Chapter Two

          It isn't everyday that you walk through a portal. Gwen didn't know what to think. She stepped through the mirror, eyes closed. Nothing felt different. Biting her lip, Gwen slowly opened her eyes. She examined everything around her. The ground below her was worn-down rock. Weeds collected in between the stones. It looked like she was standing in a courtyard. The fountain bubbled with crystal-clear water. She craned her neck around the fountain and saw an archway leading to a parlor. A long red velvet armchair rested inside. Next to it, a carved wooden table sat. A large bowl of grapes rested on top. Her eyes slowly followed the room and landed on someone. It was a girl with beautiful blonde hair and perfectly tanned skin. Her white tunic rippled around her as she gracefully walked into the courtyard...

The courtyard! Gwen let out a small gasp and ran to hide behind one of the pale pillars. She rested her hands against the cool surface. She swallowed and dared to look ahead of the giant mass in front of her. The girl hadn't noticed. She obliviously sat on the fountain's edge and ran her fingers through the foamy water. Gwen happily slid down into a sitting position. Her whole body felt numb. Was this a dream? Suddenly, Gwen heard a pebble roll along the marble floor where she sat. Her eyes flew open. She looked down and saw her leg slid out and hit a pebble.

"Hello?" The girl said quietly. "Is anyone there?"

Gwen froze in place. She brought her legs up to her chest and hugged them tightly. She pressed her cheek to her knee and waited. Everything was silent except for the fountain and birds chirping joyfully in the distance.

"Clio!" A voice hollered. It was male, probably her father. The girl yelled back and skipped into the house.

So her name is Clio. Guinivere thought. She used the column for support and lifted herself up. She wobbily stepped out into the sunlight. I should write this down in my diary.

Gwen patted her dress down. Slowly at first, then more rapidly. She clawed at it, panic rising inside her like a flood. She let out a cry. Her diary was gone. The only possible answer was that it fell. But how? She had no pockets on her dress. Gwen felt tears sting her eyes. She didn't want to cry, not now. It was hard though. She felt guilty of losing her diary. It was the only thing to remember her grandmother by. Gwen shook off the feeling. That was the least of her worries. She had to find a way out of here, and fast.