He decided to turn back. The cold howling wind, the rumbling ground, and the darkness grew more pronounced. He picked up his pace. A third of the way back through the Deep Woods, he saw a glimmer out of the corner of his eye. Then, he heard a sound. A slight whimper and a rustling of the leaves gave away the position of Dagda. It was trapped underneath a large branch. Carwyn approached Dagda, and he reached down to free the injured creature; it was visibly shaken and trembling. It looked up at Carwyn as if to ask for help. Carwyn obliged. A sudden large gust of wind blew violently. Dagda winced then hid his eyes with his tiny little hand.
At that moment, the ground gave way. Carwyn and Dagda were dropped into a massive hole that opened up beneath them. Underground tunnels were visible for quite some length before they disappeared in the darkness. Here, it was quiet. They had fallen from the land of the Fron above, one of the eight lands around the center of Everville, into the center of Everville, below ground.
For now, the young Fron decided to leave the Deep Woods and take Dagda with him. They returned to the collapsed entrance. After a tremendous amount of digging through the collapsed ground, they made their way to the surface.
When he arrived home, his parents were greatly relieved. The intrusion of The Other In Between was felt in every corner of Everville. It had been the largest incursion experienced in quite some time. Small injuries and strange happenings were occurring all over the village. Even after some wait, the uneasiness persisted. Carwyn’s parents decided to do what Frons do best: celebrate the return of Carwyn and the rescue of Dagda. An injured creature in Everville represented a serious breach, but the rescue of the injured creature was equally significant.
EVERVILLE CHAPTER 9
THE FEAST
Carwyn’s parents were busy preparing for a massive feast. Half the village was sure to visit in a couple of hours. Dozens of wine bottles were neatly stacked in handcrafted crates with intricate markings that were placed in the communal brook that kept them cool. The oven was full of huge quantities of breads and pies. Large pots of stews, vegetables, fruit, and other dishes decorated the expansive tables that occupied the dining room. The aromas permeated every inch of the home. Carwyn savored the smells of preparing for feasts almost as much as eating at them.Carwyn could not help but steal a taste of at least one of the dishes. He dipped a piece of warm bread in one of the stews on the table. The flavor was savory and delicious. The moist dipped bread melted in his mouth. He devoured every morsel. For a moment, he was able to forget about what had happened.
Villagers slowly began to trickle into the home. Each of them brought special dishes, wines, and other delicious-looking treats. Within a short time, the dining room was packed. The noise level continued to rise. Carwyn enjoyed listening to the joy, laughter, and stories that always accompanied these celebrations.
The villagers began eating and drinking. Food quickly disappeared from the dishes as the feast continued. More pots of food were brought to the tables before the dishes became completely bare. This continued throughout the evening. Carwyn ate with the villagers and enjoyed their company, savoring every dish and piece of food. The food in Everville had a magical quality that made one feel at peace. At the same time, it seemed to heighten the senses and bring total clarity.
When the food finally disappeared, crates of wine were lifted to the main dining table. The villagers began to finish off the bottles of wine at the same brisk pace they had eaten the food. As the night progressed a couple of the Fron started humming an old hymn. Soon, everyone joined along.
“We are Fron joyful in dusk and dawn,
Our smiles will never be withdrawn,
When the ancient darkness rises,
There will be no compromises,
We make it right, with darkness flight,
Land restored, the earth chastises.”
The singing continued for quite some time before settling down. A few of the Fron at one of the smaller tables began discussing the incursion.
“This is the largest breach we’ve seen in a great while. Them are on the move and we should discuss this with The Keepers.”
That was the first time young Carwyn had heard of The Keepers. He listened intently, almost to the point of intrusion, as a select few villagers continued their discussions.
“We will be victorious once again over Them, but we must act swiftly. If we wait much longer, we may begin losing Fron to the Other In Between,” said the apparent leader of the table.
Carwyn did not like the sound of that and wanted to stay up listening to stories of the villagers and the dangers of Them and The Other In Between, but it was late, and the night was beginning to get the best of him. Despite resisting, he found himself standing up and slowly pushing the chair back under the table, all the while listening to every last word he could hear. His eyes began to force themselves shut, and Carwyn had to fight just to keep his eyelids from drooping closed.
“I see someone’s had a long night,” Carwyn’s father said lovingly while walking him to the bedroom.
Carwyn slipped into bed and pulled the soft covers up to his neck and tightly over his shoulders. His strong sense of hearing allowed him to notice the unusual activity occurring just outside his window. In spite of the villager’s penchant for celebration, all was not well in Everville and Carwyn knew it. The air was cold. It cut and howled louder than Carwyn had heard during his entire young life. Something was stirring, and it had deeply affected every square inch of Everville from the Babbling Brook to the Deep Woods and beyond. Carwyn’s fatigue got the best of him and he drifted into a deep slumber.
Carwyn’s father watched him fall asleep. He thought about his son’s future and the future of Everville and the Fron. He knew the recent incursion by Them was more serious than the villagers had been letting on. It would be up to The Keepers to find a solution to what was happening.
Carwyn’s father went back to the dining room. A group of the other villages were still discussing what could be done to stop further damage to Everville. They decided to meet with the Keepers. They would go just after dawn.
A group of villagers entered the Workshop of the Keepers. The Keepers were well aware of the situation and had already begun taking measures to shore up the defenses of Everville.
Everville was suspended in time and space between worlds, but it was possible to influence the land and the inhabitants with enough effort and forethought. It took a great deal of time and concerted effort by Them. It also required the cooperation of a usually unsuspecting Fron.
The Keepers told the group of villagers that the situation was severe, but that they felt certain they could put a stop to the breach and restore balance to Everville in a short time. The Keepers knew, however, that it was going to require a great sacrifice, and they needed to make preparations.
The villagers left the workshop and returned to their homes. Carwyn’s father had been peering out the window for quite some time. He could see some of the villagers as they returned. The villagers seemed at ease, which helped to console his thoughts, though not completely.
The Keeper’s thoughts refocused on the current breach and on what would be needed of Owen in order to stop Them. He knew that, as great as the challenge to Everville was when the Keeper was a young Fron, the situation now was much more dire and would require much more from Owen. Owen could not do it alone, and even with help, the outcome was far from certain.
EVERVILLE CHAPTER 10
REGISTRATION
So Owen, have you picked all your classes for registration? I’ve got mine decided with a couple of backups.”
Anika looked at me intently as if to put her mind at ease regarding my recent episodes.
“Well, I’ve decided on my core classes, but I’m still thinking about my elective.”
Anika could see the change in my face caused by the recent happenings. I was usually very upbeat and optimistic. Still, Anika was even more so.
We walked across the hall to Dante’s room. As we w
alked in, the room breathed an air of tidiness. It was spotless. Every book was in place. Not one piece of trash could be seen.
“Hey guys! I was just thinking about which club we should join.”
“Did you pick out all your classes for registration?” I said to Dante.
He smiled and said, “Yep. I did that weeks ago, with triple backups!”
“Wow! Well, we’re headed over to Easton Falls Café. Wanna come?” Anika asked.
“Sure. Hold on a sec.”
Dante grabbed his bag, and off we went.
As we walked through the hallway down the stairs and out the doors, I started thinking that I hadn’t given much thought to what college was supposed to feel like. I had been so preoccupied by my recent experiences that the whole college life thing had seemed to fall by the wayside while I had most of my attention focused on trying to make sense of things. For the moment, the change in routine had only added to the sense of instability and concern I was feeling. It had completely replaced the excitement I had just a week ago.
I began thinking about growing up and the last time I had felt such an abrupt change in life. It was sixth grade. Dante, Anika, and I were inseparable at that point. I remember the first week of school we were still adjusting to the new surroundings. Lockers, different teachers for each class, and all the rest seemed both exciting and overwhelming. Then it happened!
“Hey look! It’s the three stooges.”
It was Brad and some of his popular friends. Over the summer he had beefed up. His newfound strength had clearly gone to his head. It seemed to have emptied out some of his intelligence along with it. He had grown by what must have been six inches. His friends looked at us waiting to see how we would respond. They smirked with an eager anticipation. The expression on their faces made it clear they were enjoying themselves.
For a moment, time seemed to slow down. Being a relatively responsible person, I actually tried to think about the consequences of my actions. My mind was consciously and subconsciously analyzing every possible scenario for the best possible outcome. Most of them did not end well. The only favorable one was if we continued to ignore them and they left us alone; or perhaps if a teacher walked by providing us an opportunity to avoid an incident. Of course, there was no teacher to be found.
Anika started to walk around them and we followed.
“Where are you going, dummy?”
We ignored them and continued to walk. They followed us and then blocked our way as we turned the corner. At that moment, I couldn’t help but wonder how some people could be so incredibly stupid. We hadn’t done anything to those clowns, but they seemed to be intent on causing trouble. We tried one last time to maneuver around them.
Brad shoved me in the shoulder, then he kicked me impossibly hard, right between the legs. A shooting pain spread instantly all over. Every square inch of my body was in agony. The trauma almost made me forget to breathe. My legs trembled. My knees buckled. Then, I fell to the floor.
Brad’s friends started laughing.
“What’s a matter, little girl?”
He turned to Dante, then sucker punched him. You could almost see the air being expelled from his lungs as he passed out.
Anika would have no more of it. Before I could make sense of what was happening, she had punched Brad square in the face. Blood started to trickle from his lower lip. He grew infuriated. His face turned beet red and the intense anger on his face was unmistakable.
I slowly began to stand up. As I did, I lost my footing. I fell back headfirst. My head hit the ground with a dull thud. Everything went black, and I was out cold.
I woke up in the hospital with my mother standing over me. Dante and Anika were there as well. I had suffered a concussion and the doctor said I needed to stay in the hospital overnight just to make sure everything was ok.
My mother said everything was going to be fine and they were just taking precautions. She was a very strong woman and was doing her best to make me feel better.
Anika stood up and approached the hospital bed. She looked genuinely concerned and put her warm hand on my right arm. I was glad she was there.
“How’s your head? Does it hurt?”
“It’s a little sore, but it’s not too bad.”
She looked relieved.
“They’re going to give you some ice cream,” Dante said with a smile.
I asked my mother if they could bring a little extra so we could all share. Half an hour later, we were all eating it together. The hospital only had neapolitan, but that was just fine. I normally didn’t like the way the flavors melted together as I wasn’t the biggest fan of chocolate, but at that moment, it was the best ice cream I had tasted in quite a while. It was cold and sweet, and that seemed enough.
I was out of the hospital the next day, but I got to stay home from school for the rest of the week. Dante brought my assignments every day to make sure I didn’t fall behind, and Anika came by to make sure I was okay. That week was the happiest week I could remember. I had a mother who loved me and two wonderful friends who truly cared.
The rest of the year seemed rather uneventful. We all managed to adjust to the routine of middle school with no major problems, and Brad never bothered us again.
Thinking back to those events gave me great comfort. Regardless of what was happening to me, I had two friends I knew I could count on. Whatever I was going to have to face, I knew they would be there for me no matter what.
When we finally arrived at the Easton Falls Café, I ordered my drink and sat down sipping on my coffee. I took my time drinking my perfectly hot white chocolate mocha. I enjoyed the way the paper cup allowed the hot liquid to keep my hands warm. Anika had another house special. She looked at me intently.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking about a lot of things. I guess I should go ahead and pick my classes before all the good ones fill up.”
I looked at my computer and selected the classes I needed. Then I decided to pick the art history course for my elective. It seemed interesting, and it fulfilled another one of my core requirements.
“So, what did you pick for your elective?”
“Well I just signed up for art history.”
“Cool! So did Dante and I. Looks like we’ll have at least one class together.”
My mind started to wander as I continued sipping my coffee. I thought back to Professor Samil, the Art Club, and how he appeared somewhat ragged and unkempt. He seemed like an interesting character, and there was something about him that made me a little curious.
For whatever reason, the thought of Professor Samil drew my mind back to Everville. I started to think long and hard about what might be expected of me and how I was going to be able to stop something that I didn’t fully understand, not to mention that I was just an 18-year-old college freshman. How was someone like me going to be able to stop an unknown force that was destroying a whole world? It didn’t seem possible. The Keeper seemed to have a lot of faith in me, but I wasn’t sure why. As far I was concerned, he could’ve picked any other stranger on the street and have been just as well off. In the back of my mind, though, I knew there must be a reason. Perhaps Dante’s uncle and his friends could provide us with some answers.
EVERVILLE CHAPTER 11
THE ECHO CLUB
Dante’s uncle had called one of his old buddies from high school, Avery, and explained to him the situation. I had accepted the fact that this was actually happening, but I was a little concerned that this person might not have the answers that I was looking for.
Avery had a distinctive charm. His face had the typical wear from middle age, but there was a certain quality about him that made me feel comfortable. He looked honest, kind, and wise. When he began to speak, I felt it even more so. Perhaps he did know something about Everville.
“There was a time in the not too distant past when many of us were faced with a similar challenge,” Avery said.
“Back then; a few of us bega
n to experience unusual happenings, fainting spells, visions, dreams, and the like. For a time, it became clear that something or someone was testing us. Our choices were immediately being felt beyond what one would expect with the typical choice and consequence.
“Founders of the Echo Club have known since its inception that this connection exists, and it extends beyond just the choices we make. Objects, places, people, and events seem to be inextricably linked to other things. It is not always apparent, and the effects are not always felt. It comes and goes like a brief gust of wind, but when it does appear, it can be very powerful. It’s in those times that one must stay true to oneself and not second-guess the choices that one makes. If they do, the consequences can be severe.
“Sometimes, though, the effects are not as pronounced. One may not be aware of the impact of one’s choices, but they can have a cumulative effect. Over time, those choices can make a clear difference for good or bad. That’s why one must always be on guard. If one is not careful, it’s possible to lose oneself.
“The Echo Club was founded by a few people who recognized those connections. Most members who join the club do so to gain a little self-control, to learn how to calm one’s thoughts before making a choice. To a select few, though, it’s much more. Through cooperation and practice, it is possible to quiet the distractions and temptations that exist around us. It can also be a way to hone in on specific places, objects, and people that share a greater connection and impact.
“I should warn you, though, that even good intentions could lead to unintended consequences. As you gain more awareness and control, you should not lose focus of your end goal. Otherwise, it can lead to overconfidence and even corruption. Membership and participation in the Echo Club should not be taken lightly. Power corrupts, and you should recognize the great responsibility that comes with wielding such power. That’s why it’s important to stay connected with those close to you who share your principle values. They can help ground you and stay focused, even from a great distance.”