The Forbidden Side

Lizzie

The second she had spotted the key, Lizzie knew they were doing something right.  There was some trigger word they were saying, because they were chosen.  Yuck.  The word tasted horrible.  She wished they weren't - she wished they didn't - she wished - Lizzie was kidding herself.  They were chosen, they did have powers, they had to. She hated it.  But they had to.

                   She glanced at her sister who was now feeling the key.  "It unlocks something," she said.  Duh.  Erin glared at her.  Oh, right, she can read my mind. 

            "All I'm saying is we can't do this alone," Erin concluded.

            "Sorry, what?"

            Erin shook her head.  "Look, all you need to know is we need help."

            "But the prophecy said we can't get help."

            Erin smiled.  "No.  It says we can't get help."

             Lizzie raised her eyebrows. "What?"           

             "We can't get help," Erin explained.  "We, means the six of us.  All of the Powerfuls.  We can get help, from our family!"

            A smile slowly grew on Lizzie's face.  She nodded.  "Yeah, yeah, you're right."

            "When am I not?"

            "Hmm, let's see."  They shared a giggle.  "But," Lizzie said, turning serious, "what if they don't?  They don't want anything to do with us, so what if they don't help?  What'll we do then?"

            "All we can do," Erin answered, "is hope that they will."

            Lizzie was tired of sitting.  She was tired of hoping.  She just wanted to call Adam with her mind and say they needed help.  But that would make them look weak.  Pathetic.  She was imagining Justin's snorts and gloats when Erin called her over.  "Um," she said.  "Shouldn't we, I don't know, do something?"

            Lizzie felt her eyes well with tears.  She wiped them away before her sister could see.  "What?"  And they sat in silence for a long time.

            Lizzie was tired of sitting.  Lizzie was tired of hoping.  Adam.  Please.  We need you and Justin and Julia and even Katie.  Adam.  Please.

            You had your chance with us, but you two chose to go play hero instead.

            You think I want to do this?  I'd gladly switch with you.

            It's set in stone.  You and Erin have to.           

            AND YOU THINK WE WANT TO?

            OF COURSE!

            WELL YOU'RE WRONG!

            PLEASE, WHO'D PASS UP THE CHANCE TO PLAY HERO?

            ME!  AND ERIN!

            REALLY?  WELL TOO BAD.  YOU'RE NOT GETTING MY HELP!

            FINE!  LIKE I WANTED IT ANYWAY!

            YOU SAID YOU DID!  LIZZIE?  FINE!

            Lizzie could still hear him screaming in her head.  She tuned him out, and decided how to tell Erin.  Sorry, Erin.  They won't.

            I can't believe you asked them!  Came her sister's furious reply.  Of course they'd say no now!

            "Sorry," Lizzie looked down.  "I didn't know."

            "Aren't you supposed to be able to read people's minds?  Cause I was thinking loud and clear, don't ask them yet!"

            Lizzie stuffed her fists over her eyes before Erin could see her crying.  But she must've noticed because Erin put an arm around her sister.

            "Hey, I'm sorry," she soothed.  "That was a little harsh." 

            Lizzie sniffled.

            "C'mon, Liz, let's find out what this key does."  She pulled her sister up off the floor of the cozy room.

            "How?"

            "How what?"

            "How are we going to get help?"

            Erin only shook her head.

            "Get up!"  Erin shouted playfully when she saw her sister sitting on the wooden floor with her legs crossed.  Lizzie smiled and let her sister pull her to her feet.  "Now think," Erin said.  "Do you remember anything with a lock on it?"

            Lizzie closed her eyes.  They led her into her brain, back to her house, and into her room.  They lay on her Thought Journal.  There was a golden lock on the cover.

            "Erin!"  Lizzie called.  "Erin.  It's the Thought Log.  There's a lock on the Thought Log!"  She transmitted her sister the picture in her mind.

            "You're right!"  Erin exclaimed.

            "Why are you so surprised?"  They laughed.

            Then, Erin's smiled turned into a frown. 

            "What?"

            "If the lock is on the Log," Erin said, "That means we have to go back home."