Chapter 1813

The forest beyond the doorway shifted. The abandoned village disappeared. In its place stood their actual village. The houses were whole. Smoke rose from the cooking area. The gardens were green, and the wooden walkways stretched between the trees.

The afternoon sun shone over the roofs.

It looked exactly as Jude remembered it.

He almost stepped through.

Then he noticed something.

There were people moving between the houses.

Twelve women.

His wives.

Susan was carrying a basket. Rose was walking beside Natalie. Zoey and Lucy were laughing near the garden. Stella was arranging flowers. Emma and Grace were carrying vegetables towards the storehouse. Sophie stood near the central firepit, and Scarlet was speaking to Serena.

Layla was beside the well.

They were all there.

All twelve.

Jude felt a wave of relief.

"It’s our village."

Serena stared.

"But we’re here."

The figures in the village continued moving.

Then Susan looked up.

She seemed to notice the opening.

She turned towards it.

Her expression changed.

She raised one hand.

Not in greeting.

In warning.

Jude leaned closer.

Susan began shaking her head.

Then Rose looked up.

Then Natalie.

One by one, all twelve women turned towards the doorway.

Their expressions were identical.

Fear.

The figure of Sophie began walking towards them.

Jude stepped forward.

But the real Sophie grabbed his arm.

"Don’t."

"That’s you."

"No."

The other Sophie stopped at the edge of the distant path.

She lifted her head.

Her mouth moved.

Although they were too far away to hear her, Jude understood the words.

Don’t let her come back.

Jude turned towards the real Sophie.

"Who?"

Before she could answer, the figure of Layla appeared behind the others.

She was holding something in her hands.

A lantern.

It was the same lantern Layla carried now.

The distant figure raised it.

Its flame turned blue.

Then the entire village went dark.

Not gradually.

All at once.

The houses disappeared.

The trees vanished.

The sky became a vast black emptiness.

And the twelve figures were left standing alone.

A new light appeared behind them.

A doorway.

A wooden doorway.

Jude recognised it immediately.

It was the entrance to the house they had built for everyone.

The door opened.

Someone stepped out.

A woman.

Her face was hidden by her hair.

She wore a pale dress and stood very still.

The twelve figures moved aside for her.

She walked towards the edge of the opening.

Then she raised her head.

Jude could not see her face clearly.

But he knew her.

He knew the way she stood.

The way she held her hands.

The way she tilted her head when she was about to speak.

"Layla?" he whispered.

The real Layla was standing beside him.

Yet the figure beyond the doorway was also Layla.

The distant woman lifted one hand.

And the silver leaf in Jude’s palm began to tremble.

"Jude," Serena whispered.

The leaf was growing warm.

Its engraved symbol began to glow.

The distant Layla took another step.

Then another.

She stopped just beyond the doorway.

Her lips moved.

This time, Jude heard her voice.

"Don’t let me die."

The opening suddenly collapsed.

A blast of wind swept through the chamber.

The lanterns went out.

Someone screamed.

When the light returned, the forest was gone.

The wall was solid again.

And Layla was no longer standing beside them.

Jude spun around.

"Layla?"

There was no answer.

"Layla!"

He searched behind the pillars, then rushed towards the staircase.

Serena followed him.

"Layla!"

Sophie and Scarlet began searching the chamber.

Sol stood beside the wall, staring at the empty circle.

"Where is she?" Jude demanded.

The boy did not answer.

"Sol!"

He looked up.

"She went through."

"Through where?"

Sol pointed at the wall.

Jude struck the stone.

"Open it!"

Nothing happened.

He struck it again.

"OPEN IT!"

The silver lines appeared, but they were dim.

Then a faint sound came from behind the wall.

A woman’s voice.

"Jude?"

He pressed his ear against the stone.

"Layla!"

"I’m here."

Jude’s relief was immediate.

"Stay where you are! We’re coming!"

But the voice sounded strangely distant.

"Jude, I can see the village."

"Can you find a way back?"

A pause.

Then Layla spoke again.

"It’s beautiful here."

Jude frowned.

"Layla, listen to me. Don’t go anywhere."

"I can see the houses."

"Layla!"

"I can see the gardens."

Her voice became softer.

"And I can see everyone."

Jude looked at Serena.

She was shaking her head.

"Layla, get away from the village!"

A faint laugh came through the wall.

"Why?"

"Because it’s not real!"

Silence.

Then Layla whispered:

"Jude..."

"Yes?"

"There’s a house here."

He pressed his palm against the stone.

"What house?"

"The first one."

The silver lines began to glow.

"It’s made of wood. It’s beneath a tree."

Jude looked at the silver leaf.

The picture of the wooden house was still engraved on its surface.

"Layla, don’t enter it."

But she was no longer listening.

"I think someone is waiting for me."

"Layla, come back!"

"I can hear her."

"Who?"

A long pause followed.

Then Layla answered.

"My mother."

Jude went completely still.

He had never heard Layla speak about her mother in that way.

Not once.

The voice behind the wall grew quieter.

"She says she’s been waiting."

"Layla, there is nobody there!"

The silver lines suddenly flared.

A tremendous impact shook the chamber.

The stone wall split down the middle.

A narrow opening appeared.

Jude rushed forward.

"Layla!"

He could see the other side.

A small wooden house stood beneath an enormous tree.

Its windows glowed warmly.

The ground was covered with flowers.

And beside the entrance stood Layla.

She was looking towards the doorway.

"Layla!"

She turned.

For a moment, her face brightened.

"Jude?"

He reached through the opening.

"Come here!"

She took one step towards him.

Then a second figure appeared behind her.

A woman wearing a pale dress.

She placed a hand on Layla’s shoulder.

Layla stopped.

Jude could not see the woman’s face.

"Who is that?" Serena whispered.