Cries of the Children(106)

I found a door!

Great! Can you open it?

Lorraine fumbled around for a latch, but couldn’t find one. Her fingers felt a seam where two pieces of wood met, but though she tried, she couldn’t make it budge.

Now she began to panic.

I can’t open it! It’s getting harder to hold my breath! I’ll have to go back!

No! Lorraine, use your mind!

Lorraine banged on the wood, but the water slowed her efforts. She hardly heard what Steven was trying to tell her.

Lorraine, your mind is strong. You can do anything!

This time, Lorraine heard him. She directed all her thoughts to the door, hoping to find mental power strong enough to blast right through the door and whatever was holding it shut on the other side. But the effects of the medication she’d been given had tampered with her abilities to bring imaginary creatures to life. Dizziness began to fill her head, and her lungs begged for an intake of oxygen. She’d been under the water for nearly three minutes.

Lorraine had no choice but to turn and swim back until her head was above water.

It didn’t work, she told the others. Her tears mixed with the salt water on her face. Oh, it didn’t work at all!

Rest, Lorraine, Julie said. You can try again in a few minutes.

I need Marty!

I’m here, Lorraine. I’m back.

Marty! All three children shouted it in their minds.

Marty, I’m trapped. I can’t get through the door.

Yes, you can. We can. I’ll help you, Lorraine. Go back under the water.

With Marty to help her, and with the encouragement of her friends, Lorraine plunged into the water without hesitation. This time, when she tried to push the door, she had the power of Marty’s mind working with her. The force within her radiated into the surrounding water, making it glow with a phantom electricity. For the first time since she entered the tunnel, Lorraine could see.

But there was no time to look around herself. She heard pounding and knew that something—some energy—was striking the wooden door with incredible force. Instantly sunlight poured into the water. Clouds of sand billowed around Lorraine’s head. She squinted and watched as the door bulged open, straining against the sand. The electric glow was replaced at once by sunlight.

Lorraine swam through the door, then up another five feet until she broke the surface of the water. She was hidden in a garden of tall beach grass.

I’m out! Marty, Steven, Julie! I’m out!

Hooray! Steven shouted.

Good for you! Julie praised.

There were no words from Marty. The effort had been too great, and now he was unable to respond.

But Lorraine, encouraged by the amazing thing she’d just done, waded through the waist-high water and up onto the beach. She glanced in all directions, making sure she wasn’t being watched. The beach was empty. Lorraine sank down on the sand and let herself rest for just a moment.

Then she stood up and went to look for help.





51


DURING THEIR WALK around town, Rachel and Samantha shared what little memories they had of their childhoods. Samantha mentioned Julie’s beach drawings, most especially the yellow house near the jetty.

“I’d like to see that jetty,” Rachel said. “Perhaps there’s a clue.”

“We looked,” Samantha said. “I’m afraid nothing was familiar.”

“That’s because you were seeing it with your eyes,” Rachel said. “I’m experiencing it with . . . well, with whatever’s making me feel Steven.”

Samantha looked so downtrodden that Wil put his arm around her shoulder.

“I wish I could ‘feel’ Julie,” she said.

Barbara pointed. “The jetty’s in that direction, just beyond Haybrook’s. I don’t suppose you have any memory of that place?”

She directed the question to Rachel, who shook her head.

They headed toward the jetty. The very moment she was near it, Rachel let out a cry. Her eyes widened, and she pivoted to face Samantha.

“You said the yellow house burned down years ago,” she said. “And it was near a jetty.”

Samantha only nodded in reply. Eric looked concerned.

“What is it, Rachel?” he asked.

Rachel closed her eyes, her expression tightening as she concentrated.

“A gateway,” she said. “Some kind of dark tunnel. I don’t know where it leads, or how to get there, but it will take us to the children.”

“This is the only jetty,” Wil said. “The house had to be in this area.”

“Another house must have been built on the site,” Samantha added. She looked down the beach at Haybrook’s, still quiet at this early hour. Then she broke into a determined stride. “Come on, everybody, I know where we can get some answers.”