A Key to Worlds: A Parallel Worlds Novel

by Mara Amberly

  “It was discovered a long time ago. I can only say I’m sorry that no one told you. They should’ve.”

  Pandora was upset and hurt, but within she knew it was the truth. “So the Council thought it was alright to leave me to go on believing a lie? That’s if you’re right about this.”

  I never knew my mother. I know nothing about her. Oh goodness, could she still be out there?

  “A decision was made,” Karen explained. “I can’t tell you that I agree with it, but it’s believed your parents were outsiders.”

  Pandora rubbed her eyes. She needed time to deal with this. It was then she heard a voice that she was certain didn’t belong to any of the Scientists in the room or Bastian for that matter.

  “She speaks the truth but you’re my family now. Go with them and they’ll take you where you need to go.”

  When she looked around, there was no one else there, but she was certain it was her Grandmother who spoke.

  Pandora drew in a deep breath and found her courage. “I want to do this, if only to set foot on the world outside. I won’t leave Terania Settlement permanently and I won’t transfer. I have a partner here, and a life here, and I don’t want to lose it. In fact, can I take someone with me?”

  Those present didn’t seem to have anticipated her answer.

  Anders asked the question they were all wondering. “Who do you want to bring?”

  Pandora smiled, much more at ease now for voicing her thoughts. “My boyfriend, Kailen. He’s an engineer, though I wouldn’t choose to place him at great risk.”

  Bastian sighed. “Just ensure that what’s spoken in secrecy stays that way.”

  She had no wish to help them guard their lies, but at the same time, she wondered how likely Kailen would be to keep quiet. Probably about the same as she was – not very. She didn’t want to lead him into trouble, so they’d have to be careful about what they said.

  “I’ll speak with him about it. When would we leave?” she asked, knowing it would likely be soon.

  “It’s early in the day, and we can get the gear together to venture out. Is two hours enough time?”

  Karen smiled, knowing this would all be rather sudden for Pandora.

  Pandora hesitated for a moment. “How long would we be away?”

  Karen examined her data pad, which listed the tasks to be undertaken. “A day or two I’d say.”

  Pandora was surprised they’d be staying out overnight, but if people were travelling the distances that the Scientists had, they would need to. She’d heard it took a lot of time to travel even a short distance out there, because the ground was uneven, and at times, treacherous.

  “Two hours should be enough,” she said with a smile.

  She was reassured that Kailen would be waiting for her, but she already had a new set of circumstances to contend with. A new set of hopes too, because this was beginning to feel like an adventure she’d long wished to take.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Visited Dimension;

  Forest Location – 2:12 p.m.

  After around an hour of walking through the woods, Nessa finally felt they’d evaded any form of pursuit, or at least thrown the guards off the scent for long enough that they ought to be able to make it back to the portal.

  “It’s a pity we couldn’t get our hands on a few of those pistols they have. It’s technology that I don’t think they have on our world,” Nessa said.

  “They do on ours,” James explained as he caught his breath. “I can’t say I like them.”

  Even though they’d walked a long distance, he’d regained his balance and seemed in better condition than he was before. The bruises on his arms had turned a deepening purple, and Nessa guessed that he was likely just as bruised beneath his shirt.

  Nessa hadn’t escaped unscathed either, and her legs ached from the force of the pistol blast and drop to the ground, but she didn’t have any major injuries. She hoped the flower hadn’t taken much damage but she could sense the portal was still open. She just wanted to get back to the portal and return to her world with James. She presumed he wasn’t going to stay here after what had happened, and because as much as it looked like it, this wasn’t James’s world.

  They’d changed directions several times after escaping the city so that they wouldn’t be so easy to track, but there were nevertheless landmarks that both Nessa and James recognised. When they came to a winding gully, almost like a crease in the landscape, they stopped wordlessly and surveyed the area. It was further along – one way or the other – than James and Nessa recognised.

  “So which way should we be going?” she asked James, honestly unsure.

  “I’ve been keeping track, checking your compass every so often. We need to go south and it should take us down to the spot with the twin rocks. South-east from there ought to lead us straight to the portal.

  “You’re sure about this?” Nessa asked with mild concern and exhaustion.

  “I’m positive, Nessa. Don’t worry. I’m certain it’s the right way. I’ve spent a good part of my life living on the land. Come on.”

  The twin rocks, which she’d marked with her chalk, weren’t that far away at all. From there, they headed south-east and soon noticed several signs they’d left; ribbons on the trees and chalk marks.

  I don’t believe this. We may actually make it home safely after all.

  She listened out for any signs of trouble, but there were none. The forest was peaceful but not entirely quiet. She heard the hum of insects and the flutter of wings among the trees high above. As she searched the forest carefully, she noticed something blue up ahead. It was a blue ribbon! She untied it from the tree and looked around.

  “We’re close to the portal now, James.”

  Spruce and pine trees cast a deep shade throughout the woods, but she could see the haze shimmering in the air.

  James looked at it and smiled. After a moment, he beckoned to Nessa, his brow creasing with concern. “Is it just me or does it look different?”

  “What? What do you mean?” Nessa asked as she examined the portal more closely. The last one had been close to a perfect oval shape, but this one wasn’t. It was almost like it had a diagonal twist in it that left it taller on the right side than the left. Ordinarily she could see the destination on the other side, but all she could tell was that there was a hint of a wall.

  “It might be nothing or it could be something. You’ve never seen this before?”

  Nessa shook her head.

  She opened her bag and drew out the flower. It was still intact but the petals had been scrunched up a little, and they seemed bruised, much as she and James were. “It got a bit damaged during the escape, but it’s all there,” she said, holding it out for him to see.

  James shrugged. “It looks alright to me and nothing’s dropped off. What’s it supposed to look like?”

  Nessa wasn’t sure how to answer that. She smelled it and breathed in the fragrance of the flower. It was the same as ever, though stronger than she recalled before.

  “I think there’s damage done to it but it’s mostly alright. I think I should go through the portal first and if it’s okay, I’ll come back through and get you.”

  James wasn’t too impressed with her idea. “Isn’t there anything we can do to test it? Put a stick through, maybe?”

  Nessa nodded and went to get one. The stick she chose had fallen off a tree, and had several branching segments, with two leaves still attached. She poked it through the portal then drew it back out again. The stick was still intact and appeared no different to how it had been before.

  “It didn’t hurt the stick so it shouldn’t hurt us,” she said, her tone hopeful.

  “I’ll go,” James said, ready to take the chance. He’d rather it was him than Nessa.

  “I got you into this. Please, let me go first, James. I’ll be alright,” Nessa insisted. She doubted the portal could hurt her and she was the one with the power to form portals, so if she ran into trouble,
it stood to reason that she’d have more chance of getting out of it intact.

  “Will it change anything that you’ve got the flower with you?” he asked, not really sure it wouldn’t impact the presence of the portal.

  “No, I don’t think so,” she said, but before she could stop him, James walked through the portal.

  “JAMES!” she shouted, but he couldn’t hear her. He’d already passed through the event horizon. She waited, looking around her at the trees in case the guards would choose that timely moment to arrive, but they didn’t. However, James didn’t return through the portal either. She waited for over a minute, then five minutes. After so much time had passed, she was certain he wasn’t coming back through. The question was why – could something have stopped him on the other side or could the journey back have harmed him?

  I can’t stay here. This isn’t my home and there’s no other certain route back to my world. It’s this or I risk being separated from Katy and James for good; and then he might never find his way back to his own home.

  Feeling like she had little choice, Nessa took a deep breath and stepped on through. Almost at once she saw an earthen wall in front of her and no sign of James. This wasn’t Georgia; at least, the Georgia she knew. The portal had been in Katy’s garden and now it definitely wasn’t. What’s going on here? This hasn’t happened before.

  She left the portal open because she wasn’t prepared to take a chance and close it just yet, and they definitely weren’t home. Closing it might cost them their only way of getting back. Nessa stepped around the portal, wondering why James hadn’t tried to go back through it, but she wasn’t sure he hadn’t. For now, she put the flower back in the pouch at her waist.

  The wall was part of a large cavern. It looked naturally-formed, but the sides had a sculpted quality that was almost too perfect to be natural. Even though she was underground, the cavern wasn’t dark. At first she wasn’t sure why, but there were open passages forming vents in the ceiling and light filtered down through them. Some areas of the cavern were brighter than others.

  Unsure of whether it was a mistake, she called out his name. “James? Are you here?”

  There was no answer, so she tried again. “It’s Nessa. James, where are you?”

  She followed the side of the cavern along, noting that there were no signs of life here. No people other than herself, and no plants or animals visible. She did notice remnants of a campfire beneath one of the vents, so perhaps this world was populated. “James, you’re scaring me. Where you are?”

  She found a small passage leading out, but it wasn’t large enough for a person to escape through.

  I sure hope he didn’t materialise in the rock. I don’t think it’s possible but the thought is terrifying.

  “JAMES!”

  There was some rubble across the cavern, and as she approached, Nessa noticed a section of the cavern entirely cast in shadow. She made her way over cautiously and found an open passage leading from the cavern. It was dark and larger than the one she’d seen before, but she noticed the shape of a figure lying on the ground unmoving. It was James.

  “James, are you alright?” Nessa’s voice was fearful, and he didn’t respond. She hurried to his side.

  At first she thought he might be dead, but then he murmured her name weakly.

  “Nessa. It’s this place. It’s making me sick.”

  She knelt down beside him and touched her hand to his forehead. It was damp with sweat and James seemed like he had a fever.

  “Are you sure it’s that? You got some awful bruises.”

  “Yes,” he responded huskily. “I got sick almost straight away. I was going to make sure it was safe for you and I couldn’t get back. My legs gave out under me.”

  Nessa’s frowned with concern, and she tried to help him into a sitting position. “I’ve got to get you out of here. It hasn’t affected me yet. Either it will or you’re sensitive to something here I’m not.”

  James held on to her arm and tried to sit up. “It’s like a wasteland out there, and there are storm clouds twisting, moving over the land.” He tried to explain, but he wasn’t sure if she understood his explanation.

  Nessa wondered if it might be something like a twister. “It’s good we’re underground then,” she said, but she was deeply worried about James. “Come on, I’m going to help get you back to the portal.”

  She knew their chance of getting back to her world might be gone. If they were lucky, the portal would lead them back to the last world they visited and then – she wasn’t sure what would happen. She could try again or close the portal once and for all to see what would happen. However, that might prevent her and James from ever returning to their true homes, so she intended to treat it as a last resort.

  “I’m not sure I can move much,” he murmured.

  “Sure you can,” Nessa said encouragingly. “Staying behind isn’t an option.”

  It took time but she helped him on to his feet. She hurried, because James had sickened quickly, and she didn’t want him to get sicker, or allow more time to get sick herself. He wasn’t in any position to help her, so she had to help herself and James while she could.

  It took several minutes to help him walk through the cavern and back to where the portal was. It wavered like a heat haze just as it had before and it still had a twist to its shape, just as James had noticed earlier on the other world.

  “I came through after you and ended up in the same place, so I would say this will take us back.” They didn’t take any more time to think about it – she guided him through the portal.

  They found the forest on the other side and the air seemed fresher after stepping through. She helped James sit down on the ground, and as his shirt rode up, she saw the extent of his bruising. All down his arms and along the side of his chest were purple from the weapon blast.

  “James, that looks terrible. You look like you need some time to rest and recover.”

  The truth is, he looks like he belongs in a hospital, not here. I hope he doesn’t have any internal bleeding. It could be why he’s so ill. He shouldn’t be pushing himself so hard when he’s injured like this.

  “Don’t worry about me, Nessa. I’m alright. What are we going to do?”

  Nessa opened her pack to retrieve the flower again and flexed its petals. She tried to push them back into a natural shape and she thought she saw a corresponding waver in the portal as she did. It seemed a bit more symmetrical after that and while the view was partially obscured through the portal, it suggested a garden more than the plain wall it had before. She hadn’t realised that the condition of an object could change the destination of a portal before. It would give her plenty to consider later, provided they made it through safely.

  “I think this is about our best chance.” She wasn’t entirely confident, but she was more hopeful than before.

  Nessa helped James up and together they limped through the portal. When they came out the other side, they saw Katy’s house in front of them. Almost at once, Nessa burst into tears.

  James gave her a comforting smile. “You did it. You got us out of there. What now, if this is it?”

  She helped hold him up so he wouldn’t fall, but James seemed a bit more stable on his feet now.

  “If this is it,” she said, “then the first item on the list is medical care. You need it. We probably both do.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Pandora's Home Dimension;

  Terania Settlement, Alverron – 1:40 p.m.

  It was afternoon and the expedition was preparing to leave. Kailen hadn’t needed much convincing to come along, but he was certainly surprised. Whatever he’d been expecting, this wasn’t it. He’d long been of the opinion that citizens deserved greater freedoms, but accompanying Pandora meant foregoing stealth and joining the Scientists. Pandora could tell he was wary of those from the other settlements.

  “You’re a rebel, you know that?” Pandora told her boyfriend with a smile.

 
; He laughed. “You’ve been talking to my mother again, haven’t you? I’m set in my views. That’s the height of it. They keep us locked up and they shouldn’t. It should be our choice where we go. If we want to take the risks, then it’s on us, not them.”

  They were standing in a large courtyard with the airlock ahead of them. The Scientists were still loading up the gear, including rations for the journey. Pandora had been kitted out with her own tan uniform, as had Kailen. They offered increased protection against the sun, radiation and elements. She and Kailen were also each given a backpack of survival gear and breathing apparatus. It could extract toxins from the air, but it had its limit. The intent was obviously that Pandora would try to breathe the air outside without it. There was supposed to be a scientific method to it, but it would amount to the same thing as ‘try it and see’, only in a measured way.

  Several guards stood nearby, armed with machine pistols, but they seemed relaxed like they weren’t anticipating any trouble. There was a reason they weren’t armed with higher-technology laser weapons – there was no chance machine pistols could harm the dome, whereas that wasn’t necessarily true of lasers.

  Karen was brimming with happiness as she loaded a crate with the biological sampler and a large store of containers into the back of the rover. Pandora couldn’t tell if Karen was happy to be leaving Terania Settlement or if she simply desired to be on the road again. Maybe she had a family back home and wanted to return to them, though she and the other Scientists would be returning to Terania Settlement after their mission. Bastian was standing by the door to the facility overlooking the proceedings. There could be no question that he had significant influence, but he wasn’t coming with them. Pandora was rather grateful for that. Anders Karelli, the technical specialist, already had his gear packed on board the rover and was waiting, much as she and Kailen were. He gave Pandora a smile when he noticed her watching him, but he made no move to speak with her. Olsen Denrees, the jack-of-all-trades, was just about done loading his gear. Most of the crates on board seemed to be his, but it stood to reason when he was going to be performing multiple tasks, analysing the environment. As for the rover itself, Pandora found the vehicle fascinating. Vehicles weren’t used in Terania Settlement at all, at least for transport within the dome. She’d known that vehicles like the rover existed, but most people never learned how to drive one of these, as they never left the settlement.