Free A Circle of Time by Marisa Montes

move.
    As her heart pounded against her ribs and throbbed in her ears, another sound took over. A weeping voice—the voice of a girl, crying, “Help me! Help me, someone. Help! Joshuaa-aaaa!” Then, she was flying through the air, down the cliff of Devil’s Drop, and onto the rocks below. Screams pierced her ears, permeated her brain, shot through her senses. She felt as if her whole body would burst from the screams.
    Someone grabbed her shoulders. The screams became unbearable. She tried to pull away, but strong arms held and shook her body.
    â€œAllison! Wake up, Allison.
Por favor, niña,
wake up!”
    Allison opened her eyes. She was struggling, pushing away the arms, and screaming. They were her screams.
    â€œShhhh, shhhhh,
Allison. It is all right. You are safe.
Cálmate. Shh-shh.
”
    At the sound of the soothing voice, Allison relaxed. She gazed around the dark room lit only by a few embers in the fireplace.
    The arms held her close, comforted her. “You are safe now, Allison. It was only a bad dream,
una pesadilla.
You are safe.”
    â€œWhere am I?” Allison was still dazed, confused by the dream.
    â€œYou are in my cottage, Magda’s cottage ... in the forest...”
    Allison looked up. “Magda? Oh,” she said, remembering. “I’m in the past ... Becky’s past.”
    â€œThat is right, the past. Go back to sleep now—rest.” Magda settled Allison on the comforter and covered her as though she were a child of three, then stroked her forehead and cooed to her in Spanish.
“Shhhh, duérmete.”
    As Allison’s mind drifted back into darkness, Magda’s voice became another voice, whispering, insisting: “It’s time, Allison. It’s your turn now. I helped you, now you must help me. Go ... into the woods ... go ... I helped you ... now you help me...”
    When Allison awoke once more, Magda was gone, the embers had died, and the room was shrouded in darkness. The whispers persisted, “Go, Allison. I need you.”
    As if in a trance, Allison unwrapped herself from the comforter and went to the door.
    â€œHurry, Allison. It’s time.”
    With the tiniest creak, the door opened and she stepped into the yard. Her way was lit only by a sliver of moonlight and a sprinkling of stars.
    â€œInto the woods, Allison, go.”
    Like a zombie, Allison lumbered across the yard.
    â€œThis way, Allison. Follow the path.”
    Allison stepped onto the path and into the woods. Her feet seemed to have a life of their own. Her mind was on automatic pilot, listening to the whispers, following the whispers.
    â€œHurry, Allison, go to Joshua. Hurry. Joshua can help.”
    At the sound of Joshua’s name, Allison’s pace quickened. Soon she heard the crash of the waterfall in the distance. The ground felt softer, more moist.
    â€œHurry, hurry! Joshua can help.”
    Allison began to run. She believed the voice: Whatever the problem, Joshua could help. When she reached the edge of the forest, she stopped. The waterfall and pool beyond gleamed like mercury in the moonlight. Tall pines surrounding the pool loomed ominously, stretching upward and disappearing in the star-sprinkled blackness.
    â€œGo, Allison. Go to Joshua. Hurry!”
    Allison picked her way over the rocky path, behind the waterfall, and to the cave. The thundering water was deafening.
    â€œJoshua!” Allison called. “Joshua, are you awake?”
    She poked her head into the cave. “Joshua?”
    The moon reflected off the sheet of cascading water and illuminated the mouth of the cave, bathing it in silvery light. Joshua’s tiny cot was empty.
    Allison stepped past the cot to the back of the cave. “Joshua?” The cave wall continued a few yards and stopped. Allison looked back at the tiny shelter. The blanket on the cot was neatly tucked in at the corners; the cot did not appear to have been slept in that