Through the River’s Gate

"Then it's settled. At precisely 11:11 tonight, I'll return to collect Jade and Jason." - Carol Lordie smiled—a triumphant, unnerving smile—before gliding out of the church. Her steps were impossibly light, as if she floated on the wind, and within seconds, she vanished, dissolving into the shadows like smoke.

Inside the church, an uneasy silence lingered. Only Jade, Jason, and the two nuns remained.

"You've got ten minutes to explain," Jason said, his voice tight as he fought to remain calm.

"Five minutes," Jade cut in sharply, her tone seething with barely contained anger.

"My loves, please understand," Sister Hannah began, pulling Jade into an embrace as tears streamed down her face. "We're heartbroken too. We would never abandon you willingly—"

"But the church is on the brink of collapse," Sister Mary interrupted. Her voice was firm, but her trembling hands betrayed her emotions. "We have no money, no food. Mrs. Carol's offer can save us. She promised you a better life—education, opportunities—everything we can't give you."

"Sister Mary... you sold us? You sold us?" Jade's voice cracked, disbelief etched across her face.

"Jade, it's fair," Jason said, his voice low but steady. "We've been here for 17 years, relying on the church's kindness. Maybe it's time to give something back."

Jade whipped around to face him, her expression a mixture of shock and betrayal. "You're taking their side?"

"It's not about sides," Jason said, his eyes softening. "It's reality. Maybe this is what's best for all of us."

Sister Mary's heart ached at Jason's words. She could see he understood her intentions, but his maturity only deepened her guilt. Sister Hannah, on the other hand, clung to Jade, her silent sobs speaking louder than words.

Jade finally relented, brushing away her own tears. "Fine. We'll pack our things." Her voice was steady, but her trembling hands betrayed her emotions. "And... I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I didn't mean it."

The twins turned to leave, but before they could ascend the stairs, Sister Hannah's voice filled the room, trembling but melodic

"It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime..."

Jason froze. It was their favorite song—a lullaby from childhood. Without thinking, he joined in, his voice cracking with emotion.

"So let me say before we part, so much of me... is made of what I learned from you..."

Jade turned back, her tears flowing freely now, and sang the next line. The nuns, overcome with emotion, embraced the twins as their voices blended in perfect harmony:

"Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

At 11:00 PM, Jade and Jason stood at the church gate with their small, hastily packed bags. The nuns gathered behind them, their faces etched with sorrow. Sister Mary pressed silver cross necklaces into their hands, whispering a silent prayer. Sister Jennifer handed Jason a handkerchief, her motherly instincts unable to let go. And Sister Hannah slipped Jade $50, urging her to buy something beautiful for her new life.

When the clock is at exact 11:11PM, the black luxury car emerged from the forest, its sleek frame gleaming under the moonlight, Jason frowned. There was no road leading into the forest. How had it gotten here?

The car stopped, and the window rolled down, revealing Carol's serene yet eerie smile. "Come, children. It's time."

The car door opened on its own. Jason hesitated, but then took Jade's hand, giving her a reassuring nod. Together, they climbed into the back seat.

As the car pulled away, Jade pressed her face to the window, watching the church fade into the distance. The nuns remained in the doorway, their figures silhouetted against the warm glow of the sanctuary.

Jason caught a glimpse of Sister Hannah wiping her eyes. Sister Mary was absent—unable to bear the sight of their departure.

The car entered the dense forest, and the atmosphere grew colder, darker. Jason noticed something strange—shapes flitting through the trees, barely visible in the moonlight.

His mind racing. Something about this journey felt off. His instincts, honed through years of navigating the wilderness with Jade, screamed at him that this wasn't just a drive to another town.

"Mrs. Carol," Jason said, his tone measured but uneasy. "Where exactly are we going?"

Carol glanced at him through the rearview mirror, her sharp blue eyes meeting his. "Call me Mrs. Lordie," she corrected, her voice calm, almost hypnotic. "And we're on our way to Aloney."

Jason frowned. "Aloney? What is that? A city? A town?"

Carol smiled faintly. "It's a... sanctuary. A place unlike any you've ever known."

Jade crossed her arms, her frustration boiling over. "A sanctuary? Great. Because nothing says 'safe haven' like speeding through a forest in the middle of the night." - Jade's thoughts. She let out a sharp breath and leaned her head against the window, staring into the endless trees.

In her mind, doubts churned like a storm. What the hell is Aloney? Why haven't we heard of it? What does she even want with us? This is insane. Totally insane.

"Quite the imagination you have," Carol said suddenly, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

Jade whipped her head around to glare at her. "What?"

Carol's smile widened slightly. "Your thoughts. So vivid. So... loud."

Jade's blood ran cold. "Wait what?"

Jason gripped the edge of his seat as the car swerved sharply, the forest blurring past. "Mrs. Lordie, the river's up ahead!" he warned, his voice rising.

Carol said nothing, her serene smile reflected in the rearview mirror. Instead, she pressed harder on the accelerator.

Jade's eyes widened. "Fuck it. You're not seriously—"

The car shot forward, straight toward the riverbank.

"STOP!" Both shouted, reaching for the door handle, but it wouldn't budge.

Carol remained unflinching, her hands steady on the wheel.

The car plunged into the river with a deafening crash. Water surged around them, swallowing the vehicle whole. Jade screamed, clutching Jason as the icy water pressed against the windows.

"We're going to drown!" Jason yelled, panic flooding his voice.

But then—light. Blinding, golden light erupted from beneath the car, and they weren't sinking anymore. Instead, the car fell—through the river, through water that turned into clouds, into the endless sky.

Jade could only gasp, clutching Jason tighter. "What the hell is happening?"

Carol chuckled softly, her voice calm as ever. "Welcome to the gateway, children."

Jason froze, his words caught in his throat. The crack in the windshield vanished, and the pressure around the car eased. They weren't sinking anymore—they were gliding, as though the car were swimming through liquid light.

"What... what is this?" Jade whispered, her voice trembling.

Mrs. Lordie didn't answer. She pressed a button on the dashboard, and the car surged forward, faster than ever. Suddenly, the glowing vortex disappeared, and the car burst through a bright barrier—only to plunge into open air.

Jade's scream pierced the silence as they hurtled downward, clouds whipping past them. Jason grabbed her, holding her close as the car tumbled through the sky.

"We're falling! FUCK IT, WE'RE FALLING!" Jade shrieked, her nails digging into Jason's arm.

Mrs. Lordie simply pulled a lever, and the car jerked to a halt, hovering mid-air.

"Are you done screaming?" she asked, glancing back at them through the rearview mirror.

The twins stared at her, wide-eyed and speechless.

Without another word, the car began to descend slowly, floating down toward what appeared to be a sprawling campus below. Jade and Jason couldn't tear their eyes away from the impossible scene around them—clouds parting to reveal a breathtaking land unlike anything they'd ever seen.

As they approached the ground, Jason caught sight of something in the distance. Black shapes darted through the sky, weaving between clouds. He squinted, his heart pounding.

"Jason," Jade whispered, her voice hoarse. "You see that, right? Tell me you see that."

"Yeah," Jason murmured. "I see it."

The shapes weren't birds. They were people—riding brooms.

Mrs. Lordie stepped closer, her composed aura unshaken. "Welcome to Aloney Academy. This will be your home, your place of learning, and where you uncover your true potential. A piece of advice—steer clear of the students with snake hair." She paused, her piercing gaze meeting theirs. "Your pathfinder should be arriving shortly. Just wait a tick of the clock."

With that, she vanished, fading into the air as if she'd never been there.

Jade's shock turned into a dry, bitter laugh. "Snake hair? Really? What's next?" She gestured dramatically toward the sky. "A witch riding a broom straight into me?" - She said in the most sarcastic way.

Before Jason could respond, something collided with Jade, knocking her flat onto the ground.

"OW what the-" she cried, clutching her shoulder.

Jason rushed to her side, glaring at the culprit—a young lady perched on a broomstick, smirking down at them.

"Careful where you stand, newbie." - The girl said.

Jade stared at her, stunned into silence. Jason sighed, shaking his head.

"Well," Jade muttered, brushing dirt off her jacket. "Guess I should've kept my mouth shut."

"You must be Jade and Jason Norman," the girl said, extending her hand as if she hadn't just slammed into Jade moments earlier.

"Yes, and you are?" Jade asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I'm Anne. Witch. Your pathfinder. I'm here to tell you everything you need to know and guide you wherever you need to go."

Anne's short, fiery red curls framed her face, accentuating her piercing blue eyes that sparkled like frozen ocean waves. She wore a long black gown, reminiscent of Victorian fashion but with an ominous, otherworldly flair. Its high collar and cascading layers seemed to shimmer subtly under the moonlight, as though woven with threads of midnight.

What truly caught Jade's attention, though, was the necklace Anne wore. A striking L-shaped pendant of polished silver encrusted with sapphires. The gems glimmered like rippling seawater, perfectly mirroring the icy depths of Anne's gaze. Jason's eyes lingered on the pendant, a flicker of recognition sparking in his mind. He had seen something like this before. Tudor jewelry, perhaps? Anne Boleyn's infamous "B" necklace? Yes, that was it. She has the same name, too.

"Wait, wait. Did you just say...witch?" Jade blurted, her voice rising with incredulity.

Anne smirked, her blue eyes twinkling with mischief. "Didn't I hit you with a broom five minutes ago? What else would I be?"

_______

Song: FOR GOOD - Wicked Musical.