look out the small, round window. “Those are sirens outside.”
Trying to understand what was going on while I begrudgingly woke up, I
stood on the bed beside him. The soft mattress and my height deficiency didn't
allow me to reach. “What do you see?” I questioned.
“It’s fire trucks. I see smoke and flames. I can't tell exactly where it’s coming
from, but it's close to my home.” Hopping off the bed, he frantically put on his
shoes. “I need to go there.”
Following suit, I put my boots on, as well. “Are you sure it was your house?”
“No, but I'm not going to sit here and wait.” Cole rushed towards the ladder.
Grabbing his hand, I stopped him. “Let me go with you.” Feeling his
hesitation, I said more forcefully, “I'm going with you.”
Sighing, he agreed. “Ok, but we are going now.”
We had just reached the front door when Gram called out to us. “Cole and Mara, where do you think you are going?”
We both turned around, shamefaced. In our haste, we had not thought of
letting anyone know our plans to leave. My chagrin passed as I took in Gram's
outfit. The mismatched brash combination of a lime green sweater, gardening jeans, and red garden wellies were not something she would typically wear. This
wardrobe choice confirmed she had planned on doing the same thing as us.
“Gram, I think the fire trucks are at my house.” I could hear the panic in Cole's voice. “I need to go now.”
Just as I was about to agree with our need to move quickly, a sharp jolt of electricity shot through my body. The intense pain it caused sucked the air from
my lungs. The grimace on Gram's face told me she had felt it, too.
When I saw my father exiting his room, it registered in my brain that the spell had worked. The pain must have been our notification of the magical
barriers being crossed. As I stared at Gram, she closed her eyes and slightly nodded, confirming my belief.
“What is going on, Caterpillar? Why are you all awake?” Elliott asked,
looking disheveled and confused.
Interesting, I thought to myself. Why would Elliott be in the same clothes from last night? Looking down at my own outfit, I realized he could be thinking the same thing about me.
“There is a fire coming from the direction of Cole's house. We are going
there now,” I responded.
The surprised look on his face turned to concern. “I'm coming with you.”
My father threw on his boots and coat. He looked me over, and then handed
me a sweater from a hook. "It’s cold out there. Put this on."
My heart stilled. This man before me seemed so real. He had to be my father.
Or do you just want him to be Elliott Stone so badly that you’ll risk your family'ssafety? I wondered. Pushing the thought away, I forced myself to focus on what was important. Cole needed me.
I opened the door and stepped outside. I felt another set of jolts as Cole and
Elliott crossed the barrier behind me. Glancing towards Gram, I noticed she stopped.
She called to us, “Wait, we need to wake up Meg.”
In the confusion, I had forgotten about my sleeping sister. “You go ahead
with them, Gram. I'll get Meg, and then we'll join you.” I kissed Cole on the
cheek. “I'll be there soon.” Wanting to reassure him, I added, “It’ll be ok.”
As Gram tried to reenter the house, I held her back. “I won't be long. Please,
