Iri sank down next to Tinks. “A pretty hard head, huh?”
Tinks gave an abashed smile. “I thought it was.”
Iri rubbed Tinks along her shoulder, her eyes on Atu as he dug in his pouch and pulled out another tube of something. Gently, he dabbed the contents onto the wound. “There, that should help close the cut. Fortunately, it’s not deep. Have you experienced any dizziness?”
“A little,” Tinks confessed. “As I landed.”
Atu nodded. “Felt sick at all?”
“No.”
Atu laid his hands on her head and rubbed behind her ears. Iri smiled as Tinks’s eyes closed in pleasure, and she began purring. The sound grew louder. Iri bit back a laugh. She would have to remember this trick the next time she got into trouble with one of the gliders.
When Atu removed his hands a few minutes later, Tinks opened one eye and looked at him. Atu grinned. “No, that’s all you get. How’s the dizziness?”
Tinks opened the other eye and moved her head. But Iri could already tell from her scent that Tinks was healed. Kayla was right. Atu really did have a gift.
“Gone. I feel wonderful.” Tinks smiled. “Thank you, Healer.”
Atu returned the smile. “My work here is done.”
Jaden stepped forward. “Are we good to go?”
“We are.”
Jaden faced Iri. “Ready to lead us through that door we can’t see?”
“Of course.” She took a step away, but Jaden stopped her.
“Before we open the door, any ideas about what we can expect?”
The others crowded around as Iri examined an area in front of them. “Well, this door’s white. Assuming the color lines up with what I know about colors, it indicates peace, tranquility, contentment. But that’s an assumption. I really can’t say if it will be true.”
“Is the door big enough for us to follow you?” Taz asked.
“Yes. Any more questions before I open it?” The others shook their heads.
“I’ll go first. The rest of you cover me,” Jaden asserted.
“Here we go then,” Iri said, opening the door.
She knew the others couldn’t see what she could because they all stood there staring, their expressions unchanged. “You can’t see that?” Iri breathed.
“What?” Kayla demanded.
“It’s like paradise in there.” Iri stumbled forward. The heady scents filled her nostrils, and her head swam. She needed to get closer. The fragrance beckoned, an invitation to decadence.
Jaden threw out a hand to stop her. Iri glowered at him, but Jaden ignored her. “Me first, remember. Since we can’t see what’s going on in there, you need to enter last. No one else will be able to see if there’s trouble. Okay?”
Iri sighed and dragged herself away from the entrance with difficulty. “Alright.” The tantalizing aromas were still teasing her senses, so she stepped further back until the air was clear again.
Then they watched as Jaden marched forward. Iri wasn’t sure if the others saw him cross the threshold. She suspected not as they all continued staring, their colors and scents unchanged.
She glanced back at Jaden, standing just inside the door. His mouth hung open as he surveyed the scene.
Palm trees waved lazily over an impossibly white beach, the sand so fine that it rippled as the warm breeze brushed over it. The sea, just beyond, was a dazzling aquamarine. Its waters were clear enough to see tiny fish clumping together in silvery schools, darting this way and that. Further up the beach, a thatched hut invited shade and rest. Its bleached deck was dotted by sprawling lounge chairs, their cushions plump and inviting. The clink of ice turned Iri’s attention to the orange juice waiting on round wicker tables next to the loungers. Tiny beads of condensation dribbled down the crystal tumblers. Beyond the hut, the lush jungle took over again. Shrieking monkeys played in the emerald depths, their shenanigans disturbing the branches. It was like something out of a magazine.
Iri returned her attention to Jaden, walking towards the hut. Han had entered and was following Jaden. Kayla had one foot in front of her to step inside. Then the colors around Jaden blinked out. Iri blinked in turn. What had happened? Now Han’s colors winked out.
As Kayla moved, Iri yanked her back. “Wait. Something’s wrong.” Iri watched, almost unbelieving, as Jaden sank onto the lounger and stretched out, closing his eyes. When Han loped over to the jungle to swing around the branches like a gymnast on the parallel bars, she was certain.
“Why’s Jaden lying down on that fallen tree trunk?” Kayla whispered.
Iri noticed bright orange swirls of alarm slithering around Kayla like an anaconda. “You can still see him?”
“Yes, he’s right there, in front of us. Stretched out on that tree like he plans on taking a nap.”
Iri understood. Jaden hadn’t vanished when he had walked through the door. The others still saw him in the forest. But while Iri could see the “truth” of the situation, Kayla could not. “In that place on the other side of the door, Jaden thinks he’s on a tropical beach, lying on a lounger.”
Kayla giggled. “Really?”
“So what does Han think he doing?” Taz sniped. “He’s behaving like a toddler!”
Iri grimaced. “I think he thinks he’s a monkey—or he’s trying to play with the monkeys he sees there.”
“Wait.” Kayla turned to Iri. “You’re saying there’s another whole world in there that we can’t see but they can?”
“Yes, but that’s not the problem. Something is making them forget who they are and why they’re there. I think the white door did mean tranquility, but not in a good way. It’s robbing them of their identity, their thoughts. I wouldn’t be surprised if they soon forgot to even eat or drink. It’s a honey trap. We have to get them out!”
“What makes you so sure?” Atu asked.
“You know the colors I see around people?” When Atu nodded, she continued, “Well, there aren’t any around Jaden or Han anymore. Sorry to be blunt, but that only happens when something’s no longer alive.”
Kayla panicked. “Jaden’s dead?”
Iri put a calming hand on Kayla’s arm. “No, but he’s been stripped of his will to live.”
Kayla shuddered. “How do we get them out without getting caught ourselves?”
“Quickly,” Iri muttered. “They were in there for a few minutes before the colors disappeared. Enough time that we could conceivably dash in and drag them out, but only if we don’t allow ourselves to actually look at that idyllic place. That won’t be easy. Even from here, it’s mesmerizing. I could stare all day and not get tired of the view.”
“Alright, we’ll only send one person in. And we’ll tie a rope around them beforehand, so we can pull them out if necessary,” Atu directed.
“We have rope?” Iri chirped.
In answer, Atu slipped a coil from his backpack. “After the tower, Jaden thought we should have some.”
Iri grinned and glanced at Aren. “We’ll need a glider to get Han. I doubt Kayla and Atu together would be strong enough to pull him out. Are you up for that?” Aren nodded, and Iri turned to Taz. “Will you and Tinks be able to pull Aren out if he gets lost in there?”
“Yes,” Taz replied, as though this was a silly question.
Iri smiled. Taz was as imperious as ever. “Alright, we’re set. Atu, you good with going in?” For a moment, Iri thought Kayla might object. But she must’ve realized Atu was the wiser choice because she said nothing.
As Iri finished tying the rope around Atu, she repeated her warning. “Don’t look at anything except Jaden. Just focus on getting to him and getting out of there. If I’m right, the temptation to look around will be almost irresistible. Don’t!”
“Okay, I get it. Can I go in now?”
“One moment.” Iri pulled a clothes peg from her pack and clipped it over her nose. When Atu and Kayla raised their eyebrows, she said, “I need to block the smell that’s coming from that place. Its pull is just as stro
ng as the images. And I don’t have to be inside for it to draw me in.”
The orange hues around Kayla burned. Iri placed a hand on her arm. “It’s okay. As long as I can’t smell, I won’t fall under the influence.”
Kayla’s smile was unsure, but Iri didn’t try and convince her further. They needed to reach Han and Jaden— before it was too late. Iri led Atu to the door, and then she and Kayla took hold of the rope, feeding it through their hands as Atu lunged inside.
“I’m trusting you to tell me when to pull,” Kayla said.
“Yeah, I’ll let you know.” Iri watched Atu like a hawk. He sprinted toward Jaden. A good sign. When he reached the lounger, Atu wrapped his arms around Jaden and threw him over his shoulder. Then he began jogging back. A few steps from the door, the colors around him began to dim. “Now, Kayla! Pull!”
The girls heaved. The sudden tug knocked Atu off his feet, and he spilled Jaden onto the ground in front of him. Jaden landed on the rope, immediately making it harder to pull.
“Tinks, help, we need to get them out of there!” Iri called.
Tinks snatched the end of the rope in her claws and took to the air. The rope jerked taut. With an almighty yank, they dragged Atu forward. Iri could see he was totally under the effect of whatever it was inside there. The colors around him had disappeared completely, and he was staring at the sky, spellbound.
“Just a little more,” Iri puffed to Kayla.
“Yup, I might not be able to see that other world, but I can tell they aren’t that far away, maybe a few feet. It’s tempting to run over there and just haul them back.”
“It is.” Iri’s hands strained on the rope. “But don’t.”
The roped jerked a second time as Aren joined in. For a moment, the load resisted. Then, with a sudden release, the boys flew backward and out the door. The rope went slack, leaving the boys in a jumbled heap.
Rushing forward, the girls separated them. The boys lay on their back, unmoving, their eyes glazed. Iri felt Kayla’s frantic gaze.
“They’re going to be okay, right?” Kayla demanded.
“Yes, their colors are returning. It may take a while before they’re fully lucid.”
In fact it took nearly five minutes. Taz, Tinks, and Aren hovered nearby. Atu was the first to snap back. He bolted upright, looking around as though he expected snakes to strike. He relaxed when he saw Jaden and then the others.
“We made it?” Atu croaked.
“With a little help,” Aren answered, his own relief plain.
It took Jaden longer, and he was still out of it when he sat up. “Why are you all staring at me?” Jaden asked, yawning loudly.
“You don’t remember?” Kayla asked.
“Remember what?”
The goofy grin on Jaden’s face as he looked at Kayla was too much. Iri giggled. He glanced her way.
“Why are you laughing?”
Iri shook her head. “I’ll explain some other time. Do you feel strong enough to pull on a rope?”
Jaden’s brow furrowed. “Why would I want to do that?”
“Because Han’s in trouble. He needs your help,” Kayla told him.
Iri wished she had thought to say that. The colors around Jaden flared, orange flames flickering around him as he searched for Han. Grey flecks of confusion tinged the edges when Jaden saw Han and his antics.
“What’s he doing?” Jaden gaped.
“He thinks he’s a monkey,” Iri explained for the second time.
“He—what?” Jaden started laughing.
“I wouldn’t laugh if I were you,” Kayla admonished. “You don’t know what you did when you were in there.”
“I hope I was at least as entertaining as Han.”
“Nowhere close.” Kayla smiled. “But we need to get Han out. You ready to pull on that rope?”
Jaden stood. “Ready as I’ll ever be. You’ll have to explain later what you mean when you say we have to get him ‘out.’ He’s just over there in the trees.” Jaden began walking toward Han, shocked when more than one pair of hands wrenched him back. “What?”
“You have to stay here. Even though we can see Han, he’s in a different place. A place that will claim you again if given the chance,” Iri growled.
For the first time, Jaden looked shaken. “Okay. Tell me what to do. Then you really will have to explain.”
Atu and the others tied the rope around Aren’s massive chest. Finding a place to secure it where it wouldn’t slip off was difficult, but they eventually managed it. Iri repeated her warnings to Aren and then led him to the door.
“Atu didn’t have as much time as I thought. Get to Han as fast as you can and get back even faster,” Iri ordered.
Aren nodded. “Can I fly once I’m through this door?”
Iri shrugged. “It’s big enough. You should be able to.”
Aren stepped through the door and launched himself toward Han. But Han saw him coming and, twittering, took off further into the jungle.
“He thinks this is a game.” Jaden’s face was pale as he watched Han skip around to avoid Aren.
“Aren! Grab him!” Atu roared.
The group watched, helpless, as Aren chased after Han. They danced among the trees, flitting like moths around a flame. Then with a sudden lunge, Aren crashed into Han, and the two bumped and rolled over the canopy as they grappled. Iri saw Aren’s mouth moving, but she couldn’t hear what he was saying. Then his colors dimmed.
“Oh no, Aren’s starting to lose it,” Iri said. Unexpectedly, the colors around Aren flickered to life again. “Wait, he’s fighting it. Somehow he’s resisting.” Again, Aren’s mouth moved. Then Iri understood. Aren was telling them he needed help. “Pull!”
With a grunt, the teens did. Hearing the command, Taz and Tinks took to the air with their end of the rope. Aren and Han came hurtling back toward the opening. Aren was still fighting off the effects of the realm, flapping his wings madly and doing what he could to aid their efforts. He had a firm grip on Han’s feet with his own, so Han now hung upside down, a limp weight under Aren.
As they reached the door, the rope snapped.
Iri stared, confused. What had happened? Then she noticed the absence of colors around Aren. He lay on the ground just inside the door, dazed. Ignoring the danger, Iri ran forward and tried dragging Aren over the threshold. He was too heavy. Suddenly, Atu and Jaden were beside her, helping. Together they managed to drag Aren out. When Iri looked back, Han was crawling towards the jungle again.
A blur of black almost knocked Iri to the ground. Instinctively, she stepped aside, watching with awe as Taz bowled Han over. Then Taz twirled and latched onto Han’s legs.
In a flash, it was clear to Iri. She poked her head inside the door to be sure she was heard. “You can’t fly out with him. I think that’s what made the rope snap.”
For a heart-pounding moment. Iri didn’t think Taz heard. She barreled back toward the opening. She must’ve been using Iri as a marker, because at the last moment, Taz dropped Han and landed on top of him. He wriggled, trying to fight her off, but she settled herself more squarely, squashing the resistance out of him.
Eyeing Iri, Taz said, “This would be the part where you all rush in and help me!”
Iri grinned. Only Taz. For the second time, Iri dashed inside, followed by Jaden and Kayla. Taz maneuvered herself so she could restrain Han while still helping the teens heave him over the doorway. The group collapsed on the other side, breathing hard.
“Could you please close that thing?” Jaden begged.
Too tired to stand, Iri kicked at the door. It closed with an audible click. Well, audible to me anyway.
“Ah, thank you. That feels so much better,” Jaden sighed.
They rested where they were until the weariness passed, by which time Aren was back to himself. Han still suffered the effects. Atu eyed him, then reached into his pouch for the third time that day. He extracted a jar of purple liquid and held it under Han’s nose. That cleared the
after-effects right up.
“No comments from the peanut gallery about what went on in there,” Han growled. “What was that place?”
Iri saw anger, confusion, and helplessness still clinging to him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was a trap until you and Jaden were already caught. While it’s true the place offered peace, it wasn’t the kind you would ask for. It would’ve dragged you down to death.”
“So perhaps the door closest to the end point held the most danger, even though it seemed like the shortest route,” Jaden theorized, his brain back to its usual analytical norm.
Iri shrugged. “Perhaps. The only thing that seems certain is that these doors hold traps designed to keep us from that end point. We can’t fly to the end point, and the gliders can’t fly out of a doorway. However we do it, we will have to choose one of the doors and then traverse its dangers, or we’ll never accomplish what we came here to do.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jaden wondered how they would choose the door. If Iri was right, all the doors held dangers. But only one door was required to lead them to their destiny. “How about we visit each door and assess its dangers—or at least try to? Iri can use her senses to assess the dangers behind each. Once we’ve considered what may or may not be lurking behind each door, we’ll rate our options. Any complaints?”
There were none. But before they took to the air again, they ate a meal together, partly to restore their energy and partly to allow for more recovery time. Han had been in that awful place the longest, and he still seemed to be grappling with the after-effects.
When their meal was over, Jaden asked, “How are you doing, buddy?”
“Better now, but it feels like the fallout after too much marula fruit,” Han admitted.
Taz gave a snort. “Then you should be right as rain after some elderberries.”
Han’s face brightened. “You’re right. Have you seen any?”
“I have not. But I’ll take a quick look around and see what I can find,” Taz offered.
“You’re not going alone,” Kayla told her.
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