THE CAFÉ

The next day most places on campus lost power, with the exception of the few places that had a generator. The Café was among them. Being one of the only places with power made the café even busier than it usually was. The brunt of the storm had passed but it was still raining, and it was getting colder. The rain continued to periodically pelt against the window making the inside of the café even more inviting and the outside less so.

Anika, Dante, and I sat down at one of the larger tables after we got our coffee. While chatting, we noticed the barista had been looking over in our direction, then turning away each time we noticed him. We weren’t sure if he was listening intently about what we were saying or if he had something he wanted to tell us; but after about 20 minutes he walked over and asked us to follow him into the back room.

“You see, this has happened before.”

“What has?” I asked, wondering what he was referring to.

“This crazy weather. It started earlier in the semester, and it’s starting again.”

There were bo staffs hanging on the wall as well as other objects and artifacts. This was the bo-making room Zee had referred to when we were training for The Roundabout.

“This is Zee’s grandfather.”

He pointed to a small black and white portrait. It looked exactly like Zee, just like the one in the Art Club.

“Many years after the founding of the college, strange things started happening. It was more than just the weather. Several people spoke of strange feelings and visions. A few people went into comas and never woke up. Shortly after that, Cleophas joined the Echo Club and Zee’s father joined the Art Club. That’s when the bo-making started and when The Roundabout got really popular.”

Part of the puzzle was finally starting to come together. It seemed clear that the events he spoke of were somehow tied to the incursion that led to Carwyn becoming The Keeper. I then realized that if things in our world were that affected in the earlier incursion, we were likely to see a much more severe outcome this time due to the severity of the current breach in Everville.

At that moment, I remembered that Toe was having an urgent meeting with the villagers and The Keeper in the Land of the Fron. I transported myself to Everville. This time, it was not just my mind. I had physically transported myself.

Toe started talking about the time when he was tricked by Them and how he lost his children and wife Nissa to The Other In Between.

“Them convinced me that our world would come to an end if we did not join Them. I was told that this was why my father Quisling started helping Them.  Them said if I convinced enough Fron to join Them that the land of the Fron would be spared after the other seven worlds surrounding Everville have been taken, but the Land of the Fron would still be protected by Them against the outside influences. Them convinced me we needed a strong protector and The Keepers would not be able to save us.

“I believed Them. I convinced several dozen Fron to agree and join forces in secret. After that, Them gained significant power and started convincing other inhabitants in the other seven lands to do the same thing. They were each promised they would remain free.  Once inhabitants from each of the eight lands were convinced, that’s when Them started taking Fron at will, as well as inhabitants of the other lands, and sending them to The Other In Between. The Other In Between had grown tremendously while more and more of our people went missing.

“After that, I tried to convince the Fron that agreed to work with Them to stop, but it was too late. They were convinced and had already been corrupted by Them. You could sense the darkness in their hearts. No matter how hard I tried, it was no use.”

The Keeper looked at me and said, “The mountain dwellers have joined forces with Them. As we speak, the army of the mountain dwellers has united with the army of the inhabitants of Dark Forest. The portal separating the Deep Woods from the realms surrounding The Other In Between has weakened.

“The Keepers will have to open the portal to let the Fron as well as those willing from the other lands surrounding Everville to cross over through the brutal desert and stop the armies of Them in The Valley of Darkness. We alone must protect Everville and, by extension, your realm as well. If we fail, the darkness from The Other In Between will seep into your world and destroy everything as you know it.

“The Valley of Darkness is the first front we must win, but Them have armies preparing to invade all eight lands from each of the portals. If we can stop Them in The Valley of Darkness, we can regroup and devise a plan to stop Them in the other lands, as well.

“The Fron will fight, but you will need to cross over and reach The First Pillar. If you are successful in convincing The First Pillar, you may be able to stop the armies from reaching the Deep Woods. For now that is the only hope I have. You won’t be able to do it alone, and your friends Anika and Dante do not possess the ability to travel realms. They can, however, assist you in your journey. They can guide you along the way and sometimes more. You must have Cleophas train you on those methods before you journey back to Everville.”

I was still unclear as to why The First Pillar had let The Keeper leave The Valley of Darkness or what would be asked of me if I made it to The First Pillar.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 33

TRAINING.

By the time I had returned to Earth and we had reached The Echo Club, the wind and rain had once again increased. The wind was howling with such violence that its sound penetrated the thick walls that surrounded us. We walked into the inner room of the club, and the sound of the wind finally abated. That did not, however, give us any additional comfort as the quiet allowed us time to reflect on the severity of the situation and the short time we had left to stop the breach.

Cleophas took out a couple of metallic objects and two large paintings that were behind the bookshelves. The objects were cold, heavy spheres about the size of a softball. They were light grey with a shiny surface.

“When Owen journeys to Everville and travels to The First Pillar, he will be guided only by his memories and your thoughts. You must help lead him to the pillar. You will be his eyes where he cannot see and his ears when he cannot hear. You must warn him of upcoming dangers so that he can evade the enemies that seek to destroy him and help him overcome obstacles that may await Owen along his journey, but there is more. With enough effort, you will be able to send him your energy and strength. You can provide him with strength when he needs to fight, you can help heal him when he is injured, and you can give his mind clarity and direction when he is confused or afraid.

“Be warned, this comes at a cost. The energy and strength you give him will come at your expense so be very prudent in how much you give him. If you give too much, you will become weak. If you continue to give more energy when you are in a weakened state, it’s possible you might not survive.”

Cleophas positioned the paintings directly in front of Anika and Dante. The paintings were each very different, but they had the same special connection to Everville as the one we had seen at Professor Samil’s estate in the Hamptons.

“The spheres that you see were specially crafted by melting many objects together that had demonstrated an especially strong link to other times and places. You must not let the power overwhelm you but let it flow through you. Remember to put out of your mind the multitude of thoughts so you can let the overall movement of energy run through you like a flowing stream.

“Once you feel the power, focus your mind on the painting until you can see Everville and the location of Owen. You must then direct your thoughts to positive memories, memories of events when you had overcome difficult obstacles and made the right choice even though it may have seemed difficult at the time. This will provide you with the most efficient use of your energy and the best hope of helping Owen.”

Cleophas held each sphere in his hand and gently placed them in the palms of Anika and Dante. Anika’s entire body trembled when the sphere touched her hand. She felt a jolt of energy rush through her. The feeling was so intense she was forced to sit down. Slowly, she regained her composure and the intense feeling abated.

Dante was once again nearly knocked down to the floor, but he managed to steady his knees just enough to remain standing. His body felt as if he were preparing to take the stage to make a presentation in front of a large audience. He felt nervous, jittery, and anxious. It took a while longer, but eventually he was able to calm his body and mind enough to listen to what Cleophas was about to say.

“Hold the spheres in your hand now and relax your mind. Focus on the painting in front of you and think about the land of Everville.”

Anika looked at the painting intently as she held the sphere in her hand. Piece by piece the painting started to move. It was subtle at first, and then the painting took on a life of its own. She looked deeper into the painting until she could see Everville.

Finally, Dante could see into Everville and the movement of the army of Fron. It was a little fuzzy at first, but over time he came to see clearly as the Fron talked amongst themselves.

The underground catacombs of Everville were filled with Fron, other species, and all sorts of different creatures. Some of the creatures were used like horses, while other slightly more ominous looking ones were intended for active participation in war. The Keeper had made the portal much larger in order to transport the army of Fron and those fighting with them. Thousands upon thousands of Fron were waiting by the portal, waiting to cross over to the brutal desert and travel through The Valley of Darkness and into the Dark Forest. They took up all the space in the catacombs and spilled out into the Deep Woods and farther into the land of the Fron.

They were carrying different types of war machines, mechanisms, and contraptions. Some of them I had seen before, others were completely novel. They had taken up just about all the space in the catacombs and were accompanied by several Keepers.

Even in the face of such a daunting task, the Fron remained upbeat and optimistic. A few of the Fron were even humming songs as they waited to cross through the portal. Dante could see a few of the Fron taking interesting looking pastries from a large stash of food that one of the creatures was carrying on its back. One of them stuffed an oversized pastry into his mouth. It didn’t completely fit, allowing a few crumbs to fall to the floor. A nearby marmook saw the crumbs and quickly picked them up, eating them before anyone else had the chance to notice their presence.

The armies of the Fron were waiting for my arrival and I could not hold off much longer.

Cleophas gently removed the spheres from Anika and Dante’s hands. He called in Avery to assist him.

“Owen will need to enter the realm of the Everville very shortly. With every moment that passes, the breach grows larger and the darkness from The Other In Between seeps into this world.”

The two grad students left the inner room to get Avery and the other members of the Echo Club. When they opened the doors, the noise from the outside had grown substantially. I could hear what sounded like large objects banging against building walls.

Just then, a large branch collided with the window shattering it into pieces. The wind and rain poured into the room with relentless force. Chairs and tables were knocked out of place, and smaller objects were hurled by the wind against the wall and turned into projectiles that were coming precariously close to the people in the room.

“Hurry, hurry, we don’t have much time!”

Cleophas signaled for everyone to come into the inner room. I could see larger objects outside being carried by the wind. Some of the objects hovered in place while others were thrown into nearby buildings and structures. The wind was reaching the upper bounds of a hurricane, and the weather was acting like nothing I had ever seen before. It was unprecedented.

Avery and the rest of the Echo Club quickly entered the room and closed the doors. We had precious little time and decided not to waste anymore. With the acknowledgment from Cleophas, Anika, and Dante, I transported myself, mind and body, to the underground catacombs in Everville.

A small contingent of Fron, along with a few creatures and some war machines, assembled near my position. We would leave about a third of the way from the front and break off from the main army once we got past the underground tunnels beneath the brutal desert and into The Valley of Darkness.

The Keeper signaled for the army to enter the portal. The time had arrived. The army in front of me passed through the portal, then it was my turn to step through.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 34

OWEN’S JOURNEY PART I

I stepped through the portal and into the barren desert. In mere seconds, the searing heat had warmed my skin to a nearly unbearable level. The army of the Fron that waited in front of me was also visibly agitated from the intense beating of the sun’s rays and anxiously awaited their transport underground.

The Keeper had alerted the giants to our arrival. Apparently there were a lot more giants beneath the brutal desert than there were during the first major breach. Hundreds upon hundreds of massive trunk-like structures pierced the desert floor, leaving sunken holes as far as the eye could see. One by one, the humungous arms of the giants grabbed each creature and soldier of the Fron army pulling them into the underground tunnels. The process resembled an automated factory assembly line. The arms were moving with such precision and efficiency, it was truly a sight to behold.

The army continued moving forward as the soldiers in front were carried down below. The heat was getting to me. I nearly passed out from the suffocating warm air and sunburned skin that I had developed during my brief stay. Without a moment to spare, a large forearm broke through the desert soil. The fingers of the giant’s hand that grabbed me were each nearly equal to my size. The fingers closed around me and I was enveloped by the soil. The rocks and soil scratched my sunburned skin as I was pulled beneath the ground, but it was preferable to the oppressive heat above the surface.

The giants had enlarged the tunnels to allow for the passage of the army and had destroyed their own homes in the process, but they were more than willing to do whatever it took to assist the army of the Fron.

The giants passed me along, one giant at a time, until I had arrived at a large opening that led to the underground river. The rest of the soldiers stood in wait until the entire army had made it through and the giants had finished carrying down the armor and weapons.

After all the equipment had been brought below ground, the army began boarding long, tall, narrow boats that the giants constructed at the instruction of The Keeper.

Back on campus at Easton Falls, Anika and Dante took hold of the spheres and peered into the paintings. They put what was happening around them, including the violent wind and rain that was beating down on the university, out of their minds. They let the energy from the spheres and the memories from their past guide them.

They saw the army of the Fron boarding the ships near the underground river, and then they could see the mountain dwellers. The mountain dwellers had a small contingent lying in wait in the caves beneath The Valley of Darkness, but the larger army was above the valley and on the other side of the mountain, hidden from view.

The mountain dwellers were in the front of the army, riding on the backs of the massive dog-like creatures. They had fastened the ropes of invisibility around themselves as well as the creatures. At a moment of their choosing, they were going to jump from the cliffs of the concave valley wall onto the valley floor and attack the army of the Fron.

The army of the inhabitants of the Dark Forest amassed behind the mountain dwellers on the mountaintop. They numbered in the hundreds of thousands. All sorts of hideous looking creatures, ogres, and deformed animals stood by their side waiting to pounce. Several different species of flying beasts flew overhead, eagerly waiting to pick the flesh of the fallen soldiers once the battle had begun.

Anika and Dante could see the army stretching all the way along the mountaintop until the mountain pass. They had constructed a makeshift bridge in order to transport the massive horde. The army of the inhabitants continued well beyond the pass extending deep into the Dark Forest. The size and enormity of the army was truly incomprehensible.

Anika and Dante were able to send me a mental image of what they saw, and I informed the army of Fron. From that point on I could see everything they were able to see.

The Everville army was concerned but not surprised. We discussed our strategy to detach from the main unit so that we could sneak across the valley floor to the band of trees. We would wait until the rest of the mountain dwellers had jumped to the valley floor then we would climb the concave wall. We had only a few ropes of invisibility that the giants had been able to acquire from the valley, but it would be enough to get a few of us out of the valley and onto the mountaintop. The heat of war would mask any sounds we made and prevent the mountain dwellers from locating our position, but it would be significantly more dangerous for us once we reached the mountaintop.

My concern was not for myself but rather the army of the Fron. While they had help from the surrounding lands of Everville, the army of the inhabitants of the Dark Forest vastly outnumbered them. Even if I succeeded in reaching The First Pillar and found a way to stop the first front of the breach and the army of the inhabitants, it seemed inevitable that the Fron would take massive casualties. I further worried for my friends, concerned that they might not be able to stand the battle.

Back behind the portal in the underground catacombs of Everville, The Keeper and the other Keepers were taking the necessary precautions in The Keeper’s Workshop. They had closed the portal once the army had crossed, but darkness from Them and The Other In Between was able to periodically seep through. One of the Keepers, however, was missing. It was the same Keeper I had seen when I was earlier introduced to the Fron and the inhabitants of Everville.

The missing Keeper was above ground in a village home with the Fron that had joined forces with Them. They were in a far-off corner of the Land of the Fron bordering the Deep Woods. The cooperation of the other Keeper had given Them the greatest power and leverage to weaken the portal to Everville, the other surrounding lands, and the earthly realm. It was the assistance of this Keeper that had turned the balance.

There was, however, another willing agent of Them in Easton Falls.

Samil had brought the painting that held a strong connection to Everville back to his Easton Falls estate. He was alone and watching the events unfold in The Valley of Darkness through the painting just as Anika and Dante were. It was Samil who was in a similar position as I during the earlier breach.

At the time of the breach, Samil’s arrogance prevented him from assisting the Keepers in stopping the darkness from seeping into the Land of the Fron. Now he had joined forces with the other Keeper to provide assistance to the armies of Them as they sought to overtake Everville. Samil had lost the ability to transport himself to Everville, but he still had the power to send energy to the armies of Them.

The truth had finally unfolded. The cowardly and weak had betrayed those that had supported them the most. Samil, the other Keeper, and a small contingent of Fron had joined forces with Them and were working together to undermine the efforts of the Keepers in protecting Everville and the earthly realm from the darkness in other times and places.

Anika and Dante watched carefully as the army of Fron continued boarding the ships on the underground river. The darkness from Them had grown and emboldened the lesser creatures that inhabited the underground river and The Valley of Darkness.

As the first boat was ready to push off, a large river serpent rose up out of the river and attacked one of the Fron. In one bite, the serpent bit into the Fron then swallowed him whole. Several of the Fron took out their long swords and cut the serpent in half. They pulled the Fron out of the serpent, but it was too late. The Fron lay there on the bottom of the boat, dead from his injuries.

Samil watched through the painting at Easton Falls. His once kind heart had turned bitter after failing to stop the prior breach. He resented The Keeper who had done what he could not do. His jealousy and resentment had pushed him toward the direction of Them. His mind was so blinded by his hatred and arrogance that he was actually deriving enjoyment from the death of the Fron. His face revealed a small grin as he watched the soldiers come to the Fron’s aid. He was happy to see their misery and wished he could see more.

It was a harbinger of things to come and likely the first of many casualties the army of Fron would suffer in the battle against Them and the massive armies from The Other In Between. The Fron were resilient and determined, but they were also deeply saddened by the loss of one their own. Unfortunately, we had no time to stop and mourn the dead. We had to keep moving. The breach was getting larger and the ability to stop the forces of Them would only diminish over time.

The first boat filled with the Fron’s army began floating down the river. It was followed by another, then another, and yet another. Dozens upon dozens of the boats floated down the underground river towards to the opening of The Valley of Darkness. The first boat held the captain of the army as well as Toe. They kept a close eye out for the opening of the tunnel and made sure the trailing boats stayed close behind. They would need to stop and set up just before exiting the tunnel to prepare for the battle. Once the first boat was seen, it would alert the mountain dwellers and the army of Them to the arrival of the army of Fron.

We continued down the river following not too far behind the lead boat. The Fron stood guard by the sides of the boat making sure any emboldened serpents would be struck down before they had a chance to strike. We approached the entrance, and the lead boat slowed its pace.

I left the boat with a small contingent of Fron that would accompany me along the path to the band of vegetation. As quietly as possible, we left the tunnel and quickly walked towards the sides of the valley. Behind us, most of the Fron exited the boats and lined up along the pathway on the side of the tunnel just before the entrance to the valley.

Ewan was still the head of the mountain dwellers, but he had made a strategic decision that it was time to join forces with Them to avoid being taken over. It was a distinction without a difference and one in time he would come to regret.

The Fron could not see the mountain dwellers that led the front of the army because of their ropes of invisibility, but luckily Anika and Dante’s view through the portal alerted me to their locations. I directed the Fron with my hand to follow me on the right side of the valley just before we put on our ropes. We tied the ropes to ourselves connecting each of us together in order to stay aware of each other’s position. We continued beyond halfway to where we were going to start our ascent. We had to wait for the start of the battle before we progressed any further.

The captain of the Fron army decided to exit the tunnels. With that, the mountain dwellers were alerted to their presence and notified the rest of the armies of Them. The mountain dwellers did not want any of the Fron escaping back through the tunnels, so they waited until all the Fron they could see had existed in the hopes of drawing them all out into The Valley of Darkness. With the focus of the mountain dwellers on the Fron, we decided to continue moving forward.

Once the last of the Fron had left the tunnel, Ewan instructed the mountain dwellers to jump towards the valley floor. Ewan jumped first, and then the rest of them followed. Just before they landed, the rope of invisibility slowed their descent and landing. After the last of the mountain dwellers that were riding the dog-like creatures arrived at the valley floor, they started their race towards the army of the Fron.

The large animals that were carrying the mountain dwellers were incredibly strong and were not slowed down by their new masters. Instead, they approached the army of the Fron with greater swiftness than they had approached The Keeper when he was in the valley. It didn’t seem possible that the creatures could be any more possessed than what was already in their nature, but the influence of Them had a clear and measurable effect.

Toe and the captain of the Fron army had instructed a small group of Fron to stay hidden within the caves along with several massive fire-throwing, catapulting contraptions that they would use against the army once they were in reach. They were positioned behind a couple of empty boats just out of view of the mountain dwellers. When he gave the order, they would emerge from behind the empty boats and launch as many large fire-covered tar balls in the direction of the mountain dwellers as possible.

The Fron army could not see the first wave of mountain dwellers, but they could hear the creatures that they were riding. The sounds of the animals grew louder and louder. They could hear the vicious, bone-chilling snarls and growls getting ever so close. The first wave of the mountain dwellers was not more than a few hundred yards away from the entrance.

With the loud noise from the approaching mountain dwellers acting as cover, we took the opportunity to run as quickly as possible to the band of vegetation. It was difficult to run while not being able to see one another, and we kept stumbling upon ourselves as we continued along the way. We were out of breath but relatively unscathed from the daring run. We collected our gear and started our ascent up the concave valley wall towards the mountaintop.

Anika and Dante watched intently, readying themselves to assist me at any given moment. Through their eyes, I could see a small opening on the mountaintop near the edge of the cliff. Slowly and carefully, I assisted the Fron over the mountaintop. We walked just far enough away from the cliff edge where we could still see the army of the Fron.

The mountain dwellers were approaching the entrance. The captain of the Fron army signaled the boats. The catapults launched the first volley of fireballs. The true war had begun.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 35

OWEN’S JOURNEY PART 2

The Keepers, along with Sako and a few other Fron, watched through the portal in The Keeper’s Workshop. They had to constantly repair the breaches that were opening up on the portal. They were getting longer and more frequent. The Keeper used all the tools at his disposal to shore up the portal in the event soldiers from the army of Them broke through the portal. All the special devices, powerful objects, energy, and connections from other times and places were ready to defend Everville from the pending onslaught from the dark soldiers.

Likewise, the other Keeper and the cowardly Fron that had joined Them were also watching, as was Samil from his estate in Easton Falls. They were both sending energy to the mountain dwellers and the army of Them in the hopes of a quick annihilation of the Fron. Anika and Dante, however, waited with patience to assist me at the time of my greatest need.

I could not wait any longer to see the outcome of the battle. We had to move forward. The second front of the army of Them and the inhabitants of the Dark Forest left little room to maneuver around the mountaintop, but we moved as best we could. Occasionally, the invisible Fron would accidentally bump into one of the soldiers but remained undetected. The soldiers paid little attention to the offending Fron as the density of the army lent itself to frequent collisions.

The volley of fireballs landed squarely in the midst of the mountain dwellers’ position. The first fireball landed, colliding with several of the creatures and half a dozen mountain dwellers. The creatures ran towards the river to quench the flames that lit up their body fur. The ropes burned, losing their power and revealing the dead and dying mountain dwellers that were victims of the first strike.

The Fron launched a second set of fireballs and then a third. The bodies of the creatures began to pile up in the river, making it difficult for the other animals to reach the water in time. The fire began to burn, deforming the creatures that were hit by the successive rounds of fireballs. The stench from the burning flesh became suffocating, gradually drifting in the direction of the Fron.

Hundreds of mountain dwellers continued to advance, just waiting for the last fireball to make the push into the front lines. The number of the dead mountain dwellers and the animals they rode continued to pile up, but the situation quickly changed once the last fireball was hurled in their direction.

The small contingent of mountain dwellers that had taken cover under the valley caves now came out from hiding in full view. They were expert bowmen and lined up in succession to take aim at the Fron. With the first round of arrows that raced in the air, hundreds of Fron were hit. The arrows pierced the flesh of many and killed many more.

I could see the unfolding battle through the eyes of my friends, but I had to move forward. Once the final round of arrows was launched, the second wave of the army would pour from the mountaintop and race down the valley floor. We had precious little time to reach The First Pillar and find a resolution. We moved with impressive speed along the mountaintop, nearly stumbling off the edge on occasion.

Anika and Dante continued to watch over me as I continued along my journey. We had to reach the mountain pass in short order, but we could not make it across the bridge. The supporting Fron and I would have to scale the face of both sides of the mountain pass in order to get around the bridge. There was nothing I could do to speed up the journey, and it meant many good Fron would die in battle along the way.

The ropes would protect us and slow our ascent in the event of a steep fall, but large protruding rocks and branches still presented a danger if we did fall. We quickly descended the face of the mountain at the pass, trying our best not to slip in the process. Just before we reached the bottom of the crevasse, I slipped and fell back hitting my head on one of the large stones.

Anika and Dante quickly channeled their energy to me, giving me as much strength as I needed to prevent any serious damage. Fortunately, the injury was minor and it did not require much. We continued across the bottom of the crevasse and started the ascent up the other side.

Once we reached the other side and the top of the next mountain face, we quickly hurried down the mountain towards the Dark Forest. The number of soldiers waiting on the other side was still vast, but the numbers thinned out as they continued in the direction of the forest. About halfway between the mountain pass and the forest, we were able to run. We were still invisible and had to limit our speed, but it was a welcome change.

Back at the entrance to The Valley of Darkness, the army of Fron had been reduced by a third due to deaths from the arrows. Finally, though, the arrows stopped. The brief silence signaled the next phase of the battle and with it the descent of the second wave of the army of Them.

Tens of thousands of soldiers from the inhabitants of the Dark Forest and surrounding lands poured into the valley. The Fron separated on each side of the river allowed the giants to climb through the tunnels and onto the valley floor. The giants ran towards the mountain dwellers and began indiscriminately smashing them one by one, but the giants could only do so much once the reinforcements from the second wave entered the valley floor. The Fron released the remaining creatures they had at their disposal into the valley to join the fight. It would buy them some time, but it was not nearly enough.

Several of the inhabitants and a few of the mountain dwellers were able to penetrate the army of the Fron and enter the tunnels. The tunnels were largely unprotected, as the Fron had needed all available manpower to assist in the battle. The soldiers that broke through, raced through the tunnels and the darkness from The Other In Between came alongside them. They speedily approached the entrance to the barren desert and to the portal leading to Everville. They were mere moments away. The Keepers braced for the worst as the approach of the soldiers loomed.

I continued running and finally reached the entrance of the Dark Forest. We could no longer remain hidden, as we needed illumination to see through the forest floor. The Fron took out their lighting sticks, and we raced along.

The enlistment of the soldiers from surrounding realms meant that the forest still had soldiers that were heading towards the front line of the battle, though they were spaced out rather far apart. Before we could reach the end of the forest, a few of the soldiers had taken notice. They alerted the other soldiers in the area and began chasing us.

Anika and Dante gave us just enough energy to outrun them. The soldiers continued to chase, but to no avail. We had reached the end of the forest and jumped over the ravine that separated it from the The First Pillar. I rushed through the entrance of The First Pillar as the Fron waited outside.

I hurried along the pathway leading through the center of the pillar; a figure appeared before me. The face was hidden from view.

“What do you seek?”

“I seek to stop the armies of Them from entering the portal to Everville. I want to save the army of the Fron from Them.”

“As I have told those before you, a great evil has caused the breach. It is always caused by a betrayal from those you know and collusion with the darkness that has placed your world in this predicament. What greater good do you offer to offset the great evil that is responsible?”

“I’m not sure what I can offer that qualifies as a greater good, but what do you propose?”

“Toe was largely responsible for turning many of the Fron towards Them. As a result, Them sent Nissa and their children to The Other In Between. If you can find the courage to sacrifice yourself and take the place of Toe’s family, the breach can be weakened for a short time, and the armies can be halted. You must understand that the darkness has become so pervasive that it, as of yet, cannot be completely stopped, but it will win you this battle.”

Anika and Dante watched in horror as they contemplated the loss of their friend. They knew the type of person I was, and they knew what decision I was going to make.

At the entrance of The Valley of Darkness, the army of Them had nearly overwhelmed the Fron. Creatures of various sizes and shapes fought with confidence and pleasure as they pushed back the Fron. The army of the Fron grew weak and had taken massive casualties. One of the creatures swung a large flail in the direction of Toe. The chain carried at its end a large spiked metal ball. The spiked ball at the end of the flail struck Toe with tremendous force, knocking him to the ground.

At that moment, Anika and Dante gave as much energy as they could to Toe and a few of the surrounding Fron. Samil and the other Keeper did the same to the army of Them. The two armies surged towards each other with renewed vigor. At the same time, I accepted the offer from The First Pillar and agreed to take the place of Nissa and her children in order to stop the breach. With that, the army of Them were broken.

I was transported to The Other In Between and Toe’s family was transported back to their village home in the Land of the Fron.

Anika and Dante had managed to prevent the death of Toe. He was still in serious condition, but he would survive. The army of the Fron began gathering their dead and began taking them back through the tunnels. Slowly they reached the portal and crossed back over into Everville. The giants did the same and retreated back to their home in the underground tunnels.

The armies of Them in The Valley of Darkness were weakened and no longer possessed, and the portal protecting Everville was reinforced.

The First Pillar had halted the advance of Them and prevented any further movement towards Everville. The army of Them and the inhabitants of the Dark Forest returned to the realms surrounding The Other In Between in shame and defeat.

Later, the injured but joyous Toe was brought to his village home and reunited with his family. The emotion that they experienced was indescribable. It was Toe’s betrayal that had resulted in their separation and the extended stay of his family in The Other In Between, but they had forgiven him.

The victory of the Fron was cause for celebration. The Keeper and Fron prepared a massive feast. It was the greatest feast ever thrown in the Land of the Fron. The Keepers, who were normally reserved and watchful, joined in with the Fron to celebrate the defeat of the evil forces that had nearly destroyed their land.

The victory was impressive, but it came at great cost. Two-thirds of the Fron lay dead. The Keeper and the Fron that had betrayed them were exiled to walk the brutal desert. More importantly, the battle was just one of many that would follow. The war was just beginning.

EVERVILLE CHAPTER 36

CONSEQUENCES.

I stood in the midst of the mindless horde that populated The Other In Between. The bodies of the horde moved in a disturbingly eerie manner. Their motion was expressionless and empty, a reflection of what their souls had become.

I stayed there for only a brief moment before The First Pillar brought me back.

“Your willingness to sacrifice yourself in order to stop the breach and save the army of Fron demonstrated great courage. One of the foundations of truth in the universe is that courage is required of any truly great species, and not just any courage. A lust for death and a willingness to die does not constitute courage. Courage is when you are willing to sacrifice your short-term desires for a greater purpose. Courage is when you are willing to live and endure suffering to achieve a greater end.”

The First Pillar showed me the eight realms surrounding The Other In Between and the eight lands above Everville. The Dark Forest was just one of those realms. In the other lands, The First Pillar showed me the armies that were preparing for war. Massive armies were being assembled. Large war machines were being constructed. Plans were being devised. It wouldn’t happen right away, but more battles had to be fought. More truths had to be uncovered. More secrets had to be revealed before the breach could be completely sealed and safety returned to Everville and the earthly realm.

The First Pillar transported me back to the inner room of the Echo Club. Anika looked like a ghost. The red color from her face had been completely lost. She was in shock. At the moment of my appearance, Anika ran towards me and squeezed me harder than I ever remembered being squeezed by anyone, and then she planted a great big kiss on my cheek.

“I’m so glad to see you, Owen! I thought you were lost forever to The Other In Between.”

I was pleased to see her as well, but the joy on her face quickly faded, and I wondered what the cause was.

I turned to look at Dante and saw him motionless on the floor. In his effort to save Toe from death, he had weakened himself more then he should have. Dante was alive but unconscious.

Cleophas and Avery did not have any good news to give. The last time this happened a few people suffered similar fates. Those left unconscious by overexertion through the portal remained that way for the rest of their lives.

“Anika,” I said. “We will find a way to bring Dante back. I promise you. He will not stay this way forever. We will find a solution and bring him out of this. There must be a way, and I’m going to find it.”

She was still feeling the tremendous loss of Dante, but I was convincing. My words provided her the comfort she needed, and she was willing to assist me in doing whatever it took to save Dante from a life of a never-ending coma.

After coming to terms with what had happened, we collected ourselves and gathered our things. Cleophas opened the door to the main room in the Echo Club. It was completely destroyed. All of the windows and glass were shattered. Everything else had been strewn across the floor, drenched and battered.

Anika and I walked across campus in the direction of our dorms. What we saw was utter devastation. The magnificent trees that dotted the campus were now gone. The roofs were ripped off many of the buildings. The scene continued until we reached our own dorms, both of which were unharmed.

I walked towards my bed and collapsed. It was rare that I would fall asleep the moment I hit the bed, but this was one of those times. My body was exhausted, and it was forcing me to get some rest.

The next day I awoke, the daylight revealed a lot more damage that had been hidden by the night. The campus was in shambles, all the trees were uprooted, many of the roofs were missing, and the rooms that were exposed to the outside were gutted. The main structures, however, were still standing. The solid concrete, brick, and steel construction of the buildings protected the campus from most of the wrath that swept in from the unearthly weather that we had just experienced. It was a frightening experience for sure, but the students and school would pick up the pieces and move on.

Drusilla and Zee were at Professor Samil’s Easton Falls estate. The professor’s house staff found him collapsed on the floor in the front of the painting, devoid of life. Zee had a complicated relationship with his father. Now that his father was dead, though, all of those complications no longer mattered. Professor Samil was still his father, and his father was lying dead on the floor. Despite their differences, he was a hero to Zee as he always had been.

Professor Samil had given too much of himself to the armies of Them. His energy was drained to dangerously low levels during battle. His age and arrogance had gotten the better of him, and now his life was over.

Zee unconsciously vowed to be a worthy son, even though his father would no longer be alive to see it.

Meanwhile, in Everville, the Fron began burying their dead and paying their respects to the massive casualties that had been lost in the great battle. A resolve had taken hold over the villagers of the Fron. They would not let the darkness stop them from being who they were. They were a happy species, an optimistic species, and with the help of The Keepers and willingness from the earthly realm, they were determined to defeat the dark forces of Them in perpetuity.

I was also determined to do whatever I could to help Everville and its inhabitants, but I was more determined to find a way to restore the health of our dear friend Dante. Today we began the long task of repairing the damage done to our great university. After that, we would start a new quest to search for the solutions to bringing back our friend and stopping the armies of Them from invading the other surrounding lands of Everville.

The End