Frames

Chapter 5.

Jessica was more than a little apprehensive as she carefully swung her leg over the thick, antique golden frame. She felt warm sunlight envelop her body as she lowered herself onto the long green grass.

"Hurry up, Slowpoke!" Gavin exclaimed as he waited for his turn to cross over.

Jessica barely heard him. She stared, transfixed at the new world before her. The view she was focusing on was of lush green grass blowing in the wind covering low, rolling hills as far as the eye could see.

Maybe three hundred yards away from her, on what had been the edge of the painting, sat a dark forest, which Gavin was already headed towards. Jessica had to run to catch up with him.

"Okay," she said, panting, when she had reached him, "you've had your fun. You've proved that you can enter these paintings. Can we go now?"

"Hold on."

Jessica knew that it was pointless. Now that her brother had found something interesting, he was not going to stop until he had explored every inch of this new reality.

It didn't take as long as Jessica had thought to reach the edge of the forest. Much to her dismay, Gavin bounded right into the shadows as they approached.

"Gavin, I'm serious, let's go back." Jessica pleaded, remaining well away from the line of trees.

"You can, anytime you want." Gavin replied, rapidly disappearing into the darkness, "It's not like I'm forcing you to stay."

Jessica turned around. She could see the portal. It looked very strange, like someone had cut a rectangular hole right into the edge of the hill. Inside the hole, she could see the familiar dungeon-looking room, its dim orange glow looking strange against the greenery.

She looked back up, but her brother was no longer there.

"Gavin?" Jessica shouted into the darkness, "Gavin!"

Gathering her courage, Jessica charged into the foliage. It was as if Gavin had just disappeared. There was no sign of him as she moved deeper into the trees.

"Gavin," she squeaked, "Gavin, if you're just waiting around to scare me..."

Her voice trailed off at that point. She had seen something in the thick grass beneath her feet. Bending down to pick up the black object, she realized that it was her brother's watch. He was always complaining that the plastic strap didn't fit him right. It must have fallen off while he was looking for a place to jump out at her.

"Gavin, I'm warning you--"

Jessica was then cut off by a muffled sound. She crept cautiously forward, fear washing over her.

"Help!" The voice sounded faint, as if its owner were far away.

"Gavin?" Jessica asked.

"Jess, help!" Gavin cried, "I fell in this hole and can't get out!"

Jessica ran toward where she guessed her brother would be. She understood how Gavin could've fallen in; she practically had to lean backward to avoid dropping in.

She would consider it more an abyss than a hole. If there was a bottom, it was far below where the light was able to penetrate. She didn't see how her brother could have survived the fall, much less be able to find a way out.

"Gavin," she called into the chasm, "I'll try to find something to get you out."

Jessica was about to lean forward again to see if there was anything she could lower in when she was suddenly grabbed from behind.