Read Online Doon (Doon Novel, A) by Carey Corp, Lorie Langdon - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Carey Corp, Lorie Langdon
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conclusion, might aswell get started. “Why don’t we test them? Right here—right now.”
Vee’s eyes grew wide as I reached into my pocket for Uncle Cameron’s ring and made a big production of placing it on my finger. Then I stepped onto the ancient cobblestones of the Brig o’ Doon.
Nothing happened. Nada—zip—zilch.
Vindication coursed through my veins as I charged to the center of the arch and pivoted to face Vee. “This myth is sooo busted! There are no magical forces at work here. No alternate dimensions or fantastical portals. I’m wearing Uncle Cam’s ring and I’m still right here in modern day.”
With a half turn, I crossed to the far end of the bridge. “At least I believe I’m still in the present. The ultimate test will be when I step off the other end.”
“Kenna, wait—”
Flinging my hand up to cut her off, I stepped onto the embankment with exaggerated movements and turned to challenge my best friend, my hands on my hips. “If Doon is supposed to be my legacy, where is it?”
Under the circle of lamplight, Vee’s crestfallen face had a jaundiced glow. She’d been throat punched by disappointment her whole life. First, her dad did a Houdini act, vanishing into thin air. Then her mom, reverting to her natural state of selfishness, blamed Vee for ruining her life. Finally, Eric cheated on her with a girl dumber than a box of Beanie Babies and lied about it. No wonder she fantasized about escaping into a perfect society that would treat her like royalty.
I hated to shatter her delusions, but better now than after wasting the summer on some fantasy. “Now you,” I said, trying to temper the harshness in my tone. “Cross the bridge.”
Vee stayed put. She shook her head vigorously back andforth as a distant clock began to toll the hour. Although I didn’t count the chimes, I guessed midnight—and the irony was not lost on me.
Several tense seconds passed before Vee spoke. “What if nothing happens?”
“That’s kind of the point, sweetie. Doon’s not real. And I’m not moving until you admit it. I’ll stay here all night if I have to.”
“So you’d rather believe that your aunt was crazy than open up your mind to the possibility that Doon exists?”
Was it
Freaky Friday
all of a sudden? Had Vee and I switched bodies in the attic? “Do you
hear
yourself? You’re supposed to be the logical one. What you’re suggesting—you know it’s impossible.”
I expected her to answer defensively. Instead, she lifted her chin, her posture strong and confident as she replied, “This isn’t about what I know. It’s about what I feel, deep inside. It’s about my destiny.”
“You make your own destiny in this world. You can be anything,
do
anything.”
“Then I choose to believe in Doon.” With a deliberate step onto the bridge, Vee disappeared from the lamplight. As if someone cued spooky special effects, tendrils of mist began to curl over the sides of the Brig o’ Doon from the riverbank below.
In the darkness, I could hear her measured tread on the stones. While I waited, the mists swirled and thickened, devouring the bridge until Vee’s footsteps became muffled and then vanished altogether. Had she paused halfway across?
“Vee? Quit messing around.”
The silence was as dense as the curtain of fog that’d sprung up out of nowhere.
“Vee?”
“Kenna?” She sounded miles away, but I would’ve recognized her panic at any distance.
“Hold on. I’m coming!” Using the wall as a guide, I began walking carefully across the bridge. After a few steps, I lost all sense of relative space. Realizing I could easily pass her in the oblivion, I called her name.
Her reply, while still distorted, sounded closer. “Here—”
I shuffled blindly forward, hands thrust in front of me. “Where are you?”
“I’m here.” Her voice reverberated stage left. Turning in that direction, I stepped toward the center of the bridge. At first there was nothing but
Vee’s eyes grew wide as I reached into my pocket for Uncle Cameron’s ring and made a big production of placing it on my finger. Then I stepped onto the ancient cobblestones of the Brig o’ Doon.
Nothing happened. Nada—zip—zilch.
Vindication coursed through my veins as I charged to the center of the arch and pivoted to face Vee. “This myth is sooo busted! There are no magical forces at work here. No alternate dimensions or fantastical portals. I’m wearing Uncle Cam’s ring and I’m still right here in modern day.”
With a half turn, I crossed to the far end of the bridge. “At least I believe I’m still in the present. The ultimate test will be when I step off the other end.”
“Kenna, wait—”
Flinging my hand up to cut her off, I stepped onto the embankment with exaggerated movements and turned to challenge my best friend, my hands on my hips. “If Doon is supposed to be my legacy, where is it?”
Under the circle of lamplight, Vee’s crestfallen face had a jaundiced glow. She’d been throat punched by disappointment her whole life. First, her dad did a Houdini act, vanishing into thin air. Then her mom, reverting to her natural state of selfishness, blamed Vee for ruining her life. Finally, Eric cheated on her with a girl dumber than a box of Beanie Babies and lied about it. No wonder she fantasized about escaping into a perfect society that would treat her like royalty.
I hated to shatter her delusions, but better now than after wasting the summer on some fantasy. “Now you,” I said, trying to temper the harshness in my tone. “Cross the bridge.”
Vee stayed put. She shook her head vigorously back andforth as a distant clock began to toll the hour. Although I didn’t count the chimes, I guessed midnight—and the irony was not lost on me.
Several tense seconds passed before Vee spoke. “What if nothing happens?”
“That’s kind of the point, sweetie. Doon’s not real. And I’m not moving until you admit it. I’ll stay here all night if I have to.”
“So you’d rather believe that your aunt was crazy than open up your mind to the possibility that Doon exists?”
Was it
Freaky Friday
all of a sudden? Had Vee and I switched bodies in the attic? “Do you
hear
yourself? You’re supposed to be the logical one. What you’re suggesting—you know it’s impossible.”
I expected her to answer defensively. Instead, she lifted her chin, her posture strong and confident as she replied, “This isn’t about what I know. It’s about what I feel, deep inside. It’s about my destiny.”
“You make your own destiny in this world. You can be anything,
do
anything.”
“Then I choose to believe in Doon.” With a deliberate step onto the bridge, Vee disappeared from the lamplight. As if someone cued spooky special effects, tendrils of mist began to curl over the sides of the Brig o’ Doon from the riverbank below.
In the darkness, I could hear her measured tread on the stones. While I waited, the mists swirled and thickened, devouring the bridge until Vee’s footsteps became muffled and then vanished altogether. Had she paused halfway across?
“Vee? Quit messing around.”
The silence was as dense as the curtain of fog that’d sprung up out of nowhere.
“Vee?”
“Kenna?” She sounded miles away, but I would’ve recognized her panic at any distance.
“Hold on. I’m coming!” Using the wall as a guide, I began walking carefully across the bridge. After a few steps, I lost all sense of relative space. Realizing I could easily pass her in the oblivion, I called her name.
Her reply, while still distorted, sounded closer. “Here—”
I shuffled blindly forward, hands thrust in front of me. “Where are you?”
“I’m here.” Her voice reverberated stage left. Turning in that direction, I stepped toward the center of the bridge. At first there was nothing but
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