BEHIND 2 WALLS

•Elia

"Is that…a-a magical… portal?"

A powerful rush of wind surrounds us, strong enough to give me goosebumps, but not the kinds that forces us to hold on to something so we don't get dragged in.

This… this is really real? Magic and all?

I know I challenged dad about how I believed it but why is it so overwhelming now that I witness it for myself.

Lita, who is staring at the mysterious green spiral portal hole in awe, moves closer to it and decides to put one hand into it. When she does, her hand goes through it like it would inside water.

I pull her away from it out of fear. Why I am scared? I have no idea.

"D-Don't-" I stutter.

Of course I'm scared, she should be as well.

"We can't just dive in there!" I shout, not because I am in anyway angry, but because of the mighty wind.

"Why not?" She questions. I almost don't hear her even though she yelled it out.

"Why not? We don't even know where it goes? If it even goes anywhere" I answer.

Okay, the noise from the wind is starting to get on my nerves.

"Anodohra, of course. I bet you one million that behind this portal is Anodohra." She says with confidence.

First of all, she hasn't made a million yet.

Secondly, Anodohra? It can't possibly be that easy.

I open my mouth to say something but a voice interrupts me.

"I wouldn't take that bet if I were you."

"Grandma?!" "Granny?!" Lita and I both echo.

"I had a feeling you'd be here." She smiles.

•••

"Harrison never listens to me. I told him you'd find out sooner or later." Grandma goes on.

After she surprised us by showing up unexpectedly, she went on to surprise us even further.

My suspicions were right, she knew all along. And hid it as well.

She had taken my necklace out of the wall, which caused the portal to close. After that, she pulled us back to the library, where the current conversation is taking place.

And it also turns out, that was actually the portal to Anodohra. Good thing I didn't take that bet.

"How do you know about the portal?" I interrupt whatever she might have been blabbing.

She smiles warmly "Ella was such a beautiful soul. She managed to make even her mother-in-law adore her. That's not an easy feat, you know." She starts.

"She often told me stories about her home," she continues, "How much she loved it. She told me, whenever it felt safe to return, she'd take me with her to Anodohra." She let out a small sad laugh.

"What do you mean 'safe to return'?" I ask

"You have her journals, don't you? You'll know soon enough."

I sigh.

"Anyways," She continues, "She told me about a secret passage that leads to Anodohra. She created the portal herself, and that necklace as well. She also showed me where it was, countless times. So much so that she even kept reminders of what painting led to the openings. T-"

"'The monochrome one'?" I complete her sentence, I think.

"Yes. You must have seen one of them. I guess that's how you found it."

Oh, so that wasn't necessarily a hidden message. It was just a reminder, for grandma.

I have so many questions that I want to ask her but right now, I need to know one thing.

"Grandma, did you also know that mom was murdered?"

"Your mom was what?!" Lita turns her head to me in surprise.

Oh yeah, I haven't told her yet.

"She was murdered. That's something else dad lied about." I turn to look at grandma and instead of surprise, I see guilt.

"And apparently grandma too." I conclude.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, your father made me promise I wouldn't." She sighs

"I thought we were best friends granny. Besties don't keep things from each other." Lita frowns.

There's obviously some humor in her tone, but I can tell she didn't expect grandma to hide something so serious.

"Elia's your best friend, isn't she?" She replies

"Lia's my sworn sister. We just established that."

I don't remember establishing that, but nonetheless, I don't mind.

"My concern right now," I interrupt their little 'argument', "Is whether you know who killed her."

She shakes her head slowly. "I was out of town, visiting a friend when It all happened. Harrison said he received a message from her, but he didn't tell me anything concerning the message, except that it was a goodbye message."

"Same thing he told me." I mutter.

I sigh.

A moment of silence passes before grandma speaks.

"Do you want to go to Anodohra, dear?" Grandma's question catches me off guard.

I don't answer her question.

I remember telling Lita I had to find Anodohra no matter what. It was important for me to go. It still is. So, why is it taking this much time for me to answer?

I look at Lita, half expecting her to answer 'of course', on my behalf. I wouldn't oppose that. But she just looks at me, waiting for an answer as well.

Of course I want to go. I'm excited to go, and I have some kind of mission there as well.

I am also somewhat terrified.

Whatever killed mom, would it be waiting somewhere for me as well? Would it harm Lita, who is definitely going to want to come along with me? What if-

"You're overthinking again, aren't you?" Lita says, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Yes.. yes I am.

I take a deep breath.

"Do we have your permission to leave, grandma?"

She smiles at my question.

"You didn't need my permission when you went into the library. Why do you need it now?"

Fair enough.

"You have all the journals in your bag right?" I ask Lita.

She nods

"Good. Based on what you read in mom's novel, can you check out some of these and pick out the ones that seem important to what we need to know about her and Anodohra?" I point towards the cluster of mom's written novels.

She gives me a thumbs up and gets right to work.

"Whatever you're doing, you have one minute. Harrison will be back soon." Grandma notifies.

My heart beats two beats faster when I hear that, and I immediately turn towards her.

That's something I almost forgot—Dad. Should I wait and tell him I'm leaving?

My mind begins to replay what happened yesterday night.

No, he wouldn't even let me go. I have to do this before he gets back.

"Done." Lita annonces, before I can say anything to grandma.

Wow, that was fast. But good, we don't have time.

I give her a 'thank you' smile, since the word is now to be unspoken between us.

I put all the letters i found inside Lita's bag, and look around to see if there's anything we might be missing.

"So, is this it? We're really going on a magical adventure?" Lita beams.

I want to tell her, no, beg her to stay behind. Stay here, where it's safer. I don't want to drag her into any form of danger. But I understand her well enough to know she wouldn't take that suggestion lightly.

It would lead to an argument. One I would lose to. One we don't even have time for.

"One where we don't even have enough time to pack clothes or essentials." I sigh, not bothering to mention what I really want to say.

"According to my knowledge of fantasy, that's how it's meant to be." She smiles.

I like her optimism, but the thing is… this isn't a fantasy.

Once we're all set, or something like that, to leave. I grab a piece of paper and a pen and begin to write.

"What's that for?" Lita inquires

"Just a little reassurance to dad that I'm going to be fine."

"Would that really work?"

"Nope. But still." I fold the paper and hand it to grandma, who has been watching us in silence.

It's been more than a minute and he isn't back yet.

But, just as I hand the paper to her, I hear a knock.

"Ma'am, you asked me to inform you when sir would be back. His car just pulled in, he's back." The house keeper says

"All right. Thank you. You may leave." Grandma replies.

She turns to me, "I'll give this to him. You girls should leave now, before you never get the chance to. And please, be careful. If you ever run into any form of trouble, please find a way to contact one of Ella's friends. I'm certain they'd be willing to help." She says quickly before handing me my necklace and heading for the exit, probably to go distract dad, and earn us some time.

Even though she hid everything at first, I'm grateful she didn't oppose to this.

I also have a feeling she purposefully mentioned the library in front of Lita, expecting this would happen.

I smile a little at that thought.

I hold the necklace tightly before saying

"Ready?"

"Duhh" Lita answers, and heads into the passageway.

I take one last look at mom's paintings before following her in.

Anodohra… I wonder what lies waiting for us over there.

•••

Lita walks through the portal before I do. I hold onto the necklace which is still attached to the wall as a key.

Once I'm more than halfway through, I pull it out. The portal closes immediately I'm completely out.

I thought it'd feel different, but it just felt like walking through a door.

On the other side, I find an amazed Lita waiting for me.

I then begin to take in my surroundings.

It's bright and sunny, a little windy. I smile as the cool air brushes my skin. The place smells like a mix of different kinds of flowers. Everything seems.. normal.

Except the fact that there are no cars, and the buildings look a lot different from the ones I'm used to seeing. Some of them look crazy, especially the mushroom shaped one.

But that's where the weirdness stops.

Is this really Anodohra? A magical place? Is it weird to say I expected dragons and people flying on brooms? Or maybe some drama. Magical drama.

Especially since we just appeared out of nowhere in front of a lot of people.

Although, I don't think anyone noticed us coming from a portal, they're all just walking by, minding their business. I guess that's a good thing.

But then, I notice a man who did a double take of my face. He has a shocked look on his face and then taps his friend, I think, on the shoulder, before whispering something in his ear. His friend looks in my direction with the same shocked expression.

This same thing happens with a few other people.

Is it our dressing? I get that it's a little different, but it's not too absurd, is it?

"Any idea why we're getting stared down at?" Lita whispers

"Our clothes?" I whisper back

"Makes sense. Well, what now? Any idea where to go from here?"

"No Lita, we never really found a map. I guess that's what happens when you dive into another dimension without a solid plan."

"No regrets!" She says loudly, drawing in more attention. As if we already don't have enough of that right now.

I place a hand on my forehead and sigh.

"This place has some kind of Morden late 19th-ish century vibe. There should be an Inn somewhere, we'll know what to do from there. We can also ask for directions to the Kiyoni household." I shrug.

"All right."

Before we can walk any further, a voice stops us.

"Ella kiyoni." The man calls out.

We both turn, both to see who it is, and why my mom's name was mentioned.

The man looks young, probably in his early twenties. He is very tall, and very well-built. And, honestly speaking, he is really good looking.

He's surrounded by a few men who are standing in a formation that guards would. Their uniforms say the same.

"In accordance with the laws of Anodohra, anyone who defies royal declaration is to be sentenced to death, or punished as the royal family deems fit." He continues, "You, Ella Kiyoni, of the noble Kiyonis, are guilty of said crime and will be taken into custody immediately." He declares.

Wait, what?!

My heart lunges into my throat.

I look around me to see if he's speaking to someone else, but it looks like he was talking to me. Me?!

"Me?!" I voice out my confusion, putting a hand on my chest.

But when I look at the wanted poster one of the guards are holding, I swear I turn white.

The person in the poster… that's me.