As she walked past the town hall and found herself in the dark clearing that stood behind the jail, Evelyn could see her destination: the small, dark one room building that was always lit, always open, save for one hour every night, when the guard changed. Evelyn looked up to the hall's clock tower and saw that the hour was nearly over; a mere fifteen minutes remained. She could feel her stomach knot and her mind race for what could be waiting in the top-most room behind the clock; she had come, as she had every night to sneak in to the building unnoticed, just to see what was held inside, but each night she had stood outside, lantern burning, until she heard the clock toll one. But tonighttonight was different. It was her eighteenth birthday tomorrow, and she refused to enter the adult world a coward. She would finally enter the Hall of Knowledge.

Evelyn approached the eerily dark building slowly, taking time with each step to listen for anyone who could be watching her. The bottom of her dress was drenched in mud; it had rained earlier and she hadn't planned for that. She finally reached the heavy wooden doors of the building and looked at the large carved slabs. When she looked closely, Evelyn could see all kinds of different figures and symbols in the wood, and she wondered how long it took someone to create the doors that were said to hold so much power. Her hand had involuntarily reached out for the heavy steel knob, when

Evelyn! a voice whispered through the shadows near Town Hall. What are you doing?!

Evelyn snapped her hand away from the doorknob and turned quickly to see who beckoned to her, but it was too dark so she tried to run, tripping on the long muddy end of her dress and falling to the ground. She panicked and tried to get up to escape, but her legs were far too unstable for that. Evelyn could hear footsteps approaching, and though she was afraid to see who had witnessed her, she looked and sighed a breath of release when she realized who it was.

Oh, Saints, Adam. You scared me half to death!

What are you doing? You'll be seen!

Seen by who, Adam? Look around, we're the only ones here.

Yes, but--

But nothing. Stop being a worry wart.

Evelyn, I know what youre trying to do, and you know what will happen if you succeed.

No, Adam, I dont know, but I will soon enough, she said, turning from him to walk back towards the building. Who did he think he was, Evelyn thought. The fact that he was merely twelve hours her superior meant nothing to her, and she was going to see what was inside the Forbidden Hall if it was the last thing she did.

It had been seven days since Serena had come to her while she was working near the river that ran through the town, telling of the unspeakable power that was held beyond the great wooden doors. Serena must have chosen Evelyn for a reason, and she was going to find out what it was.

Evelyn had nearly reached the doors of the hall again when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. This time, she knew that it was Adam, coming to try and stop her again. She kept her eyes forward and quickened her step. Her hand was inches away from it when she was swept off the ground. Hes getting stronger, Evelyn thought, as she struggled to loosen Adams grasp on her.

Let me go, Adam! Im going to open these doors whether you like it or not!

Its for your own good, Eve!

Dont call me that, Evelyn shouted as Adam fought to keep his hold on her, dragging her now through the mud as she could see the building getting further and further away.

Just as she got out of Adams hold on her, Evelyn turned to see that the guard was already approaching the Hallshe had lost her chance, and it was all his fault. She looked at him, tears in her eyes, and stomped off towards the house where she would spend her last night as a child.

Evelyn awoke the next morning to a soft whimpering coming from behind her. She opened her eyes and turned around to see her mother standing in her doorway, crying quietly. Evelyn smiled back at the elderly woman who had taken care of her for as long as she could remember. Perhaps Elsa was not Evelyns biological mother, but she was as close as Evelyn would get, especially after today.

Mother, Evelyn began carefully, theres no need to cry. I wont be going far, just to a different house somewhere in the village. This only prompted a significantly louder sob from Elsa as she clutched the small box that Evelyn was now realizing she had in her hand.

Elsa sat on the bed with her daughter, now shaking slightly. Evelyn sat up, sensing something wrong, and put a hand on Elsas as she began to speak.

Sweetheart, she began, do you remember the story of how you came to me eighteen years ago?

Of course, Mother. You tell it to me every year. Elsa nodded Evelyn on. Well, it was a perfect night outthe most perfect. The sky was completely clear and you could see all of the stars in the heavens. Am I starting it right? Elsa nodded, shedding a tear as she heard the story repeated back to her for the first time. You were sitting out on your rocking chair, knitting a sweater for your brother, and you saw a great w