Chapter 3

          Chapter 3

 

            Savannah crept through the hall, trying not to make a noise. She tiptoed past her grandparent's bedroom, towards the guest bedroom. She covered the golden knob with her long, thin fingers and twisted it. Her sister snored softly, covered by about a million quilts on top of her. Savannah walked towards the bed and tapped Libby on the shoulder.

            The snoring continued. Savannah tried again. No luck. Finally she yanked off the covers and gestured for Libby to get up. She rubbed her bloodshot eyes, and lifted a strand of hair from her face. But that didn't help the rest of the hair poofing out all over the place.

            Looked like Little Miss Perfect wasn't so perfect after all. Well, at night anyway. Savannah stifled a laugh and suddenly realized something that seemed too obvious. The window was fully open, but instead of a white box, a note sat at the foot of Libby's bed. Libby stood there, a confused expression on her face.

            Savannah debated on whether or not she should fill Libby in, but she finally took pity on her and did explain everything. Eventually. Except the part about the dream. For some reason Savannah just couldn't bring herself to tell Libby about that. Suddenly Savannah felt the exact same chill go down her spine just like before.

            She turned around. The window was closed. Libby was snoring while standing. But nothing, not even that, could surprise Savannah anymore. She had, after all, found the white box sent by a blue moon wind. Well, maybe not the wind part. Savannah wasn't really sure about who �" or what �" had  brought the box.

            Savannah grabbed Libby and started shaking her until her eyelids fluttered open. “Oh, we were talking about pillows, right? No, I remember now, it was about the box.” Libby's expression turned serious. Savannah smiled. Well, at least she was better than her sister at listening.           

Libby's face seemed to mix in combinations she was probably feeling. Disbelief, excitement, surprise, and amazement. Savannah couldn't blame her. Her own mind was in a swirl. But Savannah had a creepy feeling that this was only the start of it.

Then she remembered the note. She bent down to reach for it, but the wind blew it into her wide stretched palm. Savannah stared at the note. On it, beautifully written cursive instructions told her to save the box for another time. Savannah didn't hesitate to follow the directions, because she knew if she did, her life would just get stranger.

            She ran back to her room quickly, leaving Libby lying on her bed with her butt in the air and her face stuffed into her pillow. Savannah grabbed her diary from under her pillow and stuck the note in. Savannah hid it under the pillow again. She then hurried back towards Libby's room. Libby was already lying on her bed snoring louder the a yeti yodeling.

            Savannah shook Libby hard, pulling off the comfy covers. Suddenly the bed looked really inviting. Savannah was exhausted, and Libby's digital clock showed that it was 1:30 AM. Savannah's knees almost buckled, but Libby caught her, even though she was half asleep. Savannah was grateful.

            She struggled to her feet and decided to ask Libby to plan everything out while she slept. ‘Course she said no. Savannah sighed and walked to her room. She grabbed her diary and ripped out the last page. She took out a purple felt tip pen and scrawled down that she had to remind herself to get Libby back later, and stuck it in her pocket.

            She felt the urge to try to see what was in the box. Savannah reached toward the box, her hand shaking. She hesitated. Savannah sighed, and pulled her white-knuckled hand back. What was wrong with her?

            If she opened that box, then BOOM! Her life would probably never be normal again. Of course, it was nothing close to normal at the moment. Savannah decided not to risk it. By then it was two in the morning, and Savannah knew she would have to get up at least as early as 8:00 A.M.   

Because she made that dumb promise to her grandparents. Maybe she could pretend she was sick. Nah, Savannah was a horrible actress, at least, in her opinion. Libby was always fascinated by her acting when they were little girls. Savannah smiled at the memory, but then snapped back into reality.

            Now, sleep. Right. Savannah sighed and pulled the covers on and turned out the light. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

            Savannah was ready. She felt like she was about to go to battle. She would've worn a camouflage bandana, and painted her face, but she didn't want to give her grandparents a heart attack. “Today,” Savannah said out loud. “today, we're going to the woods.”

            She tried to put on a brave face and stand tall. “Don't worry, Sis,” Libby said, almost scaring Savannah out of her skin. “It won't be that bad.” Libby had almost just appeared out of nowhere, even though that was just because Savannah wasn't paying attention. Libby was standing cross armed, leaning against the doorway, looking confident as usual.

            She was wearing spotless white shorts, and a dark red tank top under a light pink windbreaker. “You’re wearing a jacket?!” Savannah questioned, trying not to laugh. “You know it's summer, right? In Florida?”

            Libby frowned. “The weather can be unpredictable. Even in Florida.” Savannah snorted, or, at least tried to snort the way they did in books. Libby sighed and shook her head, and walked down the stairs to greet their grandparents.

            Savannah waited until the faint sound of her footsteps were gone, and she slipped on a light blue sweater. Savannah headed down the stairs, not sure if she was ever going to be ready for what was going to happen that day. She shuddered just thinking about going into the woods. But she didn't want her grandparents to say anything. She sighed and resumed climbing down what seemed like an endless spiraling staircase.

            Savannah hoped everything would turn out normal for once. After the night before, Savannah's mind was filled with questions. Who had brought the box? What was in the box and why didn't the note tell her not to open it? Who was the girl needing help from her? Why was this happening to her?

            For a strange reason, she felt like someone somewhere else was having the exact same thoughts. Savannah shook the feeling off. No point to make herself seem weirder. She wasn't stupid enough to do that. Savannah hurried down to the dining room.

            She sat down at the dining room. In front of her was the first normal meal she had yet after coming to the house: Bacon, scrambled eggs, and chocolate chip pancakes. “Don't worry, I'm almost done making breaky!” Her grandmother called. Breaky? Oh, breakfast. Wait, almost?

                        The nightmare began. Grandma Clover brought in a jug of green liquid, and a pitcher filled with liquid the same color, but frothier. She took the jug and poured the liquid on the pancakes, despite Savannah's horrified face. She poured the frothy green liquid in a glass. “Breaky!"

            Savannah picked at the perfectly good yet now-to-be-wasted green pancakes. She had finished the eggs and bacon, but she was still starving from eating barely anything the day before. She decided to leave it, and just pack a heavy lunch. She decided to make a pasta salad sandwich, which didn't take much time because her grandmother let the girls use the kitchen 24/7 and Savannah was a pretty good cook. Savannah was almost tempted to eat it right then, but she restrained herself.

            “Hey Sis, it's time to go.” Libby stuck her head out of the dining room door. “I’m coming, I’m coming.” Savannah grumbled. Libby looked Savannah up and down. “So you decided to wear a coat, huh?” Libby smirked, her hands on her hips. “So what?” Savannah huffed. Savannah slipped her backpack on and headed for the door, ready as she ever would be to go.

“Watch out for the mermaids!” Their grandfather chuckled from the dining room after taking a sip of coffee. “What?” Libby asked, grabbing a pear from the fruit bowl for her lunch bag.        

            “Why, there is a strange legend that in the very woods outside, that there is a secret place where mermaids live and play. But you know, the funny thing is that no one has actually been there, well that we know of, so no one’s actually sure who started the legend.”

Grandfather paused, and caught his breath. “And no one’s sure when the legend began, but some believe that long ago, people may have had contact with the mermaids.”

“Once I heard from a friend, whose family has been living here very long, that he found a journal of one of his ancestors and it mentioned something about mermaids, and it talked about how they had passed through a Stone Arch or something.”

“A Stone Arch? Funny story, Grandpa!” Libby giggled. “It’s a true story, right?” Savannah asked disbelievingly. Grandmother walked in and rolled her eyes. “Are you filling their heads with that nonsense about mermaids, Marcus?” She groaned. “It’s not nonsense, Belinda, it’s the truth.” Grandfather insisted.

“Ha. The truth. Well, why don’t you girls run along and forget this nonsense.” Grandmother said. The girls decided to leave before they got involved in the argument. They went out the back door, admiring their grandmother’s beautiful rose garden.

“Wow, it’s so pretty.” Libby giggled, sniffing a white rose. “It really is cool.” Savannah whispered, not believing that she was actually agreeing with Libby.

“Maybe one day I’ll start a garden just like this one!” Libby laughed. She twirled around, her eyes closed, her hair flying. Savannah rolled her eyes. “No wonder you got the lead in the school musical,” She muttered. “You know, since you’re so dramatic.”

“Really,” Libby asked. “Do you think I’m too dramatic? Maybe I should become more serious.” She stopped twirling and matted her hair into place. She tied her hair up which automatically made her look serious. Savannah rolled her eyes again. Libby was just such a goody two-shoes.

“Come on, hurry up!” Libby called to Savannah, giggling as she ran ahead. Savannah shook her head. Even though Libby was a pain sometimes, she was still the innocent, sweet, and adorable little sister. Blah.

She seemed too cute and likable for comfort. Savannah’s comfort, anyway. Libby was just too �" what’s the word? Oh yeah, perfect, for her own good. It was beyond freaky how perfect she was.

Savannah shook these thoughts out of her head. It was too normal, and Savannah wasn’t ready for normal just yet. The events that took place the night before spun in her head, perfectly replaying every moment. Except for the dream. It was the one thing that was blurred out of Savannah’s memory of the night. Savannah wasn’t sure what this meant, but she did know it probably wasn’t good.

Savannah caught up to her and they hurried along the trail, stopping every once in a while so Savannah could scream at every caterpillar, beetle, and all the other creepy crawly creatures of the woods.

Now it was Libby’s turn to roll her eyes. “Come on, Sis, they’re just bugs.” She stated, a graceful Monarch butterfly landing on her index finger. “Come on, let’s just get on with it.” Savannah grumbled, hurrying down the path.

About a half-hour later, they were lost. “I told you we shouldn’t have wandered off the trail!” Libby exclaimed. “No we’re lost in the middle of nowhere!”

“Ok, first of all, we’re not ‘nowhere’ we’re in the woods right outside Grandma and Grandpa’s house, which means we just need to get out of here and we’re home free!” Savannah said sarcastically.

“Yeah, like it’s that easy.” Libby muttered. They walked down the worn footpath that had led them off their actual trail. There was short silence only to be disturbed by the click-clack of Savannah kicking the pebbles at her feet.

“Shh,” Libby said, holding a finger to her mouth. “What’s that weird buzzing?” True enough, there was a strange vibration coming from somewhere in the woods. The feeling of vibration seemed familiar to Savannah. It was the same feeling she had while having the strange dream and when she found the white box.

Savannah suddenly darted towards the feeling of vibration. Libby ran after, soon passing her. Well, she didn’t get on the track team for nothing. “Wait up!” Savannah called. “Catch up!” Libby laughed.

All of a sudden Libby stopped dead in her tracks. “What’s wrong?” Savannah questioned, finally catching up to Libby. All of a sudden she stopped. Savannah couldn’t believe her eyes.

In front of Savannah was a huge, silver, mossy stone archway. Savannah couldn’t see anything through it but her own reflection. But that wasn’t supposed to be possible, because arches sure can’t show you your reflection.

“The Stone Arch.” Libby muttered. But no, that wasn’t supposed to be possible. Savannah’s head was spinning. What if this had something to do with what had happened the night before. No, she had to prove that it wasn’t true, because it couldn’t be true. Could it?

“No, it-it’s probably just a-a coincidence,” Savannah stammered. “I’ll prove it!” Savannah saw herself in running the reflection. Not accurate, because she was running towards the reflection. She slowed down as she reached the Stone Arch. She looked up, and she could clearly see that it was at least seven feet tall. “Here goes nothing,” She muttered under her breath.

And she ran into her reflection.