The Other Side

     Zalyin and Zulyin, like most youngsters, loved to play pretend and loved to be outside where their imaginations had no boundaries. All within a short distance from their home they could travel to a castle, they could board a pirate ship, they could invade a foreign land, they could even surf and ski.

     On one particular yet otherwise uneventful day, the twins were frolicking through the flower fields as they had countless other times discussing their next make believe adventure. Nothing seemed out of place. Nothing ever seemed out of place around these parts.

     “Hey, Zul?”

     “Yes, Zal?”

     “Do you think one day we will leave home? See these places we pretend to be at for reals?”

     Zulyin considered this. She knew she was typically the braver of the two. She was always the first one to rush into a cave or climb a tree. Zalyin would only feel safe when Zulyin went first. She knew Zalyin would need her in order to be brave out there in the big world.

     “I think so. I think we can do anything when we are together.”

     And this was true. While Zulyin was braver, Zalyin was very studious. She was a bookworm, always needing to research every detail from every angle. This is partially why their make believe sessions were so detailed; Zalyin had studied in great detail before describing everything to Zulyin. They were the perfect pair.

     They continued their discussion and planning, absolutely ready to take on their newest story. They were Knights of Meridell, on their way to do heroic duties for King Skarl. They were given their orders and were on their way to yonder, where they would have to battle for heroism. Obviously the details needed some fine tuning but that would likely come in the moment. They were incredibly passionate and enthusiastic about their game and trusting their imaginations and that was the most important part of it all.

     They began marching forward and preparing to clear a path out of the bad folks.

     “OW!!!!”

     Zalyin fell down and started rubbing her head.

     “What happened?”

     “I don’t know. It seemed like I ran into a wall. But I don’t see anything?”

     Zalyin got up cautiously and looked around.

     Zulyin proceeded forward slowly. She sniffed the air. Nothing smelled different. She squinted. Nothing looked different. She closed her eyes and listened. Nothing sounded out of place.

     “I don’t know, Zal. I think you may have tripped.”

     “But my head hurts! I swear I hit something!”

     “I think you bonked it on the way down. Come on. Let’s go.”

     Zulyin proceeded forward. Zalyin watched, waiting for Zulyin to meet the same fate. She did not.

     “Maybe you’re right.”

     Zalyin sighed and followed behind Zulyin as she often did in their escapades. She couldn’t tell if her pride or head hurt more. Probably her pride, but she was definitely going to have a bruise.

     The two adventured on. Everything was okay for a little while and soon Zalyin forgot about her pride and bruise.

     “Huh? Who said that?” Zulyin whipped around and stared into a patch of bushes. These voices sounded sinister.

     “I didn’t hear anything.”

          “I swear I heard someone say something.”

     “What did they say?”

     Zulyin shook her head. “I think I’m imagining it.”

     The two adventured on.

     Suddenly the wind picked up, blowing so hard it knocked Zalyin down. Then just as quickly it had stopped.

     “Are you okay? What happened?”

     “I… I don’t know. I think I just lost my balance. It’s fine. Probably my head from before.” Zalyin felt like she had to have imagined the wind. If Zulyin didn’t mention anything it probably didn’t happen. She got up.

     The two did not necessarily adventure on but rather pushed themselves forward, not really committed to their adventuring game and make believe anymore. Both were unsure about these events they had gone through. They did not want to worry the other but they each had a very uneasy feeling about what was happening in their idyllic little homeland. They both wanted to go home yet did not want to vocalize it out of fear of upsetting the other and ending the game. They continued forward but they were not engaging with each other or the game anymore.

     Suddenly there was a loud whoosh and thud. The weird thing is that nothing looked different. But something definitely happened.

     Finally they had enough.

     They turned to each other and without saying anything they nodded, spun around and went back the way they came. They did not get very far when they both walked into an invisible wall, much like Zalyin had before.

     “OW.”

     “OW!”

     They both at that moment knew that they didn’t trip. They were not imagining anything. They both had the same experience. And it was real. Really real. And scary.

     That wall was definitely invisible. They could see through the forest, almost all the way back home.

     Suddenly a weird mechanical noise erupted and a door opened up.

     Was it a door?

     They could not believe what they were seeing. They were no longer looking at their home but a weird unknown land. Red liquid covered the ground, a tiny path led up, and there were strange pointy mountains in the distance. How hard did they hit their heads? Was this a group hallucination? No, this was real. Right?

     They looked at each other. Their eyes widened.

     And suddenly Zulyin smiled. This was a smile that Zalyin had never seen before. It made Zalyin uneasy. It was large, toothy, even malevolent.

     Zulyin got up and bolted inside this door. “I’m coming!” She shouted, but Zalyin was unsure who she was shouting to.

     “No, wait, Zul! Stop! That’s a bad idea. I have not read anything about this location, we could be in trouble without being prepared!”

     Zulyin didn’t even look back.

     Zalyin took a deep breath and stood up. She had to follow her sister. It was just like she said, they can do anything when they are together.

     Before Zalyin could go through the door, it snapped shut and disappeared.

     “ZULYIN!!!!!!!!”

     She charged into where the door was. But all that happened was she kept going forward. She never was in that weird red world. She didn’t hit her head again. She only stayed put.

     “ZULYIN! PLEASE! THIS IS NOT FUNNY! WHERE ARE YOU?”

     Silence.

     Zalyin ran back and forth hoping to get through the magical door again. Hoping it would appear again. It did not.

     She was terrified and completely unsure what to do. She needed her sister and her sister needed her.

     This had to be a dream, right? There is no way a magical door would take her sister away and there is no way her sister would abandon her like that. Not willingly. There had to be something Zalyin was missing. There definitely had to be a clue.

     She scoured the area looking for just that. But nothing.

     What was she going to tell their parents?

     She had to find her sister.

     She searched the whole forest for what felt like days, but it was more likely a few hours.

     “Zalyin! Zulyin! Where are you? It’s dinnertime!”

          Oh no. Mom was calling. And Zalyin was alone.

     “Um.. coming!” She shouted back. What else was she supposed to say? Zalyin spent so much time looking for Zulyin, convinced she would be found, that it never crossed her mind that she needed a story for what happened. Would her parents believe the truth? Would she be in trouble? Would Zulyin?

     She walked back as slow as possible trying to come up with a good cover. Nothing came to mind, but the truth was too unbelievable. She decided honesty is always the best policy.

     “Where is Zulyin?”

     Uh oh. Mom was already mad. Maybe because it took so long to walk back.

     “She… uh… Well. It’s kind of a story.”

     “What do you mean? Where is your sister? This isn’t funny.”

     “No no no. It’s not funny. It was scary. See we were playing and then suddenly this big door opened up and we were not here you know? I mean we were, but the door led to another place. A place with fire. Magma? And pointy rocks. I don’t know. It happened so fast. But she ran through the door and just as fast as it appeared it had disappeared and she was gone. It was like another world opened up right there and took her away.”

     Her mom looked at her like she had three heads.

     “I’m telling the truth! I know it sounds impossible but it happened! I don’t know what to do. I looked for her and the door but they were gone. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do.”

     By this time their dad had also come outside. Their parents looked at each other. Zalyin definitely seemed shaken up, but the girls had very vivid imaginations. Still, Zulyin was not here and never answered the dinner call so something definitely happened out there. This concerned them; they made their home because it was peaceful and safe.

     “It’s okay honey. I am sure whatever really happened will make itself known. Zulyin will be back and she will let us know. Let’s just go inside for now. She’s resourceful, we can find her in the morning if she doesn’t make her way back home tonight”

     The three of them went inside, ate, and went to bed.

     Only none of them slept.

     And Zulyin never returned.

     When they reconvened the next morning, they went to the place Zalyin said the door was. There was no evidence of said door and nothing in the area seemed like it had been disturbed. They spent the rest of the day going through the woods together, careful not to separate just in case Zalyin was telling the truth.

     That night, they called the authorities. They all explained what had happened, or what they thought had happened, and took the authorities to the same spot. There was nothing remaining to investigate.

     Everyone was stumped by Zalyin’s account. They ultimately dismissed it, and her, and decided Zulyin had left on her own. The girls were well known in the community for their adventures and games and it was decided she had left for more than just a game. The girls were still young, but probably old enough to establish themselves if they desired.

     The case was immediately closed and it was decided by individuals who did not even know Zulyin that she would contact her family when she was ready.

     Zalyin vowed she would find her sister since no one else was willing. She knew she had to get strong, brave, and wise in order to do so. She decided she would begin the journey to toughness, boldness, and intelligence first thing in the following morning.

     Zalyin did not know just how strong, brave, or wise she would need to get for this particular adventure.

     And neither did Zulyin.

     To be continued…