Rin woke before sunrise.
For several seconds, he simply stared at the ceiling.
Then he remembered. The door. His eyes opened completely.
"Today."
He sat up.
The memory returned with uncomfortable clarity. The strange forest, the ancient stone arch, the door that shouldn't have been there, the words that had appeared on it, the feeling that something behind it had recognized him.
And most importantly—
the decision not to open it.
Rin looked toward his desk. The silver key was there.
He hadn't touched it since last night he got out of bed and walked toward it.
The key looked completely ordinary. Cold silver. Small. Silent.
Rin picked it up.
Nothing happened.
"Good."
He put it into his pocket. Then he heard a knock.
"Come in."
Kaelith entered. He looked at Rin.
"You're already ready."
"Yes."
"The forest?"
"Yes."
Kaelith smiled.
"I knew it."
Rin grabbed his coat.
"I'm not going to open the door."
"I didn't say you were."
"You were thinking it."
"Maybe."
