Excerpt: Beyond

Golden leaves fluttered to the ground outside the window where Jacob was standing. He was acutely aware of the two researchers behind him, carrying on a conversation he had momentarily removed himself from. Thoughts of Kaatia crowded Jacob’s mind now, as they had almost constantly for the last ten years.

He was returned to the present as he heard Zaida exclaim, “He’s not going to find her! No one who crosses the rift has ever been found.”
Jacob turned from the window and saw Aurelien trying to hush Zaida with a hand motion. Zaida was the head researcher for unexplained phenomena, and after Kaatia’s disappearance Jeb had turned ot her for help. She was currently one of the oldest members of the guild. A tight, neat bun of silver hair was caught up at the nape of her neck. It exemplified Zaida, everything about her was tight and neat. Her grey eyes were sharp and alter, regarding Jacob from behind small black frames. As she walked forward towards Jacob her floor length dress swayed softly.

“I know that you want real answers Jacob. I understand that you need more closure than you were able to have, but Kaatia is gone.”
“Zaida, you can’t know that.” Aurelien stepped forward, placing a hand on Jacob’s shoulder. The years had been kind to her, merely softening her features and changing her hair to a lighter shade of blonde. While Aurelien was more optimistic and preferred to hold out hope, Zaida was not one for handing out false hope which is what she felt Jacob’s search was.

“You’re right Aurelien, I can’t know it for sure, but all my past experiences and my research shows that no one ever comes back. That’s why the wall was built in Penrey, to help keep people away from the rift.”

Jacob lifted his hands as Aurelien began to protest on his behalf. “It’s all right Aurelien, she’s right.” Running a hand through his hair, Jacob let out a sigh. “Ever since Kaatia crossed over I’ve been trying to find out what happens when someone crosses into the Beyond. And I’ve come up with nothing. There is no way to know what happened to Kaatia, and I think it’s time for me to move on. I can’t keep chasing a ghost that’s never going to appear.”

Aurelien looked at Jacob a moment before moving her gaze to Zaida. With a defeated sigh she sat down in a nearby chair. “I know you’re right. I just don’t want to give up on her.”