A/N: This is just the beginning of the three story lines. Again, feel free to explore the three worlds in any way you see fit. And you can choose which one you like the best and follow its story or you can read all three. If you did read all three plots for this chapter you'd see that there wasn't many things different. But eventually, they will all split into three different stories. Note that this will take triple the time to write each chapter. Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter 2 - Light

Jess ran across the bridge at top speed and bolted through the field like a scared rabbit. The wind rushed through his hair and dried the sweat on his brow. As Jess neared his house, his pace slowed to a walk as he gasped for air in between breaths. He paced up to his house and sat on his front step to catch his breath.

The door opened behind Jess and he spun around ready for another attack from the Dark Master, but instead his little sister May Belle walked outside with a smile on her face.

“Jess! Jess! Can we go to Terabithia before the bus comes?” May said with a pleading look.

Jess glanced up and casually asked, “What’s the time?” May Belle shrugged and Jess stood with a sigh. He shoved past her and through the door and his sister followed him. Jess plopped onto the old lounge chair and glanced up at the clock to see it was 7:17 A.M. Jess knew that the bus came at 8:00 give or take a few minutes.

Jess glanced back up at his sister and said, “Alright, just for a bit.” he stood up and walked past his sister. She turned around and smiled and she went up the stares into her room. Jess walked into the kitchen and walked by his mom asking, “Have you seen Dad?”

Mary, who was absent mindedly frying eggs responded without even looking up, “No, he left before I woke up.”

Jess continued past her with a word and ran up the stairs to run into Brenda who exclaimed, “Move it! And why do you always stink?” Jess pushed his way past her and up into his room to find May Belle coloring in his sketchbook again.

“May Belle… I thought I told you to ask me before you draw in my book.” he walked up to her and picked up his sketchbook from her lap to find she was drawing him. Jess smiled, “I like it. Its really good.”

“I’m sorry.” her eyes started to water, "it was gonna be a surprise!"

“Here,” Jess ripped the drawing out of the book and handed it to her. “Just ask next time.” He smiled. “Come on, lets get to Terabithia!”

May smiled and took the drawing back. Then, Jess and May sprinted down the stairs and into their hidden kingdom.

Finally, the school bus arrived for the first day of school for May Belle and Jess. The bus pulled up and Jess walked casually out the door and onto the bus. Five minutes later, May Belle came flying out the door after the bus which just started to leave her behind.

“Wait!” She shouted as the bus kept going, “WAIT FOR ME!” With her arms flailing in the air like some sort of monkey, May Belle tried to get the drivers attention. The eighth graders in the back of the bus were pointing and laughing at her. Jess however sat still and watched. He did not laugh, he did not find it amusing. Jess shouted up at the bus driver, "Stop! Stop the bus!" But there was too much laughter for the bus driver to hear him. He just turned around and continued to draw in his sketch pad.

Jess’ hand moved freely over the paper. He worked swiftly but carefully until the picture became almost a reality. He drew absent mindedly, thinking about how stupid school was going to be without his friend, how he was going to fight the Dark Master, and how this road within thing worked. Finally, he glanced down at what he was drawing and it scared him. There was a black mountain that had a massive opening into it with dark smoke bursting forth from its fiery entrance. A dark figure stood on a cliff observing a massive amount of prisoners linked together at hands, feet, and neck with massive chains. Half human creatures stood with giant axes and spears forcing the prisoners into the mouth of the cavern. The ground was dead, and it seemed like nothing could grow for miles in this place.

“Whatcha drawing, Aarons?” Scott asked in the seat in front of him. He was turned backwards with his head hovering over Jess’ seat. Jess immediately closed the sketch book by instinct and glared up at Scott.

The bus came to a halt and the doors opened. An exhausted and red faced, angry May Belle boarded the bus and sat herself in the first open seat.

“Why didn’t anyone say anything?” She asked to no one in particular.

“We all thought you could use the exercise, since your so fat!” A sixth grade guy shouted. And the bus, all except Jess and May, erupted into laughter. Tears streamed out onto May Belle’s cheek. She knew she wasn’t fat, she was actually too skinny, but it hurt her non-the-less.

Jess sat as a silent observer. He never said anything. Scott turned back around to Jess and grinned, “Ah, come on Aarons. Let me see it!” he pleaded in a fake tone and tried to grab at Jess’ sketch book.

Jess caught Scott’s wrist in his right hand. He quickly twisted it in a way its not supposed to turn.

“You’re crazy!” Scott shouted. They had just gathered more than several spectators. Scott ripped his hand away and stood up over Jess and grimly exclaimed, “You’re so dead, Aarons!” Scott pulled his arm back to punch Jess as the bus driver came to save the day.

“ALRIGHT HOAGER!” The driver yelled back at him, “Hit the road!” His right hand did a trademark ‘your out’ movement done by a baseball umpire. Scott turned and glared at Jess in the eyes. Jess just returned the ‘intimidating’ glare with a smile.

“We’ll finish this after school, Aar-” Hoager started but was cut off by the driver.

“We don’t have all day, Mr. Hoager...”

Scott quickly retrieved his backpack and walked out the door of the bus to walk the remaining mile to school. And as the bus passed by Hoager, Jess waved goodbye to him with the same satisfied grin on his face.

When school started, Jess walked to his locker and opened it and recklessly shoved his text books into it, along with his sketch book. As he closed his locker, and walked to his first class Scott arrived in the hallway angry as could be. Gary Flutcher laughed at him, and Scott shoved him saying, “Idiot!”

Jess stared with a smile across his face. And as he walked by the pair of bullies they attempted to trip Jess. But he just casually dodged it and smiled at Hoager.

“Your welcome!” Hoager shouted after him. Jess just slipped into his English class and took his seat in the farthest corner of the room. English passed by quickly as Jess zoned out during class. He tried hard to take notes, and he tried to pay attention to the classroom expectations monologue that he was sure to hear from every teacher. But his mind kept wandering to Terabithia. His own world, that had now fallen to the reign of the Dark Master.

Second hour for Jess was Spanish II, which he zoned out yet again. Then Algebra I, American History, Physical Science, Drawing II was his favorites, P.E, then music class with Ms. Edmonds.

During music, he never looked up from his drawing on his desk. As the bell at the end of the day rang, Jess snapped out of his trance and stared around the room with astonished eyes. His peers were gone out the door at the very second it rang. Ms. Edmonds smiled down at Jess and sat in her desk chair.

“Did you have a good summer?” She asked well still smiling. Jess just looked up at her with a blank face.

“Yeah,” he responded as he stood and picked up his sketch book.

She smiled and placed her guitar in her case. "Can I see what you were drawing through my whole class?"

“Yeah. Uh, yes ma'am." he flipped his book open to the dark gates with the prisoners.

“Well, I said it before. Your really talented, keep drawing.” Ms. Edmonds smiled again. "But this is pretty dark... does it have a name?"

"Umm..." Jess glanced at the floor and a name came out without thinking, "The Gates of Despair." his eyes widened.

"A good name for a drawing like this. What were you inspired by to draw something so... I don’t know what to call it!" She continued to stair at the piece.

"I, uh..., I dunno." Jess smiled.

"Well, I really like it. Keep that mind open and you'll never know what finds it's way in there." she grinned, "I have to get home. See you later Jess." she picked her stuff up and walked out the door.

"Can I help you with that?" Jess asked quickly.

"You most certainly can!"

Jess followed her out of the classroom with two boxes of instruments. He was glad to help out. But he couldn't help but wonder if he would've stayed home would his best friend be alive right now? Jess held nothing against his teacher, but he did feel guilty about liking her more than his friend.

Jess stopped dead in his tracks. For before him stood the Dark Master. He smiled devilishly and spoke, “It was all your fault.” before he disappeared into thin air. Jess stood wide eyed. He sprinted down the hall after Ms. Edmunds.

“Your dead Aarons.” Scott said as Jess passed him at the door. His tactics had worked and he had avoided a confrontation. As he boarded the bus, he choose a seat that he couldn't be disturbed in and continued his drawing.

A/N: Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave a review if you'd like to comment on what you thought about this chapter! Be honest! And I don't mind criticizim.

SPECIAL THANKS TO MY BETA: DASH-RENDAR