The Gate

“You will not get through the checkpoint with that on. The border guards will stop you. You have no choice, but to take it off!” Anna whispered fiercely to Clothilde. Clothilde was worried. She didn’t know if they had what it takes to get across the border to be reunited with the freedoms the government had taken away.

Over the past few months, Anna and Clothilde had noticed the government becoming more and more totalitarian. The government had confiscated all metals in April, the same month as Clothilde’s birthday. Before her father crossed the border, he gifted her a small golden locket. He instructed her to only open it if she had to take it off. Clothilde had never told Anna the secret of the locket. Would Anna be willing to open the golden heart instead of Clothilde?

Even with walls enclosing the city, the girls knew the danger was from their own government trying to protect the people. There was one entrance to the city: The Gate, but it was more than just a gate. It was a long hallway with a gate which would open one time every hour. It was impossible to time. Once The Gate was open, you could sneak your way to the true border.

The girls had been told time and time again from adults to not even attempt the hard voyage. The Gate was of course the most dangerous part of the journey they knew. Successfully gaining entrance would require surpassing the random guards who would walk past The Gate, in five to ten minute intervals. If the girls could remain unseen, they would be able to enter the gate only once. If you didn’t gain entrance on the first try, the random guards would shoot you. The girls knew what The Gate required, yet had no clue the challenges of the real border.

“No one has even seen a border guard. You don’t know what happens after The Gate! No one does! Right now we’re just hoping that my father made it, we don’t know.” Clothilde’s eyes began to water. Anna put her hands on Clothilde’s cheeks. Anna began to hum a tune parents used to get children asleep. Soon, instead of watery eyes, Clothilde’s eyes were heavy. Anna helped Clothilde lie down on her side. Slowly, Anna lifted Clothilde’s curls to reveal the tiny clasp. Anna gently pulled back the latch and detached the necklace from Clothilde’s neck. The moon’s light shined on the golden heart. It really was a beautiful necklace, but it would be hidden when they attempted to traverse the border tomorrow.

The sun was on the horizon and woke the girls. They had spent the night in bushes located less than a block from The Gate. The day before, they had attempted to time the opening of The Gate, but as they already knew it was random. The one thing the girls decided was they would approach the gate as the guards began to walk away. Anna and Clothilde saw the guards turn the corner. They began to run. As they approached, The Gate creaked. The girls began to smile as they ran and the door swung open. They would, at the very least, beat The Gate.

Clothilde felt the burn of running. Anna was about three feet ahead of her and a meter from The Gate, which was fully open ready to welcome the girls. Then Clothilde saw the horror of The Gate beginning to close. Anna managed to make it through and Clothilde was nervous. She could hear the metal creak as it closed. Clothilde turned to the side to make it through, but her sweater caught on one of the decorative spikes. Clothilde pulled her arm as hard as she could and heard the loud rip of the clothing. The girls had made it past The Gate. That’s when Clothilde noticed her necklace was gone.

“Where is it? Where is it?” She demanded of her friend Anna.

“Calm down. It’s in your pocket.”

“I’m not supposed to take it off unless I open it.”

“Why?”

“That’s what my dad told me to do!”

Anna put her hand on Clothilde’s mouth and tilted her head to motion towards the sound of people talking. The girls began to walk down the hallway. They turned the corner and there stood two guards smiling as they laughed at the children.

“I am sure you two have payment?” One said as he laughed. The second guard was laughing as well. Neither Anna nor Clothilde expected this. Anna stood shocked and unable to communicate. Clothilde reached into her pocket. She held up the golden heart-shaped locket and let the chain fall. Both guards stopped laughing instantly. Their eyes were blinded as the sun’s reflection hit the necklace. Without a word, the second guard held out his hand in silence. Clothilde handed it over. The guard examined the jewelry in his hand as he pointed. Clothilde and Anna saw nothing but open countryside.

The girls took off running. When they were half-mile away, Clothilde and Anna stopped and turned back to the guards. They saw one guard open the locket. A huge cloud of red dust enveloped both guards. The dust ate everything, except the bones of the two men.