The Penultimate Story Post!

I am REALLY enjoying writing this ending. There are 781 words in this second last post. Tomorrow, all will be revealed and November writing month will end. Then, the editing of The Forgotten Children will begin. I am pleased with most of what I have come up with and look forward to the tightening/changing/polishing process that follows. Week 4 stats were:
Saturday - 310, Sunday - 555, Monday - 438, Tuesday - 551, Wednesday - 400, Thursday - 509, Friday - 853
Total: 3616 words Average: 517 per day.
With 1 more day left in November, I'll do a final stats report tomorrow. But here is the "middle of the end"!
*******
There was a deep rumbling as the doorway through the mountainside opened in front of Hannah’s astonished eyes. She looked across at Richard and Sarah, who stood transfixed, watching as the rock seemed to open as easily as the cracking of an egg. “Come on!” she said. “We have to go through!”
James was already halfway through the opening, his face glowing with joy. “I am coming!” he cried.
Feeling equally determined and frightened, Hannah and the others followed.

Relieved that his makeshift earplugs seemed to be working, Troy watched as the rock opened. He could see the stranger’s fingers caressing the wooden pipe, but could only faintly hear the mesmerizing notes it created. It must be enough, he thought. I can still think clearly. Taking a deep breath, he saw a figure emerging and saw James’ painful progress. Just a little further, he thought to himself. Then we will all help you. At that moment, he looked past the tree to the clearing beyond. At last! There were Charlotte and the others, walking towards him. Troy raised a hand to give the signal, but soon realized that something was wrong. Charlotte was walking slowly, leading Clara by the hand. Both were smiling, their eyes shining. Oh Charlotte, thought Troy. You didn’t remember about the music. Desperately, he tried to think of a solution. Should he just save himself? Should he race back through the rock and go to the village to get help? But by the time I get back, he thought, the rock will have closed again. What am I going to do?

“James!” It was Charlotte’s voice. “It is so wonderful to see you!”
Troy watched as Charlotte ran forward and hugged her young friend. He closed his eyes. It is hopeless, he thought.

“No!”
Another voice cut through the music. Stunned, Troy opened his eyes as he recognized the voice’s familiar tone. He turned his head back to the rock and saw his parents and Charlotte’s mother stumble through the opening. How had they made it through? “Mother! Father!” Without thinking, Troy ran from his hiding place and embraced them.

“Troy!” Sarah was sobbing. Her hands went to his face. “Are you injured? What has happened?” Even up close, her voice was muffled. Troy shrank back as she put out a hand to push aside the material covering his ears. “No, Mother,” he explained. “It’s blocking the music. Quickly! We have to get the others out before the rock closes again!” The three of them hurried towards the group of children.

“Charlotte?” Hannah was already walking towards her daughter. Charlotte looked at her, but the young girl’s eyes were vacant, as if she didn’t recognize Hannah. “Come on, Charlotte. It is time to go now.”
At this, Charlotte’s expression cleared and was replaced with a look so angry that Hannah took an involuntary step backwards.
“No!” said Charlotte, forcefully. “I will not leave here. I am a chosen one.”
Hannah gasped. “What are you talking about?” she said. “We have been searching for you every minute since we realized you and the others were missing. You must come home! You must all come home.”
Charlotte shook her head. “No,” she said again. “We are chosen. You are the ones who must leave. You must forget us.”
“How could we forget our children?” cried Hannah. “This is foolishness! You will come with me now!” She grabbed Charlotte’s arm, but the young girl shook off her grip.
“You cannot understand, Mrs Ross.” James was speaking now. He stepped forward, grasping Charlotte’s hand. “We all belong here. You do not. Go back. Forget us. It is all that you can do.”
Hannah staggered backwards. Sarah and Troy came to her, similar looks of despair on their faces. It did not matter what they tried. The other children would not move. “What can we do?” Hannah cried.

A movement out of the corner of her eye made her turn. The stranger appeared, still playing the pipe. His eyes narrowed. With the slightest movement of his arm, he signaled to a large owl that flew to perch on the edge of his cloak. The owl’s eyes locked with Hannah’s.
You see? Hannah gasped as a voice sounded in her head. This is what happens when promises to me are broken.
“YOU MONSTER!” Hannah tried to run towards the stranger. Horrified, she realized that she couldn’t move. Her feet seemed rooted to the spot.

Suddenly, a small furry shape scampered past her and launched itself at the stranger’s legs with an eerie yowl. Sixpence’s claws sank deep into the stranger’s flesh. With a cry he dropped the pipe and the music abruptly ceased.