Beyond: Snillotia Trilogy Book One by Donna Wagner (books you have to read TXT) 📕

“Let’s find out.”

Tim led the way down the hallway. He chose to go to the right first. At the next door he came to, he tried the handle. “It’s locked!”

Anna tried the door across from the locked one. “This one’s locked too!”

They ran up and down the hallway, trying every door they reached, each one had the same result. There was still no end to the hallway in sight, and still more doors. “Where can we possibly be?”

Anna looked lost. “I’m more worried about how we get out of here.”

“Arf!”

They looked down. Anna had put the pug down as they were trying to find a door that would open, and the dog was at her feet. “Arf!” she barked again.

“She was here, wherever here is. Maybe she knows the way,” Anna suggested.

She looked at the dog. “Do you know how to leave here?”

“Arf!”

The pug turned and ran. They hurried to keep up with her, only to realize a minute later that she had run right back to the room they had started in. “I guess she doesn’t know the way out, after all,” Anna said, disappointed.

“Arf! Arf! Arf!”

Although Tim didn’t quite know what to make of the dog, he suggested, “Maybe we missed something in the room, and she wants us to come see.”

They walked back into the room and found the pug standing in front of one of the bookcases. As they got closer, she started pawing at one of the books on the bottom shelf. Tim leaned over and pulled the book out. It was an old notebook. Written in large, childish writing on the cover was “Nelle Rellim”. Recognizing the backwards version of his mom’s maiden name, he opened the notebook.

“My name is Nelle Rellim and I have just completed my thirteeth year. I am leaving tomorrow to start my stay at the Ymedaca. I know everyone leaves their parents and does this after the thirteenth year to prepare for whatever changes may come, but I’m still scared. I don’t know if anyone will like me there or if I’ll make any new friends. I’ve been told I’ll be on the 10th floor, but none of my friends are going to be on the same floor. Mother says I’ll still be able to see my friends, that I’m not going to be on the 10th floor forever (although she seems very excited that I was assigned to this floor, for some reason), but I still wish I knew at least one person going who would be living near me.”

Tim stopped reading. “Apparently this is my mom’s journal from when she was 13.”

Anna, who had been reading over his shoulder, nodded excitedly. “And now we know where we are!”

Tim thought for a moment. “The Ymedaca!” he exclaimed, then catching on to all names seeming to be backwards, he continued, “The Academy! So, this was like their school?”

Anna nodded. Her mom had told her about the school in Snillotia and how it was different from what she knew Tim had experienced so far. “Kids here learn to read and write from their parents when they’re young. Then their parents also usually teach them their trade, since things are always kept in families here. Asilla’s family, for instance, must be like doctors where we grew up. I thought about that when she had that potion for us that changed our appearances for a bit all ready. Anyway, when they turn 13 they go to the Ymedaca, or as most kids referred to it, the Y. They’re assigned a floor, usually because of what some old person whose power has something to do with seeing the future, has said. My mom said family connections are also a part of it. All though the floors can interact, generally, each floor is entirely self-sufficient, so each floor tends to stay in their own spaces. The people on your floor become like your family. You live at the Y for eight years. This is where our parents all met. Obviously, my mom and your dad knew each other before, but they didn’t know my dad or your mom. That’s probably why Grandma Aras was happy. The Prince and Princess are always on the tenth floor, and if I’m remembering correctly, they’re a year older than your mom, and my dad is a year older than them, so when your mom came, everyone was finally together. One other thing that always happened here was that people stayed close to those on their floor- there wasn’t much chance to meet others very often, so most of the time, the person they married was on their floor. Grandma Aras knew as soon as your mom was assigned to the 10th floor that there was a good chance she’d end up marrying the Prince.”

“So where is everyone? Why is this place totally empty and locked up?”

“The Rebels probably closed it. They don’t want the people happy, or to be able to fight them. Why would they keep open the place that helped people learn to use their powers in the best possible way?”

“I guess that makes sense. This still doesn’t help us figure out how to get out of here, though.”

“No, but you were right. I did bring us back to Snillotia, somehow. At least now we can contact my parents and tell them we’re okay!”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Anna took something out of her pocket. “Cell phones work here?” Tim asked, before seeing what was in her hand.

She held up her key. “Of course not, but there is a reason every Snillotian is given one of these when they turn 13. Only royal keys are supposed to also be portal keys, but all keys can be used to communicate. You can connect with whoever has touched your key. Watch.”

Anna held her key in one hand and touched the center of it with her finger. Light shot from the key and Anna said, “Mom.”

Suddenly on the wall next to