Arthur Turner and the Elevator Of Time

Back In Time

C h a p t e r T h r e e ~ Back In Time

Arthur Took some time to wake the next morning, for some reason, he had

been so exhausted the past few days, he slept for 18 and a half hours, all

alone in that elevator, in the middle of nowhere.

Arthur began to wonder what strange things would come of this, should he

return once more, because he could see no way out? Was he meant then, to

find whatever was there? Or did he just need to think a bit harder, and get

out?

Arthur had never really believed in love at first sight, until he saw her. How

could his life turn from less than nothing, to a magical fairytale with one

short glimpse?

So many troubles and fears wearied his mind. He tried to let go for just one

moment.

Arthur grabbed ahold of a handle near the door, and slowly pulled himself to

a standing position. However his legs then felt weary, and a terrible

weakness came over his body, almost making him fall, but just enough to

force him on his knees.

“What is wrong with me?” Arthur felt completely powerless and strength

less for the next few moments.

It quickly went away, although, still making him fear something was wrong.

“I should be fine, this tends to happen,” Arthur repeated those words to

himself, trying to convince himself of it. This had happened to Arthur many

times before, ever since he was three years old and had a terrible fever, he

would feel weak at random, suddenly loose control and fall down. But just

the next minute, he would be fine and soon forget about it till it happened

again.

At the moment, Arthur was too worried about getting back.

“Now, let's see, if I could just remember.” Arthur, still on his knees, searched

for the button he had pressed. There were 12 button there, some he knew led

to the director’s office, others to different floors, but he had never pressed

any before because of his strange dislike of elevators. How, he wondered, did

he even get in the elevator?

Then he remembered. It was her. She must have frightened him badly to

make him enter an elevator without a thought.

What was she talking about with the director anyway? Who was she?

It was then he realized, she was most likely there to begin working. Arthur

stopped what he was doing. she will be working here……., He thought.

“I've gotta get out of here” Arthur, went from being completely eager to

leave, to being more filled with determination than he could stand.

He repeated pressing every button, pushing at every wall.

None of them worked, except for one in the very center. The buttoned

numbered 2. In his haste, he didn't notice or begin to wonder why there were

two 2's there.

When it drew back into the wall, it made a twinge sound, and then returned

to its position.

The elevator didn't seem to move, it didn't shake or puff smoke. Then he

once more heard the ding sound. It repeated faster and faster. Arthur stood,

and held on to the the railing so he wouldn't fall. The elevator was

surprisingly gentle when it traveled, or at least, when it did whatever it was

doing. Arthur was glad for that, if he would return, he wouldn't want to have

one of his strange weak moments, and then fall unconscious.

It was only a full 24 seconds, Arthur counted, that it took for the elevator to

stop. When it did, there was no jerk, no loud bang. It was just like a normal

elevator.

The doors opened.

Arthur looked out hopefully.

“Did I do it?”

He had. Arthur recognized the building now, the white walls, the brown

rimmed rooms, everyone there he knew. He walked out, hoping no one

would notice him, even if someone had, they wouldn't care much anyway.

The lady was nowhere in sight. This did not surprise him, he had not the

slightest idea even of what time it was.

Arthur looked at his watch. It was 4:10.

“It can't be 4:00.” Arthur walked out of the elevator, and to the window to the

left and look out. Clear daylight shown through the trees, perhaps it was

4:00. But then he looked once more at his watch. The hour and minute hands

suddenly started spinning out of control. They stopped twirling at 2:16.

“What? Arthur tapped his watch. But it was still the same. Arthur looked up.

“I'm late for work.” Arthur rushed to the stairs, running down, straightening

his bow tie, his collar, dusting off his pants, and moving his hair back. Arthur

doubted if he could even finish even just half a day's work, even though he

had somehow slept 18 hours he was exhausted, and his legs, though he could

stand, still felt weak.

“Arthur! What are you doing?” Arthur's superior, William Tasdale, called

from behind the front desk “You’re late, you haven't done any of your paper

work, your desk is a mess-“ Arthur nervously tried to fix his gaze on Tasdale,

but it was hard to with his dirty blonde hair, jacket and tie. Even his eyes

were a strange light brown.

“-impossible! You haven’t in fact done anything of use here, today!”

Yes, He tended to be obnoxious, and even though he was just trying to do his

job, all he would really do was yell, and yell some more. And sadly, there

was no hope for change because Tisdale was sure he was calmly running the

bank and doing a good job of it. All Arthur could do was end arguments with

him as quickly and kindly as he could no matter how he truly felt.

“Forgive me sir, I wasn't feeling that well today and I-“

“I don't want any excuses! You were late for work and you need to accept

that, all right? I have been busy all day and all you can do is treat this job and

me like nothing! I will not accept this lazy behavior, and is that what you

want to be known as? A lazy person?”

“No sir, I-“

“And another thing! We have a new teller that started working today. I

wanted you to meet her, as she will be working with you from now on and

will need your supervision. Her name is Marion Jones, and please don’t call

her anything other then Miss Jones or Jones, treat her with respect, and

perhaps you won’t seem as lazy.”

Arthur said nothing. She would be working there. She would be there with

him from now on…..Arthur couldn't decide if he was overjoyed by that, or

wouldn't be able to stand it. Although, no…. he wouldn't be able to stand it.

He would not survive a full minute, after what she had previously made him

feel.

“Um, sir,”

“Don't interrupt me! All I am saying, is that you need to shape up.”

Surprisingly, Tisdale's voice softened.

“Arthur, you are spectacular, and you are a good friend, but I can't have lazy

workers, okay?”

“Yes, sorry.”

“Now, what were you going to say?”

“ I was just…. did you say that....”

“What?”

“No, I just….. did….”

“I don't have a lot of time, please just say what you were going to say.”

“I'm sick.” Arthur blurted that out without even thinking, not in the least

meaning to lie.

“Well, with what?”

“I…..I don't know what it is, but it's the worst sickness I've ever had. It is

painful, I can't handle it, I can't, I just, I need a day off, please sir.” He looked

at him with confusion, what had gotten into Arthur?

“Okay. Yes, if you really need to, I suppose, that would be fine. But come

back as soon as you are better!”

“Alright, thank you sir!”

“Don't mention it.” William walked off, and returned to his desk and began

working with one of the customers.

Arthur was glad to have gotten out of that mess. And now he had the day off.

With great anxiousness to get home, Arthur walked out of the bank, and just

for that day, he didn't have to face his problems.

His car, was parked where it had been before, and so he walked to it.

However, when he pulled the handle, it didn't budge. Arthur remembered he

had left his keys inside.

Arthur wondered how many more times he would have to go in there to get

away.

He walked back inside to find his keys. However, the moment he returned,

Marion Jones walked right up to him, destroying any hopes he had of a good

night's sleep, any appetite, and all his walls were immediately run down. He

could see her much more clearly now, she was even more beautiful than he

had thought before. She was such a perfect gem, everything about her

amazed Arthur. Her beauty, to Arthur, could not be matched.

“Arthur, this is Marion Jones. Miss Jones, Arthur Turner.”

Arthur hadn't noticed that William was right beside Marion, and was making

an attempt at introducing them.

Arthur couldn't think of what to say.

“Hi.” Arthur tried to smile.

“Hi.” Marion said nothing more than he had, making him feel much better

about his loss for words.

“Miss Jones will be working here with you, I think I mentioned that before.

Would you show her around?”

Arthur gulped. He would have to talk, breath, and move, all of which were

at the moment quite impossible.

“Of course. Yes.”

“Thank you Arthur, I quite appreciate it.”

Arthur nodded, forcing his glance off Marion.

“Well, I had better get back to my work. Don't forget to finish up that

document I gave you yesterday, Arthur.”

“Yeah, bye.”

William walked off awkwardly, being confused by Arthur's unusual behavior.

When he had gone, Arthur knew he had to talk, but they only looked at each

other.

“I….do you want….I can show you around now.”

“Yeah.” She replied.

Arthur had no idea even where to begin. He knew most of the bank and

where everything was pretty well, but his mind was clouded and he had

nothing to do, so he just walked forward trying not to be able to see her, but

was still too conscious of her presence. He knew anything now could catch

him off guard.

“Is this the elevator?” She said gesturing to the elevator.

“Huh?” he said.

Marion didn't respond.

“Oh! Yes, this is.” He said.

Arthur resumed walking away from the elevator, not knowing Marion had

assumed they would use it to explore another part of the bank.

They continued walking, with nowhere to go. They walked past all the

rooms, the offices, all the important places. Then Arthur realized that was

what he was supposed to show her.

“Oh, and those are the offices.” Arthur pointed behind him.

“Arthur! Did you get the report for me?” From behind one of the office

doors, Micheal Franzsit called to Arthur. He was a large brown haired man,

with a ridiculously small mustache that made him look comical. But he was

very kind man, and normally Arthur enjoyed his company. Now, he was

grateful for him being there, to save him from Marion.

“Oh, yeah sorry.” Arthur reached into his pocket and pulled out a paper, but

because of his experience on the elevator, it was crumpled up, making him

look like a fool.

“Sorry, I had a rough scrape.” He said.

“Ha ha! No that's okay bud.” Michael took the paper, and put it on his desk.

“Uh, Michael, William was wanting for Marion to be shown around, are you

busy right now?”

“Naw, I really have nothing to do, I was hoping something would pop up,

everything has been slow today.” He said, laughing hard as if a joke had been

said.

“Okay.”

Michael got up and walked to Marion.

“Hi, I'm Micheal Franzsit.”

“Hi.” Marion replied.

“And you are?”

“Marion Jones.”

“It's nice to meet you. If you will follow me, I will show you around.”

Michael led Marion away, and waved and Arthur as he did. Arthur was not

happy to see her go, but he wouldn't be able to handle it anyway. So he just

walked off, still feeling a little melancholy. His keys were still missing, so he

searched everywhere for them. But he couldn't find them. Arthur retraced all

his steps from yesterday, trying to remember what had happened. He

searched the offices, and his desk, but they were nowhere.

“Where are they?” Arthur felt in his pockets, and in his jacket, but they were

not there.

He soon found them, in the one place he had not yet searched. The Elevator.

There they were, lying on the floor just where he had left them last. Arthur

slowly walked in, and picked them up as if he thought the doors would lock

him in. But the doors remained open. He walked back out, almost running,

and the doors shut behind him.

The next day, Arthur felt much better. He wasn't sore or weak and anything

troubling him, he allowed to wait until he had time to fix it.

That morning, Arthur sat at his table, eating his breakfast, and contemplating

what to do about his biggest trouble. Marion. What was there to do? Why did

it terrify him so much whenever she was with him? How could even the

tiniest but about her affect him so? Arthur thought on this for quite some

time.

Finally, he came to it.

“I must talk to her. If I don't, I may never have the chance. “

Arthur dreaded this. He would have to face her.

"I can do it." He decided.

"Now, what to do about this elevator." Arthur considered all the options.

What Arthur was most confused about, was why the button would only take

him to the building sometimes. How was it, that without any effort it worked,

and yet when he needed it the most, it did not.

"Perhaps I will know all the answers to it if I return. But not today. Today, I

am seeing Marion."

Arthur finished eating quickly, and went to his wardrobe to change. After all,

he couldn't very well see her looking like he had at first, clueless and stupid.

Arthur had no intention to make Marion fall in love with him, (that thought

had never came to his mind in the slightest and never would) his only

attempt was to feel more presentable and not scare Marion away with his

ugly appearance, as he saw it.

Arthur began searching through his wardrobe, though it contained barely

anything suitable.

Arthur sighed. He had almost lot all hope of being able to make it that day.

"If I could just change out of these shabby clothes."

He said, examining every piece of clothing he had. Only six options, he

pulled out and laid onto his bed. Arthur decided on a clean, while button

down shirt, and after quite some time, a pair of dark brown skinny jeans that

fit him just right. But from there he stopped. His drawers, were filled with

bow ties. Too many to try than he had time for, and another closet with too

many jackets than Arthur remembered how he came to own them. And in the

same closet, a pair of brown shoes, black shoes, and gray shoes. Arthur now,

had less than ten minutes left, before he would be late for work. So he closed

his eyes and randomly pulled out a brown bow tie that fit his look perfectly.

After putting it on with much care, he picked out a pare of black shoes

rimmed with white.

And finally, he finished it off with a black suit jacket that he always thought

improved his looks. Arthur, with that, walked to his mirror across the room,

and looked at himself.

"It's not so bad." He said, fastening his bow tie.

When he was satisfied, Arthur left his house and drove to work, perhaps just

a little past the speed limit.

“Good morning Arthur. Fancy seeing you here.”

William was once more there behind his desk ready to patronize Arthur

though he didn't mean to, the moment he arrived, which was not a moment

earlier than usual.

“Good Morning.” Arthur replied, barely acknowledging William at the

moment.

William noticed this and so walked up to him.

“How are you feeling? Any better?” He asked, as kindly as he could.

“Quite well thank you.”

“Good! Are you over your “sickness”?”

“What sickness?"

William looked confused.

“The one you said you had, ARTHUR.” William responded, quite cruelly.

“Oh, yes, I'm good.”

“So you are healing then?”

“I'm good. Thank you for caring, but I must get to work now.” Arthur smiled

trying not to annoy William as he always seemed to.

Arthur walked off, leaving William still wondering about his strange attitude.

Arthur was glad to return to work and perhaps finally he could find the

chance to speak to Marion. In fact that was all he had really come to do.

Arthur sat down in his seat, pulled out some files he was supposed to

arrange, and began numbering them one by one. Arthur although, was not

paying attention to anything that day and so you can imagine the disorder

they were in by the end of the hour. But they looked like they were in a neat

order, and so he was content.

Arthur then got up to bring them to William and hoped it would make him

happy, however, when he saw them, his bad temper got the better of him.

“What is wrong with you Arthur?! You need to work out your problems!

These are all just numbered randomly! What were you thinking? Did you

even look through any of them?”

Arthur now felt completely depressed. He had been so sure about himself

until then.

“I am so sorry, William really, I…”

“No! Don't give me that! You always do.” William paused a moment to calm

himself because he had only just then noticed he had been shouting.

“Arthur, I think you either need to take a week off of work, or just quit..”

“But sir……”

“Or! I will have someone keep close by you, to make sure things like these

don't happen again. No more paperwork Arthur, only front desk work. Only

communication!"

“Do forgive me sir. “

“Miss Jones, will have the most time, and, if it really is humiliating to you to

have someone who has just worked a day here having to keep an eye on you,

then perhaps you can use this opportunity to encourage Marion in anything

she is not sure about like I told you to yesterday, ARTHUR."

Arthur felt his cheeks redden. He said nothing, as now he was incapable.

“Arthur are you blushing?” William had immediately noticed Arthur

reaction.

“No, sorry, I just, I'm still recovering from my sickness, you know, redness

on the face.”

“Right.” William said nothing for a brief moment.

“Miss Jones, would you mind coming here for a moment? And bring Toby

with you if you don't mind."

Arthur was relieved that she did not respond, but he was then ruined when

she did come in, and with “Toby” beside her.

Toby, was a younger man, with light brown hair that was combed to the side

quite smoothly. He had a very kind, round, face, and look very happy

normally, and wore a business suit as most people there did.

Arthur blanked out for the next minute, while William explained to Marion

that she would be working with Arthur that day. He only snapped out of

staring blankly at Marion when William spoke rather loudly to him.

“Arthur! Go on!”

“I'm sorry?”

“Go ahead, I need you no more.”

Arthur didn't respond to this, but he slowly lead Marion and Toby to the front

desk and sat, with Toby sitting between him and Marion.

Since there was nothing to do at the moment, there were many moments of

silence. The reason for Toby, was that he too was new there, and was

expecting Arthur to start a conversation, perhaps a few tips about his

experiences form working there, but since he did not, Arthur was only being

quiet, because he was so tense and frightened, and no words would come.

And Marion, well, that is for later to tell.

But Toby then decided that there was no better chance than then to talk and

so he started the conversation with a “Hi, my name is Toby.” Toby put out

his hand to Arthur

Arthur shook his hand.

“It's nice to meet you. I'm Arthur Turner, and,” Arthur didn't let go of Toby's

hand while he said this and so they were shaking hands for quite an awkward

while. And Arthur, trying to finish his sentence with introducing Marion,

couldn't say it, so it ended with Toby taking his hand away quickly, and

leaving everyone feeling quite strange.

But thankfully Toby was quite talkative.

“So, how long have you worked here?” He said.

“Four years.” Arthur replied.

“Wow! Then I'm glad you'll be helping me here, I haven't had much

experience working in big places like this. “

“Yes.”

“Have you met my sister Marion?”

“Just barely.”

“Well, we must admit when I first saw you I was a little reluctant to speak to

you, since you looked a little out of sorts. I'm sure it was just your sickness

you spoke about, are you doing any better?"

"Uh sickness…..how…how did you know?"

"I over heard you and Mr. Tasdale speaking a while ago."

"Oh…yeah….I'm….I'm doing well. Thank you."

"Wonderful."

“Do you like working here?” Marion said. Arthur's face got hot again, he had

not expected anything out of her.

“Yes.” Arthur couldn't say anything else.

“Good, I'm sure I will too then.” Marion talked just as quietly as Arthur did,

which made him feel much better for his quietness.

“Did you hear about the elevators?” Marion said.

“The elevators?” Arthur replied.

“Yes. They're all gone.”

“What?”

“Yeah. It's kind of weird. About two nights ago, someone went to use the

elevator and there was no elevator. None. Anywhere. It's not logical, but it's

true.”

“Really? That's strange. I used one just yesterday.”

“You used an elevator?”

“Yeah.”

Marion looked at the entrance to make sure no one was there.

“Show me. If you don't mind, you don't have to if you don't want to, I

wouldn't mean to–”

“No, it's fine.”

Arthur was beginning to enjoy the attention Marion had been giving him. So

Arthur decided to make the most of it .

Marion followed Arthur to where the elevator was, just up the stairs, and to

the left, just where he had used it last. And there it was, just the same.

Marion was completely surprised by this.

“Mr Turner,this isn't possible.” Marion said, looking up at it, as if it shouldn't

be there at all.

Arthur was still not quite sure what she meant by "The elevators are all

gone", he was momentarily scared that it might have something to do with

him.

At this, Marion walked through the doors, led by a strange impulse, as if she

needed to, or as if it was just right.

Arthur followed also by an impulse, but not the same one. His impulse, was

to go wherever she went, and he felt he needed to follow her to make sure

she was completely safe. So in they went, without a word. Marion still

looked amazed, and amazing even more to Arthur. Then the doors shut.

The strange and magical presence they had felt, was now gone.

Marion broke the silence.

“Do you think it will work?” She said, positioning her hand just an inch

away from the button Arthur was hoping she wouldn't press.

“Perhaps.” Arthur said, in his own way, meaning, "No! Please don't!

Whatever you do, don't press the button!"

What if she pressed the button and it worked? What would happen then? It

would seem, then, that he would have much explaining to do about

something he very well did not want to explain, especially to her, of all

people.

Marion randomly decided on a button and the pressed it. And of course, it

was the one button he hoped she wouldn't press.

Number 6.

Arthur however, was not aware of this at the time, since Marion blocked it

with her shoulder and he could not see.

The next thing that happened, happened rather quickly, and Arthur had no

time to wonder how. The noise it made when Arthur first pressed "6" was

made again. Faster and faster and faster it sped up, making Arthur fear what

was going through Marion's mind,and then it stopped.

"How strange.” She said.

The doors pulled back slowly, and then they both saw it. It was that strange

building again, the one place he hoped Marion would not see. Arthur was

surprised at how everything he had seen really was real, as if, for a moment,

he believed it not to be true.

Marion was surprisingly calm about it all, almost as if she had been there

before, or perhaps she merely believed it was part of the bank.

Marion began walking out.

Arthur followed without a delay.

“This is quite strange Mr. Turner." Marion said, when he caught up with her.

"Have you seen this before?” She was now looking at him, making him feel

like she had just asked him to give away his greatest secret.

“Yes.” Arthur was expecting her to ask him how and when, and to explain

everything that had happened, but instead she nodded her head, and walked

on. Arthur followed.

Marion found her way into one of the rooms.

The windows were in the same placing. All perfectly numbered in a row.

Marion looked down and out the window.

"What is this place?" She said, still looking outside.

"I….I…I don't know."

"I wonder, what are all those gates out there?"

Arthur walked up to where she was and looked out, pretending as if he had

never seen what they were both looking at.

"Do you want to go try and see?" She said, looking up at Arthur finally.

"Well….it might not be safe…but…yeah…yeah."

“How do we get down though?” He said looking around. There was of

course no rope. There was not even likely to be a door that led down, and no

bridge or stair was apparent at the moment.

“There must be a purpose for these windows and doors.” He said.

“Yes, this looks like the only way down.”

“It doesn't make sense though. These windows, if they really are here to go

down there, then would there not be a way down?”

“Perhaps. Why don't we see. We could try the window."

“Okay, I'll go first though. If anyone falls and gets hurt it should be me.”

“Why you?”

“Because…….. I...was the first person to find this place, whatever it is. So if

it's a mistake to go down there, I should be the one to pay for it.”

“No, please don't.” She said. “I would never forgive myself if you got hurt.”

Arthur was slightly hurt by this, not because she was being cruel, but he

knew she only said this to be kind, in general… to a complete stranger who

was, in his mind, completely and obviously at the very least, in love with her.

All she wanted to do was get away from him, and he wanted her to have said

this in a truly caring way. But Arthur neither could let her be hurt herself, so

he said, “I insist.” with a smile.

Marion agreed reluctantly. Arthur did notice a slight annoyance in her eyes,

perhaps on his account, and now she cared even less for him bringing him to

the lowest he thought he could ever be.

Marion stood close to Arthur, as he began lowering himself down the

window in case he might fall. Of course, he did not. If he had, he would have

fallen down sixty flights, and found the ground to be hard as rock, and would

not have woken again.

Arthur now dangled from the outside rim of the window, where he found the

wind was harsher there than he could ever imagine. So much so, that Arthur

and Marion could barely hear each other, even though they were not far

apart.

“How far is it!?" Marion asked.

Arthur looked down.

He had never really understood the meaning of sixty flights, and even now he

could not fathom it, at least not falling that far.

“Oh, not too far!” Arthur lied, trying not to scare Marion into going down

herself.

“How will you get down!"

“ I'm sure there's a way!" Arthur move his feet around to find a good place to

set them, but the building was made out of solid rock, and was even more

smooth than he had imagined.

“Well, perhaps, there is a way!" He said.

“Should I look for one for you! I could look down the other window!” She

said

“No!!!!!” Arthur nearly shouted. He was frightened that she would get hurt if

she did.

Arthur felt his cheeks burning again, after he realized how strange he had

sounded.

“I mean, I….. I'll find one! Just don't come down!!!!!" He said.

“Okay!”

Arthur looked around desperately for a way to get down. But there was

nothing.

At that point, Arthur's fingers were already slowly letting go of the window,

and so he found that it had been quite foolish to risk his life like that.

“Well, I don't think there is a way down that I can see!"

“Will you be coming back up then!” She said.

“Yes!” But just as Arthur said that, his hands lost control, and they released,

leaving him in panic as he began falling down the side of the building

screaming as loud as anyone ever could.

It took his breath away, and Marion was shocked as well, though much more

than Arthur. She nearly started shouting his name. It could have happened

then, but as everything happens for a reason, so did this. What stopped his

fall, was exactly what he had been looking for. Stairs. He had not noticed

them previously, because they had just looked like bricks to him, but when

needed, (and Arthur definitely needed them now) they had shot out and

formed into stairs.

Arthur fell onto the stair nearest where he had fallen, but because of the

force, he fell once more, being caught but another stair, barely holding on

with the tip of his fingers.

“Arthur!” Marion’s voice was what next caused him to fall, and finally he

found a better grip two stories farther down.

“Arthur!” Marion called again in panic.

“I'm okay!"

"Don't come down though!!!!!” He said, with even more panic.

“I can't see you! Are you okay?”

“Yes!” Arthur looked up, (which was an effort because of how far down he

was) and he counted, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,

eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen flights!

Thankfully, the stairs extended to the very last floor, and so Arthur was able

to let go, and rest his feet on the next stair.

“I'm alright, there are stairs! But don't come down! You might fall!” Arthur

waited for a response but heard nothing.

“Miss Jones?” Arthur had never been so scared for some one's safety in his

life before, and now, Marion might be hurt!

“Marion!!!”

“Marion!!!” If she was hurt, he would never forgive himself.

“Arthur!” Arthur heard Marion's shout, though from a distance, as if she was

near, but not near enough. Hearing her voice that moment made him smile,

as he was incredibly relieved she was alright.

“Arthur!” She yelled again.

“Marion! Where are you?”

“I climbed out the window just beside the one you had, I thought you were

falling, I thought I could catch you parallel to where you were easier, but I

can't see you now, where are you!"

“Marion, no! You could fall!”

“I know! I wanted to help you get down, but you are ok now, right?!”

“Yes!”

“Okay!”

“Climb down, and I will too, then maybe we can find each other!” He said.

“Okay!”

“But please be careful!"

Arthur started climbing down carefully. Marion did this as well. She

however, was on the sixth flight, while Arthur was further by twelve,

although they did not notice, so down they went.

Arthur dared to climb down each story carefully and was able to get through

forty-two of them. Now you are probably thinking; how did he do that?

Forty-two stories is not easy to get through without falling an immense

amount of times. Arthur and Marion did fall often, however, each time they

fell, they were caught by the stairs. It was strange to them, how the stairs

would extend the exact length they needed in order to catch them. It was as if

they were alive.

Eventually they made it to the end and were safe at last. Arthur immediately

looked around for Marion

“Marion?” He said.

He had come to the village he had seen before, and it was just as he

remembered; he could see the black gates, all in a row, spacing farther than

he could see. But there was no one there, not even Marion.

Marion, herself, was doing no better. She too found herself alone on a street

with identical black gates everywhere.

She started walking, not knowing where she hoped to get, but still she

walked. There was nothing different to be found in the gates, they were all

the same. It was a very cramped area it made her feel stuck. No variety. It

made her wonder what it's purpose was. Marion decided that the only way

there was a purpose was if the gates lead to something. It was the only

logical explanation.

“But Arthur.” She said.

“I can't just leave him. And yet since he seems so interested in my safety I'm

sure he will find me. I'll just not go anywhere so it will be easier to find each

other.”

Marion had no intention of moving, but she knew just looking at the gate

could not be harmful. And, if they were really there to figure out this

meaning, than what would the point be if she just stood there?

Marion walked slowly up to one of the gates and inspected it closely. It

looked very old. There were many imperfections in the paint. This puzzled

her, because every built thing she had seen there had been completely and

unusually perfect. She also noticed that there were three sets of letters,

labeled on the very bottom of the gate. Marion bent down to see them better.

T.A.G.J.R ~ T.M.J.T ~ J.K.L.I.

Marion supposed them to be initials, possibly. This was all she could make

out from the gate. So she got up and walked to another one. This one, looked

older, and too, it had initials, but this time it had two initials instead of three.

T.M.S. T.J.K.

Marion got on her feet again. She now noticed something neither she nor

Arthur had noticed before. The gates were divided by tall pillars that were

covered with a beautiful velvet color, that was somehow colored so dark,

looking at it made her feel very unusual. A tear fell down her cheek, it felt

like the color told a story, and held all the deepest miseries inside. It was

almost the strangest thing she had ever seen. So she turned away.