Page 104 of Akarnae

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alex asked, wondering why she wasn’t already running across the river and jumping through the doorway back to her world.

“It means what it means,” the Library said. “And it’s up to you to decide what it means.”

“Stop speaking in riddles!” Alex cried, frustrated.

“I speak only the truth,” the voice said, softening. “It’s you who must interpret that truth, otherwise I would be denying you the freedom to make your own decisions.”

Alex let out a deep breath and said, “So, basically you’re telling me you brought me here for a reason, but you won’t tell me what that reason is because you don’t want to influence my choices?”

The voice didn’t say anything and Alex took that as a sign to continue. “And now you’re saying I can go back? Just like that?”

There was still no response and Alex looked longingly at the doorway back to her world, to herhome.

She took a step forward before she paused. “Can I come back? Once I’ve gone through, can I come back through the doorway?”

Again there was no response. Where had the voice gone? It seemed like it had told the truth about not telling her what to do. But there really was only one decision she could make. For all she knew, this was the only opportunity she would ever have to get back to Freya. There was no guarantee that the headmaster would be able to find a way home for her whenever he finally decided to return to the academy. This might be her only chance to get back to her normal life. Back to her parents. Back to where she actuallybelonged.

Placing one foot in front of the other, Alex carefully stepped onto the first boulder, then the second and the third. Before she knew it, she was standing in front of the doorway, staring up at her house.

One minute… Two minutes… Three minutes passed and she just stood there, looking through the doorway.

The choice was obvious—she had to go through. But still, she hesitated.

What if she couldn’t come back? The Library may have brought her through to Medora once, but that didn’t mean it would do so again.

And what about her friends? Jordan? Bear? The rest of the Ronnigan family? Fletcher and Jarvis and the other professors? What about Darrius? What if she never saw any of them again? She wouldn’t get the chance to say goodbye, and they’d have no idea what had happened to her.

But if she didn’t leave, she might never have access to a doorway like the one in front of her again. Was she willing to risk her life—her parents—herworld—just to spend more time with a handful of people she’d known for only a few months?

As she stood in front of the doorway, Alex thought about everything that had happened to her since she’d first arrived in Medora. All the impossibilities she’d witnessed, all the amazing adventures she could never have dreamed of experiencing. Was she really willing to let all of that go? Did she even have a choice?

Alex turned and glanced behind her into the dark uncertainty of the cavern one last time. A silent tear fell down her cheek as she closed her eyes, whispered a heartfelt goodbye, and reached for the door.

Thirty-Five

A resolute click echoed aroundthe cavern.

Alex looked at the closed door in front of her and another tear slipped down her cheek. She hoped she hadn’t made the wrong decision, but for better or worse, she knew in her heart that she just wasn’t ready to leave this world of wonder and the people in it.

Full of determination, Alex turned her back on the door and retraced her steps across the boulders to the other side of the river. The moment she stood on the cavern ground again, the rocks disappeared from view and the river roared into motion once more.

“You’ve made your choice?” the voice asked, back again.

“I have,” Alex answered, feeling more and more confident of her decision.

“I’m pleased.”

“What happens now?” Alex asked.

“As always, that’s up to you,” said the Library. “But know that I am with you.”

Alex presumed it was meant to be a comforting thought, but instead it kind of creeped her out to think that a disembodied presence would be following her around.

“I’m being stalked by a sentient Library,” she said to herself. “Could my life be any weirder?”

“Trust me, Alexandra, this is only the beginning.”

“Awesome,” Alex muttered. “So, now that we’ve had this bonding session and all, how do I get out of here?”

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