The Apparent Exit

"Ahem," a woman's voice said. Jon/Karyn and Zoe/Sarah turned around and saw a black-haired woman with tanned skin standing about twenty feet away from them. "That's better." She held up a piece of paper and looked at it. "You've passed. You can stop now." "I don't *think* so," another voice said. They turned their heads and saw the old man walking towards them along the water's edge. "It's not yet time." "Time for *what*?" Jon/Karyn asked. "Shush." The old man snapped his fingers. Jon felt as if he got an electric shock and he fell to the ground. Painfully, he sat up and looked at himself. He was back to normal. He looked over at Karyn, who was laying across the ground, and then at Zoe and Sarah. They were all back to normal. "They've passed. You have no right to interfere," the woman said. "I have *every* right," the old man answered. "No, you only *think* you do." The woman took a step back and disappeared. The old man turned back to Jon and the others. "Are you okay?" "Yes. I think," Jon answered. "Good." "What was all that about?" "They were going to let you leave." Jon stood up. "Well, why didn't you let them?" he asked angrily. "Because you're not ready. Not yet." "What's *that* supposed to mean?" "Don't worry, Jon. You'll have all of your answers soon enough." And with that, the old man disappeared. Jon stood staring ahead, at where the old man was before he vanished. He had a chance to leave. To go back home. But the old man stopped him. Why?