The Forbidden Side

Lizzie

Lizzie understood Erin's feelings - well, not really.  She knew that her friend did call Home home, but she didn't live there.  She didn't belong there.  Did she?

         "Hey," Adam said, walking into her room.  "Have you seen Erin?  I can't find her anywhere in the house."

        Lizzie's blue eyes widened.  "I think I know," she said.  "We had an argument:  us Powerfuls think Home is using its magic for evil to keep its citizens brainwashed.  But you two did live there, but you belong here.  Erin thinks Home is still good, and she ran back, to live there."

        "What?"  Adam asked.  "Why would she - " He was cut of by alarms blaring in the distance.

        "Erin," Lizzie whispered.  She sprinted out of the house and across the town on the Forbidden Side. 

        "Lizzie, wait!"  Adam trailed behind her.  The triplets raced to Home, each for a different purpose.  Erin crossed the border first.  She sighed as the colorful, diverse buildings turned into grey, identical ones. 

        Lizzie was next.  The blue, cloudless skies of the Forbidden Side transformed into a dull, grey sky.

        Adam crossed last.  He didn't care about the dull, sameness of Home, he just wanted his sister back.  He passed home two and remembered when they thought they were just friends, trying to solve the mystery of why they were different. 

        Erin burst into home two.  Lizzie followed, and Adam next.  They stepped into the kitchen and her "little brother," Benny, started to cry.

        "Who are you?"  Benny's mother asked.

        "It's me," Erin said, "Erin, your daughter.  I ran away to the Forbidden Side, but I'm back!"

        The parents stared at her.  "We don't have a daughter.  We have two children, like we're supposed to, but we have two sons.  Benny!  Dylan!"

        Two boys came down the stairs.  They were identical twins from their straight brown hair and brown eyes, to their light blue shirts and trousers. 

        "Benny!"  Erin said.  "You remember me, don't you?"

        Benny's eyes widened. He took Dylan by the arm and they both backed away.  He shook his head. 

        Tears formed in Erin's eyes.  She ran out of the house followed by Lizzie and Adam.  "Now do you believe me?"  Lizzie asked.  "They're evil.  They used magic to erase you and Adam from everyone's memories."

        Erin nodded.  "Sorry," she said.  "I really am.  I should've believed you.  Why would you lie to me?"

        Lizzie smiled.  "I have a question," Adam said.  "Who are they?  Who here in Home knows about magic?"

        Lizzie answered, "We need the crown for that."

        "Where have you been?"  Their mother said.  She was furious, red in the face.  Her eyes were cold and hard as she stared at her children.  Then, they became soft.  "Erin?  Adam?"  The red drained from her face.  She scooped up the missing triplets and hugged them hard.  Then she turned to Lizzie and Justin.  "I told you two specifically not to go and find them, but you did.  When I heard those alarms, I knew it was you."  She turned to Erin and Adam.  "But of course I'm not mad at you two." 

        Lizzie and Justin looked at the ground and mumbled a unison, "Sorry."  But Justin spoke up.  "Please don't punish us mom.  We brought the twins back - " Lizzie glared at him - "isn't that a good thing?"

        "No," their mother said sternly.  "The prophecy says they were supposed to find their way home on their own."

        "Prophecy?"  Erin, Adam, Lizzie, and Justin asked as one.

        Their mother covered her mouth.  She walked out of the foyer without another word.

              As soon as she was out of earshot, the kids sat together on the foyer's tile floor.  "Prophecy?"  Justin started.  "About us?"

            Lizzie nodded.  "Probably.  I don't know why though."

            "Me neither," Adam said.  "But maybe this prophecy can lead us to the crown."

            "He's right," Lizzie agreed.  "We have to find it.  But where would it be?"

            "Bradley!"  Erin blurted.  "Lizzie when I thought Bradley was a bad guy, you transmitted King Z to me.  If Bradley has anything to do with King Z, then the prophecy should be in the Station."

            "Where's that?"  Lizzie asked.

            "I'm sorry to say it," Adam answered, "but we're going back to Home."