Episode 14: The Memory
805 Words
Conrad woke up sweating.
He sat on the edge of his bed, trying to catch his breath.
The dream felt different.
It wasn’t like his usual dreams.
It felt like a memory.
He remembered the hallway.
The glowing door.
Sierra’s sister.
And himself.
He had been there.
He grabbed his wrist.
The mark was burning.
A memory flashed through his mind.
A little girl standing beside the door.
She was crying.
Someone was shouting.
Then his father appeared.
Conrad closed his eyes.
“No.”
Another memory.
His father grabbed his shoulder.
“You must never open this door.”
Young Conrad looked confused.
“Why?”
His father knelt in front of him.
“Because it doesn’t lead somewhere.”
“Then where does it lead?”
His father’s expression was terrified.
“It leads back.”
The memory disappeared.
Conrad opened his eyes.
He immediately called Heaven.
She answered after a few rings.
“Hello?”
“I remembered.”
Silence.
“What?”
“The door.”
Heaven sat up.
“What happened?”
“I saw your symbol.”
She listened.
“I saw Sierra’s sister.”
Heaven’s heart pounded.
“And my father.”
She was silent.
“What did he say?”
“He told me never to open the door.”
Heaven swallowed.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Conrad looked at his wrist.
“But I think I know who opened it.”
“Who?”
“My father.”
Heaven froze.
“What?”
“I think he opened it years ago.”
They agreed to meet at school early.
The next morning, Heaven told Maya.
Maya insisted on coming.
Dylan came too.
Sierra arrived last.
Conrad told them everything he remembered.
Sierra looked like she’d been punched.
“My sister told me your father was there.”
Conrad stared at her.
“What happened?”
Sierra looked down.
“They were trying to close the door.”
“Then why did it open?”
“Because someone had to stay behind.”
Silence.
“Who?”
Sierra’s eyes filled with tears.
“My sister.”
Conrad stepped closer.
“She sacrificed herself?”
Sierra nodded.
“She pushed everyone else out.”
Heaven looked at the black book.
“Then why is the door back?”
Sierra shook her head.
“Because it was never completely closed.”
Heaven’s stomach dropped.
“What does that mean?”
Sierra pointed to the book.
“The magic chose two people to finish what they started.”
Conrad looked at Heaven.
“The key and the power.”
She nodded.
Maya frowned.
“So what happens if they don’t open it?”
Sierra looked at Heaven.
“The door stays closed.”
“That sounds good.”
“It isn’t that simple.”
“Why?”
“Because the magic will keep getting stronger.”
Dylan frowned.
“And if it gets too strong?”
Sierra looked toward the school.
“It will open by itself.”
Everyone went silent.
Heaven looked at Conrad.
“So we’re running out of time.”
“Yes.”
Conrad reached for her hand.
“We’ll figure it out.”
Sierra looked away.
Then a loud cheer came from outside.
The school was preparing for another sports event.
For a moment, everyone forgot the magic.
The boys went to practice.
The girls joined the crowd.
Heaven watched Conrad play.
He looked happy.
She smiled.
Then Sierra came to stand beside her.
“You really love him.”
Heaven looked at her.
“I…”
She couldn’t finish.
Sierra smiled sadly.
“I know.”
Heaven looked at her.
“What about you?”
Sierra laughed softly.
“I used to.”
“And now?”
“Now I just want him safe.”
Heaven nodded.
“I do too.”
For the first time, there was no competition between them.
But the peace didn’t last.
Conrad suddenly stopped playing.
He looked toward Heaven.
His face went pale.
“Get away from her!”
Everyone turned.
Heaven froze.
Behind her stood a tall shadow.
She hadn’t heard anyone approach.
The shadow raised a hand.
The lights exploded.
Glass shattered.
Students screamed.
Conrad ran toward Heaven.
The shadow disappeared.
He reached her.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“What was that?”
“I don’t know.”
Sierra stared at the empty space.
“That wasn’t human.”
Maya grabbed Heaven’s arm.
“Then what was it?”
Sierra whispered,
“Something from the other side.”
Heaven’s blood ran cold.
Conrad looked at the black book in Heaven’s hands.
It had opened by itself.
A new sentence appeared.
ONE WEEK.
Heaven stared.
“One week until what?”
The pages turned by themselves.
Another sentence appeared.
THE DOOR OPENS.
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