Wish Trap

by Linda Chapman

  “Where are you, Shade?” growled Bracken.

  The gnome burst out from behind the curtains with a cackle. “Made you look! Made you stare!” he crowed, his eyes glowing red. “Now it’s time to give someone a scare!” Throwing himself at the bed, he bounced on it and somersaulted over their heads. Sorrel flung herself upwards but her claws just missed the gnome’s head. He landed and rolled on the floor. Bracken leaped at him but the gnome was too fast. He darted out of the room. Bracken barked in frustration and chased after the gnome, with Ionie, Sorrel and Maia close behind. He ran into a room at the end of the corridor, slamming the door shut behind him.

  Ionie slowly turned the handle and pushed open the door, revealing a room with a desk and filing cabinets. But the gnome was nowhere to be seen.

  Bracken put his nose to the floor as if following a scent and padded over to the open window. He put his paws on the window ledge and looked out. “I think he’s gone out through the window.”

  Sorrel followed him and sniffed the air. “You’re right. He’s not here any more.”

  “I thought he said he was going to scare us – not run away,” said Ionie, puzzled. She turned to Maia. “Can you use your magic to find out where he’s gone?”

  Maia pulled the mirror out of her pocket and kneeled down on the floor.

  “I want to see where the gnome is now,” she whispered.

  An image appeared in the mirror. It looked like the back of a wooden shed. The gnome was heading towards it, a burning branch in his hand. More branches had been piled behind the shed like a bonfire.

  “The gnome’s trying to set light to the shed!” she exclaimed. “He must still be trying to make Paige’s wish come true by hurting Lottie. He led us up here because he wanted us out of the way.”

  “Of course!” gasped Ionie. “It’s Lottie he’s after, not us! We have to stop him!”

  They all raced out of the room and down the stairs and out through the kitchen door.

  The sun was low in the sky now. The smell of woodsmoke drifted towards them from the fire behind the shed and Maia could hear the faint crackle of burning branches. Once the fire took hold it would spread to the wooden sides of the shed.

  Ionie charged towards the shed. “Sita! Lottie! Get out of there!”

  Bracken and Sorrel raced ahead of her. Bracken leaped for the door handle and tried to turn it with his teeth but the door wouldn’t open.

  “It’s bolted!” he barked.

  Maia ran up to the door while Ionie ran to a big water butt at the side and started to fill a bucket with water to try and douse the bonfire. Hearing the commotion, Lottie and Sita appeared at the small window.

  “I can smell smoke,” Sita said. “What’s happening?”

  “You’ve got to get out!” Maia shouted frantically. “The shed’s going to catch fire any minute!” She started tugging at the bolt that had been pushed across the door on the outside. The bolt was stiff but she managed to pull it back and yanked the door open.

  For a second Maia saw the relief on Sita and Lottie’s faces, and then Sita’s eyes widened in horror as she looked at something behind Maia.

  “The gnome!” she cried.

  Maia heard a cackle and felt herself being shoved in the back. Losing her balance, she fell inside the shed. Before she knew what was happening, the door had been slammed shut and she heard the bolt being pushed back across on the outside.

  “Now I’ve got you! Now you’re caught! Now a lesson you’ll be taught!” she heard the gnome crowing.

  “What’s going on?” Lottie demanded, helping Maia to her feet.

  Maia registered with relief that Lottie looked completely back to normal. Juniper was jumping round the walls and Willow was trembling by the door.

  “The gnome’s trying to burn down the shed,” said Maia desperately. “We have to get out of here!” She hammered on the door. “Ionie! Unbolt the door!” Her heart pounded as the first tendrils of smoke started to fill the shed.

  “Look!” said Lottie, pointing out of the window. The gnome was in front of the door.

  Ionie was facing him, hands on hips, the bucket at her feet. “Let my friends out!” she demanded.

  “No!” the gnome sniggered.

  Ionie’s eyes narrowed. “I command…”

  In a flash the gnome turned his back on her. “I can’t see you!”

  “She has to be looking into his eyes to be able to command him,” said Bracken, his paws on the window ledge.

  The gnome said, “I know you want to send me back to the shadows. But I’m having far too much fun in the human world to go back there.” He paused. “Now, let’s think about you, Ionie. When this shed burns down I’ll have granted Paige’s wish to be on the gym team. Maybe you would like some help next.” His voice became soft and persuasive. “What could I help you with? Maia, maybe… You really wish you could be her, don’t you?”

  Maia frowned. What was he talking about?

  “I don’t know what you mean,” said Ionie, shooting a nervous glance at the shed.

  “I can see your thoughts.” The gnome moved backwards, getting closer to her but being careful not to make eye contact. “Everyone likes Maia, don’t they? She’s Little Miss Popular. She doesn’t even seem to try and still people like her. It’s not fair, is it? You could be like that, though. One wish and she will get all the bad luck.” He gave a sly giggle. “Now what do you say?” He rubbed his hands together greedily.

  “Well … I suppose you do have a point,” said Ionie.

  “No,” Maia whispered.

  “I mean, it is really tempting,” Ionie said, wandering back towards the orchard.

  The gnome cackled and edged closer still, moving away from the shed door. “I know. All you have to do is make one little wish.”

  “One wish,” echoed Ionie. She reached the shadows of the trees and spun round. “I know what I’d like to wish for.” She vanished.

  The gnome spluttered in shock.

  In the blink of an eye, Ionie appeared in the shadows of the shed by the door. “I wish for my friends to be free! And, hey, I don’t even need your magic to do it!” She pulled back the bolt and opened the door.

  Maia, Lottie and Sita charged out of the shed, the Star Animals at their sides. As they ran, they all drew on their Star Magic. Instantly Maia could see everything in incredible detail.

  “No!” shrieked the gnome, leaping on to the birdbath in the centre of the lawn. “I will hurt you!” he screamed, pointing at Lottie. “I will grant Paige’s wish!”

  “I don’t think so!” Juniper said, jumping off Lottie’s shoulder and grabbing a fallen apple in his mouth. He scampered up her leg and nudged it into her hand. “Time to hit a real target, Lottie! Knock him off the birdbath!”

  Lottie drew back her arm then chucked the apple at the gnome. It shot through the air with perfect accuracy and hit him square on the forehead. “Bullseye!” she whooped as the gnome lost his balance and fell backwards.

  There was a cracking noise as he broke into pieces.

  A cloud of darkness rose from the shattered pieces of pottery and formed into a tall figure. His nose and chin were pointed and his eyes glowed red. Threadbare clothes hung off his angular body.

  “I am free!” he hissed in delight, his voice shivering through the air. As he spoke, his body became more and more solid. “I can go where I want and do as I will. I shall do whatever I like.”

  Bracken raced towards him. “No, you won’t! I’ll stop you!”

  Maia’s heart leaped into her mouth. “Bracken! Come back!”

  “Say the words, Ionie,” said Sorrel, her back arching.

  Ionie pointed her finger at the Shade. “I command you to…”

  “No! I will not be commanded! I will not be sent back!” The Shade started to stride away but Bracken reached him. With a growl, he bit the Shade’s leg and hung on tight. The Shade hissed and swiped down with his sharp claws. With the magic coursing through her, Maia saw where the Shade’s h
and was going to land an instant before it did. “Bracken! Go left!” she yelled.

  Bracken flung himself to the left just in time. The Shade missed him. Bracken tumbled over on to his back. Maia watched as the Shade lifted its arm to strike the fox. She raced forwards. “No! You won’t hurt Bracken!”

  But Sorrel, Willow and Juniper were even faster. With two bounds Sorrel sprang up on to the Shade’s back. “Stop right there, Shade!” she hissed, her claws digging in. The Shade howled and swung this way and that, trying to shake her off.

  Juniper dashed in front of the Shade’s feet, tripping him over. He stumbled to his knees. Willow butted the Shade in the chest with her head, sending him sprawling on to its back.

  Lottie was beside him in the blink of an eye. As the Shade started to sit up, she jumped on to his chest, pushing his shoulders back down again. He hissed in fury and arched his back.

  “A bit of help here!” Lottie gasped.

  Maia reached the Shade at the same moment Sita did. Flinging themselves down they each grabbed one of the Shade’s bony arms, pinning his hands down.

  “No!” he shrieked, thrashing from side to side.

  Maia could feel her grip loosening. She couldn’t hold on much longer. And then suddenly Ionie was there, leaning over the Shade and looking into his red eyes.

  “I command you to return to the Shadows!” she said before he could close his eyes.

  With a strangled cry the Shade started to dissolve into shadow. He twisted and turned as he became smaller and smaller. “This is not the end,” he hissed. “She will find ways to bring misery. She will call more of us forth from the Shadows even though one of you has more power than she can dream of !” With a final hiss he faded away to nothing.

  There was a moment’s silence. “What was all that about?” Ionie said.

  “I don’t know – but we did it!” said Maia, getting to her feet and looking at the ground where the Shade had been. “We sent it back to the Shadows.”

  Bracken and Juniper raced round in happy circles. Willow bucked and even Sorrel gave a satisfied meow. “Well done, everyone!” she declared.

  “The shed!” exclaimed Sita, looking round and seeing that the branches of the bonfire were burning merrily and that the flames were starting to lick at the wooden sides of the shed. “We have to put out the fire!”

  The girls grabbed buckets from inside the shed and with Lottie running at top speed back and forth between the shed and the large water butt full of rainwater, they emptied bucket after bucket over the flames.

  The fire was finally extinguished, leaving the air heavy with the smell of smoke. The shed, thankfully, was unharmed apart from a few scorch marks round the back.

  The girls collapsed on the ground, hugging their animals.

  “We fought another Shade,” said Maia.

  “What do you think he meant,” said Ionie, “when he said all that stuff about one of us having lots of power?”

  “You must be the one the Shade spoke of, Ionie,” said Sorrel.

  “It said the person who conjured the Shade is a she,” said Bracken.

  “We need to find her, whoever she is, and stop her,” said Juniper.

  “Let’s worry about that another day,” said Lottie. “I’ve had enough excitement for now. I just want to go and have a sleepover!”

  “Me, too,” said Ionie, with a smile.

  Maia got to her feet. “We’d better say goodbye to Paige.”

  Ionie nodded and she and Maia headed back to the house. Paige was still watching the music awards with Clio.

  “I thought you’d gone home,” said Clio in surprise.

  “We’re just off now,” said Maia. “The gnome’s gone, Paige.”

  “Gone? For good?” said Paige eagerly.

  Maia and Ionie nodded.

  “You mean that cute little pottery gnome?” said Clio. “What’s happened to it?”

  “It smashed,” said Maia.

  “Maia! What will Paige’s mum and dad say?” Clio said anxiously.

  “Don’t worry – they didn’t really like it,” said Paige. “I think they’ll be glad it’s gone.” She smiled at Maia and Ionie in relief. “Thanks!”

  “No problem. See you soon.” Ionie and Maia waved and left.

  As they walked round the house to join the others, Maia glanced at Ionie. She couldn’t help thinking about what the gnome had said when she had been locked in the shed with Lottie and Sita. Surely Ionie wasn’t really jealous of her, was she?

  Ionie saw her glance. “What?” she said warily.

  “The gnome said some stuff when I was in the shed. You’re not really jealous of me, are you?”

  Ionie’s cheeks flushed bright red. “No,” she said, avoiding Maia’s gaze. “Course not.”

  Maia’s eyes widened. Ionie’s blush gave her away even though she was denying it. But why? She was so clever.

  “So what if you’re popular and everyone likes you,” Ionie went on defensively. “That’s you. I’m me. I’m fine with it.”

  Maia didn’t know what to say. She swallowed. “Oh. OK. Well, just so you know … I’m … I’m glad you became a Star Friend, too.” The words came out in a rush. Her mind flashed back to being in the house with Ionie and Sorrel, tracking down the gnome, and she realized she meant it. “Thank you for helping me with my magic. That stuff you said about relaxing really worked and … well, it’s been fun doing stuff together today.”

  Their eyes met. Ionie’s face softened. “It has been, hasn’t it? We make a good team. Bracken and Sorrel do, too – only don’t tell Sorrel I said that,” she added.

  “No way,” said Maia. “I wouldn’t dare.”

  They exchanged grins and carried on in silence. Maia’s steps felt suddenly lighter. Maybe she and Ionie could be friends again after all – proper friends.

  Lottie and Sita were waiting for them by the trampoline. Maia held up her hand and they high-fived her. “We did it,” she said. “We sent another Shade back to the Shadows.”

  Lottie linked arms with her. “It’s sleepover time.”

  “Time to toast marshmallows on the bonfire,” said Ionie.

  “And eat cinder toffee,” said Maia.

  “And no need to worry about fighting any more Shades tonight,” added Sita happily.

  A couple of hours later, they were all snuggled down in Maia’s room with their animals lying beside them or cuddled in their arms. They were full of marshmallows and sweets.

  “It’s been such a scary few days.” Sita sighed. “I’m glad it’s over and no one else is going to get hurt.”

  “For now,” said Sorrel darkly. “The person who trapped the Shade is still out there somewhere. We should be looking for her.”

  Bracken made a grumbling noise in his throat. “One night off isn’t going to hurt us.”

  Sorrel looked at him dryly. “It’s not us I’m worried about.”

  Ionie stroked her. “It’s all right, Sorrel. We’ll start trying to find the person who conjured the Shade tomorrow.”

  “I wonder if Paige’s family were given the gnome on purpose,” Sita said.

  They were all silent for a moment. It was horrible to think of someone deliberately setting out to bring misery to Paige or her family.

  “Whoever trapped the Shade must be really evil,” said Lottie with a shiver.

  “But one of us is more powerful,” Ionie reminded them. “That’s what the Shade said.”

  “I’m sure it’s you,” purred Sorrel. “After all, you’re the Spirit Speaker.”

  “I think it’s Maia,” said Bracken loyally. “Her magic is getting stronger all the time. Soon she’ll be able to look into the past and even see into people’s thoughts.”

  “Useful, I agree,” said Sorrel. “But she’s not as powerful as Ionie.”

  “It could be Lottie,” put in Juniper, snuggling his head under Lottie’s chin.

  “Yep, with my deadly apple-throwing ability,” said Lottie with a grin.

 
“As long as it’s not me,” said Sita. “I don’t want to be powerful. I just want to heal people and make them better.”

  Maia thought about it. She liked the thought of being really powerful and being able to scare people who were using dark magic. Which of them would it be? As she considered it, a wave of tiredness suddenly swept over her and she yawned. “Shall we turn off the light?”

  The others all nodded sleepily.

  “Night, everyone,” Maia whispered.

  “Night,” came the sighs back.

  Bracken snuggled down on Maia’s chest and licked the tip of her nose. She smiled and kissed the soft spot between his ears. She felt safe and warm and happy. She was surrounded by her best friends with Bracken by her side. There was no doubt they were going to have more excitement but for now fighting evil and doing magic could wait until another day.

  “Night, Bracken,” she whispered into his ear.

  Snuffling contentedly, he snuggled closer into her arms.

  Mountain gorilla, orangutan, Galapagos penguin…

  Maia Greene blew her dark blond fringe out of her eyes and turned the pages of the book on endangered animals. It was so hard to choose just one.

  “Hurry up now, everyone,” called Miss Harris. “There’s just five minutes until break time. I want you to have decided on your project by then.”

  Maia turned the pages more quickly. Maybe a penguin? They always made her giggle with their funny waddling walk. Or an African wild dog? She loved dogs. Or a wolf? She paused at a photograph of a grey wolf. Her Granny Anne had loved wolves and had kept lots of wolf ornaments and paintings in her cottage. Maia’s heart twisted in her chest. Granny Anne had died last month and Maia still missed her a lot. No, wolves would make her feel too sad.

  “I can’t believe you still haven’t decided,” said Ionie, who sat next to her. “I’ve already done a whole page of notes on my animal.” She flicked her strawberry blond ponytail over her shoulder and showed Maia a page of neat writing with headings underlined with a ruler.