After days of hard hiking the forest broke up, and they entered an ancient parking lot. In places the old blacktop had held, and large black spots marked the land like giant healed wounds of the gone world. Trees, weeds and flowers had retaken the land everywhere else. They came upon a deer path and followed it.
An old wood facade in the shape of a large hot air balloon rose out of the trees before them. It stood twenty feet high and where the basket would have been a door stood open, the rusted and broken hinges of a gate long gone still affixed to the frame. Most of the paint had worn away, but the balloon had been the color of the rainbow. To the right of the massive balloon cut-out was a sign that was no longer legible. A path of yellow bricks led away from the door into a forest beyond.
“Follow the yellow brick road,” Tye said.
“What?” Milly said.
“Nothing. An old story my mom used to read me,” he said.
The yellow brick pathway looked new, and no weeds or dirt marred its bright surface. “Looks like a trap,” Tester said.
“Milly, this remind you of anything?” Tye said.
“Hansa and her church,” Milly said. “Except…” She couldn’t put it into words. This place was more powerful somehow. More intoxicating.
“Turnip,” Tye said.
The cat trotted past them and disappeared down the yellow brick path. After ten minutes the cat returned and stared at them, but gave no sign.
“All right. You guys want to wait here while Tester and I check this out?” Tye said.
Milly harrumphed and strode past him with Pepper in tow. Where the hell was Larry when you needed him? Robin and Ingo trailed after her.
The yellow brick path wound through the forest, revealing an abandoned amusement park. A rusted coaster track dipped and curled in the forest beside the trail, vines and undergrowth making the metal almost indistinguishable from the woods. A bent tree arched over the walkway and Milly jumped when she saw the face carved therein. Above a mouth knothole painted red was a broken limb that served as a nose and above that two painted eyes.
The path widened and dilapidated buildings appeared on both sides of the road: a candy store, bakery, and magic shop. Most of the signs were timeworn and illegible, but some had enough left to make out what they said. They came upon a broken carousel, the ornate horses laying cracked and broken around the giant drive wheel. Vines and weeds poked through the carousel’s platform, and every piece of metal was rusted.
The path twisted upward after they passed through the town and came upon a viewing area that overlooked a small valley. Castle ramparts jutted from the tree canopy, as did several structures: a collapsed Ferris wheel, a huge green witch head, and a giant pair of red shoes. A light shone from the window of the castle’s highest tower.
“You see that?” Tye said, pointing.
“Yeah,” Tester said. “You think it’s a good idea we all go?”
“Look at this,” Robin said.
Milly screamed. Tacked to a tree was a black and white drawing of Curso. The likeness was unmistakable. She traced the lines of his face with her finger. She’d forgotten what he looked like.
“There’s more,” Ingo said.
All along the yellow brick path, pictures were displayed on trees. One of the Womb, and Citi. Peter, Vera, Salt, Helga, Kat—they all looked down on the party with accusing stares as they walked by.
“Let’s see what that light is,” Ingo said.
“No images?” Tye said.
“Nothing. It’s almost like I’m being blocked,” Ingo said.
The yellow path ended at a large blue gate with the letters OZ painted on it in bright yellow. The double gate was set in a ten-foot yellow stone wall. Everything looked freshly cleaned and maintained, as if little kids had just come to the park to enjoy their day.
Tye pushed on the doors and they swung inward, and the party passed through. The yellow brick path changed to red, and the forest grew thicker, the underbrush denser. Ahead, a decaying concrete castle with six pointed towers towered over all.
“OK. Tester and I will check this out. I want the rest of you to wait here,” Tye said.
“I’m not…” Milly said.
“You’re not anything. I just spent over six years of my life in a cage because I wasn’t careful enough. I’m not making that mistake again. Wait here and we’ll come get you. No discussion. You fight me, and I’m heading back to Respite. No bullshit, Milly,” Tye said.
She hadn’t seen him that worked up in a long time. “Fine,” she said.
Tester checked his gun and Tye loosened his knife in its sheath. They crept down the red brick path and disappeared around a turn. Milly’s heart raced. She looked around, and all the trees seemed to have eyes. They stared forward at the castle.
“Yo,” Tye said. “Where the hell did you come from?” Tye and Tester had appeared behind them on the path.
“What happened?” Ingo said.
“I’m not sure,” Tester said. “We were walking, came around a turn, and there you were.”
Silence.
Tester and Tye headed off down the path again. This time they were only gone a few moments.
“This is crazy,” Tester said. They’d come up behind them again.
“I guess whoever’s in there wants you to come with us,” Tye said.
The company walked on and stone figures appeared in the woods, and Milly thought she saw one move. Elves, gnomes with pointed hats, and an assortment of squirrels, bunnies and cats decorated the forest. They were white and clean, as if the years of
