Wonder Never (The Fairytale Diaries #2)

by Amanda Gatton

  While that search was in progress, another call came in from a payphone, where the caller claimed to have spotted Clementine Giroux at an address in town. A unit was dispatched there. The residents of the home were roused from their beds only to tell the officer they didn't even know anybody by that name. The officer asked to search the property, and the homeowners grouchily complied.

  Throughout the morning, roughly a half hour to forty minutes apart, more calls came in. Claims of sighting many of the missing Enchantica teens were made. The police knew the calls were bogus, but exhausted every effort investigating even though they knew they were being trifled with.

  By lunch time, many citizens had been needlessly annoyed and police resources were spread thin.

  Mattia Pinoak tried to stifle a chuckle as he strolled up his front walk after making the last call. He'd roamed from payphone to payphone all morning, depositing quarters and making the calls. As the sun rose high in the sky and the heat swelled, he decided to go home for a sandwich and root beer.

  He sat lazily at the kitchen table as Vinicio prepared his lunch. The old man arched an eyebrow as Mattia accepted his lunch greedily and without a thanks, but Vinicio didn't comment on the boy's ill manners. It was a lost cause anyhow, and in his advancing age, he was simply too tired to fight with the boy anymore.

  Mattia heard an almost imperceptible tap on the kitchen window. He glanced at Vinicio to see if the old man had heard which he didn't appear to have. He hopped up, glanced out the window, and found Karenza peeking out from behind a tree, frantically motioning for him to come out.

  He left the freshly prepared lunch without a bite taken and hurried out the back door.

  ***

  "What have you been up to, boy?" Karenza said harshly as soon as Mattia was close.

  His face fell as he walked into the shadows of the forest. "What do you mean?" he asked glumly. He hated when Karenza scolded him, and he could tell she was in a mood.

  "Melanie knows what you've been doing this morning, Mattia, and she isn't happy."

  Mattia gave a deep, pouty frown. "I'm throwing them off the trail, Karenza, exactly what I'm supposed to do!"

  Karenza snorted. "You know, Mattia, you should be very careful. There has been talk that you've done just the opposite. That too many people are starting to suspect, and that it's you who's made mistakes, whose drawn attention."

  "That's just crazy! I can't believe you would let anyone say anything like that about me, Karenza!" Mattia grumped, color rising in his cheeks as he grew angry.

  "Really? Those three Darling children? You think that was wise?"

  "KARENZA!" Mattia cried. "That was YOUR idea! All I've ever done is just what you tell me to do!" Furious tears welled in his eyes.

  "Well, just see that you be careful, boy," Karenza spat. "They're saying you're drawing attention by toying with the police. Playing a game you can't win! You shouldn't cry wolf, Mattia." Her eyes narrowed evilly. "Because one of these times, the wolf might actually come, and no one will be 'round to help you."

  With that, Karenza spun on her heal and stomped away. He watched her until she disappeared into the trees and the shadows. Mattia cried pitifully. She'd promised to always protect him, yet he had the uncanny feeling he would never see her again.

  ***

  After the meeting with Karenza, and a complete emotional breakdown alone in the woods, Mattia was on a warpath. Never one to accept correction, Mattia knew he was doing the right thing. In his way of thinking, he would spin the cops so far around, this way and that, they'd be eternally confused by the time he was done with them. Anyhow, he wasn't the one kidnapping Enchanticans. The door between here and there normally remained closed. Yet, of late, Wonderneverians had been crossing over in droves. Even he, a confirmed trouble maker, could see they were out of control. The lines between reality and fantasy were blurring and it was dangerous. He didn't know what exactly had triggered the growing number of abductions, but whatever it was, it wasn't his fault! Yet the job of cleaning up the sloppy mess of the Wondernevrians had apparently fallen on him. Well, he would show them.

  Mattia went back into town and put in another call to the police department. This time he reported suspicious activity in the woods down the street from Java Enchantica. He could barely contain a giggle as he hung up the phone and strolled back toward home.

  ***

  He stewed and boiled over the altercation with Karenza all afternoon and into the evening. Every range of emotion assaulted him. Vinicio left as twilight descended and Mattia sat in front of the TV staring blankly at it. Lost in his own head, he did not hear the click of the front door. Abraham Bar loomed over him before he even noticed he was no longer alone.

  "Who are you?" Mattia gasped, scrambling off the couch.

  Mr. Bar smiled amicably; his dark features making him appear wickedly charming. "I am a friend of Melanie Heart's. She's asked me to come and… Speak with you."

  Mattia took tiny steps toward the kitchen, anxiety creeping up his spine. He had every intention of bolting out the back door, but the stranger took tiny steps as well.

  "You see," Mr. Bar said, folding his hands together, and then cracking his knuckles. "She's awfully unhappy. Awfully."

  Trembling from head to foot, Mattia launched himself toward the kitchen then. But, Mr. Bar was faster. Seemingly effortlessly, the dark man snatched Mattia backwards, wrapped an arm around his neck, and snapped it with the grace of an experienced serial killer.

  The body thunked to the floor. Mr. Bar extracted a match book from his breast pocket, struck one, and dropped it onto Mattia. Then he strolled out the door, hands in pockets, and walked away without a care in the world.

  Part XI

  Poke the Dragon

  Chapter 29

  As the afternoon sun faded away to evening, Josh stood in Aimeé's kitchen with the rapt attention of the Bouchard women, Sergeant Hook, and Chief Darling.

  "It’s another world, and nothing about it makes sense."

  They all stared at him as though he had perhaps lost his mind. It had taken him most of the day to muster the nerve to finally tell them all what he knew; and what he didn't know, but suspected.

  "Look, I know I sound nuts," he continued. "And that's the thing… It is crazy. I saw a dead man."

  Hook shook his head and began pacing the floor. "It's not possible, Josh. Abraham Bar is dead as dead can be. I saw the body myself."

  "I know that, Sergeant. I can't explain it. But what I'm telling you is true. And if this strange place, this Wondernever, can bring back the dead… Then, I think we can get our people back."

  "I just don't understand what you're saying," Hook said.

  "Look," Josh replied. "If they can bring dead people from our world back to be citizens in their world… And if all the rumors we hear around here are true? That they kidnap Enchanticans to kill them? Maybe, just maybe, it means that in their world, our people aren't really dead at all!"

  A pained look crossed Chief Darling's face. "Alright, what are you suggesting that we do, Josh?"

  Sergeant Hook's attention snapped to the chief. "You can't be serious!"

  Darling glared at the Faraway cop. "Listen, my kids are out there, you got that? Josh is the only person that claims to know where this place in the woods is." He looked back at Josh. "Just tell me what you want me to do."

  ***

  Josh tipped the red can and dumped gasoline liberally on the ground around the tree. He splashed it onto the trunk, into the boughs, and saturated the ground.

  "Are you sure this will work?" Chief Darling asked, from where he stood back watching Josh work.

  "No," Josh said sorrowfully. "But I'm going to try."

  He returned to the group and pulled a lighter out of his pocket. Darling, Hook, and Ms. Bouchard each carried a crude sort of torch that they'd hurriedly put together before venturing into the woods. One by one, Josh lit them.

  "If I'm not back in one hour, light the tree," Josh said firmly
.

  Bernadette gasped. "No! We won't do it until you're back."

  "Look," he argued. "I don't even know for sure that destroying the tree will close the door. I might still be able to get back, who knows?"

  "I'm going with you," Bernadette insisted.

  "No!" her mother cried, rushing forward. "No, not you too!"

  Bernadette turned to embrace her mother. "Mom, I have to do this. I'm going with Josh, and we're going to get Joelle and Adélaide back, OK? I promise."

  "You can't promise that," Ms. Bouchard wept.

  "Yes I can," Bernadette said firmly. A peaceful smile played on her lips. She turned to Josh and took his hand. "Tell me what to do."

  Josh gave the police officers one last look. "One hour."

  He led Bernadette under the willow's weeping fronds and opened the door in the trunk. "It's going to hurt a little," he said softly. He looked down into her face, shining in the silver moonlight and bent to kiss her. "Are you ready?"

  She smiled and nodded. He handed her the goodies from the tree. He'd already explained what to do. She took a deep breath, and together, they did what they had to.

  ***

  Josh held Bernadette's hand and practically dragged her down the path to Wondernever. Even though he'd explained the whole thing to Bernadette, she still hadn't been prepared for the magic. She cried as he led her on.

  "Come on," he called. "We need to hurry!"

  Mist snaked around them as they raced into the village. All around, strange looking people stopped to watch them with angry eyes. Josh paid them no attention as he led Bernadette on, up the hill, across a foot bridge, and straight to the door of the mansion at the top. The guards on each side of the door stood appearing to sleep and he wondered if they were even real. He began to brutally beat the door.

  "OPEN UP! OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW!"

  The door swung open so swiftly that Josh stumbled inside, pulling Bernadette with him.

  A tall thin woman stood angrily glaring at him with wide crazy eyes. She appeared so furious that it seemed she may lash out with her claw like hands. Josh protectively encircled Bernadette's shoulders and took a deep breath.

  "Who are you, what do you want?" she demanded.

  "We want our people back," Josh snarled.

  The woman laughed, a brittle sound, grating to the ears. "I don't know what you're talking about!" He could tell by the frantic darting of her eyes that she was lying.

  Josh took a menacing step toward her. "Oh, I think you do."

  The woman's eyes narrowed. "You shouldn't be here," she whispered.

  "If you hadn't taken these people who belong to our world," he growled. "I wouldn't be. Give me back what is ours, and we'll be gone forever."

  "Or, perhaps I could put you in my oven, cook you up! A dash of cinnamon and pinch of ginger, and you'll make a fine batch of COOKIES!" the woman roared.

  Aspen Briar came racing down a set of stairs behind the woman. "JOSH!" she screamed. "RUN! RUN RUN, AS FAST AS YOU CAN!"

  The woman grabbed at Aspen as she dashed past, but the folds of her blue dress slipped through Melanie's bony fingertips. She ran straight out the door, and with a start, Josh and Bernadette spun to follow her.

  "AAAALLLLIIIIIICE!" the woman shrieked.

  "RUN RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!" Aspen Briar called again.

  Josh's heart pounded as he and Bernadette followed Aspen down the hill. He heard feet following behind, but he did not look back. He clung to Bernadette's hand, pulling her along, fueled by her heartbreaking, terrified sobbing. As their feet pounded the foot path in the village, he heard the thin woman following behind and calling to others to join the pursuit.

  "STOP THEM!" the woman cried.

  Aspen led them on, down the path, and into the woods. She burst through the flowering shrubberies and into the trees. Josh recalled the frightening people he'd met there before, but he trusted Aspen and followed.

  His heart beat painfully fast and he could scarcely breathe, but the sound of others in hot pursuit, crashing through the trees propelled him on. They were getting close.

  Then the mist just ahead of them cleared, and a sight both magical and terrifying slowed them down.

  Josh saw a group of teenagers that included Bernadette's sisters, cowering terrified together. But in front of them stood a ghastly cloaked faceless creature with its arms raised before it. The sound of the footsteps behind them stopped abruptly.

  Though the Enchantica teens looked terrified, and the thing in front of them looked evil beyond the wildest imaginings; it seemed to be… Protecting them.

  "KEEP RUNNING!" Aspen screamed, her voice broken by choking sobs. Josh wanted nothing more than to turn and run the other direction from the horrifying creature, but he zeroed in on the lost Enchanticans and pushed forward.

  Before their very eyes, the creature transformed. Its clothing shredded with the force of its body growing into a massive, scaled dragon with gnashing teeth and thrashing wings. The sight of the gigantic thing slowed him, and behind him, he heard shrieks of terror. Josh glanced over his shoulder to see those who had pursued them turning to sprint in the opposite direction.

  "KEEEEEEEP RUUUUNNNNING!" Aspen insisted.

  The flap of the dragon's wings as it ascended sent a frigid blast of air through the woods. It rose and advanced at an alarming speed. Josh pulled Bernadette to the ground, throwing his body over her. He shook violently, expecting to be devoured by the screeching beast.

  But, it flew right over them, apparently more interested in whomever was behind them.

  Aspen had reached the group of missing Enchanticans and they were all running then. Josh and Bernadette leapt to their feet. Renewed by a sheer amazement at still being alive, they ran as fast as they could.

  In a matter of seconds, the group had reached the water, and following Aspen's lead, they all dove in.

  ***

  "BURN IT!" Aspen screamed.

  The three people waiting in the woods were temporarily struck dumb by the sight of all the teenagers emerging from beneath the trees. It was simply one of those things nobody would believe until they saw it with their own eyes.

  "Light it up!" she urged again. "We have to close the door before someone follows us through!"

  Her urging snapped Sergeant Hook from his reverie. He raced forward and touched his torch to the ground. Darling and Ms. Bouchard snapped into action as well and raced about lighting the ground and the boughs of the tree. More and more people appeared beneath the tree and dashed out from beneath it, through the flickering flames. Just as Josh Cross appeared, the tree went up in a tower of fire.

  Settie, Issac, and Jaxson Darling raced into the outstretched arms of their father. Likewise, Ms. Bouchard shared a tearful embrace with Joelle and Adélaide. The rest of them stood watching as the flames curled and licked, reaching for the sky.

  "Hey," Sergeant Hook called. "We need to get out of here, quick! There's going to be a forest fire!"

  Together, the group turned to make their way back to Enchantica. The fire was spreading slowly, but the night air was still. They all had some interest in making sure the tree burnt to the ground so they walked fairly slowly to watch the fire dance by looking back as they traversed the woods.

  While Bernadette walked and reunited with her sisters, Josh made his way out of the woods shoulder to shoulder with Aspen Briar.

  "Thank you, Josh," she said softly.

  He nodded humbly. "Are you sure this worked? They can't get out now?"

  She shook her head. "No, they can't get out. The door between our world and theirs is officially closed forever."

  He glanced down at her. "Why didn't you do that a long time ago?" he asked softly.

  She shrugged. "I don't know. Scared I guess? I don't have anywhere else to go," Aspen said mournfully.

  "Hmmmm," Josh murmured thoughtfully. "Maybe you do. The carnival is going to have an opening, I believe." He glanced back at Bernadette, who gave him a tearful smile. "I think I'
ve found my home."

  ***

  Most of Enchantica emerged from their homes to watch the forest burn. The blaze was widespread before several fire departments working together got it under control. Many tears were shed, some sad for the loss, others in happy reunion with lost loved ones. Only the group who emerged just before the blaze understood that the burning of the forest represented a new start for the town.

  Clementine Giroux came home a different girl, one her father could be proud of. Julienne Peabody returned to a much safer existence, as the Darling family warmly welcomed her into their home. Gisèle Pettigrew was welcomed by sisters who deeply regretted their former bratty behavior. Alan and Jack LeBeau convinced their mother to finally sell the farm and carve out a new start. Mr. Richelieu was a changed man as well upon the return of his daughter Roxan, and warmly thanked Alan for keeping her safe.

  All the returned victims shared a memory of dying. None could recall how exactly the witch brought them back or why. They simply chose to bury the truth deep, keep their secrets, and move on.

  Only one was lost forever, Chief Jiminy of Faraway, Washington; presumed dead and honored as a hero.

  The tale is told, and if they didn't live happily ever after, that's nothing to do with you or me.

  Hint List: Fairy Tale References

  Here is a handy key that tells which stories were retold in each section, and all the specific hints within my tales that reference the original tales. This section is provided so you can check if you were right after you read the book. So no cheating; don't read the hint list first! See if you spotted any other hints that aren't listed here.

  Part One: Wondernever (Alice in Wonderland)

  *The name "Wondernever" for the magical land is a cross between Wonderland and Never Never land from Peter Pan

  *The opening line is a variation of a famous fairy tale beginning

  *The character from book one, Aspen Briar, is spotted dressed in the classic costume of Alice in Wonderland, and she claims her name is Alice

  *The character Ansel is the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland who claims to be late for a very important date