Blue light awakened Ulrich. He glanced for a moment at the glowing green lines on his book then at the glowing blue lines above the doorway. Night had fallen. Again.
With a heavy sigh he swung his legs from beneath the covers. He rose and walked to the doorway where he retrieved a set of clothes hanging from the hook.
“Why is the magistrate doing this to us?” Valeris asked him.
Ulrich shrugged then dressed. He picked his heavy cloak up from the hook. “If only I knew,” he said and walked out.
Puddles of water on the ground reflected the glowing lights above the doorway. The wind blew bits of sand into his eyes. He squinted, then held up his hand.
“Stop,” he said and brushed away more sand.
Valeris sat and watched him with a curious expression.
“Forget what I said,” Ulrich said, more to himself than the girl.
“I was going to ask you what time it is,” Valeris said.
“Later,” Ulrich answered and walked out.
The breeze blew as he locked the door, turning the simple key. He retraced his path back to his cottage.
Valeris looked around the cottage.
“My name is Ulrich,” she said. “I am sorry but I must go. The others in the village are angry. They do not want to go to the mines.”
“I understand,” Ulrich said.
He looked at the door, then back to Valeris. “You will be trouble for this village, you know,” he said.
She lifted her chin and glared at him. “I must go.”
Ulrich nodded and closed his eyes. He opened them again after a moment and pointed his hand at the door. The door opened and shut as Valeris walked through.
Ulrich looked around and sighed. He ran his hand through his hair and sat on the ground.
“Goodbye,” he said and closed his eyes.
The door opened and shut again then opened and shut again.
“Erm, I think perhaps you should take that door,” Valeris said and took the door handle.
Still sitting on his knees, Ulrich took her hand and helped her through.
“What would you do without me?” she asked him.
“Nothing,” Ulrich said.
She turned her face away, then the room spun. When it stopped spinning he was gone.
Colorful lines of light flashed all around her. She gasped and covered her eyes.
When she opened them again she was in a dark room.
“I know and you cannot stop it from happening,” a voice said.
“Why not?” she said and turned in the direction of the voice.
The room spun again, then appeared to her right. She was in a dark alley with walls and smells on either side of her. A man was in front of her.
“You are right, I cannot stop it,” he said. “And it will not stop.”
“What will not stop!” she whispered.
“The effort,” he said. “That everyone must do their part. We will all be dragged toward this place. The world will be turned upside down and inside out. The stars will die and be born again.”
“No, it cannot change the town,” she said.
“How can you be sure?”
“I am sure,” she said.
The man laughed. “Then I can only recommend that you should find another job. You will be of no use to me.”
Valeris shivered.
“You are afraid,” the man said.
“No,” she said.
“Good. Then we can begin our plans.”
Before Valeris could reply her eyes went black. She fell to her knees and struggled to keep her eyes open. Pain and hurt engulfed her and she let herself slip into it. The black gave way to a glistening silver light.
“She is changing,” the man said.
“The effect is not complete though,” a different voice said.
Valeris opened her eyes. The man and the other voice were gone.
She got to her feet, swaying a little, and went back to her cottage home.
The door opened. The room spun. Then she was in her dingy shack hanging clothes on pegs.
“Why,” she said and covered her eyes. “Why?”
Her cottage door slammed and opened again. “What are you doing in there?” her father asked her.
“I am just,” she said and yawned.
“What is the matter with you? You’re late. Come on. You’re going with Mother to the mines.”
“But the others.”
“You need to get a job,” he said. “Deep miner will have their qualifications.”
“How will I eat?” she said. “I have nothing.”
“You have one more day,” her father said. “Then you’ll be hungry.”
“And then what?”
“Then you’ll get a job,” he said. “Or you will be too old to wear the pretty dresses. You’ll get a house or a guild. Me? I am vain. If you are too old? I will always give you a guild. Always.”
Valeris sighed. “I am a good sister,” she said.
“You are,” her father said. “And will be. But it is up to you to decide.”
Valeris nodded and pushed past him, out the door.
“Turn the water pump off,” her father called after her. “Mother will be home tomorrow and we need the water for dinner.”
Valeris nodded. The house spun around her as she walked out. She held on to the walls and the floor to keep from falling. She approached her cottage and looked up and down the street.
The door opened and shut again. Water on the ground reflected the lights above it. Valeris pushed the door and went inside.
“Why must I do this?” she said and covered her head with her arms.
“Because you are a child,” her father’s voice said.
She looked up through her arms. He sat across from her.
