Ducking behind a gravestone, I peered around the stone edge. I didn’t have the energy to run from another assault, but I could hide. My heart raced like a runaway train in my chest as bronze lines sparked to life, forming a glowing rectangle in the air, not unlike a chalk-door. Was someone coming to save us? Or capture us? Had Victoria figured out that we’d gone AWOL and sent her hunters to drag us back? I wasn’t sure how she’d know our location, but maybe the weird storm had tipped her off.
A swirling, sparking energy appeared, filling in the outline of the doorway, and I braced for the worst. The energy burst outward and heavenly light spilled out onto the graveyard, the sound of mystical singing drifting over the slumbering souls of the dead. I jolted in surprise—I knew that song.
“Can you see any Wisps?” Charlotte whispered, peeking through a gap in the circular cross at the top of the headstone.
I shook my head, my fear morphing into a smile. “No… something far better.”
Out of the gateway, people poured into the real world. Some were alone, some in couples holding tight to one another’s hands. They wore the old-fashioned clothes I’d seen in Fergus’s realm, the ancient wanderers imprisoned in his world, finally released. Feeling the icy wind on their faces, they paused and turned their faces to the night sky, marveling aloud at its beauty. It must have been a long time since they’d seen real stars. Smiles spread across their faces, and then, as a gust of sea air whistled across the graveyard, their bodies turned to dust, the gray flecks whisked away in a painless conclusion to their long imprisonment.
“They’re free now,” I said to myself, watching the gateway. It was bittersweet. The lives they might’ve lived had been stolen from them by Fergus and the Wisps, but at least they could be at peace now. Mother Earth and her elements would carry them gently to the next life, where, perhaps, they would be reunited with those who’d mourned them when they’d disappeared. There was beauty in that, no matter the circumstances.
A few minutes later, people in modern clothes filtered through the newly-positioned Door to Nowhere. It was the abductees from the Institute, all of them staring around in confusion. My heart lurched as wind chased the shadows across the cemetery, terrified that they would turn to dust, as well. But they didn’t. They hadn’t been in Fergus’s world for long enough, their lives and bodies still intact.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I didn’t know who I was thanking, exactly. All I knew was that the relief coursing through my veins threatened to overwhelm me. My limbs jittered, my heart pumped erratically, my lungs were barely able to snatch a grateful breath.
“Where are we?” a young guy muttered, rubbing his head.
The girl beside him hugged herself, rubbing her arms to fend off the cold. “Beats me. Feels like we’re still in Ireland, though.”
“Xan!” Charlotte leapt out from behind the tombstone, scaring the girl half to death. I realized that this was the nasty sourpuss who’d insulted Genie in the banquet hall. She took a moment to recognize Charlotte and yelped in excitement. The two girls collided in a fierce hug, jumping around happily. I might not have liked Xanthippe at all, but Charlotte couldn’t have been more overjoyed to see her. Watching them, I felt a pang in my chest. There were still two people who hadn’t come out.
Where are you? Please… I just… need to see you. I waited.
And waited.
And then Genie and Nathan stumbled from the gateway. The last to go in, the last to come out. Genie tripped on a clump of dirt that Charlotte had chucked to the side of Lorelei’s grave, and Nathan’s arms shot out to catch her, pulling her away from a crash landing. She whirled into his arms, their eyes meeting for a lingering moment before she hastily unraveled herself.
No way am I letting you get the first hug, Nathan. Grinning, I sprinted from my hiding place and weaved through the group of returnees to get to my best friend. Nathan nodded at me, smiling, and Genie turned, her eyes flying wide when she saw me.
“Genie!” I cried, wrapping my arms around her. Her hands clasped me tight as we fell into an embrace, my exuberance almost knocking her over again. Fortunately, Nathan put up his hands to keep us from toppling over, before taking a few polite steps to the side.
“You had me so worried,” I murmured, tears of relief trickling down my face. “I didn’t know if I’d be able to get to you in time.”
She smiled against my shoulder. “Did you free us?”
“With some unexpected help.” I puffed out an almighty sigh, relishing the moment. “I can’t believe I got you back. I didn’t know if I’d be able to do it, but you’re here, and everything’s okay again.”
“Thanks to you, it is.” She gripped me tighter until I couldn’t breathe. But I didn’t care. “Look at what you did, Pers. Look at everyone who’s safe because of you. You’re every bit a freaking Merlin! Man, I’m so proud of you my head could burst.”
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I didn’t do it alone. Nathan helped, and so did Charlotte and the pixies.”
“Hey, every hero needs sidekicks.” She laughed, rubbing my arms like a proud mom. “You did it! You seriously kicked butt, Persie! None of us would be standing here if you hadn’t. If you didn’t stink to high heaven, I’d smooch you right now!”
I looked at Nathan, over Genie’s shoulder, and giggled as he took off his specs and wiped them on his polo shirt. The poor guy had never looked more uncomfortable. “I might’ve just swum through a grave, so sorry for the stench.”
Genie pulled away. “I need to hear all of this story, down to the smallest detail.” She arched a curious eyebrow. “Wait… did you
