Part 7 by Mary Laird
"You know, Frederick, you really should have just used the door! Would've saved us all a great deal of time, and we would not have had any of this falling through the wall nonsense. That's the trouble with your kind … always overcomplicating things …"
The man trailed off as he watched his own hand, previously motionless, give a small twitch. Beyond the mountain, he knew, was the place for which he searched. Rumors had reached his ears of a secret tunnel system, large enough only for several people to pass through, that would allow him to circumvent the biting winter weather and travel from beneath LaFortune all the way to the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. He would not lose another limb to frostbite, of this he was certain.
The only obstacle between him and this ultimate power was the stone. He did not know if Frederick knew of the power it could bestow, or even of its existence, but it did not matter. Frederick would lead him, or he would return to the council and face death.
Part 8 by Rosemary Kelly
Frederick gasped aloud and then stifled his reaction quickly. He could see the mountain clearly, but it was imperative this councilman remain unaware, that he did not discover his secret. For, Frederick had seen the Other World. He had spoken to an Undesirable, and was now convinced that his entire Mieux Training had been based in untruths. The council had hidden this from all of them, and it was still hiding things …
The man suddenly spoke. "Why don't we stop for the night, lad? Right, then I'll gather some kindle and you get the water." He left the clearing quickly, his jacket flapping behind him.
After a minute Frederick tore his gaze from the heavenly peak and wandered from the clearing, following the sounds of water nearby. A river suddenly opened itself up before him and he sat on the bank, tossing stones into the water while he mused. He didn't noticed anything strange until a small clattering sound drew his attention downward, and he saw the very stone that he had thrown moments before suddenly sitting again at his feet. Confused, he held it in his palm. It was indeed the same stone. Hurriedly, he rose, just as a second stone was deposited gently near him. Another followed, then another. He looked out over the water and was shocked to see the stones he had tossed reappearing on the water and being borne back towards him. What was happening? The river looked normal; did he dare touch it? He crept forward, intrigued, fearful, and met the water with the edge of his bare toe. Nothing, and yet ... without warning he was totally consumed by a fierce joy, a raging passion for life. He desired to plunge directly into the river, to express his rapture, to expend himself completely without cause. Frederick raised his arms, poised to vault from the bank, but suddenly out of the brush behind burst the councilman with a contingent of soldiers. "Seize the boy!" the man yelled. "He has Disobeyed!" Frederick dived.
Want to write the next paragraph to the story? Submit your paragraph to NDLFshortstory@gmail.com before 4 p.m. Limit of 200 words. Title it Part Eight. This story will continue until Nov. 16. If your paragraph is selected, it will be published in Viewpoint and you will get to read it at the NDLF panel discussion Nov. 19. The visiting authors will write the ending paragraphs. Take advantage of the opportunity to write a story along with three New York Times bestselling authors!
