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Chapter 26: Crossroads

The light was bright and intense. Miss Parker had to shield her eyes to be able to see what looked like a path through the light. And the only reason why she could see the path was because it was white while the area around her was a yellowish-white. Every moment she was sure she was going to run into the wall. But she never did. After what felt like hours, but could only be seconds, the light dimmed.

Now the path was quite visible. It was now slightly brighter than the rest of the area around her. She put one foot in front of the other only by sheer will power. This place was creepy. Where exactly was she? If Broots were around, he'd probably say something along the lines of that she was in a world between the worlds. Thinking of Broots made her want to cry. Only the knowledge that if she got back home and that the timeline would change kept the tears back.

Minutes flew past and Miss Parker kept walking. Every once in while, she saw another path break off the one she was on and disappear into the light. Paths to other worlds? Quite possible, she assumed. She wondered what would happen to her if she walked down one of those paths. Probably something terrible, so she continued down the straight path.

Ahead of her, the light started shifting. It caught her by surprise and she paused for a brief instant. First the light dimmed some more and than the color changed. It became a kaleidoscope of blues, purples, and reds. The colors danced around each other, making patterns and pictures in the yellow light of the areas to her side and behind her. Curiosity got the best of her and she moved closer to the dancing lights. As she came to a sort of crossroads in the light, the colors abruptly disappeared.

"I wonder what that was all about." She muttered to herself. Her voice sounded hollow and strange in this world of light. Glancing in front of her, Miss Parker found that the colored lights were still gone. Sighing, she took another step forward.

It was then that she saw it. Or it was more like her. A person was walking toward her. Miss Parker couldn't make out any major details of the person except that it was most definitely a woman. A woman who seemed to be wearing a tee shirt and a pair of jeans. Miss Parker debated as to whether or not she should just stay there or go forward and meet this lady. She decided to stay right there.

The figure continued to move closer, but at the same time, she seemed to be standing still. Miss Parker wondered if that was a trick of the lights. A few more minutes came and went. The lady definitely got closer. Suddenly, Miss Parker started to see the lady no more than five feet away from her. The lady seemed equally startled. But both were more startled at who the other person was than the quickness of the others appearance.

"Miss Parker." The lady whispered.

"Andi." Miss Parker whispered back. So here was the famous Andi Parker, wife of Jarod. Miss Parker had to admit, there was no telling the two apart. Andi looked exactly like her. They were twins; more than that, they were the same person.

"I've heard some interesting stories about you." Andi said, studying her counterpart. "Some of them good. Some of the bad." She paused and in a rush said. "How could you be doing that to Jarod? After all he's done for me… I mean us."

"I can't help you there." Miss Parker stated, something like bitterness creeping into her voice. "You grew up in a perfect world where you had everything you needed and wanted. My mom was taken away from me when I was a child. So, I'm not going to apologize for what you saw and heard." She crossed her arms resolutely. If it was a fight she wanted, Andi was going to get it. Instead of responding, though, Andi blushed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to attack you like that. It's just that this has all been a whirlwind. I mean, when I woke up, I had no idea where I was. And then to see Sydney and Broots and all that stuff, I was just shocked. Especially Thomas. He came as a complete shock. And when that light appeared, I was more confused than ever." She gave Miss Parker a tentative smile. "So, I apologize for my behavior."

"Apology accepted." Miss Parker flashed Andi a rare grin. "And I understand exactly how you feel. Waking up next to Jarod was probably one of the most nerve-wracking and shocking things that has ever happened to me."

"You slept with my husband?" Andi demanded. Miss Parker shook her head.

"I woke up where you would have been: right next to him. After jumping out of bed that first time, I never got back in there again." Andi breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sorry. It's just hard for me to imagine my husband in bed with someone else; even if that someone else is me." Miss Parker agreed. An awkward silence ensued. Neither knew what to tell the other or what to say. Finally, it was Miss Parker who broke the silence.

"You know what's going to happen when you reach the other side, don't you?" Andi shook her head. Of course, Miss Parker realized all the portal technology was on this side. No one at her Centre had been trying to make paths through worlds. "I was told that when we each make it back home, everything that has happened will change. We'll pretty much be waking up right back where we started; where we belong. And I wasn't guaranteed that we'd remember any of this." She said, waving her hand to indicate the path and light.

"Good. I don't want to remember this. It's been too much like a nightmare." Miss Parker couldn't agree. She wanted to remember seeing her mother again and of all the time they got to spend together. But, she didn't say any of that. No use telling Andi of what had been.

"I guess then we'd better get going. Don't want to keep who ever controls this thing waiting." Andi nodded and both women started to continue on their way. Andi, however, paused for a brief second.

"Good luck, Miss Parker. I hope your life turns out to be just as great as mine." Miss Parker smiled and nodded. She watched as Andi disappeared once again into the light. A voice urged her on, though, before she completely lost sight of her counter part.

Miss Parker walked on down the path. In a few seconds she realized that the light was closing in around her. As if she was in a tunnel and it was narrowing. A patch of light in front of her stood out brighter than the rest of the walls. A door, Miss Parker realized. In no time at all, she was at the door.

It was made of pure white light, exactly like the path. Only the doorknob (or what Miss Parker thought had to be the doorknob) was yellow. Taking in a deep breath, she grabbed the doorknob and pulled. Colors greeted her as they swirled out from the open door. They leaked onto the walls, causing that light to change. Well that explained the colored light mystery. Deciding that her only real option was to walk through the door, Miss Parker took a step through.

She barely had time to make out more colored lights of every hue swirling around before she knew no more.